The Performance
I'm well aware that these guys have a very strong following and have for many years now. I'm sure that my cousin's husband will be thrilled when I let him know I have this title sitting around in my collection, but I have to be upfront and say that the keyboard-heavy meanderings of ELP and their pseudo-classical leanings have always left me quite cold. With that being said, this 1997 performance from Montreux, which captured the 1970s super group during their 1990s reunion (the group disbanded in the early-80s) was less painful to watch than I originally thought it might be.
All the musicians are surely skilled, that has never been my contention with ELP, and their control over their classics such as "KARN EVIL 9 - 1st. Impression Part 2" and "Tiger in the Spotlight" was definitely still there after so many years away from each other. Followers of the group shouldn't be disappointed at all in what was a more than energetic performance. I was certainly disappointed, however, to find the set list lacking one of the few songs from the band I actually enjoy, "Still...You Turn Me On." My disappointment was somewhat abated only by the inclusion of a competent if tame performance of "Lucky Man."
The Picture
The original HD video is presented in 1.78:1 1080i/60 with an AVC/MPEG-4 encoding. It's not the sharpest looking high definition I've ever come across, but it looks quite clean and detailed for a live show captured in 1997. There is very little annoying video noise, flesh tones are all natural, and detail is solid overall.
The Sound
The balance on the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is way off for this release. I understand that a big component of the ELP sound are the keyboards, but they are far too forward in the mix, to the detriment of other elements of the mix. The lead vocals are lost and the drums sound like mere cardboard boxes at times. The high frequencies are also far too tweaked leading to listener fatigue very quickly at higher volumes. Apart from that, the mix does have a very big, spacious sound.
The Extras
Move along, please, nothing to hear or see here.
Final Thoughts
There's more than enough in this 1997 performance to satisfy longtime Emerson, Lake, and Palmer fans, particularly the ardent ones. The solid video quality should help compensate for the so-so sonics, but some extras might have been nice.
Product Details
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