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Review: Jack Foley
"I'VE never done a tour I've been so proud of, such one
that I felt the need for it to be preserved in any way,"
insists DJ Shadow, as he prepares to unleash his first live album
on the record-buying public.
The show, recorded at London's Brixton Academy, as part of the
world-wide Private Press tour of 2002, is a mesmerising demonstration
of the magic of Shadow - a jaw-dropping, spine-tingling collection
of classics, featuring album cuts, rare remixes, Unkle collaborations
and well-chosen samples.
In short, it is a DJ-ing masterclass; a celebration of all things
Shadow, which is a must-have for anyone who attended the Brixton
show, not to mention anyone with an appreciation for anything
the artist has done.
Usually, live albums can sound a little echo-laden, or only work
best for those who were at the gigs themselves, but In Tune
and on Time transcends such barriers to become a virtual
greatest hits compendium, packed with delicious crossovers.
We're talking the Private Press mixed with Psyence
Fiction, mixed with Blackalicious (Halfway Home)
and the Handsome Boy Modeling School (Holy Calamity).
And then there's the scratching - Shadow can work those turntables
like no other, and whether it's simply listening to his slick
handwork, or seeing it in action (courtesy of the live DVD), it
can't fail to have you spellbound.
In Tune and on Time is a truly cinematic experience,
and a celebration of Shadow's music to date - and he can remain
justifiably proud of the achievement.
In DVD format, the visuals are carefully matched to each song
in Shadow's set, where he plays not only in time, but - far more
challengingly - also in tune.
The DVD will delight all Shadow fans with its unique format.
In Tune and on Time is cut with an 'intermission' featuring
candid, on-the-road footage from various countries, vox pops with
fans and a montage of crowd stills.
Fans will also find DVD's extras, which include a battle on MPCs
between Cut Chemist and DJ NuMark, in LA at the MYAN Theatre,
and Malcolm Catto in Detroit.
In Tune and On Time captures the extraordinary intensity
of DJ Shadow's live show in a startlingly visually dynamic manner.
The filming techniques recreate the feeling of actually being
inside Brixton Academy, rather than simply watching a recording
of the event on a 2-D screen at home.
The DVD manages to live up to its claim of freeze-framing history
- just long enough for anyone not lucky enough to be with DJ Shadow
on October 19, 2002, to realise exactly what they were missing.
The DVD package comes in a collectable digipack, and includes
an audio CD of the live set, and this release is also available
on gatefold vinyl.
Either format will be a must for the many fans that have bought
bootlegs of his live shows and DJ sets over the last few years.
There really is no excuse not to own it.
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