Artist: Kenso Album: Live In USA (DVD) Label: Pathograph Records Website: http://www1.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~kenso Reviewer: Bill Knispel

Track List: The Sea Anesthesia part 2 Sora ni Hikaru The NEARfest Song Taro to iu Ikikata Fist of Fury Anokoro Moby Dick to Sokowa Maa Sokohakato Naku Bifuka Gips Hyoto Tjandi Bentar Kenichi Oguchi Keyboard Solo Echi dal Foro Romano Bass Solo - Let Us Go with the Child who Makes Wishes Come true Les Phases de la Lune I Les Phases de la Lune II The Ancient in My Brain Good Days Bad Days Release Yourself + Bonus features Kenso’s triumphant return to North America in 2005 at NEARfest left over 1000 people awestruck and blown away by their heady mix of symphonic rock and jazz-fusion. Nearly 2 years on from this legendary performance, a DVD documenting the show has been released via Japanese import. Live in USA is a multi-cam shot performance in 16x9 wide screen with LPCM 2.0 stereo sound. Sound was recorded and engineered by Brett Kull (echolyn) and produced by Yoshihisa Shimizu. The sound mix is excellent, with crisp high end, a crunchy midrange, and rounded, thumping bass that preserves dynamics without sacrificing presence. The video quality is very good as well...there were a variety of cameras used, and you can tell when one type of camera is switched to another, but generally this isn't distracting. As this performance was intended for filming, stage lighting has been ramped up slightly to allow for easier video capture, and the concert footage is a little bright. This is easily adjusted in the home, and does not truly constitute a criticism. Editing is also excellent; this is not edited in MTV style, with dozens of quick cuts per minute. If someone is doing something interesting instrumentally, the likelihood is that you are seeing it on screen as it happens. The performance was edited and produced by Kenso fan and associate Seikau Nolo, and his editing choices fit the performance quite well. As far as impressions of the performance...well, I was there. I was blown away the first time, and continue to be impressed today. I laughed in all the places I laughed in 2005, and was awestruck and fist pumping in the same places on the DVD. There seems to have been some slight on the DVD, as I distinctly remember the band breaking into an impromptu and brief rendition of Led Zeppelin's “Heartbreaker” at one point, as well as a medley of classic rock songs (including bits of Chicago and Bachman-Turner Overdrive). The classic rock medley has been excised and is included as a special feature (about which more later), but the one keyboardist's solo, based around Billy Joel's “Allentown” remains, as does the brief interlude of “Roundabout/Old Folks at Home.” A number of special features have been added onto the DVD to complete the package. The classic rock medley mentioned above has its own entry in the special features menu. Oddly, the viewer is given the option to either watch the performance or listen to it, but not both at the same time. Thus, you get a black screen and music, or silent performance footage. Additionally, behind the scenes footage of the setup and soundcheck has been included. A brief section of footage from the band’s previous North American show (Progfest 2000 in Los Angeles), NEARfest 2005 post show party scenes (including a cameo from Gentle Giant guitarist Gary Green), and a photo gallery complete the DVD’s contents. From a video and audio standpoint, Live in USA provides great value for money. The packaging is excellent and unique. The band eschewed a traditional clamshell keep case, instead packaging the DVD in a custom cut heavy card case/tray. It's packed alongside a heavy card folder, with loads of tech notes in Japanese, as well as a series of 6 heavy card stock photo prints from the show, each with additional notes. These are all held in a neat clear plastic sleeve/wallet, which is silk-screened with the pertinent title/band information. It's a cool package, unique amongst my collection, and makes a great conversation piece. This is not an inexpensive DVD; as it was intended for release in Kenso’s home country, it is currently available only as an import. Priced at Y 7,500 in Japan, domestic readers will end up shelling out $65.00 to obtain a copy. Lest one thing this is exceedingly expensive, Kenso’s previous full length DVD concert release, Ha-Re-Ki, packaged in a traditional CD jewel case with standard packaging, sells for Y 6,000 (approximately $50.00 US based on current exchange rates). When one considers the extra care and consideration put into this release, along with the unique and interesting packaging, it is easy to see that Live in USA is likely the definitive Kenso DVD release, setting a standard for concert DVD releases in general to follow. Taking everything into consideration (packaging, video quality, audio quality, special features), Live in USA is an essential release, not only for fans of the band, but for fans of symphonic rock and jazz-fusion as well. Band: Yoshihisa Shimizu, guitar Kenichi Oguchi, keyboards Kenichi Mitsuda, keyboards Shunji Saegusa, bass Keisuke Komori, drums