On their second night in Tokyo and their last in Japan, it’s obvious from the first note that the team have been doing a little arranging. The ascending step-by-step we hear on Heavy ConstruKction gives it a definite momentum whilst still maintaining the frisson that comes from the blowing sections of the track and the concert as a whole. Live Groove may well be the best for the piece on the trip with Belew keeping up a rocking tempo across the two opening tracks. If there’s been a slightly provisional air to much of what the band’s been doing to date, here they sound deadly and definitive. After some amiable push and shove on X_chayn_jiZ, it’s Gunn who really grasps control of this one summoning up an amazing demonstration of instrumental fireworks.
The energy on this concert is astonishing but perhaps unsustainable for an entire gig. Perhaps with this in mind things calm down after a spot of Vectoring and a surprising rendition of Vrooom mid-way through the set. The change in dynamics makes this possibly a more accomplished performance than the previous evening with Contrary ConstruKction sounding very much fixed in place. That said Thrush is still evolving and brings the concert to a stately, not to say sublime, conclusion with Gunn’s yearning solo delicately and unhurriedly unfurling into a wash of cavernous reverb.
The energy on this concert is astonishing but perhaps unsustainable for an entire gig. Perhaps with this in mind things calm down after a spot of Vectoring and a surprising rendition of Vrooom mid-way through the set. The change in dynamics makes this possibly a more accomplished performance than the previous evening with Contrary ConstruKction sounding very much fixed in place. That said Thrush is still evolving and brings the concert to a stately, not to say sublime, conclusion with Gunn’s yearning solo delicately and unhurriedly unfurling into a wash of cavernous reverb.
