Peter Gabriel: New Blood – Live In London 3D in 3Dimensions (2011/Eagle Blu-ray 3D w/Blu-ray 2D and DVD)
3D
Picture: B 2D Picture: C+/C Sound: B+/B Extras: C Concert: B
The
original leader of the band Genesis when they were considered bold, challenging
and rankled as a Progressive Rock band, Peter Gabriel left the band by the late
1970s (they turned into a less creative pop band) and he began a series of
self-titled solo albums (you could only identify them by their covers and
unofficially numbering them) that showed where the heart of the old version of
the band had gone. Soon, he would also
offer innovative Music Videos in its earliest years and then he started to have
hits, but never sold out. Over three
decades after going solo, he is now one of the first artists in his field to
try a 3D concert.
Peter Gabriel: New Blood – Live In
London 3D in 3Dimensions (2011) has Gabriel performing some of his greatest songs and biggest
hits in new laid-back ways that still manage to bring out what the work is
saying. The 22 tracks include Wallflower, The Boy In The Bubble, Après
Moi, The Drop, Washing Of The Water, The Book Of Love, Darkness, The Power Of The
Heart, Biko, San Jacinto, Digging In The
Dirt, Signal To Noise, Downside Up, Mercy Street, The Rhythm Of
The Heart, Blood Of Eden, Red Rain, Solsbury Hill, In Your Eyes,
Don’t Give Up (a new version of his
classic duet with Kate Bush, here with the female vocal by Ane Brun) and The Nest That Sailed The Sky. These often feel like and play like ambient
performances of the songs to some extent.
Some
people might not like the orchestral approach arranged by John Metcalfe and
conducted by Ben Foster, moving away from the Rock roots of the classic
recordings and many live versions since, but it is a nice alternative approach
and shot in part with a Telegenic 3D camera.
Blue Leach (that is the name of a man, not a group entity) directed the
show and it joins Blu-ray 3D music entries by Lang Lang and Kenny Chesney (both
reviewed elsewhere on this site) as impressive early concert entries. New
Blood shows Gabriel’s willingness to go into new territory as much as his
debut with Genesis and is definitely recommended.
The 1080p
MVC-encoded 1.78 X 1 3-D – Full Resolution digital High Definition image has
some great 3D shots and some goods ones mixed together in an often impressive
presentation that is pretty consistent with only minor issues. It is also often fun and Gabriel goes out of
his way to make this memorable. The 2D
1080p digital High Definition version image is unfortunately not as impressive,
showing the 3D not resolving itself well enough in the tradedown and the anamorphically
enhanced 2D DVD is even weaker, so 3D is the only way to watch this one. The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix
on the Blu-ray is also impressively consistent throughout with great recording
quality and some superior sonic moments you would expect from Gabriel. PCM 2.0 Stereo and lossy Dolby Digital 5.1
are also offered, but are not as good.
The DTS
5.1 on the DVD is the best choice it offers versus the lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 and
2.0 options, but none are a match for the DTS-MA on the Blu-ray. The combination of the 3D and DTS-MA is the
only way to really enjoy this one to the full.
An illustrated, informative booklet inside the Blu-ray case and (18:25)
behind the scenes featurette Blood Donors in which Gabriel
explains how happy he is with the new 3D technology and making this show. Note the 2D Blu-ray is sold separately on its
own as a single, so don’t buy that one by accident and think you are getting
this set.
- Nicholas Sheffo
