Mark King (of Level 42) In Concert – Ohne Filter Show

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B     Extras: C+     Concert: B

 

 

In is amazing how many one-hit wonders in the 1980s turn out to be really talented acts that deserved more commercial success than they got, especially some imported acts.  Such great talents include Split Enz, Swing Out Sister, The Stranglers, Big Country, Gary Numan, and Level 42.  In the case of Split Enz, the Finn Brothers (Neil and Tim) did solo albums, an album together in their names and created the more successful Crowded House.  In the case of Level 42, they had a great hit with Something About You, and then disappeared from U.S. charts.  Lead singer Mark King even went solo, and one of the results of this move is represented in the very surprising DVD Mark King In Concert.

 

Taped on the German program Ohne Filter – Musik Pur (translated as Without Filter -Sheer, Unadulterated Music) in 1999, coinciding with the release of his ambitious solo debut album, King delivers one of the best concerts on DVD to date.  I cannot believe I am saying that, but it is that good.  In the 12-song set, he opens with a Level 42 tune, does four of the songs off of his solo album Influences, then continues with more Level 42 work.  The tracks are:

 

 

1)     Hot Water

2)     Pamela

3)     Love Wars

4)     Bitter Moon

5)     Changing of the Guard

6)     Love Games

7)     To Be With You Again

8)     Mr. Pink

9)     Running in the Family

10)  Lessons in Love

11)  Something About You

12)  The Chinese Way

 

Since his international success with the original Something About You, his singing voice is even better now, and his energy is so non-stop, it is unbelievable.  What helps is the Ohne Filter program, which is an impressive showcase for musical talent like nothing we even have in the United States anymore.  We have seen endless Musik Laden DVDs, but here is a show that needs to be imported to the U.S. immediately!

 

Hip Hop has more than enough outlets.  While VH-1 and some other music throwback programming cannot seem to come up with programming or series that take hold for long, why can’t they just do a show like this!  The Germans do not own the idea.  It can definitely be said that any channel that pays for the rights to this show and promotes it properly would have a big surprise hit on their hands.  Even with that said, this is a good DVD and despite the talented roster who have already taped for Ohne Filter, I expect the Mark King installment here will hold up as one of the best shows made.

 

The full frame image is taped in the PAL format as we know it today.  It has improved in noticeable ways since Adam Ant and ABC used it to make their classic Music Videos.  There is a slight softness throughout, but that can be partly attributed to the PAL/NTSC difference, which we have noticed on many an A&E British TV import set.  The sound is available in PCM 2.0 Stereo and Dolby Digital AC-3 5.1 mixes, which are both good, but the 5.1 is a bit better in this case.  The supplements brag about how good the studio where Ohne Filter is taped is, and you will believe it after listening to this DVD on a good system.  The Music Video for Something About You is actually included in a nice video transfer on Universal Music’s Pure 80s – The DVD set, which also has 2.0 Stereo in Dolby Digital and PCM.  The PCM is better, but neither soundtrack is as good as what is on this Mark King set.  The other extras include language and subtitle options, but not on the actual concert, so the package is misleading and/or unclear about this.  There is also a text bio on King and a few plugs for some high quality audio/video cables, obvious sponsors of these fine programs.  Too bad they are not sold in the U.S., but they offer SCART connections only used on PAL TVs, so that is one we would never need anyhow.  Their good taste compels us to believe they have got the goods.

 

Even if you are not a fan of 1980s music specifically, you will not be able to resist what King pulls off here, if you really care about music in the first place.  Had he appeared on a popular show in the U.S. like this (if one existed), King could have had a solo hit or two.  Considering the junk that major labels released in the U.S. that year, how could he have lost?  If you are sick and tired of overhyped singers and acts with no signing or music talent, then Mark King In Concert is more than worth your time and money.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo