Detailed Reviews [Dificil Equilibrio – 2010 - "Present: Live Tiana DVD"]

Prolusion. The Spanish outfit DIFICIL EQULIBRIO has been around since 1995, as a successor of sorts to the experimental ‘80s band Clan. Since their formation they have issued 4 studio albums, the latest of those, “Flood”, appearing in 2006. Released by Musea Records in 2010, "Present: Live Tiana 2008" is their first ever video production.

Analysis. The Amarok progressive rock festival in Spain has been around since the 1990s, and has been an important gathering place for progressive rock fans in Spain. It is also the home turf of Dificil Equilibrio, and when they were booked for the 10th festival in 2008 they decided to record this concert for posterity as well. In cooperation with local station TV Badalona, the concert was taped and the footage assembled, resulting in the band's first ever DVD. Compared to many other such ventures, this is a rather underwhelming creation. Clocking in at just under 80 minutes, bonus material included, it is a very brief DVD for starters. Many bands releasing their first video on this format tend to add bonus features that cater to their fan base and add additional value. The cooperation with the production company might have had an impact on that aspect on this occasion, but for whatever reason there's not an extensive amount of material to explore on this disc. The video footage isn't of the highest quality either. The two or possibly three cameras used provide decent quality images at best, good on detail for the close-up shots and generally decent in terms of light and shade. The colors tend to be drawn too much towards red though, and the shots taken from further back in the theatre are blurry and indistinct. Good cameramen and good quality production do add more sparkle to this part of the production, not managing to outweigh the drawbacks of the footage itself, but careful use of special effect filters and clever use of the limited camera angles available manage to sustain a good level of entertainment. The band members themselves add to the experience, as it is easy to see that they are enjoying themselves on stage. The audio footage is the major positive aspect of this release. Brilliantly capturing an almost flawless performance, this part of the DVD is of top notch quality that doesn't leave much to be desired, if anything at all. As for the band and their brand of progressive rock, it is obvious that the guitarist has a fascination for Robert Fripp. His style wouldn't have been out of place on an early ‘80s King Crimson album, at least in the parts where he explores dissonant textures and recurring, repeated motifs. Drawn-out, space-tinged guitar soloing is an additional feature on some of the material, at times reminding me of acts like Oresund Space Collective, while the less experimental parts of their repertoire have a stronger resemblance to the Canadian legend Rush, the tight and energetic rhythm section of the band arguably being the main reason for that association.

Conclusion. If you're a fan of Dificil Equilibrio and really want to have a live DVD from them, this is it. Get it while it's still available. For those less familiar with the band, purchasing this production is basically a question of establishing what you desire. If your main interest is to hear a good live concert by the band, or if the quality of the video footage is of more of a secondary interest, you should get what you want with this disc. But if you're looking for top notch image quality, lots of additional material, and generally have refined tastes requiring a complete DVD experience, this production will have a hard time catering for your particular needs. All in all, a recommended production, as I regard it, and obviously highly so for fans of this veteran Spanish act.

OB=Olav M Bjornsen: October 5, 2010
The Rating Room