Short Reviews [ Focus - 2021 - "Focus 50"]

Every band has been impacted by the pandemic in one way or another, and Focus were unable to get out on tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary, so instead this triple CD/Blu-Ray/book set was made available last year. The first two CDs and Blu-Ray are a live recording from a concert in Rio from 2017 while it also includes a studio album. This comprises the current ine-up of Thijs van Leer (keyboard, flute and vocals), Pierre van der Linden (drums), Menno Gootjes (guitar) and Udo Pannekeet (bass) re-recording all the “Focus” tracks, “Focus 1” – “Focus 12”, which took place during lockdown. I have not seen the Blu-Ray, I only have the audio, but am guessing it will be of excellent camera quality, so why is the audio so poor? If I had been given this with no background information I would have presumed it was an audience recording, albeit one of good quality, as opposed to something official. The mix is just off, and if this is a deliberate attempt to have the sound exactly as it would have been heard by someone in the crowd then it may have worked but what was the rationale? We can hear people talking in the crowd as if they are right next to the microphone, and overall quality is just not good enough. This is a real shame, as they kick off “Focus I” from the debut album all the way back in 1970, as well as giving us storming performances of the classics “Hocus Pocus” and “Sylvia”. There are very few instrumental bands who have stayed the course as long as the Dutchmen, and as long as Thijs van Leer wants to keep it going I am sure there will be a Focus. To hear the crowd reaction to “Sylvia” is a delight, while the extended version of “Hocus Pocus” (more than 20 minutes) is superb. It is just a shame it is let down somewhat by the sound. I have no idea why the band decided to re-record all the “Focus” songs – I note they call it ‘Completely Focussed’ so it may be possible that this will be released separately at some point. While pleasant, it is certainly not essential as I always prefer to go to the originals. Overall this is a good set, but if the sound were better for the live then it would have been great, but for fans of the band this will no doubt be essential.