Neo - Broadcast

Year of Release: 2007
Label: Metal Mind Productions
Catalog Number: MVDV4578
Format: DVD
Total Time: 140:00:00

Music is business ? there is no escaping that, as musicians also need to pay their bills. It's unfortunate, but fortunately many bands don't let that fact keep them away from the art and fun in music. And as for the fun in the music: here is a collective that reminds us how fun it is to play music!

Clive Nolan (Arena, Pendragon), John Jowitt (IQ, Frost), Andy Edwards (IQ) and Mark Westwood (The Martin Orford Band) joined forces under the name Neo. No, it is not a reference to the Matrix movie, but rather a play to the term "neo-progressive rock." This as all members, and guests, are part of the so called neo progressive bands: IQ, Arena, Pendragon, and Pallas.

Now, the term "super group" has become very common, but I wouldn't call Neo a new super group. No, they are more a bunch of musicians that offer a great show with good music and a lot of fun. A glance at the track listing shows they do not bring any new music. Instead they play songs from their respective bands, with a few nice surprises in the set list! The show is recorded in Poland in a familiar looking theatre with a difficult name. [Wyspianski Theater in Katowice, Poland]

The first two tracks are from IQ, "Overture" from Subterranea, a nice instrumental, and "Erosion," from the Seventh House. This one is sung by John Jowitt! And as it turns out, he is not such a bad singer. Then the first "guest" is brought to the stage, Alan Reed. Of course he sings a few Pallas songs, which are quite nice. I'm not that familiar with Pallas, but it was nice to hear them and see who Alan Reed is. And of these three Pallas tracks, I love "Crown Of Thorns," which, according to Reed, "was written long before he was born." And that is one of the nice things of Neo: they don't go for the obvious, but carefully select their songs. And man, do they have lots of fun on stage -- Reed dancing around, that is so great to see and it will put a smile on your face.

From Arena only one song is included, but probably their best one: "The Hanging Tree!" Speechless? that's all I can say about this version. After the IQ song, yet another "oldie," "The Enemy Smacks" (end section), we are treated to the first surprise! Yes, former Pendragon keyboardist John Barnfield takes over the keyboards and ? Clive comes up to the centre of the stage and sings! "Mindgames" comes from the second Shadowland album. This Shadowland project is something many fans have asked Clive about for years, and now we get a taste of it and it taste like more. Clive, if you read this: please do bring Shadowland back to life!

For the last IQ song, the last "guest" enters the stage, Nick Barrett, wearing some sort of hip-hop cap ? what, is he in his mid-life crisis? Whatever the case, he is having the time of his life and he brings us the second surprise and my personal favourite song of the DVD: "Shadows Of Fate," originally from the Nolan & Wakeman album The Hound Of The Baskervilles. This version rocks, especially with the crunchy guitar play by Mark Westwood. And this live version is probably a bit unique, so it is a very nice treat they included this song in the set list.

The set ends with three Pendragon songs and it is no surprise to see Nick picking up his guitar. Here they did pick two very obvious songs: first off "Paintbox," which is a favourite song among fans. My favourite is "Master Of Illusion," which clocks almost 13 minutes, and the bands end with, how else could they: "Nostradamus" ? the perfect song to get the audience chanting along.

So after an hour and a half, you are left with only one feeling: I want more! Man, this is such a great DVD. I already knew that Jowitt, Nolan and Barrett were first class musicians. After having seen the Stage DVD by IQ, I could include drummer Andy Edwards in that list as well. But my discoveries were Alan Reed, an excellent singer and performer, and guitarist Mark Westwood, who really impressed me with his simply amazing play. Crunchy, melodic and captivating.

This is a DVD you really must see. Sure, it is all covers, but that is a detail. What counts is that you have a group of excellent musicians playing great songs and having the time of their life. And when you watch this DVD, you will find lot's more great things about this "super group."

And the DVD has a few nice bonus features, like an interview with Clive Nolan and John Jowitt, where they tell more about the story behind Neo, about the name and why their debut release is a DVD. And it offers more than 30 minutes video of the soundcheck of Neo at the ROSfest 2006 festival.

So, in closing I can only say: add this DVD to your collection. If you are even remotely interested in any of the bands that are linked to it, you will definitely enjoy and even love this release.

Tracklisting:
Overture / Erosion / For The Greater Glory / Hide And Seek / Crown Of Thorns / The Hanging Tree / The Enemy Smacks (End Section) / Mindgames / Outer Limits / Shadows Of Fate / Paintbox / Masters Of Illusions / Nostradamus

Musicians:
John Jowitt - bass guitar, vocals
Mark Westwood - guitars
Clive Nolan - keyboards, vocals
Andy Edwards - drums
Alan Reed - vocals
Nick Barrett - guitars, vocals
John Barnsfield - keyboards

Discography:
Broadcast (DVD) (2007)

Genre: Neo Prog

Origin UK

Added: May 25th 2007
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.myspace.com/neoprogressive
Hits: 6803
Language: english