Wakeman, Rick And The New English Rock Ensemble - Out There (DVD)

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Classic Pictures
Catalog Number: DVD6099X
Format: DVD
Total Time: 79:09:00

With the audio CD Out There already having been reviewed, I will only review the DVD here and not the musical contents!

A year ago the audio CD Out There was released, which gained lots of positive feedback the world over. After having rejoined Yes in June 2002, it now looked like Rick Wakeman was definitely back on track again as a solo artist as well. But then disaster struck as Damian Wilson decided to quit the day before the Out There tour. The tour went ahead thanks to the enthusiasm of the other lads, plus the courage of none other than Ashely Holt. With all the DVD footage already recorded, the big question was whether at all Rick could issue a DVD which now contained a different singer than the one on the CD. A year later and we know the answer. At some stage a new front cover for the DVD was realized, sporting a band picture with Ashley Holt. This picture has now been moved to the inside of the jewel case, whilst a brand new picture has been created for the front cover. But the film itself still shows Damian Wilson, so the wait has only been there to cause confusion, as in the end it's everything that was planned from the very beginning!

Promoted as being the world's very first "progressive rock DVD album," it has indeed to be said that most if not all of the DVDs so far mainly contain live footage, complemented by some offstage trivia. Here we get the entire new album Out There augmented with some great visuals whether they are specially created computer graphics or original footage from the NASA vaults. Compared to the "normal" CD release, some extra soundclips from NASA have been added to make the whole even more spectacular. The sound really is three-dimensional and at times you literally feel like floating in space. During the title track both Ant Glynne and Rick deliver solos on guitar and Moog, respectively, but we don't see the musicians, which I think is a shame. In fact, throughout the entire duration of this DVD we never really get to see the musicians really up close as they are part of the complete picture. I'm certain not to be on my own when I say that I like to see Rick's fingers slide over those keyboards from time to time. Sadly I don't get it here. On top of that, only Rick is "dressed for the occasion" as he has his shiny golden cape on whilst the rest of the band look like they have just left the pub on the other side of the studio. Ant even wears a sleeveless T-shirt sponsoring Marshall! If so much money was spent on this DVD, then why didn't they take it a little further and get each member of the band a decent costume?

In "Universe Of Sound," the outlines of the musicians are projected as tiny particles in the universe which I think is a nice find. The final track "The Cathedral In The Sky" contains a nice piece of church organ, so why hasn't this part been filmed with Rick behind a real church organ then? He now sits behind the same keyboard all the time, even when he delivers some tasty piano. So why not bring a real grand piano in the studio? I'm sure Steinway would've loved the publicity! Filming the church organ part inside a church or chapel would have given an extra dimension, whilst the colours of the stained glass windows would have been a real extra. As it is, Out There is a good combination of new rock music and footage which extra "explains" the actual plot. As a bonus, you get to see the musicians as well, although they are part of the scenery rather than being in the spotlight one by one. Sadly this DVD is not a hybrid release, so if you only care to see this film once or twice, but would like to play the music on your stereo or in your car, you can't! So in a way you are obliged to buy the DVD just for the pleasure of being able to watch the extra visuals, whilst also buying the CD so you can listen to the music without needing a DVD-player. An opportunity missed!

There's only one extra feature where Wakeman explains the concept behind this album. NASA took Wakeman's music into space so maybe "out there" other creatures are sending their music back to us. Rick feels musicians then might act like receivers, capturing these invisible sounds which they can put into "earthly" music. He also speaks highly of his New English Rock Ensemble who we see having fun backstage. We also briefly meet Alina Bencini, Rick's girlfriend, who also designed the sleeve, and his daughter Jemma. Shot in sunny Tenerife, Rick looks relaxed and talks highly of the "camaraderie" in the band. It's that element that will undoubtedly lay down the foundation for many more NERE related projects in time to come! But next time, make sure your new album is a hybrid release Rick!

Tracklisting:
Out There / The Mission / To Be With You / Universe Of Sound / Music Of Love / Cathedral Of The Sky

Musicians:
Rick Wakeman - keyboards
Tony Fernandez - electronic and acoustic drums and percussion
Ant Glynne - electric guitars
Damian Wilson - vocals
Lee Pomeroy - bass
Choir - the English Chamber Choir

Discography:
Piano Vibrations (1971)
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (1973)
Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (1974)
Lisztomania (1975)
The Myths & Legends Of King Arthur & The Knights Of The Round Table (1975)
No Earthly Connection (1976)
Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record (1977)
White Rock (1977)
Animal Showdown (1979)
Rhapsodies (1979)
I'm So Straight I'm A Weirdo (1980)
1984 (1981)
The Burning (OST) (1981)
Rock N Roll Prophet (1982)
Cost Of Living (1983)
G'ole! (1983)
Crimes Of Passion (OST) (1984)
Live At Hammersmith (1985)
Lytton's Diary (1985)
Silent Nights (1985)
Country Airs (1986)
The Family Album (1987)
The Gospels (1987)
20th Anniversary Limited Edition (1988)
A Suite Of Gods (1988)
Custer's Last Stand/Ocean City (1988)
Time Machine (1988)
Zodiaque (1988)
Black Knights At The Court Of Ferdinand IV (1989)
Sea Airs (1989)
Phantom Power (1990)
In The Beginning (1990)
Night Airs (1990)
Phantom Power (1990)
2000AD Into The Future (1991)
African Bach (1991)
Aspirant Sunrise (1991)
Aspirant Sunset (1991)
Aspirant Sunshadows (1991)
Rock N Roll Prophet Plus (1991)
Softsword (1991)
The Classical Connection (1991)
Best Works Collection (1992)
Country Airs (1992)
Classic Tracks (1993)
No Expense Spared (1993)
Prayers (1993)
The Classical Connection 2 (1993)
The Heritage Suite (1993)
Unleashing The Tethered One - The 1974 North American Tour (1993)
Wakeman With Wakeman (1993)
Light Up The Sky (1994)
Live On The Test (1994)
Lure Of The Wild (1994)
Rick Wakeman's Greatest Hits (1994)
The Stage Collection (1994)
Wakeman With Wakeman - The Official Bootleg (1994)
Wakeman With Wakeman Live (1994)
Almost Live In Europe (1995)
Cirque Surreal (1995)
Rick Wakeman In Concert (1995)
Rock & Pop Legends (1995)
Romance Of The Victorian Age (1995)
The Piano Album (1995)
The Private Collection (1995)
The Seven Wonders Of The World (1995)
Visions (1995)
Can You Hear Me? (1996)
Fields Of Green (1996)
Orisons (1996)
Tapestries (1996)
The New Gospels (1996)
The Word And Music (1996)
Vignettes (1996)
Voyage (1996)
Welcome A Star (1996)
Fields Of Green '97 (1997)
Simply Acoustic - The Music (1997)
Tribute (1997)
Master Series (1998)
Themes (1998)
Official Live Bootleg (1999)
Return To The Centre Of The Earth (1999)
Stella Bianca Alla Corte De Re Ferdinando (1999)
The Masters (1999)
The Natural World Trilogy (1999)
White Rock II (1999)
Christmas Variations (2000)
Chronicles Of Man (2000)
Morning Has Broken (2000)
Preludes To A Century (2000)
Recollections - The Very Best Of Rick Wakeman (2000)
Rick Wakeman The Legend Live In Concert 2000 (2000)
The Caped Collection (2000)
Classical Variations (2001/2002)
Simply Acoustic (2001)
Out Of The Blue (2001)
Two Sides Of Yes (2001/2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 1 - The Real Lizstomania (2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 2 - The Oscar Concert (2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 3 - The Missing Half (2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 4 - Almost Classical (2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 5 - The Mixture (2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 6 - Medium Rare (2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 7 - Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (2002)
Treasure Chest Volume 8 - Stories (2002)
Two Sides Of Yes - Volume II (2002)
Wakeman & Cousins -Hummingbird (2002)
Out There (2003)
Retro (2006)
Retro 2 (2007)
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII Live At Hampton Court Palace (2009)
Always With You (2010)
Past, Present, and Future (2010)
Anderson/Wakeman - The Living Tree (2010)
In The Nick Of Time-Live In 2003 (2012)
Journey To The Centre Of The Earth 2012 (2012)
The Myths & Legends Of King Arthur & The Knigts Of The Round Table 2016 (2016)
Piano Portraits (2017)
The Phantom Of The Opera (2017)

Piano Odyssey (2018)
Christmas Portraits (2019)
Official Bootleg Series - Boston USA 1974 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Osaka Japan 1975 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Sheffield UK 1981 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Vienna Austria 1976 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Preston UK 1981 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Tokyo Japan 2008 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Cropredy UK 2010 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Osaka Japan 2014 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Tokyo Japan 2014 (2019) Official Bootleg Series - Daphne Du Maurier Festival UK 2001 (2019)

The Classical Connection (VHS) (1991)
The Very Best Of The Rick Wakeman Chronicles (VHS) (1994)
Simply Acoustic (VHS) (1996)
The New Gospels (VHS) (1996)
The Piano Tour Live (VHS) (1997)
Rick Wakeman Live (VHS) (1998)
An Evening WIth Rick Wakeman (VHS) (2000)
Rick Wakeman Live In Concert 2000 (DVD) (2000/2002)
Journey To The Center Of The Earth Live In 1975 (DVD) (2001/2002)
Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble - Live In Buenos Aires (DVD) (2001/2002)
Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble - Out There (DVD) (2004)
Journey To The Centre Of The Earth Live In 1975 - 30th Anniversary Edition (DVD) (2005)
Made In Cuba (DVD) (2005)
Amazing Grace (DVD) (2007)
The Other Side Of Rick Wakeman (DVD) (2007)
Video Vault Volume 1 - 1975 Live At Empire Pool, King Arthur On Ice (DVD) (2007)
Video Vault Volume 2 - Live At The Maltings 1976 (DVD) (2007)
Video Vault Volume 3 - Live 1980 Swedish Television Special (DVD) (2007)
Video Vault Volume 4 - 1984 Live At The Hammersmith Odeon 1981 (DVD) (2007)
Video Vault Volume 5 - Night Music (DVD) (2007)
Video Vault Volume 6 - Rarities Plus Interview (DVD) (2007)
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII Live At Hampton Court Palace (DVD/BR) (2009)
Classical Wakeman Volume 1 - Live In Lugano (DVD) (2010)
Starmus (DVD) (2017)
Live Portriats At Lincoln Cathedral (DVD) (2018)

Genre: Symphonic Prog

Origin UK

Added: March 22nd 2004
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.rwcc.com
Hits: 3715
Language: english