Bob Dylan/Tokyo,Japan 4.6.2016

The first release from Bob Dylan’s Japan tour, which has been going on for almost a month, is finally here. Although this visit to Japan is the first live performance of this year for Dylan and the band, the latest tour has already caused a reaction among enthusiasts all over the world with their high-quality live performances day after day. If it is released from there, there is no doubt that it will be an attention-grabbing item that even non-Dylan fans can’t miss. For its release, we used an audience recording master that was provided directly by Taper, without going through traders or the internet, which was captured live at Shibuya Orchard Hall in Tokyo on April 7th, the third performance in Japan. In 2016, where recording at the highest quality is considered commonplace, the sound quality of this uniquely sourced sound source can be described as top class. The balance of each instrument in the performance, and the volume of Dylan’s voice in the background. Advances in equipment and technology have made it possible for audience recordings in recent years to produce recordings that have a natural sound image and amazing clarity, but when it comes to the balance of instruments, the volume and presence of the drums are pushed out. There are many cases where this happens. In that respect, this recording is free from the imbalance of instruments that recent audience recordings sometimes tend to fall into, and it captures Dylan’s latest stage in a state that is worthy of being called a superb recording. . Dylan’s latest live sound sources will probably be released in the future, but I assure you that this album has the quality that should serve as a guideline for them! Since 2013, Dylan’s live shows have switched to a setlist composition centered on recent albums, and the song selection has hardly changed to this day. However, during the last tour in 2014, one or two songs changed almost every day, surprising enthusiasts around the world. This performance in Japan will not only be the first performance in Japan since the release of Frank Sinatra’s cover collection “SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT”, which was a huge hit last year, but will also be released as a sequel to the Sinatra covers. The set list, which includes songs from “FALLEN ANGELS” and “MELANCHOLY MOOD”, which was released as a pre-release single in Japan, has been a hot topic among enthusiasts all over the world. Therefore, although the song selection did not change as much as last time, the high-quality performance had my ears glued to it. The splendid stage performance of the Sinatra cover from last year’s tour had already become a hot topic, but among the songs from the singles added this time, the lively performance of the title song in particular was a splendid accent in the first half of the live performance. You can feel from this sound source that the audience is excited. Furthermore, in the Japanese performance, Dylan’s magnificent singing performance of “That Old Black Magic”, which was set in from the live show on the 6th the previous day, was also wonderful. This day’s live performance was the third day of the three consecutive days since he came to Japan, and one of the repeat audience members said, “I noticed the lack of clarity in Dylan’s voice in the first half.” There were some reports about this, but since Dylan’s current standard is high-quality performance as a whole, when you listen to it like this, the voltage hasn’t dropped at all, and the sound is surprisingly strong. I’m surprised. Rather, the really rare incident that the band’s breathing becomes disrupted several times during “Long And Wasted Years” at the end of the live performance is more conspicuous. After all, it is the current Dylan band that boasts a stable or rock-solid performance, so it is no exaggeration to say that this is rather interesting to listen to, and is one of the highlights of the day. By the way, there are also live sounds that are unique to 2016, such as “Duquesne Whistle”, which has evolved into a jazzier and harder arrangement even though it is a traditional repertoire, and a rock performance of “Love Sick”, which has been elevated to the role of closing the entire live performance. There is no doubt that you will thoroughly enjoy it due to its high sound quality. This is the appearance of the best sound source that will be overwhelmed by the hot stage unique to Dylan, such as the moist performance of Sinatra cover and the passionate singing of Dylan, who has now become a complete singer. The rock-solid, high-quality performance of the members who have been backing for many years, Dylan singing carefully, and the recording quality that anyone from beginners to enthusiasts can listen to with confidence.The title combines all of these, and the words “genuine top-notch” say it all… . Live at Orchard Hall, Tokyo, Japan 6th April 2016 ULTIMATE SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 (47:26) 1. Intro. 2. Things Have Changed 3. She Belongs To Me 4. Beyond Here Lies Nothin’ 5. What ‘ll I Do 6. Duquesne Whistle 7. Melancholy Mood 8. Pay In Blood 9. I’m A Fool To Want You 10. That Old Black Magic 11. Tangled Up In Blue Disc 2 (58:27) 1. Intro. 2. High Water 3. Why Try To Change Me Now 4. Early Roman Kings 5. The Night We Called It A Day 6. Spirit On The Water 7. Scarlet Town 8. All Or Nothing At All 9. Long And Wasted Years 10. Autumn Leaves 11. Blowin’ In The Wind 12. Love Sick