Focus/UK 2019

FOCUS was able to perform in Japan for the first time in 16 years, celebrating their 50th anniversary. The latest original recording made just before that is now available. This work includes “Harpenden performance on September 7, 2019”. Although the afterglow of the Japanese performance is still fresh, this work is a masterpiece audience recording of the British tour that took place before coming to Japan. First, let’s take a look back at the current activity schedule in order to understand the positional relationship. ●2019, February 15th – May 25th: Netherlands #1 (13 performances) / UK #1 (2 performances) June 22nd – 29th: Netherlands #2 (1 performance) / UK #2 ( 4 performances) ・July 28th (Netherlands #3) + August 2nd (UK #3) ・September 5th-8th: UK #4 (4 performances) ←★Coco★・September 17th-19th : Denmark (3 performances), September 22nd + 23rd: Japan (2 performances), September 29th – November 2nd: Netherlands #4 (1 performance)/UK #5 (25 performances), December 13th : Netherlands #5 (1 performance) ● June 20, 2020: NORTHERN KIN FESTIVAL appearance This is the schedule for 2019/2020 that has been announced so far. It’s a bit chaotic, but to put it simply, it’s “Britain + my home country of the Netherlands.” Among them, the autumn tour in September is exceptional, and Denmark and Japan are also interwoven here. And, the Harpenden performance of this work was the third concert of “UK #4” held in September. This work that recorded such a show is truly an exquisite audience recording. The recording of this show has already appeared on the internet, but this work is completely different. In our store, it is a completely private master who is known as a “British master”, and is an original master only for this work. Moreover, the quality of this work is clearly superior, the sense of distance is closer than the online sound source, and you can fully enjoy the feel of the core and the vividness of the outline. However, it is a little different if you imagine a close-up sound that can be mistaken for a sound board, but the neat sound makes the core even more lustrous, and deliciously produces the “feeling of rain” of the synth. It is a beautiful recording that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the warm atmosphere unique to the master and the feeling of a closed room on a club scale. And, the show drawn with such an intimate sound is a splendor that revives the Japan performance that just ended. In Japan, it was a good idea to change the set between two performances, but this work is just in between. Here, let’s organize the set while comparing it with the Japanese performance. ●Same as the two days in Japan (7 songs)・Focus I, House Of The King, Eruption, Sylvia, Harem Scarem, Hocus Pocus, Focus III ●Only the first day in Japan (2 songs)・Focus IV, Who’s Calling? ●Japan So, the second day only (2 songs) – Focus VI, Le Tango… and so on. The arrangement is different, such as “Focus V+VI” on the first day in Japan, but only “Focus VI”, so it’s not exact, but I think you can get an idea of ​​the show. The “Focus series” was also popular in this performance in Japan, and in this work, “Focus I, III, IV, VI” will also be performed. I’m especially happy that valuable places such as “Focus IV” and “Focus VI” released by Theis van Leer’s solo are captured. Of course, not only the set but also the performance was reminiscent of the performance in Japan, with both Theis and Pierre van der Linden doing a great job that makes it hard to believe that they are in their 70s. area has been reached. They will let you enjoy an ensemble worthy of the gold signboard of “FOCUS”, which is also a symbol of Euro rock. Their just-concluded performance in Japan has received rave reviews everywhere, and I can’t wait to record it. However, this weekend, please enjoy the afterglow with this work, which will be just before that. It is a masterpiece of a live album that not only fully meets those expectations, but also raises expectations for the recording that will probably be recorded in Japan (although we cannot make any promises). Live at Harpenden Public Halls, Harpenden, UK 7th September 2019 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1(52:47) 1. Intro 2. Flute Solo 3. Focus 1 4. House Of The King 5. Thijs Van Leer Concert Introduction 6. Eruption 7. Focus IV 8. Sylvia Disc 2(73:58) 1. Intro 2. Who’s Calling 3. Focus VI 4. Le Tango 5. Harum Scarum (incl. guitar & bass solos) 6. Hocus Pocus ( incl. drum solo) 7. Focus III Thijs van Leer – keyboards, flute, vocals Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussion Menno Gootjes – guitar, backing vocals Udo Pannekeet – bass