Acclaimed singer Lana Lane's first DVD release is a collection of some of her greatest songs, recorded at various venues in Japan and Germany from 1997 to 2003. Containing 20 songs complemented by band interviews that talk about each cut (the DVD is set up so you can view the songs and interviews together or separate), you get more than your money's worth here with over 3 hours of content. Lana's brand of symphonic rock is perfectly suited for the stage, and she and husband Erik Norlander always have a top-notch group of players with them to make it all happen.
Many of her most well known songs are here, including "Queen of the Ocean", "Under the Olive Tree", "Destination Roswell", "Night Falls", and "Love is an Illusion." Fans of her later, heavier period will love the blistering & thunderous versions of "Secrets of Astrology", "Escher's Staircase", "Frankenstein Unbound", and "The Beast Within You", featuring former Black Sabbath drummer Vinnie Appice pounding away on the kit. While most of the concert footage is fairly good, some of the older material from the 90's is a bit grainy, and the camera work is not always consistant throughout, but the sound is excellent with all the instruments clear and punchy, and Lana's voice in top form. Norlander's keyboard work as always is very impressive, as he adds that symphonic edge to these catchy hard rock songs.
One interesting bit of information you get from reading the booklet is that the 2002 tour of Japan included Mr. Ayreon himself, Arjen Lucasson on guitar. Erik Norlander describes Lucasson as showing up unprepared and unprofessional for the tour, and they subsequently decided to replace the audio and video footage of the guitarist with Peer Verschuren. Unless you read the booklet, you would be baffled watching the 2002 Japan footage, wondering why Verschuren is shown playing on a soundstage somewhere (obviously not with the rest of the band in Japan) as well as why the footage is edited every time the camera starts to sweep to the left side of the stage. Soundwise it works perfectly, as Verschuren is a fantastic guitarist who has played with Lana and Erik before, yet it is a little odd watching the studio footage of him mixed in. Seeing as how Norlander and Lucasson worked together quite often in the past on studio projects, this is an interesting turn of events-prog's latest feud perhaps?
In summary, a must for Lana Lane fans, and a great place to start for newbies. Lana's gorgeous and powerful voice has embraced European & Japanese audiences for a few years now, and finally the rest of the world who has not yet had a chance to experience her magic live can get a glimpse with this DVD.
Track Listing
1. Introductory Medley (Japan 2002)
a. Dark Water Part III
b. Fanfare for the Dragon Isle
c. Garden of the Moon
d. In the Hall of the Ocean Queen
2. Escher's Staircase (Japan 2002)
3. Rainbow's End (Japan 1999)
4. Project Shangri-La (Germany 2003)
5. Queen of the Ocean (Japan 2002)
6. Destination Roswell (Belgium 2003)
7. Frankenstein Unbound (Japan 2002)
8. Before You Go (Germany 2003)
9. Under the Olive Tree (Japan 1998)
10. The Beast Within You (Japan 2002)
11. Night Falls (Japan 1999)
12. Through the Rain (Germany 2003)
13. Seasons (Japan 1998)
14. Love is an Illusion (Japan 1998)
15. Avalon (Germany 1997)
16. Evolution Revolution (Japan 1999)
17. Symphony of Angels (Japan 1998)
18. Astrology Prelude (Germany 2003)
19. Redemption Part II (Germany 2003)
20. Secrets of Astrology (Japan 2002)
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