Genuine Masters raises their own bar with creativity on this, their latest DVD-Audio/Picture Montage format. A very interesting and beautiful slide-show presentation to accompany the stellar stereo soundboard from this "new" concert date & tape that came to light in 2004.
When you talk about GM, it is still primarily about the audio. Their releases have consistently provided collectors upgrades, some more prolific than others and this one looks like it may be more subjective than previous titles. What this reviewer hears on this superbly mastered disc is a much more natural sounding recording than what comes to life from Empress Valley's, or even Eelgrass', "Conspiracy Theory". Upon comparing the GM disc to the Empress Valley recording, there is a difference albeit both sound terrific. What it is, is a more snappy snare drum and a more defined bottom end that could simply be the result of the perceived separation of the individual musical components. There is again, spacial qualities that seem to be consistent with other GM titles. Is it really in the care of the source tape transfer?....whatever the GM process is, it works. It should be noted that, at about the 2:00 minute mark of "No Quarter", there is an audible "beep". This is present on the sourcetape and also present on EV's version as well but, because of additional clarity of this GM source - it is more noticeable here. The source for "Mystic San Diego" is obviously the same source Empress Valley have obtained. However, I've been assured that this is not a remastering of "Conspiracy Theory" Discs, it was a careful transfer from this common sourcetape.
This is a really pristine and powerful sounding disc...with an incredibly cosmic and colorful slideshow to provide that backdrop as you listen. The photos utilized on this project were nicely assembled, again some common shots but many rarely circulated images and some I haven't seen before. The photos are nicely paced with this show, changing about every 2 minutes and start to repeat themselves about halfway through "Moby Dick". Nicely programmed for the experience. GM has kicked off 2005 with a very thoughtful & unique picture presentation or concept for "Mystic San Diego". Again, really high quality product and value for the collector, on a format they still stand alone with out there on the Led Zeppelin Bootleg landscape.
Genuine Masters is offering collectors the option of obtaining the audio on 3CDRs, along with the DVD-Audio/Picture Montage DVD Disc if you so desire.
You can contact Genuine Masters directly at:
genuinemasters@yahoo.com
