Deep Purple: Live at Montreux (HD DVD)

Eagle Rock | 186 minutes | 2006 | Not Rated | HD DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

I don't watch a lot of concert videos, but as a fan of classic rock, I figured Deep Purple was a safe bet. This concert took place in Montreux in 2006, so Deep Purple wasn't in their prime, but this is still a solid show. The band sounds excellent, but the lead vocals don't always keep up the pace. This is never too much of a concern however and as the show moves on, Ian Gillan is able to get into the groove with his vocals. The technical aspects of the concert are top notch, with a lot of cameras used and that provides numerous perspectives, giving it a kinetic texture. The lighting is great and the camerawork is terrific, a professionally photographed and enjoyable to watch concert from start to finish. Below is a list of the songs performed.

1. Pictures of Home

2. Things I Never Said

3. Strange Kind of Woman

4. Rapture of the Deep

5. Wrong Man

6. The Well-Dressed Guitar

7. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

8. When a Blind Man Cries

9. Lazy

10. Keyboard Solo

11. Space Truckin'

12. Highway Star

13. Smoke on the Water

14. Hush

15. Too Much Fun

16. Black Night

The concert is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a recent concert and as such, it looks quite good. The image captures all the bright lights that flash across the stage, which means at times detail is lost, but even during strobes, the visuals hold up well. The colors weren't as vivid as I expected, but hues still come off as bright. No trouble with contrast, black levels are spot on and don't waver in the least. This is as close as you can get to being in the front row unless you were there, so I think fans will be most pleased.

I went with the DTS HD 5.1 option here and without question, this soundtrack rocks. The sound design here is impressive, I couldn't believe how well crafted the audio was at times. While the video was close to the live experience, I have to think this sounds even better than being at the show in person. The surround use is beyond great, thanks to directional presence and just superb movement. The instruments really shine in this mix, but the vocals also sound terrific. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 option, as well as an LPCM stereo soundtrack.

This disc includes interviews with the band, as well as the London Hard Rock Cafe performance in 2006. This concert runs about an hour and should please fans. The interviews cover a wide range of topics, from the story behind Smoke on the Water to their fans and beyond.