Distributed by
Pinnacle Records

Cert:

Cat.no: IX 1139 LRUKD

Running time: 112 minutes

Recorded: 2000

Pressing: 2001

Region(s): 2, PAL

Chapters: 17

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Widescreen: 16:9 (1.77:1)

16:9-enhanced: No

Macrovision: No

Disc Format: DVD 9

Price: £19.99

Extras: Music Track: "Homeworld", Virtual Tourbook, Video press kit, HTML version of the Yesworld website

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Director :

Michael Chloe

Producer :

Katie McNeil

The Band:

Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Billy Sherwood, Chris Squire, Alan White, Igor Khoroshev

Yes: House of Yes - Live at the House of Blues is a near-2hr concert of songs recorded at the House of Blues, Las Vegas, as the band returned to their roots last year and recorded the album, "The Ladder".

With many tracks spanning their entire output, such as I've Seen All Good People, Owner of a Lonely Heart, And You And I and Roundabout, it's partly like a 'greatest hits', mixed with new tracks such as the single from The Ladder, entitled "Homeworld", which really bowled me over the first time I heard it.

If you're not au fait with some of the progressive rock music on this disc then the time spent listening to it will be a worthwhile investment, but at times it can get a little self-indulgent and I was hoping for some tracks from Big Generator, their 1987 album which seems all but forgotten about even though I thought it one of the best things I've ever heard.

Confirmed fans of the band will definitely make a purchase, especially since the band give their all throughout the performance and I have fond memories of the gig I went to see in 1991 on their "Union" tour as they performed on a turntable in the centre of the Birmingham NEC for almost three hours.

The full list of tracks included are :

1. Introduction 2. Yours Is No Disgrace 3. Time And A Word 4. Homeworld (The Ladder) 5. Perpetual Change 6. Lightning Strikes 7. The Messenger 8. Ritual-Nous Sommes Du Soleil

9. And You And I 10. It Will Be A Good Day (The River) 11. Face To Face 12. Awaken 13. Your Move/I've Seen All Good People 14. Cinema 15. Owner Of A Lonely Heart 16. Roundabout 17. End Credits

It may be in widescreen but they
couldn't get the whole band onscreen at once.

There are no artifacts on show, but the concert looks like it has been shot on NTSC film and the conversion to PAL gives it that soft look that you'd expect, which isn't helped by the lack of an anamorphic transfer (how did this happen?) and that's surprising given Yes' effervescent visual style, as brought to life by Roger Dean's fantastic album covers.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound doesn't have a massive amount of surrounding activity, but then that's probably a good thing because with the band in front of you it would sound a bit odd with instruments coming from where they don't belong. What the DD5.1 does add is a distinct clarity which aids the enjoyment.

First up is the Virtual Tourbook - a series of pics and biogs of the band - and a Video press kit about the making of the new album which runs for just over 12 minutes and contains chat from the band, studio B-roll footage of Homeworld and If Only You Knew and B-roll footage of the PC game based on the track "Homeworld".

For those with a DVD-ROM drive you can check out an HTML version of the Yesworld website and the final extra is a worthy pop video, with footage from the aforementioned game to the tune of Homeworld, with split-surround Dolby Digital 5.1 that will blow you away, but before you watch it, turn the lights off, fix yourself a strong drink and trip away...

There are 17 chapters to the disc, as described in the track listing above and while all menus are static, the main one contains music from the concert. Sadly there are no subtitles so you can't make sense of the lyrics during the gig.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS
OVERALL