Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux Blu-ray

Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux

 (1997)

Music



1970s legends Earth, Wind and Fire -- made up in part by the talented Maurice White, Philip Bailey and Verdine White -- serves up a heady mix of classic funk, soul and R&B with these crowd-pleasing performances at the famed Montreux Rock Festival in 1997 and 1998. Watch them rouse the audience and groove to the tune of "Imagination," "September," "Let's Groove," "Can't Hide Love," "Reasons," "After the Love Is Gone" and more.

For more details about Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux on Blu-ray, see the Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux Blu-ray Review

Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080i "live" transfer, Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment. Please note that the bonus content from the band's appearance at the Montreux Festival in 1998 is in 480/60i.

The transfer has a slightly dated look - the color-scheme is warm, with blacks, reds and blues at times looking somewhat pale; contrast is pleasing and clarity good. Detail varies, especially during panoramic shots, but is nevertheless good. At times, very mild "motion-judder" is noticeable. Additionally, neither macroblocking nor edge enhancement are a serious issue of concern. Though not overly impressive, the camerawork is effective (if you have seen other Montreux shows from the same period, you would know exactly what to expect from Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux). Finally, there are no serious shadow issues to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


There are three audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and LPCM 2.0. I opted for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and later on did a few random comparisons with the other two tracks for the purpose of this review.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track does a fairly good job of capturing the party atmosphere in the venue. Earth, Wind & Fire have always been known for putting up terrific shows where the crowds become involved fairly early, and this one isn't an exception - with the opening notes of "Saturday Nite" and then "Revolution", everyone is on their feet. The sound quality is good - the singing is crisp and clear and the guitar, brass, and percussion solos rich. There are no odd sound overlappings (Philip Bailey's vocals are very easy to distinguish). I also did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, or background noise to report in this review.

The LPCM 2.0 track is decent, but far from matching the fluidity of the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The brass section, in particular, feels detached. During the drum solo, the LPCM 2.0 track also lacks the more natural (low) resonance the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track conveys. In terms of dynamics and fluidity, the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is the least effective one on the disc.

Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Concert Blu-ray Wave from Eagle Rock - August 31, 2009

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