Tabla Beat Science

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B     Extras: B+     Film: B

 

 

What exactly is Tabla Beat Science?  To answer that question is harder than just explaining what the function is.  This is an all-out musical journey into the world of hypercussion.  Introducing the world to Talamanam Sound Clash this project features the group performing live from their June 21st, 2002 concert, which took place at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

 

This particular experience was captured using 12 different cameras in order to experience the multi-sensory experience.  What occurs is a melding pot of cultural music that redefines the obscure and transcends stereotypes.  With an almost no-rules concept the group goes to the root of music, which focuses more on the feeling rather than the content, context, or anything else.  It’s just the feeling or mood.  Using ancient rhythms and sounds fused with modern audio/visual psychedelic Tabla Beats Science delivers an unusual, yet hypnotic experience rarely matched.

 

For this DVD issue Palm pictures has presented us with a Digipak case that looks more like a deluxe edition for a CD rather than a DVD.  This only causes confusion to vendors, but indeed this is a DVD-Video only release.  The concert is spread across two discs, which feature a large sum of extras and bonus items. 

 

Track Listing

 

As Always

Sacred Channel

Mengedenga

As We Drift

Vinylskin

Magnetic

Satellite

B Still Transient

Bol Parhant

Devotional

 

What is a rare treat for this type of performance is that there are various multi-angle views that can be accessed for the show as well as picture-in-picture options, which allow the viewer some options for how to experience this as well as a way to see what each musician is doing from various spots.  Some people might prefer the more intimate setting, while others might go for the larger scope shots that show the entire setting. 

 

There are also Bonus videos, which include some of the press conference, which took place in San Francisco, which is, lets just use the word ‘bizarre’.  This is a DVD unlike very many in the fact that it also includes bonus MP3 files that have been encoded on the discs for extras remixes of certain songs, plus there is web-links for the DVD-ROM portion, which offer other bonus content.

 

The audio options are another nice treat as we have more options by choosing either the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix or the DTS 5.1.  As always the DTS is favored much more for this content simply because it sounds more naturalistic, which is better suited for live performances.  Notice that if you attempt to boost the volume on the Dolby in order to try and compensate some of the signal loss that the low end frequencies become unbalanced from the higher end. 

 

While this might not be as sonically designed as I had hoped the audio is far better than most live material, but it is obvious that state-of-the-art technology was not used wholly for this production simply because it does not have the reputation or funds necessary for such.  Given what it does have this was quite a surprise being able to come through for such a low profile performance. 

 

It is certainly fair to say that this is a concert unlike any other, but Palm Pictures has assured the consumer that this is a DVD very much unlike any other, or at least unlike very few up to this point that take full advantage of the formats abilities and options.  Most companies abuse these capabilities buy littering up the DVD with extras that are unworthy, whereas here we have fun, interesting, and useful extras that can keep the fan or curious ones occupied.

 

 

-   Nate Goss