DVD review: Isochronous

Isochronous

Live in Germany

***

Fate would have it that Marko Benini, Richard Brokensha, Alex Parker and Franco Schoeman would embark on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This would see them as the band Isochronous, performing and touring Germany as the opening act for German superstar Marius Muller Westernhage.

This opportunity came after Westernhage saw Isochronous performing in Cape Town back in July, 2010 while on vacation. After being blown away by their talents, he immediately scooped them up.

With three albums released to date, this alternative pop/rock band has used their unique music and energetic live performances as their introduction to an industry that has quickly elevated them to a well-respected group.

To give SA audiences a taste of their life-changing musical experience, they have released a DVD of their 10-show tour of Germany which took place in October, 2010.

In total the band played to more than 140 000 spectators at some of the most prestigious venues in Germany.

The DVD primarily features the band playing in the O2 World Arena in Berlin to a crowd of more than 10 000.

The recording is about two hours long and consists of backstage footage filmed in handheld camera style by the band members as they take us through shots of the arena and their massive stage rig. The DVD also boasts music videos and footage from their Destiny video shoot.

Their hits, from The Tempest, White City to Torpid, go down well with the crowd as they perform with the craziest energy on stage.

However, as a viewer watching it in the comfort of your home, there is no use of stage lighting to add variation and excitement to the live performance, which makes the viewing experience visually static. Despite this, their live performance is still something to behold.

• The band will launch their DVD with performances in Joburg, Pretoria and Durban:

Friday: Tanz Café, Joburg: R60, 9pm;

June 27: Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria: R80 pre-sold, R100 after 7.30pm;

June 30: Live, Durban: R60, 9pm.

All tickets at the door of the venues. The show at Atterbury Theatre will be a special performance and tickets cost R100 at Computicket.

The DVD will be on sale at all shows and is available in music stores.