Search - Pansonic: Kuvaputki on DVD

This is actually a Region 0 DVD, not region 2.

Steward Willons | Illinois | 06/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Kuvaputki" is an odd take on a "live" Pan Sonic DVD. The recordings are taken from their 1999 tour, but Pan Sonic rarely appear in the DVD images. It's mostly black and white graphics that reflect the music. I don't mean to trivialize things, but for those unfamiliar with the amazing efforts of VJs, the effect is something like the iTunes visualizer (i.e. strange shapes and lines pulse to the rhythm of the music). It is, of course, more than that. Edward Quist creates a different set of visuals for every track, all designed specifically for Pan Sonic's music. Furthermore, they fit the music extremely well. I don't often try to visualize sound when I'm listening to music, but Quist's visuals work so well that the seem to have been conceived along with the music from the very beginning.

The DVD includes 13 tracks from a variety of their 1999 gigs and runs about 38 minutes. The DVD is made in such a way that there are three different angles available for each musical selection, each with a different set of visuals and each with a different title. For instance, track one has three different visual tracks (Alku, Thermionic Emission, and Vidsync) that you can switch between freely with the Angle button on your remote control.

The music is uniformly excellent. Since the tour was taking place in 1999, the music is from the period of their album "A". It is sometimes a little more harsh than "A", but that's fairly typical of Pan Sonic's live shows. I think it's worth buying for the music alone. In my view, the visuals are just an added bonus. If you're familiar with Pan Sonic's music, you'll recognize parts of each track, but probably not the whole thing. The great thing about live Pan Sonic is that they stretch their compositions and experiment, often creating something new and amazing in the process.

A few things are worth mentioning about this DVD: first, most of the visuals include a strobing effect, which has been known to irritate some people. If you don't enjoy bright flashing lights, this DVD may not be for you. Second, Amazon lists Kuvaputki as a "Region 2" DVD, which it is not. It's a Region 0 DVD, so it will play in any DVD player, regardless of region. It also uses the NTSC video standard, so you can watch it on your North American television without issue. I've tried it in my basic DVD player as well as my computer and everything works fine.

This DVD is essential for all fans of Pan Sonic. Great music and great visuals that never overpower, but rather enhance the listening experience make this well worth tracking down wherever you can find it. The only disappointment is that you don't actually get to see Mika or Ilpo in action with their bizarre custom-designed instruments.

Since Amazon doesn't have a track list up right now, here's what you get on the DVD:

01. Alku/Thermionic Emission/Vidsync
02. Maa/Electron Gun/Vidsync2
03. Toisto/Control Grid/Spore
04. Jhoto4/Crusiform/Transverse
05. Valikohta/Anode/Electric Field
06. Askel/Ion Trap/Plasma Horda
07. Kahalaus/The Glass Envelope/Swamp Grinder
08. Kone/Hathor/Electronoid
09. Esikierto/Phosphor Curtain/Neodimium
10. Murskaus/Irradiance/Centercore
11. C.S.G. Sonic/Bleeder Resistor/Embryon
12. Telakoe/Shadow Mask/Raetheor
13. Loppu/Implosion/Control"