lang, k.d.-Invincible Summer (DVD-Audio) (2000) (NTSC) |
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lang, k.d.-Invincible Summer (DVD-Audio) (2000) (NTSC) |
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| BUY IT |
| General | Extras | ||
| Category | Music |
Lyrics Notes-Track Credits Gallery-Photo Music Video-Summerfling Biographies-Cast Notes-Album credits Booklet |
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| Rating |
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| Year Of Production | 2000 | ||
| Running Time | 41:36 | ||
| RSDL / Flipper | No/No | Cast & Crew | |
| Start Up | Ads Then Menu | ||
| Region Coding | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Directed By | None Given |
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Studio
Distributor |
 Warner Vision |
Starring | None Given |
| Case | DVD-Audio Jewel | ||
| RPI | $34.95 | Music | K. D. Lang |
| Video (NTSC) | Audio | ||
| Pan & Scan/Full Frame | Full Frame |
English MLP 96/24 5.1 English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) |
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| Widescreen Aspect Ratio | None | ||
| 16x9 Enhancement | No | ||
| Video Format | 480i (NTSC) | ||
| Original Aspect Ratio | 1.33:1 | Miscellaneous | |
| Jacket Pictures | No | ||
| Subtitles | None | Smoking | No |
| Annoying Product Placement | No | ||
| Action In or After Credits | No | ||
It was out of my passing interest for this artist that I put my hand up to review this disc, and I couldn’t be happier that I did so. This is an album that is very easy to become acquainted with, and there is much to like about the very deliberate “canned sun” feeling which K.D. felt necessary in order to give herself some time-out from the usual “gourmet meal” music she felt she had to produce in the past.
Very much easy listening, there are a number of catchy tracks, especially “Summerfling” which I sang for days to myself after first hearing it, and the energetic “It’s Happening With You” which is as good radio fodder as you might hear from her normal stable of work, though this is not meant to its detriment. Perhaps my favourite is the sweet, short yet compellingly charming “simple”. You quickly begin to feel this album is inspired by a generation-ago era, complete with flowery shirts and lava lamps. If you loved Air’s Moon Safari then you will find yourself at home with the acoustic guitars, electronic drum kits (and the occasional real one) and soft synthetic “space” sounds backing K.D. Lang’s easy-going lyrics. Nice one.
| 1. the consequences of falling 2. summerfling 3. suddenly 4. it's happening with you 5. extraordinary thing 6. love's great ocean | 7. simple 8. what better said 9. when we collide 10. curiosity 11. only love |
The video clip for “Invincible Summer”, the only extra available to both DVD-A and DVD-V players is perhaps as good as the format is capable of, being uncanny in its sharpness, clarity and strong colour rendition. There are no MPEG compression artefacts, or any other for that matter.
Stills are rendered very finely, and lyrics and notes are easy to read thanks to a nice, rounded font (as used on the packaging).
| Sharpness |  |
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Present are an MLP 6 channel 96 kHz / 24 bit mix, configured in the familiar 5.1 manner, and a Dolby digital 5.1 track for DVD-V players.
The shining quality of the album is the way in which K.D.'s vocals are presented, and that is with a warmth, clarity and subtlety which is very easy on the ears. She often employs doubling and tripling of her voice, and it is fascinating to be able to pick out each vocal track clearly from the others, even when they are on top of each other. An interesting choice is the mixing of vocals across the two main channels, with limited reverb coming from the centre (indeed, that is all that ever comes from the centre channel) – still, as with all good stereo recordings, her voice is anchored when it needs to be, and other times expands over the entire front stage.
There is definitely a softness or diffuseness to the sound of this album at times, and the mix is quite interesting in that you never quite know how the next song's drums will sound, or whether the bass will be forward and clean, or “dirty” and recessed. This is very much a processed pop album and will never be mistaken for anything else, but I get the feeling that that is the intention. It might take a few listens, but once used to it, it is like a breath of fresh air, and with further time spent it becomes apparent that some care was behind the design.
The surrounds are used for ambience mostly, with the occasional subtle sound making its way over. The imaging is mainly frontal, though there is a pervading sense of reverb in the back quarters which adds to the softness of the album.
The subwoofer is used sparingly, with only a few songs making any real use of it with some deep bass at times.
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NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
Both versions are identical, down to NTSC video formatting.
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Extras | |
| Plot | |
| Overall | |
| Review Equipment | |
| DVD | Toshiba SD-900E, using RGB output |
| Display | Pioneer SD-T43W1 16:9 RPTV. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum. This display device is 16x9 capable. |
| Audio Decoder | Built in to DVD player. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum. |
| Amplification | Sony STR DB-930 |
| Speakers | Front & Rears: B&W DM603 S2, Centre: B&W LCR6, Sub: B&W ASW500 |