From
the typically familiar ethereal lighting and stage
dressing, to the presence of Gackt’s truly unique
taste in costumes, we find a performance that comes
across more as a companion piece than a single entity
unto itself. During an opening narration, we are reminded
that “Moon is an epic tale created by Gackt
that still maintains an air of mystery”, but
with the exception of a few new songs, Jougen no Tsuki
does not hold quite the mystery that his earlier DVDs
possessed. The whole thing, while being adequately
entertaining, just left this Samurai Journalist/fan
boy feeling that it was perhaps a bit too soon for
another concert DVD. A lack of new material quickly
lead to a feeling of déjà vu. Do not
get me wrong, the concert is fantastic, but when you
have one DVD after another coming out where each maintains
the same level of spectacle, you have to give the
avid viewer a breather and you would be best to bring
a full album to the table in order to keep it interesting
and fresh. Even without the completion of a new album
with which to promote, though, Jougen no Tsuki still
easily manages to conjure up some old favorites that
are more than capable of whipping an eager crowd into
an explosive frenzy. For those overly anxious types,
there are even a few new tunes that are sure to amply
whet any fans palate.
With comments on repetitious DVDs
aside, one must agree that no one else in the music
business manages to pack so much emotion into a performance
as Gackt does. The man is truly spellbinding and only
after the concert has completely ran its course, and
we are left with the black abyss of the screen, is
one able to form an unbiased impression on the overwhelming
event. While he has you in his clutches though, you
are truly his, a passenger along for the ride. The
excitement, the anguish, the loss, and the beauty
that is found in redemption are all stops along the
way when Gackt is in the driver’s seat.
A particularly stirring moment can
be found this time around during the performance of
one of his newer songs, Tsuki no uta (The Song of
The Moon). Those who have seen Moon Child will most
likely recognize a small boy on stage, located opposite
Gackt, as the young actor responsible for portraying
a youthful version of Gackt’s “Sho”
during the film’s opening sequence. Through
this number we follow both of them through the beautiful
loneliness of a person longing for a lost love as
the young boy lip syncs along with Gackt, tying the
two together as the same person.
Like
the previous two concerts before this, Jougen no Tsuki
is divided into two discs. The difference between
this release and its predecessors, though, is that
the vibe throughout is not quite the same. Usually,
we find that the vibe of the first half of the set
is far more serious and theatrical, showcasing some
of the more aggressive and emotional points of the
albums, whereas the latter half is a bit more up beat
and poppy, with a ballad or two thrown in for good
measure. Thus is not the case this time around. This
time we find a great deal of fluctuation from track
to track, which I must say is a breath of fresh air.
Perhaps that is the “air of mystery” that
the opening narration was speaking of.
All
in all this is a fabulous release that continues to
show Gackt in his prime. The perfect acquisition for
someone looking to get into the visual side of Gackt,
or a must have for those “Gackt completist”
who must have it all.
Track
listings
1. (Dai isshou)Noah
2. Speed Master
3. Luna
4. Fragrance
5. Rain
6. (Dai nishou) Solitude-Regret-
7. Tsukiga matte irukara
8. Doomsday
9. Tsuki no uta
10. (Dai san shou) Missing
11. Mirror
12. Another world
13. Soleil
14. Wa su re na I ka ra
15. Kimiga oikaketa yume
16. memories
17. Dai yon shou) Birdcage
18. (Sai shu shou)Tsukini michibikaretashi
monotachi
19. Orange no taiyou
