U2 – SPHERE 2023 SHOW 23 (2 CD)

Description

The Sphere, Las Vegas, NV, USA 13th December 2023

　Truly “completely official”! Two shocking, latest, and superb IEM albums will be released simultaneously!

　This is the first part of a two-part series. It’s a transcendent in-ear monitor intercepted recording from the “December 13, 2023 Las Vegas Performance.” At the time, the band was in the midst of their concert residency, “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live.” Unlike a concert tour, which involves repeated travel and performances, a “concert residency” is a performance style in which the band repeatedly performs at the same venue, showcasing the power of the otherworldly “Sphere” concert venue to the world. While the iconic soundboard album “FINAL SPHERE SHOW (Wardour-607)” is also a staple in our store, this release is, of course, a separate performance. First, let’s take a bird’s-eye view of “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live,” a revolution in music entertainment, and explore its position.

●2023
September 29th – November 4th (17 performances)
– December 1st – 16th (8 performances) ←★Here★
●2024
January 26th – March 2nd (15 performances) ←※FINAL SPHERE SHOW

[Completely official-grade sound that far exceeds the common sense of IEM]
　This is U2 in 2023/2024. As mentioned above, all of “U2: UV Achtung Baby Live” is “Sphere”. “FINAL SPHERE SHOW” was the final day of the entire “U2: UV Achtung Baby Live”, but as the title suggests, this work is the “23rd performance”. To be more specific, it was also the “6th performance of the December section” of the three major schedules.

　This work, recorded at such a show, is a shocking, super-fine IEM…or rather, it’s hard to believe it’s an IEM, and it makes you wonder, “Is this an official live CD!?” It’s as vivid and direct as a soundboard directly connected to a mixing desk, while the cheers that spread across the vast space are naturally mixed. Furthermore, there are no working voices or counts that are common with IEMs, and the unbiased mix balance is extremely musical. I don’t know whose IEM they intercepted, but it sounds exactly like a “completely official” super-fine soundboard.

[A full live album with an ultimate set featuring specially selected songs]
　This transcendent sound is shared with the sister album “THE SPHERE 2023 SHOW 24: MULTIPLE IEM RECORDING (Wardour-702),” but the show content is completely different. Here, let’s compare the set with the classic “FINAL SPHERE SHOW.”

●Achtung Baby (Part 1: 8 songs)
・Zoo Station / The Fly / Even Better Than The Real Thing / Mysterious Ways / One / Until The End Of The World / Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses / Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World
●”Turntable” section (4 songs)
・Soulful Cry: All I Want Is You (★) / Desire (★) / Angel Of Harlem (★)
・Joshua Tree: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (＊)
●Acton Baby (Part 2: 4 songs)
Acrobat / So Cruel / Ultraviolet (Light My Way) / Love Is Blindness
●Encore (6 songs)
Joshua Tree: Where the Streets Have No Name / With or Without You
Others: Elevation / Atomic City / Vertigo / Beautiful Day
*Note: The “★” mark indicates the sister work “THE SPHERE 2023 SHOW 24: MULTIPLE IEM RECORDING (Wardour-702)”, and the “*” mark indicates songs that cannot be heard on the soundboard press masterpiece “FINAL SPHERE SHOW (Wardour-607)”.

…And that’s how it goes. “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live” is based on the classic album “ACHTUNG BABY,” but it’s not a perfect reproduction of the album. The album’s 12 tracks have been rearranged and split into 8 tracks and 4 tracks, with an acoustic “Turntable” section inserted in between.

　This “Turntable” section changes daily, and you can enjoy songs that aren’t on “FINAL SPHERE SHOW” or its sister album “SHOW 24: MULTIPLE IEM RECORDING.” The selection on this album is classic and the best. It starts with three quasi-standard “RATTLE AND HUM” numbers, and closes with the killer “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” While it lacks the appeal of rare tracks, this set, packed with must-have tracks, is perfect enough to be called the “ultimate live album.”

　U2 transformed the century’s other-dimensional venue, “Sphere,” into the world of the masterpiece “ACHTUNG BABY.” This is the ultimate live album. A completely official, absolute album that far exceeds the common sense of IEM. Please enjoy it anytime, anywhere with the Press 2CD, which will never lose its brilliance.

★An exceptional IEM album from the “Sphere Performance on December 13, 2023.” It’s as vivid and direct as a direct-to-table soundboard, while the cheers that spread across the vast space are naturally mixed. Furthermore, there are no working voices or counts that are common with IEMs, and the unbiased mix balance is extremely musical. This is a completely official, absolute album that allows you to enjoy the best, full show, including daily specials.

Disc:1 (63:52)
1. Intro
2. Zoo Station
3. The Fly
4. Even Better Than the Real Thing
5. Mysterious Ways
6. One
7. Love Me Tender
8. Until the End of the World
9. Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
10. Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World
11. All I Want Is You
12. Desire

Disc:2 (67:21)
1. Angel of Harlem
2. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
3. Acrobat
4. So Cruel
5. Ultraviolet
6. Love is Blindness
7. Intro – Elevation
8. Elevation
9. Atomic City
10. Vertigo
11. Where the Streets Have No Name
12. With Or Without You
13. Beautiful Day
14. Outro