Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60531 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-05-29
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 70 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Capercaillie Collection opens with five videos, and follows them with 15 live tracks from 1992 concerts at the Capital Theatre in Aberdeen and the Nairn Harbourfest. This concert material from Scotland's most successful Celtic folk-rockers was originally issued on VHS as Two Nights of Delirium. Of the videos, "Breisleach" opens the set with gentle atmospherics, leading into the hit singles "Coisch a Ruin" and "Waiting for the Wheel to Turn". "Miracle of Being" is a detour into AOR, while the final video "Ailein Duinn" is from the film Rob Roy. The concert footage is less polished, more vibrant and rousing. The hits are repeated, while 13 other tracks enthusiastically mix Clannad-style synthesisers and Celtic mist with Scottish folk updated to include some funky bouzouki playing. Topped by Karen Matheson's beautiful vocals, this is must for fans, and thoroughly entertaining for all bar die-hard folk traditionalists.

On the DVD: The box lists Dolby Digital, though given the source material it is hardly surprising that this is in perfectly good, though hardly spectacular stereo. The concert is 4:3 full-screen, while the videos are at about 1.66:1. Minor grain is noticeable but colours are strong and the images reasonably sharp. The band biography and discography are useful, though the photo gallery could be much more extensive. Unusually, the disc is coded for regions 2 to 6. --Gary S. Dalkin

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
DVD 5
English\Gaelic
Region 2
Dolby Digital English Gaelic
Dolby Digital
Band Biography
Discography
Photo Gallery

Synopsis
Hailing from Argyll, Scotland, Capercallie have been credited as being the driving force in the resurgence of traditional Celtic music, while continuing to stretch the boundaries of contemporary world music. THE CAPERCALLIE COLLECTION features 20 of the best of the band on video as well as the American debut of the classic live performance film TWO NIGHTS OF DELERIUM.

Customer Reviews

Capercaillie's finest DVD...
...And indeed, Capercaillie's ONLY D.V.D.; so make the most of it. Well, I'm a fanatic of this band's music, but I do feel they're a band best listened to rather than looked at. What I mean is, they don't seem to transfer well into the visual world. The promotional videos are pretty cringe-worthy, with only 'Breisleach' rising above the quagmire with gorgeous landscape visuals intercut with an equally gorgeous Karen Matheson singing.

The live footage is good, but again it sounds much better than it looks. Capercaillie have said that they regard themselves as 'at their best' when playing live. Hmmm, I'm not sure. The music is fabulous, but there's not much to look at: dull stage set, little movement on stage, lights that simply illuminate rather than enhance or give atmosphere. Using my CD-writer I copied the soundtrack to a CD, and I find it much better just to listen to it.

Being such an old recording, the set list is limited to old songs (good though they are), and the whole thing was shot on video rather than film, making for less than sparkling picture quality. It's a bit on the short side too.

The fact that it's the only Capercaillie DVD available makes it worth its weight in gold. Perhaps the good people at Survival records might consider making an up-to-date live concert DVD for us to revel in?

A treat for Capercaillie fans
The Capercaillie Collection features five videos and the 1992 'Two Nights in Delirium' footage of the band in concert. The concert is the real highlight of the video and really shows off the band at it's best (I have to admit that the hairstyles and dodgy leather jackets put me off the music videos!) The extras on the DVD aren't particularly brilliant, but fans will undoubtedly love this video and it's worth buying just for the 'Two Nights in Delirium' concert as there are twenty songs (and they are all wonderful).