The Devin Townsend Project – Retina Circus Blu-Ray Review

What I love about Devin Townsend is that he’s the man of classic ideas. What amazes me is that he pulls off so many of these crazy ideas where other mere mortals in the independent music scene are less capable of making things happen on such a scale.

So when Dev announces a one-off London concept show built around a story arc that ties his career together and promises a feast for both eyes and ears, you’d be forgiven for being a little skeptical about the production quality of said event. . A unique show for an artist whose audience is probably what you would describe as solid rather than spectacular in terms of numbers? So maybe we should expect a decent puppet or two and some videos?

Good, The circus of the retina it certainly offers so much more than that.

Rock Opera as a story to tie the songs together? Check. Live performance of the story arc? Check. A full robed gospel choir? Check. A video of gorillas dancing? Check. A complete dance company that includes tape work? Check. A giant alien hole giving birth to a giant Ziltoid baby?

You better believe it.

Devin’s utter sincerity in making sure very little is taken too seriously is the key to what makes his career work. So many artists try and fail to take their self-deprecating humor to this kind of level: that impossible combination of supreme swagger and self-assurance that has enough irony and artistic self-doubt to ensure it works. But it’s a mix that seems obscenely easy for Devin.

And it is this balance that ensures a beast like The circus of the retina works on screen and in ears.

Old buddy Steve Vai appears on the video screen to narrate the journey of our story’s hero, Harold. The story is probably putting this too specifically; of course, it’s a bunch of wispy threads that are used to link the song list together. Vai’s narrator performance is spot on, which shouldn’t be surprising given the “rock god” role he’s played for so many years. As Vai leads us through the night, we see Harold’s various adventures enacted in music, pausing briefly to focus on the omnipotent alien Ziltoid and his journey to fatherhood. Masses of video, giant technicolor props, and dancing enhance the entire experience; all led by the menacing presence of the rag doll ringmaster who is Devin Townsend himself.

If it all sounds a bit over the top, it is. But in a good way.

Musically, fans know there’s no need to worry here. The tour-de-force that is a Devin show is in full-throttle forward mode, and there are plenty of old favorites from the back catalog to keep fans happy. The DTP gang is more than narrow: at various times they are brutal, cunning, and downright massive. An accomplice at one point, Anneke van Giersbergen figures prominently throughout and definitely provides key moments throughout the show. And for those who’ve missed the ultra-aggression (if ironically at times) of Strapping Young Lad, there’s a truly emotional appearance by Strapping’s partner in crime Jed Simon to an enthusiastic reception from the crowd that seems to really mean something. to Jed. When this is combined with covers of Strapping classics “Love?” and “Detox,” the cap taking off of a past Dev has probably looked away from of late, seems complete.

The circus of the retina is an incredible spectacle brought to life with care and attention. The visuals look pristine, the performance is fantastic, and the concept is insane.

This has to be the live concert movie of the year. buy it.