Customer Reviews

Bauhaus: Shadow of Light/Archive

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just watched my copy of this and have a few thoughts for anyone considering purchasing this dvd.
1. This is the "holy grail" of the commercially released visuals of Bauhaus back in the 80's on 2 vhs tapes. Since then, after going out of print long ago, they have been a mainstay on Ebay, etc. in copied versions for a good reason - this was a visual band and these tapes caught them at their zenith. An absolute must-have for fans and those curious about what the fuss is all about.
2. For the fans, like myself, who have owned the original vhs tapes since whenever, don't expect a major upgrade in visual quality. This stuff was originally shot on videotape and it shows. This is the best it will ever look, which is great, but not a LOT better than the original tapes. The sound is excellent, however - I noticed no tape hiss and distortion, and there are a few audio options on the menu page.
The band had nothing to do with this dvd release, so gripes about the artwork, etc. are redundant - Beggar's Banquet has sole rights to this footage and tried to get extras, like UK TV spots, etc. but were foiled by the owners of the rare footage. Bauhaus do not benefit financially from this dvd whatsoever, which is sad.
Bauhaus were a truly original and fascinating band, and this dvd captures them at their absolute best. A true classic rock/performance dvd. Highly recommended.

To say that Bauhaus receive no income from this release is completely untrue. They are actually being paid a HIGHER royalty on this release than on the previous vhs issues. Unfortunately the financial demands from the BBC made the inclusion of any bonus footage totally uneconomical and further bonus footage wouldn't have worked in isolation.

To begin, let me say that I'm giving this product a full 5 stars. I do so not because the DVD version is any better than the original VHS, but because this is a definitive product from a band that all fans must own. Having your very own copy of "Shadow of Light/Archive" was a bit of a quest before now. It had long been out of print on VHS (and apparently laserdisc) and I was never fortunate enough to own an original. Thanks to the internet and Ebay, longtime Bauhaus fans could---if they were willing to pay the price---own a copy of their own. Still, one probably had to wait with bated breath when they first played the tape in anticipation of its quality. Is it faded? Will it even play? Has some idiot recorded an episode of "Dynasty" on it?

Thanks to the new DVD, these are all moot fears now. But let me warn you, that old VHS copy just might surprise you in its quality compared to this. Now don't get me wrong, I'm very delighted to have my own DVD copy of these essential Bauhaus videos and concert footage. Chances are you will too. Now, we no longer have to fear that the VCR will chew up the tape or that it will gradually lose its sonic and visual playback (as all tapes do). Essentially, we all can own a piece of history recorded on a reliable and durable format. But despite all of this, I am a bit disappointed that the overall sound and visual quality aren't any better than they are. I mean, my 15 year old dubbed COPY of the original VHS is almost as good as this!!!!

Now I'm no fool. Indeed I do understand that these are nearly 25 year old video footages, but does someone not have an original master tape somewhere? Truthfully, all Bauhaus fans should own this, but be ready to accept a few pops and crackles and slight fade outs in the sound now and then. Grainy video is par for the course here, but what Bauhaus videos weren't a little grainy anyway? You will no doubt relish and delight in every second of this footage since it is very much Bauhaus in their prime. You will not, however, gain one little thing in video or sound quality from that of the original VHS.

Bauhaus, the pioneers of goth-rock, began thier career with a single issued on the Welsh indie label Small Wonder in 1979, "Bela Lugosi's Dead". with it's dub-reggae drumstick-taps & skeletal basslines combined w/ lead singer Peter Murphy's menacing David Bowie impression, the single defined a new postpunk music. Thier first promo video, 1980's T-Rex cover "Telegram Sam" was just as dark, since the clip was shot in a sewage-treatment plant w/ Peter strutting & flailing on a large sewer pipe, squeezing between 2 brick walls (just to lets us know how skinny he is) & swinging from a steel hook.
"Mask" casts Peter as Nosferatu half-naked caked in dust & tied down to a table eventually breaking free, & unlike "Sam" this one's shot in a castle.
"Spirit" was shot at a theatre & involves the band w/ a dressed-up Peter & a bunch of ghost clowns.
This clip is a bit confusing, but it was thier first video to be played on American MTV when A&M issued "The Sky's Gone Out" here in 1982.
"Ziggy Stardust" a true video masterpiece, in which they return to the sewage-treatment plant that the 1980 "Sam" clip was shot at, & it contains that classic scene involving Peter in a cage.
Released in early 1983 as a single only on A&M, "Ziggy" was yet another early-MTV fave.
"She's in Parties", the last Bauhaus video clip, shows a female chauffer, her car, broken glass, broken teacups & a dangling lightbulb.
The concert footage, which appears in portions on "Shadow of Light" & intrecut within a short film involving an old man & some youths called "Archive" is first-rate.
A true treasur

Let me get one thing out in the open - I'm a huge fan of Bauhaus. I have seven of their CD's and their "Gotham" DVD. I believe that Bauhaus is one of the greatest bands that has ever existed. I am horribly biased.

With all that said, this DVD is a must have purchase for fans of Bauhaus.

The live version of "rosegarden funeral of sores," alone, is worth the price of admission. I absolutely love that song , and it should be considered one of the definitive Gothic songs of all time.

Occasionally, there are sound issues throughout the live recordings. But, overall, the sound is more than decent. Given the fact that this was all recorded in 1982, the DVD quality is more than fair.

The overall mood of the two recordings, "shadow of light" and "archive," is dark and haunting. That is Bauhaus. What has been put together is beautiful.

If you love Bauhaus, you most certainly must own this DVD. If you love the Gothic sound, you should purchase this DVD and experience the Godfathers of Goth. If you aren't very familiar with Bauhaus, you may want to start with the "Gotham" DVD.

Look, if you are a Bauhaus fan and grew up listening and watching this video on VHS then buy it NOW!!!!!! I almost didn't reading all the reviews here and that would be a mistake.

Yes, the audio may not be perfect but I like it that way. I can not tell it is any worse than the VHS version. And you probably will not either. It's like an old friend, just the way I remember! Except I don't have to dig the VHS player out of the closet.

My only complaint would be if it is true that the band sees no proceeds from the sell of this DVD. I work hard for my money but Peter, Daniel, Kevin and David J can have some of it.

Buy, watch and enjoy....

PS: for you younger fans. You should still buy this DVD and see some of the best define the Goth/Punk/Alternative years!

So happy to finally replace my old VHS tapes with this DVD. The picture quality is about the same as the VHS, but I think the sound is good. Just turn it up very loud and you can't go wrong!

If you love Bauhaus and don't already own this, what the heck are you waiting for?!?!

Possibly surpassed only by Target's not commercially available anymore ¨Live At London University 1980¨ VHS, this is THE vintage Bauhaus DVD to have, period. Made up of two discontinued VHS releases, it consists of a live set of 12 songs shot at the Old Vic theater in'82 and 7 videoclips interspersed here and there clocking at a healthy 76'+, no extras, with an artificial 5.1 audio option.

Yes the pic is grainy if compared with the laserdisc and even the original early VHS as another reviewer owning them states, but Dash productions have done a stunning job with the seemingly third-gen taped handed to them by Beggars Banquet and besides the graininess and one minor audio dropout the sound is near-excellent what makes this dvd a killer and an absolute must-have and no don't buy Gotham instead, buy both !!! Great, great material !!!

Soooooooo happy with this DVD! I previously had an old, poor condition video copy of "Shadow of Light" and had been looking to replace for quite some time. Finally checked Amazon and found it in DVD format w/Archive included (another video compiliation presented via artsy-type film). Also includes lots of great live performance footage. A must have for any Bauhaus fan!

While the entire Old Vic would have been nice, what we have is a pretty good idea what it was like. Yes, the promo vids aren't that great. Yes, the old guy is annoying. But, these videos were already compiled. The real greatness of this dvd, is overlooked. Great concert footage from a great era of the band; and it has remixed in surround. The Archive portion, especially lends itself to this option.