Speaking for Trees

[Keith]

What did you think of Chans debut on DVD. I liked the way she seemed to just ramdomling perform whatever song came to her at that precise moment. I also love the sound and the different angles and focus usued by the director.

[pm77]

What did you think of Chans debut on DVD. I liked the way she seemed to just ramdomling perform whatever song came to her at that precise moment. I also love the sound and the different angles and focus usued by the director.

I really liked the improvisational style from Chan but in relation to the sound and picture quality I think it's a joke that some guy can just show up with a DV camera or whatever he had, stick it on a tripod, change the shot occasionally, set it to autofocus for most of the performance (resulting in rubbish focus) and call the resultant shoddy piece of work "art". The sound quality is okay by and large, but particularly near the start it's hard to focus on the music as it's battling the sound of crickets or grasshopers or whatever they are. Laziness and lack of knowledge of how to use equipment is not art (in my opinion) - I'm glad other people like the style but it's not for me. A little more effort would have made this a really brilliant document of Chan's music - I can't help wondering how great it would have looked on 16mm or 35mm and how clear it could have sounded with a little bit of help from a professional soundman - I take on board the fact that Chan maybe wouldn't have felt so relaxed and at ease with lots of people around but it could have been set up, soundchecked and left to one person to film/record...anyway, I do love the songs, not convinced from a technical point of view, though.

[Keith]

I would've liked a bit extra from the DVD, but as far as the way it was shot i think that was the point if you wanted high class sound and performance it would be better watching a mormal concert. This was surpose to give you the feeling of Cat Power playing songs out in the country. It was about atsmophere not music.

[Moon Pix]

I think its great. Its one of the few places you can hear "Funny Things" which I just love totally. I think the lo-fi feel of it suits her music anyway. Its the same thing with the Under Blackpool Lights DVD, it wouldnt have been as good without the grainy film quality.

I wouldnt show it to someone as an introduction though. I think its one for the fans, the people who already love Cat Power.

[Keith]

Yes good point.

[frozenchosen]

i find the video difficult to watch, but someone ripped the audio part for me, and i listen to Speaking for Trees that way very often. it makes good autumn nighttime driving music.

[Keith]

Would like to see some kind of live concert DVD released at some stage. Maybe her set from Meltdown?

[Moon Pix]

One day Im hoping that somebody makes a little documentary film about her.

Only with her blessing though. If she doesnt want us to know certain things about her life then we don't have the right to know about them.:)

[folkjam]

I'd love to see some clips of her playing live shows. A documentary would be amazing.

I liked speaking for trees. It's just very chan. Yeah I can see how people would find it boring. It should really be meant to be seen by her fans.

[Keith]

Yes a live show would be fine and very welcomed, but yes the other stuff should only be taken if she promits it.

[twisterella]

I only last week realised that she had a DVD out. Cannot wait to buy this.