I must admit that I am enamored with the DualDisc format. If you are not familiar, a DualDisc is a single disc with an audio CD on one side and a video DVD on the other. It sells for the price of a regular CD, but gives you much more. It's one of the benefits music consumers are seeing due to the digital music revolution. Record companies giving us more in order to improve physical media sales. Many times a DualDisc's DVD side is a joke. A bunch of photographs that cycle through as the music plays or a couple videos. Fortunately, this is not the case with this trio of new releases, which utilizes the format to the nth degree.
The London based Time Out Communications has gotten it right with it's new series of DualDiscs titled "The Other Side". They effectively use the new medium to create something fresh, entertaining and useful. Time Out specializes in city guides and this series of discs opens up the underground world of the world's greatest cities. The first three cities chosen for this new series are New York, London, and Paris.
The idea is this, Time Out selects a famous DJ from a great city. The DJ creates a compilation album of music they feel represents that particular city and mashes them together. Want to go to Paris, but dread the pesky plane ride? You can put on The Other Side: Paris and be there in seconds flat. On the DVD side of each disc is a video "travelogue" hosted by the artist who provided the music on "the other side" of the disc.
Don't expect your typical Travel Channel type fare here. Along with some upscale recommendations like art galleries and boutiques the disc is heavy on hip underground places that you will never find in a large city without help. These include an artist squat where you can trade an item for something in the store, outdoor dance parties and a sex shop for women. Needless to say, this is not a product for families or the straight-laced tourist. These are specifically targeted to the young, hip and urban. So if you fall into this category, you will not be dissapointed with The Other Side.
Fischerspooner: The Other Side of New York
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