After the amazing success of ABBA "The Movie" comes the next ABBA Live DVD event for 2009... ABBA in Japan. This special show was made for Japanese television in 1978 and comprises 15 hit songs including special bonus track If It Wasn’t For The Nights performed by ABBA. Extras include 2 exclusive behind-the-scenes documentaries with TV performances and interviews with press and radio. The content is based on their 10-day visits to Japan in 1978 and 1980.

The two behind-the-scenes documentaries follow the group on the conventional promo trail, answering banal questions in press conferences (“What were you like when you were younger?”) and donning oversized headphones in Tokyo radio stations.

'ABBA in Japan' shows the band performing on a Japanese television show in front of a live audience. ABBA is backed up by a full - scale orchestra, so songs that originally had no horns or strings, now have these added. You It's enjoyable to watch, as one can expect the members perform well, with some interesting flashy lights flickering in the background, but, it sounded like some of the songs were played and sung just like they were recorded in the studio as opposed to live and the performance seemed a little unbalanced in that regard if that makes sense. Usually, songs are slightly changed up in front of a large audience and some of them are, but I felt the rest were played a little too straight for a live show and it seemed a little off.

Agnetha and Frida wear shiny red and blue body suits for three songs on the disc. Frida's physique is awesome on Tiger. Foxy Frida hit it out with Agnetha on songs like That's me and If It Wasn't For the Nights. Thank You for the Music. There are a number of costume changes. Agnetha and Frida always dressed in a similar manner but never identically. It might be a different colored sash or a different species of flower. Complementary looks and movements made an effective stage presence.

ABBA's tour in Tokyo, gives the viewer a taste of what life on tour is like. This feature to be the most interesting part of the DVD, with all the behind the scenes touring, traveling, being interviewed by the Japanese press, etc. and its really great it was included. The picture is good. It is definitely late seventies, and as for the picture quality, it looks the best it can for that time period and Polar did a nice job with the remaster and stereo sound. If you're a fan of ABBA, you should add this DVD to your collection.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira