Though the price tag is hefty, the Special Limited Edition of Nell's The Trace is very much worth the splurge as it comes with both the band's latest EP and concert DVD, plus various goodies to accompany the great music. Nell may not have the dreamy looks of the idol bands, but one would be hard pressed to find a Korean act that puts out dreamier music. The band's moody progressive alternative rock cuts from the same cloth as Brit-rock bands like Coldplay, Placebo, and Radiohead, but delivered with a more balladic softness that brings them closer to the tastes of the K-pop mainstream.

The crowning glory of this release is Nell's July 19, 2008 Seoul concert. Other than the idol standards, Korean concert DVD releases are hard to come by, and a Korean rock concert DVD is pretty much rarer than a blue moon. The concert is as straight-shooting as they come - no frills, just Nell. The band opens with an ethereal rendition of Down, courtesy of keyboard, synthesizer, and Kim Jong Wan's expressive voice. It's a surprisingly soft way to start off a rock concert, but the number just about epitomizes the haunting, heart-piercing appeal of Nell's music. The guitars jump back in for the second number 1:03, off their most recent album Separation Anxiety.

The concert covers a good selection of Nell's music in the last decade. As expected, they perform the most pieces from Separation Anxiety, but their earlier works are also represented like Minus from their indies-era Speechless and Stay, "Parasite", and "Words That Shouldn't Be Trusted" off their 2003 album Let It Rain. Their current interpretations of earlier works highlight how the band's style has evolved and refined over the years. Of course, there are fans who will always prefer the grittier, raw cuts of Nell's early years, but I find their present softer style to be less a deliberate move toward the mainstream (as some fans fear) than the results of the band's growth and redefining of their music.

The Trace EP itself comes with four innocuously titled and beautifully rendered tracks. Part 1 begins the mini-album's story with a lilting, rhythmic melody and heartrending lyrics, while the more uptempo Part 2 completes the wispy, lyrical whole. I actually prefer the piano acoustic version of Part 2, which sounds more raw and expressive, but Act 5 would have to be my favorite track of the CD as the softly piercing lyrics and airy melody whisper declarations of love.

In addition to the concert DVD and EP, this collector's set comes with various extras to justify the price tag. A second DVD goes behind the scenes with interview clips and backstage footage; since Nell isn't exactly the kid-around-on-stage type, the snippets of backstage laughs should be interesting for fans. There are also postcards and a notebook diary (which is admittedly more space filler than useful), all packaged in a nice big box.