sent to Paperlate by Dominik Pfleghaar, May 26, 1996.
Date: 26 May 96 09:40:11 EDT
This is a loooong note... sorry for that if you don't care about the
CD-remasters.
I just bought some of the CD-Remasters and would like to share some of my
impressions with you. So maybe those of you who are not sure whether to buy or
not to buy the Remaster(s) get another opinion.
I do not intend to write a complete review of each album, just a few selected
titles.
Since I own two CD-players of the same quality I was able to listen to the "old"
and the remastered version synchronous by easily switching between the two
players. So this is a 1:1 comparison.
Here we go:
- The Musical Box: The drums are a bit brighter, also Pete's voice, but just a
little bit. No major differences between the two versions.
- TRotGH: Excellent! Much brighter and, er, well, better. Again, the drums are
clearly enhanced in brightness. Everything is a bit less muddy.
- TFoS: Also a bit brighter, not as much enhanced as TRotGH, but clearly audible. Especially the tappings around 3'30'' are much brighter.
Overall result: Good.
- WotS: The intro wasn't over and yet I knew that it was worth to buy this
remaster. It's so much brighter and enhanced... great. Also the rest of the
song. It sounds like there was a curtain removed from the front of the speakers.
- Time Table: The first thing I noticed: there's much less hiss! And again the
enhancement of the higher frequencies.
- Suppers Ready: (you've been waiting for this one, haven't u?? :-) AAhhh...
listen to the voice... and to the background voices... they're much clearer
audible and mixed. Let's switch to Apocalypse........yeah, again: the
enhancement is clearly audible. The drums are brighter, everything is a bit less
muddy. Excellent.
Overall result: Very good. You still there?? Turn off your computer and run,
don't walk to get this remastered version!! :-)
- DWtMK: At least a bit less hiss, Pete's voice is a bit brighter, the drums have a bit more presence. It sounds like Phil had polished the HiHat on the remaster :-)
- FoF: Yeah! They removed the cotton wool from Tony's piano :-) Hey, this track
sounds absolutely incredible!! Everything sounds so brilliant! Whew...
- TCS: I think they re-recorded this one with new strings and a new drumset, did
they? :-) I hardly can believe this is the same recording! Incredible! Just
incredible! The "old" CD sounds absolutely muddy compared to the remaster!
Overall result: Very good, and that's an understatement!
- TLLDoB: As on SEbtP, the drums are clearer audible, Pete's voice sounds a bit
brighter.
- In the Cage: less hiss... and general enhancement of the higher frequencies.
- Carpet Crawlers: The intro section sounds about the same as the old version.
Maybe a little bit less hiss. But when the backing vocals come in you can hear
the difference. They're better mixed, and, well, brighter, as you might have
guessed. Again, the drums are enhanced in higher frequencies.
- Anyway: Better mixed. The guitars are better audible, and the voice is a bit
louder, too.
- Riding the Scree: The synth solo and the drums are enhanced. I thought my
speakers were out of order when I switched back to the "old" CD!
Overall result: Good - Very good.
- DoaV: Hmmm... the remaster sounds definitely better, hard to tell why. It's not just the enhanced high frequencies. Just better, after all.
- Ripples: The guitars are a bit brighter, also the drums. Not such a big
difference here.
- Los Endos: The drums and the keys are brighter. The guitars are also a bit
enhanced. The hole track sounds a bit "polished".
Overall result: Good.
- OftV: A bit less hiss. The recording is a bit more brilliant, and, I think, a
bit more voluminous.
- Wot Gorilla: see OftV.
- USftS...ITQE: The Drums and guitars are a bit enhanced in higher frequencies.
The synth sounds are also a little brighter. And again, it sounds a bit more
voluminous, if you know what I mean.
- Afterglow: Absolutely horrible! Just kiddin'... :-) Great! The Taurus pedal is
enhanced, which is why it sounds more voluminous. Also the drums and the voice
sounds enhanced - in fact the hole mix is a lot better. Turn the volume up and
have your own private earthquake! :-) Great!!
Overall result: Good - Very good.
- Behind the Lines: The drums are brighter, and the hole thing is a bit less
muddy. Phil's voice sounds a bit fresher, somehow.
- Duchess: It's a bit less muddy, a little brighter. Especially the piano and the vocoder are enhanced.
- Alone Tonight: Again a bit less muddy. The guitar sounds traces better.
- Duke's Travels/Duke's End: AAaaaahhh.... althought this is a powerfull work on
the "old" CD, it's even better on the remaster! The drums are a bit enhanced
(how many arms and legs does Phil got, anyway?), the mix is a bit better
Overall result: Good - Very good.
By the way, did you know "Duke" was recorded in Dolby Pro Logic? (Not just the
remastered version, that is!) So if you own a home theatre surround decoder, you
may listen to "Duke" in four channel stereo. Just great! There was excessive use
of the rear channel! If you ever have the chance... you know. :-)
Conclusion: I think the guys did a great job! The remasters are defininitely worth the money. Especially "Foxtrot" and "Selling England" are incredible. But remember that "sound" also is a bit subjective. My comments are just my $0.02 (the last ones I got, after I spent all the money for the remasters) :-)
Wow - that was lotsa stuff... I'm exhausted :-) Sorry again for the long note.
I will go for a vacation May 30. until June 23, so if you have any comments,
questions or flames, please have patience... I will not be able to read the
messages until I'm back. I'm looking forward to read 25 digests when I get
back... :-)
See you all again in July! Let the dance begin!
Dom
From: Dominik Pfleghaar <100555.3565@compuserve.com>
To: Paperlate
Subject: Some CD-remasters
Sender: paperlate-owner@ansto.gov.au
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: Dominik Pfleghaar <100555.3565@compuserve.com>
Hi Paperlaters! NURSERY CRYME FOXTROT SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY A TRICK OF THE TAIL WIND AND WUTHERING DUKE
