The Who - Tommy 2013 Super Deluxe Edition

Here is another example of why the the physical medium is still reigning supreme over digital downloads. For anyone interested at all in music, collecting is a part of that. Actually owning something physical and tangible is so much part of the listening experience. The look, touch and smell of the physical product is what excites us as much as hearing what lies within. Seeing this large format version of The Who's Tommy takes me right back to my schooldays and experiencing the album in all its 12 inch vinyl glory. This new super deluxe version is at once a superbly written document on the making of the album and a complete archival library of the album, in hi res stereo, surround, the demos and live presentation. It does please me so much, that record companies are still willing to spend the time and effort in really producing these box sets to the standards as this. That there is still a market for them is heartening too. There are still people out there where music is an experience that means something more than just pressing a button on a computer to download digital files on an ipod which are then just played in the background.

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Rhys Marsh - Suspended In A Weightless Wind

I am a big fan of Rhys Marsh's Norwegian melancholia. In some ways he shares a similar sonic attitude as Tim Bowness, mixing a love for 60's and 70's singer/songwriters and progressive rock. On this very limited ep he covers songs by Nick Drake, Scott Walker, CSN, King Crimson and Family. I like the way he turns things around, making Nick Drake's "Things Behind the Sun" into a huge, mellotron drenched symphonic prog epic, and Crimsons "Moonchild" into a Scott Walker like torch song. It's a shame this is not a full albums worth of Marsh's inspired interpretations. But it is volume 1, so thankfully there is more to come.

 

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Yes - Close to the Edge Steven Wilson 2013 Mixes

Out of all the versions I have heard of this album, whether vinyl LP, cassette, CD, SHM CD, SACD, nothing compares to this. Just considering the stereo portion of the blu ray disc, the 24/96 LPCM transfer is stunning. I have never heard CTTE sound so clean and clear. The litmus test for CTTE has always been Wakemans church organ solo on the title track. On previous CD versions, this has always distorted. Not here. It is grand, full and simply pleasant to listen to. Yes always excelled at vocal harmonies and these are really highlighted in this new mix, especially during the "I Get Up, I Get Down" section.

The blu ray is brimming with every conceivable version of the album. Maybe too much, but it is all here anyway, from vinyl transfers, original mixes, surround mixes, single edits and instrumental versions. Special mention on the blu ray menus. I am never too bothered by this on these discs, but the authoring by Neil Wilkes and design by Claire Bidwell is exemplary. Everything is clearly laid out and looks stunning as the screen shots below show.

The 20 page booklet is nicely done too. Superb notes by Sid Smith, though the type for me is a bit small. Don't they realise that us old proggers' eyesight is not what it used to be! The booklet fits loosely within the gatefold of the mini LP design, so you will need to keep the whole package in the supplied plastic sleeve. Just watch out for the adhesive on the closing flap. This can easily stick to the album artwork.

This is a great package, as I think most of us were expecting. But this exceeds those and is a prime example on how to do these archival releases properly. I cannot wait for the next installment in the Spring whatever that will be. I wonder what they will do with "Tales from Topographic Oceans"? It's already on 2CD's, plus a blu ray would make for at least a 3 disc set. I smell a box set coming on!

 

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XTC - Nonsuch Steven Wilson 2013 Mixes

That busy Wilson bloke is up to his old tricks again. This month sees not one, but three of his latest remixes released. There is this, the first of his XTC remixes, then there is "Close to the Edge", first in a series of Yes remixes and the latest Jethro Tull, "Benefit".

XTC were one of my favourite post punk bands. They quickly transcended their new wave roots with the excellent third album, "The Black Sea". My personal favourite album is "The Big Express" so I am looking forward to what Mr Wilson does with that. I never really got on with "Nonsuch" for some reason. Maybe I found their songwriting at this point a bit too precious and for want of a better word, nice! But on revisiting the album, via the hi res stereo blu ray portion of this set, this is an album of beautiful, sophisticated and witty songwriting. I don't think there are many songwriters in the league of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding for clever and memorable wordplay. That Dave Gregory is now a member of Big Big Train is no mere coincidence. Both bands excell in presenting a thoroughly English form of songwriting, that somehow hankers back to days of traditionalism.

The presentation of this package is similar to the King Crimson reissues, double digipak with booklet held in the middle, all placed in a slipcase. The layout is a bit confusing as nowhere does it actually say what is on the CD. There is just a list of mixes. The assumption is the new 2013 mix is on the CD. The booklet has very good in depth interviews with all concerned. So, Wilson does it again. A great, detailed mix. I cannot comment on the surround stuff as I dont do surround. Next up is CTTE, which will be in tomorrow. That's the biggie!

 

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Burning Shed Re-issues

 

Releasd together, these two expanded, remastered re-issues from the Burning Shed label are exceptional examples in presentation and content. The first is the "California, Norfolk" album by Peter Chilvers and the Godlike Tim Bowness, now expanded to 2CD's. The second is the "Slope" solo album by Steve Jansen, now expanded to 3 discs! I wish David Sylvian was doing work like this, that was both interesting and approachable. Both packages have their discs housed in hardback, booksized digipaks. It's so gratifying seeing independant labels like Burning Shed (who are also one of the best online retailers) taking the time and effort to produce top quality packages like this.

 

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Sand - Sand

To be honest I wasn't really expecting much from this, purely from not knowing much about it. The previous North Atlantic Oscillation albums were very good indeed and I picked this up simply because I had those albums. Just for completeness you understand! But this solo effort by frontman Sam Healy is extraordinarily good. It has the same blissed out, electro prog feel of NAO, but this is more traditionally song based in structure. The densely layered and treated guitars, synths and percussion make for a hugely epic sound. The absolute standout for me is "Clay". This is such a wonderful, hook laden song with a great, orchestral coda. This album was a surprise, a very good one indeed.

 

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Bill Nelson - Getting The Holy Ghost Across

One of my favourite Bill Nelson albums. Though released in 1986 and certainly of the time, Bill's songwriting and musicianship shine through the 80's gloss. This was another unhappy relationship with a major label, here CBS but the results are startling. Along the lines of the lush, liquid sounds of "The Love That Whirls" and "Chimera" this was a more lighter effort, even commercial. You can still sense the influence of Yellow Magic Orchestra, who he had a close relationship with. The single "Wildest Dreams" should have been a hit.

CBS refused to release this on CD for some reason until 2006 when Bill secured a release on his own Sonoluxe label. However, he completely revamped the artwork, which though good wasn't as classy as the original LP design. Thankfully for this expanded release via Esoteric, the original design has been reinstated, beautifully realised by Phil Smee. All the tracks from the original album, the mini-LP, "Living For The Spangled Moment" and the "Wildest Dreams" single are included. A superb reissue for one of Bill's best.

 

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