Led Zeppelin Super Deluxe Editions

 

The reputation of Led Zeppelin as the biggest rock band in history is far greater in magnitude than the aircraft after which it takes it's name. The legacy of those albums which Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham produced in the seventies is immense. So it was surprising that it took Page so long to produce newly revamped editions of the bands catalogue considering other bands have done so with relish over the last few years. But he has done it and all within the space of a year!

So what of the much hyped super deluxe edition box sets? Many have been left thinking that they are a missed opportunity! Where are the high resolution stereo mixes or even surround sound mixes that many have come to expect from the likes of King Crimson and Yes deluxe editions? What we mainly have are remastered CD's of the studio album and a disc of outtakes, plus the same in vinyl form and a photo book. No notes or essays putting the band and albums in a historical context. However the boxes, though expensive are very well designed and made. The quality of the book and sleeves are very good. They even have the CD's in protective plastic sleeves, something you only normally associate with Japanese mini-LP papersleeve editions. There is no extra silly padding, like marbles, posters, scarves or tshirts which came with the Pink Floyd boxes. These boxes are just about the music. The remastering is subtle and does improve on what Page achieved before with George Marino. It's not a mind blowing improvement, but enough to appreciate a better sound achievement without ever compromising the dynamics of the original recordings.

To be honest these boxes could have been much, much better in terms of high res presentation and a decent book on the background to the recordings. But there is something classy about them which cannot be denied. They are pricey, but Led Zeppelin are a premium band and can justifiably charge a premium price, but I expect over time these will go down in price. The bands elevated position within rock and roll and even popular cultural history is without question and to own these box sets is like owning something important. Maybe that's a bit over the top but so are Led Zeppelin!

 

 

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Art Bears SHM Series

The Japanese do seem to be ramping up the release schedule of various catalogues on SHM CD at the moment. Of interest to me over the next few months are titles by Phil Manzanera, Henry Cow and Gong and all as papersleeve editions. Just out are the three studio albums released by the post-Henry Cow outfit Art Bears. ReR released a stunning box set of all Art Bears material a number of years back, all expertly assembled and mastered by Bob Drake. These SHM issues use choice material from that box set to enhance the separate albums on these reissues as added bonus tracks. The discs are listed as being remastered, but not sure from what source. I suspect they have used the existing digital transfers to tweek things here and these as there is a ReR Megacorp licensing credit mentioned. They do sound very good, but it's the packaging which is the star here. All the inserts which were included within the original vinyl editions, poster, lyric sheet and booklet are produced here in miniature form, with the sleeves faithfully reproduced right down to using the same card stock and even gold embossing as on Winter Songs.

I do love Henry Cow's music, but Art Bears were somehow even more special. After the long complex instrumental pieces of HC, the trilogy of Art Bears albums saw Dagmar, Frith and Cutler resort to shorter, song based pieces. This may have been the height of punk when they were recorded, but there was nothing that was produced in the name of punk that was as anarchic or extreme as these songs. It's a pleasure to have these albums reproduced as beautiful as these SHM editions are and sounding pretty good too!

 

 

 

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Jaga Jazzist - Starfire

 

Jaga Jazzist are another outfit like Snarky Puppy who are the modern equivalent of a big band, mixing multi instrumentation and personnel to produce a wide screen instrumental music blending jazz, rock, classical etc. But on this latest album, Jaga Jazzist have based the album around a more techno, electronic foundation. Lots of synths and programmed percussion mix with the more traditional guitars, woodwind, brass and drum kit to produce a joyous series of instrumental pieces. This is like systems music, but with a jazz swing and prog rock time changes enabling each composition to go through many developments and alternatives. But they never forget a tune, which makes this complex music so adventurous yet approachable. Another winning release.

 

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Yes - Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two

 

The prospect of seven shows from the same tour, with the same set list by Yes may on the face of it appear madness! Yes music is tightly constructed and there is very little room for improvisation. So the question is are we not hearing exactly the same thing night after night? This box set emphatically shows that is not the case. These live recordings are a revelation compared to Yessongs, before this box the only other live document of the band from this period. The sound is clear, detailed with great separation between each band member. It's Steve Howe who keeps things interesting from performance to performance. He adds so much different tonal colouring to his playing which constantly keeps things interesting. Alan White moves everything along at a cracking pace. The relentless energy he displays throughout every performance is breathtaking. Together with Chris Squires fast twangy bass lines this is a hot rhythm section. Rick Wakeman is placed on the right channel so all his intricate keyboard dexterity is now clearly defined. Over all this Jon Anderson's vocals soar and hold everything together. This is a band relishing playing this music. They are young and at the peak of their abilities and passion.

For any Yes fan, they must have thought that Yessongs was it. Great performances, but sonically wanting. So to be presented with these discs is manna from heaven. These recordings sound wonderful and the packaging of the box is a beauty. New artwork by Roger Dean of course and excellent notes in the booklet about the renovation of the tapes which are insightful and fascinating. All round this is a triumph and we must hope there is more to come.

 

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VdGG SHM-SACD Series

 

For a number of years now the Japanese have been issuing high end audiophile releases in the SACD format. These have been judiciously chosen titles, taking the original analogue master tapes wherever possible and making flat transfers using the DSD process, rather than the usual PCM digital transfers. DSD is the natural process for SACD production. These discs, though expensive must be popular as this year has now seen whole catalogues rather than the odd title being issued in the format. For instance Roxy Musics studio albums were issued earlier this year. Now Van der Graaf Generators studio work gets the same treatment. Maybe on the face of it a strange choice as VdGG were never big sellers in their heyday apart from maybe Italy. But in terms of how their work sits within the classic progressive rock canon of the 70's they are an important band. They never made a bad album when signed to Charisma. Peter Hammill's songwriting was bold, epic and singularly impressive as was the band surrounding him. Obviously the Japanese appreciate originality and quality songwriting and musicianship.

Hammill himself remastered the catalogue back in 2005. For many it wasn't a total success. Overly compressed and EQ veering towards the bass too much, it was in yer face stuff. These new discs represent a much more natural and balanced sound, with the dynamic range much more well judged. The results are increased clarity and detail. As I have said before about these SACD discs, I feel they offer a rare glimpse into how the actual master tapes sound. This is the nearest us mere mortals will ever get to hearing these original recordings as they exist on the finished masters. I know DVD-A and blu-ray can offer PCM up to 24 bits, 192kHz resolution, but there is something about SACD that sounds more natural, analogue even. They somehow "feel" so much better, even on my not-so high end system. These Japanese discs are pricey, but when you hear the clarity they offer, for me it is a more exciting listening experience compared to CD, vinyl or even high resolution stereo on DVD or blu-ray. That together with the Japanese detail for packaging do make these issues a very worthwhile investment.

 

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Brian Eno - My Squelchy Life

Here is my first piece of new vinyl for many a year (apart from what are included in deluxe box sets, but that doesn't count)!

Brian Eno's My Squelchy Life has been the holy grail of Eno devotees ever since he withdrew it because of Warners delaying tactics. He replaced it with Nerve Net. Some tracks did appear on the Vocal box set, but it eventually saw the light of day as part of the recent Nerve Net 2 CD reissue. Bad move! Nerve Net is a great album and deserved a 2 CD reissue. But the second disc should have been made up of b-sides and remixes making it a complete edition, not with My Squelchy Life tacked on as a poor relation. It annoyed me that there was no track credit information produced in the notes, basically nothing was added apart from track listing. It really should have been given a release on its own. So, for this special Record Store Day vinyl release we have the album, plus bonus track presented in a 2 disc gatefold edition. It's a beauty too. All the credit info is reproduced on the inner sleeves. The bonus track is a nice slice of typical Eno funk and I wonder why it was left off the CD edition? So for the present this vinyl edition is the best way to own My Squelchy Life. Maybe there will be a proper, separate CD edition somewhere down the line!

 

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Snarky Puppy - Sylva

 

Music never ceases to amaze or surprise me! When you think you have heard most things, something comes out of the blue to simply take your breath away. A few months ago I had never heard the name Snarky Puppy, nevermind heard any of the bands music or who was actually in the band. But a few comments on the progressivears forum prompted me to do a bit of digging around. I found out there was a new album coming out called Sylva so I took the plunge, as I have done on many an occasion. Music is about risks and jumping in head first, hoping that you will come up with a gem. And my goodness is this a gem. This band is absolutely fantastic. On this disc there are 12 core band musicians plus the orchestra. They mix classical, jazz, rock, big band and techno to make a joyous, heady brew. They seem to be lead by bassist Michael League who writes most of the material. The music and the soloing throughout is incredible! Take the 15 minute piece The Curtain. A wonderfully elegiac orchestral opening leads to a beautiful flugelhorn solo, a tense distorted bass solo, a moog solo, the like of which would make Keith Emerson blush and then on to a touchingly soulful piano solo. The whole album is like this. Flawless, joyous and beautifully played compositions which cross genres with ease and aplomb. I am now searching their back catalogue with relish. That's what truly great music does!

 

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