I’m betting we have similar tastes in music, as I also have all the ones you mention. Black Sea is my favorite XTC album, and there is music on it that I’ve never noticed before, thanks to the SW 5.1 release.
I personally prefer Drums and Wires but that doesn't take anything away from Black Sea, it is awesome too!
I finally picked this up and I noticed that the back of the digipack says for the bluray section: 2001 stereo re-master by Ian Cooper at Metropolis Mastering. This and the 2001 CD are clearly different DR wise. Is there some story here like it is the 2001 remaster but without some layer of compression; or is this a flat transfer with a description misprint, or likely something else I am missing?
I've been through the remix a good many times now and really enjoy it. A couple of things I can't escape, it seems especially on Generals And Majors and Tower Of London there is the slightest tinge or edge to Andy's lead vocals. I am not sure if it is an effect that is now more highlighted in this mix, or something else; for example was this tape baked I think. Anyway it is a tiny thing and I have not gone back to the original mix yet as I have not figured out blu ray and I never had this on CD... cassette was the only way I had this which kind of makes me chuckle! The second notion I cannot escape is that these remixes serve XTC's music really really well. This isn't a knock on any original mixes, but it occurs to me that their music was so modern and ahead of its time at the time; these remixes sort of re-center the music in a way that seems to have better caught up with what they were doing. This marrying of new mix with music hits me with this notion far more with XTC than other Wilson remixes.
Exactly what I'm hearing. I do actually like the sound of the remix, and it's a fun listen, but gone is the edge and the crunch that make the original mix rock and funk harder than any other XTC album.
I must be honest, I never bother listening to the stereo mixes of these, but that's partly because I'm something of a fairweather fan. I can never sit through all of Nonsuch (it's FAR TOO LONG) and I don't much like Oranges & Lemons. So, I tend to dip and just play a few of the tracks on 5.1 when I'm in the mood. That said, if they do Apple Venus at some point that'll be a mainstay - beautiful album.
Andy has said on Twitter that Apple Venus will be getting done. It was a while back, so I haven’t got a link.
Thought that I would bump this up. Let the guessing games begin! XTCVerified account @xtcfans Off to the shed to hear Steven Wilson's first 2 mixes for next XTC 5.1 project. 4:58 AM - 14 Apr 2018
Yeah, I would bet on Apple Venus volumes 1 and 2. Assuming these are new mixes, Steven Wilson is on a two and a half week break in-between legs of his tour - and he's working on another band's surround mixes? Us fans are lucky this guy is dedicated, and works fast!
I wish it were English Settlement but as we all know... no multitracks. I'll guess Mummer just to be different!
i just hope they find those english settlement multi-tracks .... if not mummer or big express will be cool
I am sure that if/when those tapes turn up, Mr Partridge will let us all know. It's been a pretty long while that they have been looking!
When I sent tapes in to Steve and Kevin Gray to cut my album ROUND the only box I could find that would fit the tapes was an unused Pizza box from the local pizzeria!!!