Japan Mini LP SHM-CDs - New Releases, George Harrison and more

P.S.
Comes in a slipcase and looks like that:

 

- info -

cdjapan Shipping Charge

Shipping charge for one Mini LP CD or two of them is the same.

(for one or two Mini LP CD to US)
Order Weight (Item + Packaging) 148 or 263g

Shipping Method / Shipping Charge

DHL 2350 yen ($20.85)
FedEx Priority 3560 yen ($31.58)
FedEx Economic 3100 yen ($27.50)
EMS 2000 yen ($17.74)
Registered Airmail 1160 yen ($10.29)
Registered SAL Small Packet 910 yen ($8.07)
Airmail 750 yen ($6.65)
SAL Small Packet 500 yen ($4.44)

Shipping charge for 3 Mini LP CD or 4 of them is the same.

(for 3 or 4 Mini LP CD to US)
Order Weight (Item + Packaging) 378g

Shipping Method / Shipping Charge

DHL 2350 yen ($20.85)
FedEx Priority 3560 yen ($31.58)
FedEx Economic 3100 yen ($27.50)
EMS 2000 yen ($17.74)
Registered Airmail 1560 yen ($13.84)
Registered SAL Small Packet 1110 yen ($9.85)
Airmail 1150 yen ($10.20)
SAL Small Packet 700 yen ($6.21)

 

Anybody heard the Popol Vuh Mino LP cd’s from Cd Japan?

 

So are the SHM Platinum-CDs pretty much dead at this point?

 

I’m thinking of picking up 2 Camel titles. Moonmadness and Mirage. Anybody heard these yet?

Moonmadness [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [Platinum SHM-CD] [Limited Release] Camel CD Album

Mirage [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)] [SHM-CD] [Limited Release] Camel CD Album

 

Correct. Last Pt release Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Live in Montreal was about a year ego.

Fire:
"This is perhaps the most amazing musical "dance" between two brilliant/God-gifted talents that I have ever heard/seen! You almost expect them to both burst into flames at any time. Hiromi is the most DAZZLING/luminous pianist on the planet at present, and will most certainly sit at the "head table" with the greatest jazz pianists of ALL TIME! Edmar brings a voice to the harp that has never been heard before! It's amazing that their fingers don't fly off their hands! BRAVA & BRAVO TO THESE TWO MUSICAL VIRTUOSO'S!! Your "FIRE" lights the way for all of us to see what true GENIUS looks and sounds like! Thank you."
"After 58 years living on this planet I discover the harp..."
(comments)

 

Go to Pt thread:
Platinum SHM-CDs launched! (Disc 3)
(Posts 150, 659, 869 and many more). Take Moonmadness wile you can.

As for Mirage, I have been waiting for a new remaster for 17 years... I will wait more.

 

This was done twice too on SHM-SACD the second time they used the better source for mastering. The same as the Platinum SHM. I have it (the SHM-SACD with the better source) and it sounds great.

 

I notice the amount of new Mini-Lp releases has slowed down over the past couple of years (other than Japanese artists). Any idea why?

 

EMI gone. Beside a few very famous names like Yes, Hendrix etc, Warner and Sony prefer cheaper jewel case releases. Practically, only Uni and independent Vivid Sound and Belle do it on a regular basis.
Also, they all think that jazz lovers would rather buy 2 albums in plastic than one Mini LP. You cannot argue with that, because they have sales numbers, and you have nothing but a thin wallet.

 

Universal was always big into SHM in Japan but now the label is up for sale.

 

What does it mean?

 

I don't understand. My UHQCD-MQA came housed in a regular jewel case.
I will prefer a jewel case over a cardboard sleeve any day ~ all my mini-lp packs end up in jewel case as soon as I remove them from the cardboard jacket. The reason I buy Japan CDs is for the disc, not the mini lp jacket

 

It's mean there is no EMI Japan branch and no EMI headquarter either.

 

They want to distinguish this new breed from other formats using "portfolio" OBI, and maintain a cost equal to the cost of a jewel case SHM-SACD.

This is why:

 

I'm probably missing something, but what happened with EMI Japan?

 

EMI: the sad demise of a very British company

 

It's a bit of a disappointment that they are cutting down on mini-lps. I 'm a cd guy, but I do like the packaging and graphics that lp's have. So I get
both in the mini-lp format. Back in the day, album art was almost as important as the music itself. (ie. Sgt Pepper) now not so much.

 

Album art is still important, unless you are a music streamer or down loader. The Japanese are still the bast at album art and presentation.

 

Tony Banks - A Curious Feeling 12/26/18

[Blu-spec CD] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)]

Cardboard sleeve reissue of Genesis member, Tony Banks' first solo release. Features Blu-spec CD format and DSD mastering using 24bit remaster in 2018. The mini LP faithfully replicates its UK LP design. Comes with a description written in Japanese. This series features the following titles: "London" and "Dilemma."

 

What these "London" and "Dilemma." titles are?

 

This year's latest releases from Vivid Sound:

Dec. 26, 2018

Tony Banks A Curious Feeling
[?] London
[?] Dilemma

"Cardboard sleeve reissue of Genesis member, Tony Banks' first solo release. Features Blu-spec CD format and DSD mastering using 24bit remaster in 2018. The mini LP faithfully replicates its UK LP design. This series features the following titles: "London" and "Dilemma." [$26.44]

(translation)
Curious Feeling [Blu-spec CD] / Tony Banks
"First solo released by Genesis Tony Banks in 1979. Produced by David Henschel, familiar with Genesis's work. Chester Thompson in the drum, Kim Beacon from the original string · Driven Thing to the vocal, and that fantastic Genesis sound is reproduced. High sound quality "Blu-spec CD" adopted. A paper jacket specification based on British record LP. Original booklet in English enclosed inside bag. DSD mastering. 2018 24 bit remaster."

Reviews:

"Tony BANKS' concept album about a man who loses his memory when he loses love is itself pretty forgettable. GENESIS fans will find the music familiar -- the intricate piano passages, symphonic synthesizers, and guitars (courtesy of BANKS as well) sound like GENESIS' quieter moments over their last few albums -- but even BANKS' own songs with that band were never this prolix and prone to meander. Vocalist Kim Beacon is an understated singer; combined with BANKS' pastoral and pastel-colored arrangements, "A Curious Feeling" becomes a pale imitation of the keyboardist's contributions to GENESIS..." (progarchives)

"Tony Banks first solo effort is still my favorite, yet it does not mean it´s perfect. Half of the album is made of excellent, very inspired songs, that could easily fit in any mid period Genesis best albums. The rest are plaintive keyboards-only tracks that are good, but they don´t really sit well with the others (they sound like incidental music for films, get it?). That´s the CD´s main fault: it lacks a little direction, it´s uneven, which is a shame since Lucky Me, You and, specially, The Lie/After The Lie and the title track are great songs, with those disturbing, intelligent and often enigmatic lyrics Banks was famous for in Genesis.

Musicly speaking, the album is also good, but with few highlights, except for the usual great keyboards runs, but even they are not very used here. The sole exception is the aforementioned The Lie/After The Lie, a very outstanding number (actually a two part song) that could be a big hit if it was recorded by Genesis. Banks plays all the bass and guitars parts, which he does well, but a little more care for the arrangements would make it better. Kim Beacon does a good job singing with passion and conviction. Nothing special but he does it well. Chester Thompson´s drumming is as excellent as ever.

Conclusion: a very good debut, no doubt. But actually, coming from a musical genius like Tony Banks, very good is way below expectations. 3,5 stars." (progarchives)

After the Lie


Title track
Tony Banks - A Curious Feeling - You (30th Anniversary Remaster)

 

Discovering this release took a rather circuitous route.
This... this is a truly brilliant album!

 

- off the topic -

All Happy New Year from the new band Greta Van Fleet!
If this music is still alive, then we are alive too.



From the first album "From the Fires":
Greta Van Fleet - Flower Power | Live From Lincoln Hall

Greta Van Fleet - Edge Of Darkness | Live From Lincoln Hall

Greta Van Fleet - Highway Tune

Greta Van Fleet - Safari Song | Live From Lincoln Hall

Greta Van Fleet - Lover Leaver Taker Believer | Live From Lincoln Hall

From the new album "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army":
Greta Van Fleet - Watching Over (Audio)
I cannot get enough of these guys...

 

Have the Elton John titles been released yet?