Surroundablog

More Jethro Tull comin'

I've been a fan of this band since Jethro first put drill to seed...andI missed this release the first time around (thanks RT musicman for the info). If you missed it too...A digitally re-mastered and expanded three disc Collector's Edition of Jethro Tull's brilliant 1969 sophomore release.

CD 1 includes Stand Up re-mastered and 11 bonus tracks (including BBC radio sessions and the classic singles Living In The Past and Sweet Dream), while CD 2 contains a 1970 live show from Carnegie Hall.

A DVD-Audio disc features a 5.1 mix of the Carnegie Hall show plus an interview with Ian Anderson.

Comes as a deluxe digipack with a replica of the original vinyl gatefold pop-up and a detailed booklet.

'A crucial album.' - Popmatters

CD 1: Original album, re-mastered:

1. A New Day Yesterday
2. Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square
3. Bouree
4. Back To The Family
5. Look Into The Sun
6. Nothing Is Easy
7. Fat Man
8. We Used To Know
9. Reasons For Waiting
10. For A Thousand Mothers

Bonus tracks

11. Living In The Past
12. Driving Song
13. Sweet Dream
14. 17 [mono]
15. Living In The Past [original mono single version]

"Top Gear" BBC Radio session recorded 6/16/69; broadcast 6/22/69

16. Bouree [mono]
17. A New Day Yesterday [mono]
18. Nothing Is Easy [mono]
19. Fat Man [mono]

20. Stand Up US radio spot #1
21. Stand Up US radio spot #2

CD 2: Live At Carnegie Hall [1970]

1. Nothing Is Easy
2. My God
3. With You There To Help Me/By Kind Permission Of
4. A Song For Jeffrey
5. To Cry You A Song
6. Sossity, You're A Woman/Reasons For Waiting/Sossity, You're A Woman
7. Dharma For One
8. We Used To Know
9. Guitar Solo
10. For A Thousand Mothers

Disc 3 - DVD Audio

Live At Carnegie Hall [1970]
Carnegie Hall audio: DTS & Dolby Digital 24 bit 48kHz
5.1 surround sound and 2.0 24 bit 48 kHz LPCM stereo [audio only]

1. Introduction
2. Nothing Is Easy
3. My God
4. With You There To Help Me/By Kind Permission Of
5. A Song For Jeffrey
6. To Cry You A Song
7. Sossity, You're A Woman/Reasons For Waiting/Sossity, You're A Woman
8. Dharma For One
9. We Used To Know
10. Guitar Solo
11. For A Thousand Mothers

DVD Bonus Feature:

An interview with Ian Anderson [London, 2010]

Jethro Tull surfaces for Halloween...

A commemorative Collector's Edition of Jethro Tull's classic 1971 album, featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes by Steven Wilson.

The box set contains 2 cds, a 180g audiophile LP in replica gatefold sleeve, plus dvd and blu-ray discs containing a 5.1 mix of the album and four bonus tracks.

The superb package comes with a 48 page hardback book featuring detailed liner notes, a new Ian Anderson interview, Q&A's with engineer John Burns, notes from Steven Wilson, lyrics, rare photos, and reflections from Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, Martin Barre, Clive Bunker, Barrie Barlow, Glenn Cornick, Terry Ellis and Jennie Franks (Ian Anderson's first wife and lyricist for title track Aqualung).

Shipping includes insurance as standard (UK = Recorded Delivery, EC/Rest of World = International Sign For). You will need to sign for the package when it arrives.

Pre-order now for 31st October 2011 release date

Discipline with Starless and Bible Black almost here...

The sixth and seventh releases in the superb King Crimson reissue series.

The edgy Post-Punk 'Rock Gamelan' complexity of 1981's Discipline signified a startling reinvention for this most restless of bands and remains one of the key albums of the early 1980s and one of the most popular and influential in King Crimson's catalogue.

Perhaps the most accurate representation of the band's powerful mid-70's identity, 1974's Starless And Bible Black was an experimental hybrid of live material and studio recordings which came between the landmark releases Larks' Tongues In Aspic and Red.

Featuring the original and new (by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp) stereo mixes of the albums, both releases are loaded with rare extras (audio and visual) and both come with new 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson.

Pre-order now for October 3rd 2011 shipping.

Opeth Heritage...but where's Storm Corrosion?

Here's some detail on the upcoming multichannel release of Opeth's "Heritage". Their appearance at last weeken's "HeavyTO" festival surpassed the headliners of Rob Zombie, Anthrax, Megadeth and Motorhead. Now then...when and where is the Steven Wilson-Mikael Akkerfeldt-Mike Portnoy super project Storm Corrosion?.....?

Opeth has spent over two decades steadily amassing a body of work that is at once possessed of a fervent and unrelenting devotion to aesthetic progression (and perfection) while simultaneously scaling the summits of power, mysticism and might aspired to by the group's hard rock forefathers in Sabbath, Purple and Zeppelin.
The band's roots in the doom-laden shade of occult-infused Scandinavian death metal and dark romanticism are undeniable and will never elicit apology. But the transcendent emotional and melodic heights achieved on the brilliantly titled tenth full length Opeth album, Heritage, marks a new chapter in the storied quintet's career. Band leader, singer, guitarist, songwriter and long-running consistent member Mikael Åkerfeldt has reshaped the pathway forward for his artistic vehicle without sacrificing the hard won spiritualism of previous endeavors

Special Edition contains 2 bonus tracks and a full length DVD making of the album as well as a 5.1 mix of the entire album.

video

CD:
01. Heritage
02. The Devil's Orchard
03. I Feel The Dark
04. Slither
05. Nepenthe
06. Häxprocess
07. Famine
08. The Lines In My Hand
09. Folklore
10. Marrow Of The Earth
11. Pyre
12. Face In The Snow

DVD:
Includes 2 bonus tracks, 5.1 audio mix of album and ‘making of Heritage’ Documentary

More Steven Wilson on the way...

Steven Wilson has been particularly busy these days. His excellent mix of Caravan's "In the Land of Grey and Pink" was just released...Next up; the highly anticipated Wilson'd version of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" and now comes word of a new solo album..

Grace For Drowning is Steven Wilson's second album and develops further the uncompromising creativity evident on his highly regarded debut, Insurgentes.

A double album ("Two 40-45 minute albums in the same package."), Wilson describes the release as, "My biggest project to date."

Wilson adds, “Insurgentes was an important step for me into something new. This record takes that as a starting point, but it’s more experimental and more eclectic. For me, the golden period for music was the late sixties and early seventies, when the album became the primary means of artistic expression, when musicians liberated themselves from the 3 minute pop song format, and started to draw on jazz and classical music especially, combining it with the spirit of psychedelia to create “journeys in sound.” So, without being retro, my album is a kind of homage to that spirit. There’s everything from [Ennio] Morricone-esque film themes to choral music to piano ballads to a 23 minute progressive jazz–inspired piece.”

Burning Shed is selling Grace For Drowning in three limited edition formats, a deluxe version, and as a 2cd digipack, and a heavyweight double vinyl issue.

The Deluxe version features 3 CDs (including a bonus CD of out-takes and demos) and a Blu-Ray disc, and is packaged in a hard back book, which features 120 pages of artwork and notes.

The Blu-Ray disc features 5.1 surround sound and high resolution stereo mixes of the album, additional demos, films for 5 tracks (directed by Lasse Hoile), photo galleries, hand written notes and lyrics.

The vinyl edition features both 'albums' on heavyweight (180gm) vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. It also comes with a drop card containing a code to download a digital version of the album.

The 2 cd digibook version comes with a 28 page booklet.

Due to the size and nature of the deluxe edition we are aware that shipping costs may be high to some parts of the world. For this reason, a limited number of the deluxe edition of Grace For Drowning will also be available from three stores in Western Europe (one each in Germany, Holland and Belgium) and one in North America.


Preorder now for 26th September 2011 release date

1st Annual Toronto Audio and Video Entertainment Show

This summer kicked off with the unexpected demise of audiophile retailer Brack Electronics. It was a day to forget as some choice pieces fell under the gavel at prices that were sobering. Personally; I thought many of the demos and end of the liners went too high and were mostly 5 years past their due date. Why would anyone purchase a pair of B&W CM7s with a cracked cabinet for 800.00 a pair?! But I digress....here is some great news for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts....

"Get ready for the most anticipated consumer electronics event in Canada! After almost a decade of absence, Toronto will host a brand new consumer audio video and electronics show. The event, organized by an experienced team, promises to promote and revitalize the consumer electronics industry and is expected to draw thousands of visitors.

The Toronto Audio Video Entertainment Show, dubbed TAVES, has come to life after two years of development and market study, thanks to the collaboration of Canada HiFi magazine, Salon Son & Image and AuDiYo Inc. The first annual show will be held at the luxurious Le Meridien King Edward hotel from September 30th to October 2nd , 2011 just in time for the biggest shopping season. The King Edward hotel is a prestigious heritage building located in the heart of downtown Toronto and offers larger than average exhibit rooms with excellent sound acoustics.

The TAVES will showcase state-of-the-art consumer audio video products and technologies from mainstream and enthusiast brands. Consumers will be able to listen to and compare a large number of two-channel music systems as well as experience full-scale home theater setups. Products on display will range from entry-level components to the ultra high-end and everything in between. In addition, a number of exhibitors will present the visitors with the opportunity to purchase various media products from rare music discs, vinyl albums and Blu-ray discs. On Saturday evening visitors and exhibitors will be invited to listen to a number of live music performances by Canadian professional artists.

The show exhibition space will consist of a combination of larger than average hotel guestrooms, large parlours and a grand ballroom. Beds and other furniture will be removed from the rooms to accommodate audio and video setups.

Additional note: Roger Daltrey is performing "Tommy" in its entirety on Friday September the 30th at the Sony Centre in Toronto...and its located just 4 blocks away! Also; the Billy Bishop airport is a hub for major east coast cities AND its located in the downtown core of Toronto. So all you audio enthusiasts in Canada, Chicago, Detroit, New York etc. make plans to attend the greatest offering of quality un-bigbox electronics at the 1st Annual Toronto Audio and Video Entertainment Show.

http://www.taveshow.com/About/taves.html

 

What's Grey and Pink and surround all over?

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Caravan's seminal 'Canterbury' offering, In The Land Of Grey And Pink, the album has been reissued as a three-disc, deluxe edition.

Alongside a new remaster of the original mix and several rarities (both audio and visual), the multi-track master tapes have been remixed in stereo and 5.1 surround by Steven Wilson.

The booklet includes many rare period photographs and an informative Mark Powell essay.

Disc one features the original album newly remastered by Paschal Byrne at The Audio Archive plus three new Stereo mixes by Steven Wilson.

Disc two features two previously unreleased versions of It Doesn't Take A Lot and Nigel Blows A Tune plus four non-album tracks remixed by SW. Disc two also includes three songs recorded live for BBC radio's Sounds of the Seventies - Love To Love You, Love Song Without Flute and In The Land Of Grey And Pink plus two songs recorded live for John Peel's Sunday Concert which included a superb cover version of Soft Machine's Feelin', Reelin', Squealin' and Caravan's epic Nine Feet Underground.

Disc three is a DVD featuring a brand new 5.1 surround sound and stereo mix of the album plus two performances recorded for German TV's Beat Club in June 1971. Golf Girl was broadcast at the time but Winter Wine has never been previously seen before now.

Pete Townshend feeling Quadrophenic....in proper 5.15-ery Guvner...

Editor's note: Pete Townshend is frittering the days away by working on a proper box set reissue of Quadrophenia. Several tracks will be presented in surround sound.....(bets on "I am the Sea-the Real Me). Here's his latest blog entry...

WHAT I'M DOING EVERYDAY

I am shut away in my home studio at the moment working to restore the demos of Quadrophenia. Bob Pridden is doing surround-sound mixes of selected tracks. Jon Astley is remastering the original vinyl mix, and evaluating his own 1996 remix (the one where you can properly hear Roger's astonishing vocals). I am sitting in a pile of notes, desk diaries, photos (I took a lot of my own between 1971-1973 when Quadrophenia emerged), original lyrics and writing liner notes. 

I am really enjoying this work. Bob's mixes are mind-blowing. My demos are among the best I've ever done, and include some real quirky tracks that didn't make it onto the final album. I still find studio work strange – I have to have the speakers very low in volume, not what I'm used to. This package, due in October if all goes well, is another Live at Leeds and Hull – or even another Lifehouse Chronicles – in the making. You are going to love it. I hope so, because I am missing this summer sunshine to get it completed on time. 

In my recent interview with my friend Simon Garfield for INTELLIGENT LIFE, I professed some difficulty in my interaction with fans as I grow older. What is so wonderful about working on Quadrophenia is that back in 1970, all the way through to the recording in 1973, the primary challenge for me was to tell the story of the Who's fans and at the same time address the wayward creative needs of the band as individuals and artists. The Who, and Jimmy as a kind of model for one or all of our fans, really had developed a powerful symbiosis that deserved a project like Quadrophenia both to honour the mechanism and address why it started to fail almost a soon as it had begun 

So I am enjoying working with the music, but I'm enjoying writing about it too.

A flurry of SHM-SACDs on the way....

Here's comes a breathtaking fluorish of newly remastered albums in the shm-sacd series from Japan. The Rolling Stones are well represented with makings of their 70's and 80's output including "Sticky Fingers", "Tattoo You", "Dirty Work", and "It`s only Rock `n Roll"..and I like it! 

Uriah Heep wants you to "Look at Yourself", Thin Lizzy smells the "Black Rose" (RIP Gary Moore), and I see a Rainbow "Rising"...throw in a dose of  `Master of Reality`and a little `Love over Gold`` as well as some Camel and Pentangle and I`m gonna take out a mortgage on my condo to upgrade my speakers for these excellent sounding 2 channel sacds.... 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds release Collectors Editions of 4 Classic Albums on Monday May the 16th....

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds announce the latest in a series of re-issues of their classic albums. Let Love In (1994), Murder Ballads (1996), The Boatman’s Call (1997) and No More Shall We Part (2001) — their eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh studio albums respectively – will come out 16^th May 2011, each as a separate deluxe double-disc Collectors Edition.

 These latest releases are the third set of reissues from a series that will ultimately see Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ entire album catalogue digitally re-mastered and remixed for 5.1 Surround Sound for the first time since their original release.

Each deluxe double-disc Collectors Edition contains the re-mastered stereo album, the new surround mix (in DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1), a specially commissioned short film made by UK artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, plus b-sides from the singles, videos and exclusive sleeve notes.

The first three consecutive albums in the re-mastered deluxe edition series — From Her to Eternity, The Firstborn Is Dead, Kicking Against the Pricks — were released in 2009. The next four in the series — Your Funeral…My Trial, Tender Prey, The Good Son and Henry’s Dream – were released last year. All were received with unanimous critical welcome.