BIG Blu-Ray Audio drive from Universal Music in 2013

[fredblue]

just looking back through HFPA's Facebook page TimeLine

https://m.facebook.com/HFPureAudio1?

here's the artists so far referred to in it (first posted most recently, last posted when page first started)...

Nirvana,
Rolling Stones,
Guns 'n Roses,
Lionel Richie,
Lang Lang,
Beach Boys,
Cat Stevens,
Queen.

of those, only the Stones' disc exists, Cat Stevens is still currently vapourware, tthough there have been pre-orders & listings for both Cat Stevens and Lang Lang.. which leaves the rumoured Queen title alluded to by Universal France's President (who also mentioned Abba, Dire Straits & U2, yet to be referred to on this Facebook page, though I think you can safely say if they were to be then these are all not so subtle hints of what's to come..).. Beach Boys, Nirvana & GnR are a pretty exciting prospect with no prior reference to them appearing on blu-ray..!!

i say "bring on the next batch..!!"

 

[Dixie4]

Yes Adam, i'm impatient to find out the next batch ( although, i'm sure my wallet isn't ! )

Like you, I've assumed that the artists they have posted about, may be future releases....or are they just testing reaction ??
Desperately hoping for releases that have never been on SACD / DVD-A before....just don't want a re hash of previous releases on said formats ! Give us new, give us old....but give us plenty !!

 

[inquadwetrust]

You won't get it till tomorrow then !

Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire De Melody Nelson BDA

I've been on this one all morning in 5.1 PCM and can safely confirm the upgrade to the BDA is more than worth it. Staying in the surround realm for now with both the Oppo 83 and the Onyo TX-SR875 in Pure mode, the mix is identical and as I said before I loved the DD version on the other set and must have played it well over 50 times. Despite excellent fidelity for DD, what is startling here is the breadth to the strings. Complex runs and swells fill out with an aural oomph that moves through you from the rear speakers. Fine detail abounds and the contrast feels like night and day. The overly dry DD centre channel now carries warmth and presence that actually take the creepiness out and adds more pathos, more sympathy. The metronomic drum lines snap even closer into the syncopation of the finger picked guitar and when the french horn comes in from the left rear we're right in the centre of Serge's masterpiece of baroque. The expansion of the piano into the mix only seeks to heighten the lovely work of the surround engineer as it's placement counters the horn. Cymbals crash wildly and evaporate delicately, hi-hats seethe with sparkle and every note of every single walking bass line punches out through the air to land right in your face. It is short but the concept element works with this to make you feel like you've heard a lot more and by the time you reach the final track and it's extraordinary crescendo it feels closer to the forty minute mark rather than the actual twenty eight you heard. My only criticism is that it gets louder as it progresses which to my ears is no problem but those with sensitive neighbours may prefer to start a little quieter and see if they notice.

Combine lovely package design and the addition of the stereo original master (with untouched hiss) and the complete alternate stereo version that the 3 disc CD/DVDV set carried and you're spoilt rotten. Even the menu is head and shoulders above frustrating BDA releases like GRRR!, which seemingly was designed to induce the sensation of the title itself. I'd recommend picking up the CD set if you want to be a completist as it includes a documentary with interviews that is typically gallic with lovely insight into the album . The insert essays are identical but with an English translation in the CD/DVDV digipack.

If you have the gear then you owe it to yourself to get this. It's the aural equivalent of Alain Delon in Melville's Le Samourai - staring in the mirror adjusting his hat whilst deeply inhaling his Gauloise as he thinks of what lies before him. I think it's probably the coolest thing I will ever own.

Tu t'appelles comment?

 

[artwwweb]

Nice review inquadwetrust! What a shame, though, that there wasn't room on the BD to squeeze in the video content from the DVD set.

 

[culabula]

Is there a way of editing La Birkin out?

 

[fredblue]

OOH LA LA..!!!!!!

merci beaucoup pour la critique merveilleux..!! Je pense que c'est la meilleure chose que j'ai lu en cette forum -- jamais jamais (dodger!)..!!!

maintenant, je suis très heureux... ok, il est temps pour une banane...!!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

:51banana:

:worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy

 

[fredblue]

apologies for my dreadful French btw!

"je parle francais comme une vache espagnole..!" as they say!!

 

[artwwweb]

fredblue, I like your thinking about the Pure Audio FB posts which have YT links. None of those artistes particularly excite me, but in the absence of anything more concrete, it's closest we've got to a news source.

 

[culabula]

OOH LA LA..!!!!!!

merci beaucoup pour la critique merveilleux..!! Je pense que c'est la meilleure chose que j'ai lu en cette forum -- jamais jamais (dodger!)..!!!

maintenant, je suis très heureux... ok, il est temps pour une banane...!!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

:51banana:

:worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy

Banane? Depuis quand «forum» est du genre féminin? Patate! hihihi.

 

[culabula]

apologies for my dreadful French btw!

"je parle francais comme une vache espagnole..!" as they say!!

Bon, puisque c'est ainsi, tu es pardonné . ¡Holà!

 

[inquadwetrust]

Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire De Melody Nelson BDA continued

Having compared the DTS-Master Audio 5.1 against the PCM I'd say it too sounds great but on my set up it is noticeably brighter throughout the mids and occasionally it carries some mild distortion in the high frequencies that certainly won't distract. I'd go as far as saying I'm only hearing it because I'm trying to.

 

[fredblue]

fredblue, I like your thinking about the Pure Audio FB posts which have YT links. None of those artistes particularly excite me, but in the absence of anything more concrete, it's closest we've got to a news source.

thanks artwwweb

I know its totally crazy but I gave up having to really like artists years ago where these Hi-Rez & surround things are concerned!

my poor little system would be starved of goodies to play on it if I'd resisted buying albums by Oasis, R.E.M., King Crimson, 3 Doors Down, Bon Jovi, Rob Thomas, Meat Loaf, Celine Dion, James Taylor, etc...

..the list of artists I'd never bought their albums (or very much of) before on LP/CD that I got just for 5.1/Hi-Rez is absolutely huge..!!!!

 

[fredblue]

Banane? Depuis quand «forum» est du genre féminin? Patate! hihihi.

hahaha!! Oui! Banane..!!

oops.. Ce forum..

 

[inquadwetrust]

Nice review inquadwetrust! What a shame, though, that there wasn't room on the BD to squeeze in the video content from the DVD set.

More than enough room - having listened more to the alternate stereo mix they could have used the same channel and instrument combination and fitted a 5.1 of that in there too!

 

[fredblue]

Bon, puisque c'est ainsi, tu es pardonné . ¡Holà!

tres sympa

beanos notches, poor favour..!

 

[inquadwetrust]

Is there a way of editing La Birkin out?

Possibly - but only by muting the centre channel which carries the Serge vocal too. She's very hot in the mix here which I really like but I can understand totally that she's a love/hate experience.

 

[inquadwetrust]

OOH LA LA..!!!!!!

merci beaucoup pour la critique merveilleux..!! Je pense que c'est la meilleure chose que j'ai lu en cette forum -- jamais jamais (dodger!)..!!!

maintenant, je suis très heureux... ok, il est temps pour une banane...!!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

:51banana:

:worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy

 

[fredblue]

View attachment 10683

nee nood ta tick tha poss..!!

ah, what i wouldn't do for some of the new view bow jolly.. :friday:

 

[fredblue]

Possibly - but only by muting the centre channel which carries the Serge vocal too. She's very hot in the mix here which I really like but I can understand totally that she's a love/hate experience.

she's hot tonight! woah momma! (etc..)

 

[culabula]

Possibly - but only by muting the centre channel which carries the Serge vocal too. She's very hot in the mix here which I really like but I can understand totally that she's a love/hate experience.

If only he hadn't encouraged her to um, laugh in so many recordings....doesn't encourage "timelessness".