HiRez Poll Gabriel, Peter - I/O [Blu-Ray Audio (Dolby Atmos)]

[Muppet69]

I didn’t think much of this album on the first couple of listens but it’s definitely growing on me. The Atmos mix is excellent albeit folded down into 5.1 for my setup, very active. I still can’t tell much difference between the 3 different versions of the album to be honest. I guess I need to try harder. Overall it’s great except I’m not a fan of the crappy cardboard sleeves the discs are in. Voted 9

 

[key_wiz]

Great surround mix (I’m in 5.1). Great fidelity. Solid PG album and did not disappoint at all after such a long wait. Right up there with his classics. A “9” only because there might need to be some room for future surround mixes of his 70s and 80s albums.

 

[HenkG]

Great surround mix (I’m in 5.1). Great fidelity. Solid PG album and did not disappoint at all after such a long wait. Right up there with his classics. A “9” only because there might need to be some room for future surround mixes of his 70s and 80s albums.

If that ever will be happen. If so I buy straight all regular solo albums

 

[minimumtumbleweed]

Such a great album. Some of the songs are not as strong, but overall there is some great and really uplifting music here. Really like the immersion of the Atmos mix, even if it isn't particularly adventurous. Fidelity is excellent. I give it a 9.
We're ranking surround here, but I was kind of interested in the two different stereo mixes. Overall I like the Bright side mix and found the Dark side mix to be a little too muddy and bottom heavy for this type of music.

 

[artwwweb]

I got this for Xmas. I've not played it yet, but studying the booklet I noticed something that I don't think has been mentioned yet in this thread. (I've not waded though the 29 pages of pre-poll chat.) : The in-side mix contains instrumentation that is not present in the other mixes, and vice versa. This is explained in the credits with asterisks. (See the entry for Panopticom.) The usual approach to surround/immersive mixes is to be the 'same', except spread out. Looks like this mix does actually have extra little bits, and in some cases is missing bits. I don't mean to derail this poll thread into a general discussion about surround vs stereo mixes, I just thought it was worth noting that the immersive mix would be a different mix even if it were folded down to stereo. (I had assumed it would be the equivalent of one of the stereo mixes, or perhaps a blend of the two.)

Edit: As per popshop below, this has been discussed, but I'll leave this here in case there are others late to the party like myself

 

[popshop]

Indeed, it's been discussed, but no harm in celebrating Hans-Martin Buff more!

 

[GabeL]

Revisiting this Atmos mix tonight and I still consider it the best one (material and mix wise) I have purchased. As a huge Peter Gabriel fan I am slightly biased (material wise)…but a truly stunning piece of work all around

 

[gorman]

The effect of Peter's voice at 04:50 in Four Kinds of Horses is incredibly well made.
Feels like he's whispering in your ears.

 

[privateuniverse]

Sat down tonight to give this one a post-Grammy spin and was shocked to find that I never reviewed it.

What can I say? Hans-Martin Buff just gets it. The mix is exceptionally good. (I'm listening to Atmos downmixed to 5.1). He really knows how to take advantage of the surround field without ever getting too gimmicky. Lots of discrete stuff coming from the rears while the fronts are still fully engaged. Lots of layers to this music and Hans knows how to effectively deploy it all around the surround field.

As for the music, you could certainly make the argument that the songs don't quite scale the heights of Peter's 80's & 90's greatness, but on the other hand I am having trouble thinking of any other artist who is 50+ years into their career and still writing material this strong. And before the album was released, I was actually worried. There had been a handful of songs from Peter on movie soundtracks in the years leading up to this that had left me very underwhelmed. I was worried that he had lost it. Turns out my fears were unfounded. One or two weaker tracks (I didn't much care for "The Court" and "Road to Joy" feels a bit too much like a rehash of "Kiss That Frog") but there are others that I really love. I would rank "Playing For Time" up there with the best songs of his entire career. "Four Kinds of Horses" and "Live and Let Live" are really wonderful too. I saw Peter twice on the tour for this album, in Boston & NYC. Normally when artists from this generation start playing new material for audiences, it usually sends people running for a beer. But Peter actually played every song from the album at these shows and there was no mass exodus for alcohol. I think that speaks to the strength of the material.

A wonderful collection of songs with a fantastic mix. Gotta be a Grammy-worthy 10.