Howard Jones “Engage” CD/DVD with DTS & DD surround mixes

[dr. simple]

The recent Howard Jones 5.1 mixes reminded me that in 2015 he also released “Engage” with a 5.1 mix. To be completely honest, I listened to it maybe once or twice when I bought it (maybe 5 years ago?) but it was such a departure from what I expected that I didn’t revisit it. Until today.

The first thing I did was search for a thread and found nothing so I thought I’d better start one.

Going in this time without expectations, this is a fun disc. Many styles are mixed together, but almost all are VERY electronic at the core. In some ways it reminds me of Steven Wilson’s recent solo works. The surround mix is very adventurous as well - I’d give it a 9. It was mixed by Robbie Bronnimann. This is similar to the recent “Human’s Lib” and “Dream Into Action” releases in that the visuals are very integral to the presentation so it’s no surprise that Stephen W. Tayler did them!

@Stephen W Tayler, is there anything you can share with us about this project?

 

[Stephen W Tayler]

The recent Howard Jones 5.1 mixes reminded me that in 2015 he also released “Engage” with a 5.1 mix. To be completely honest, I listened to it maybe once or twice when I bought it (maybe 5 years ago?) but it was such a departure from what I expected that I didn’t revisit it. Until today.

The first thing I did was search for a thread and found nothing so I thought I’d better start one.

Going in this time without expectations, this is a fun disc. Many styles are mixed together, but almost all are VERY electronic at the core. In some ways it reminds me of Steven Wilson’s recent solo works. The surround mix is very adventurous as well - I’d give it a 9. It was mixed by Robbie Bronnimann. This is similar to the recent “Human’s Lib” and “Dream Into Action” releases in that the visuals are very integral to the presentation so it’s no surprise that Stephen W. Tayler did them!

@Stephen W Tayler, is there anything you can share with us about this project?

ENGAGE!
after I created the live show visuals for Human’s Lib and Dream into action for Howard’s tour for both those albums in 2010 Howard approached me to create visuals for a new live project he wanted to make. So we discussed the concepts and then the music and the visuals were created at the same time as this was first and foremost intended to be a live experience which was performed three times and it was filmed in different ways at each performance. Robbie Bronnimann recorded produced and arranged the music as well as being part of the live band. so he created the mix of this show while I directed and edited the visual side so the film could be on DVD as part of a box set and available to buy or rent on Apple. This was a combination of the visuals and live footage.

It was a real pleasure to be involved in the creative side of this project with some very interesting concepts, a lot of which we filmed specially in various creative ways along with several animations. I continued to create visuals for projection at a more recent conceptual live event for Howard titled TRANSFORM, where I collaborated closely with the lighting designer Yenz Nyholm.

These inspired me to create my own solo live show projects Ostinato and Da Capo which were conceived simultaneously as visual and musical presentations and performances.

SWTx

APPLE Tv https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/howard-jones-engage/umc.cmc.5t1m85ga4ppfovqznx7cm0fmh

trailer https://youtu.be/cTHM1k9ACmQ?si=E1dD3jGLxZP1NTbB

 

[dr. simple]

Thank you, @Stephen W Tayler. Engage is definitely one to be experienced as multimedia. I’m looking forward to watching and listening again.