Listening to Now (In Surround) - Volume 2

[bgf1973]

 

[bgf1973]

Love this IAA 5.1 FLAC. The music and the mix are stunning

 

[Malhomme]

I gotta admit that to my ears, Aphrodite's Child "666" is pretty weak tea to begin with, and I'm kinda surprised that anyone deemed it worthy of a quad remix & re-release.

It is not quad. It is a faked 5.1 and atmos remix by upmix adding multichannel reverb and comb filters and so on. There is no spatialisation at all of instruments. A con.

 

[Shermatz]

It is not quad. It is a faked 5.1 and atmos remix by upmix adding multichannel reverb and comb filters and so on. There is no spatialisation at all of instruments. A con.

I should clarify that I'm not speaking here of the new multi-channel mix, ersatz quad or not, but just the original (stereo) album itself and its spotty merits. To my ears, it's kind of a kitschy "art rock" project, certainly ambitious for Greek pop-meisters Aphrodite's Child, but a lot of bizarre avant-garde '60's affections making the whole ship tilt conspicuously.

 

[4-earredwonder]

I should clarify that I'm not speaking here of the new multi-channel mix, ersatz quad or not, but just the original (stereo) album itself and its spotty merits. To my ears, it's kind of a kitschy "art rock" project, certainly ambitious for Greek pop-meisters Aphrodite's Child, but a lot of bizarre avant-garde '60's affections making the whole ship tilt conspicuously.

Like, I'm sure, everyone on this website, wish they'd mine Vangelis' stellar back catalogue for ATMOS remixes! Not a fan of Aphrodite's Child 666!

 

[mandrix]

Probably due to a Tampa AM station signing off at dark every day with 666 decades ago, I became enamored of "Aegian Sea" by Aphrodite's Child..
The rest, well, eh. Not so much these days.

Currently in speed rotation is everything PT and SW.
Very much love Ian Thomas - This Is How We Roll. lyrics fit my sensibilities and the music is good.

 

[mandrix]

Did you ever imagine the last thing you'd hear
As you're fading out was a song?

I certainly hope so.

 

[Malhomme]

The wooden prince, conducted by Boulez from Duttton/Vocalion.

 

[barfle]

I gotta admit that to my ears, Aphrodite's Child "666" is pretty weak tea to begin with, and I'm kinda surprised that anyone deemed it worthy of a quad remix & re-release.

IIRC, I bought the LP, and didn’t care for it, so I got rid of it. That’s saying something, as I believe I’ve only done that half a dozen times in my life.

Not criticizing anyone else’s decisions, but I wasn’t tempted by this one.

 

[RustyM]

New Arrivals! (Thank You @depeche76 for the first two)
Tears For Fears - Tipping Point - SDE#1
Shakespears Sister - Hormonally Yours - SDE#4
Thomson Twins - Into The Gap - SDE#29

 

[JohnN]

The Rolling Stones Sympathy For The Devil 5.1 surround SACD

 

[birrrdy!]

I gotta admit that to my ears, Aphrodite's Child "666" is pretty weak tea to begin with, and I'm kinda surprised that anyone deemed it worthy of a quad remix & re-release.

It is not quad. It is a faked 5.1 and atmos remix by upmix adding multichannel reverb and comb filters and so on. There is no spatialisation at all of instruments. A con.

Like, I'm sure, everyone on this website, wish they'd mine Vangelis' stellar back catalogue for ATMOS remixes! Not a fan of Aphrodite's Child 666!

Yikes, lots of haters for this release. This was some pretty groundbreaking stuff when it came out in 1972, from a carryover 60s Greek band. The fact that Vangelis could rock out, HARD in some places, and pair with vocal geniuses like Demis Roussos, makes this a very special album IMHO. Precursor of so much of what was to come in prog rock and even film scores. "Babylon", "Aegian Sea", "The Four Horsemen", and 9:20-10:59 & 13:20-19:19 of "All The Seats Were Occupied" (especially 13:50-14:50) some genius-level stuff worthy of appreciation.

Now this blu-ray very clearly states these were just "up mixes" on all the sales pages I saw - not discrete mixes or pure Atmos. So not sure where the "con" vitriol is coming from. To be frank, let's be fair to Vangelis and his estate for getting this release out in the first place. He left us too soon 2 years ago. It was rumored he was working on this project in the last year or so of his life, but probably simply ran out of energy and time. A music hero gone from this Earth, but so glad they are continuing to release some of the final projects, however imperfect. Getting the high quality stereo disc and Greek LP mix is worth the box itself in my opinion (plus all the write-ups and photos), but sorry others don't feel the same way. I'll take the up-mixes too and can always tinker with them myself with the other versions.

As to releasing other works in multi-channel. Yes and YES! I wish someone like Steven Wilson took a liking to the catalog. Too much goodness here to ignore, and would be incredibly suited to the true Atmos treatment. I hope others would welcome and encourage that.

 

[Shermatz]

Yikes, lots of haters for this release. This was some pretty groundbreaking stuff when it came out in 1972, from a carryover 60s Greek band. The fact that Vangelis could rock out, HARD in some places, and pair with vocal geniuses like Demis Roussos, makes this a very special album IMHO. Precursor of so much of what was to come in prog rock and even film scores. "Babylon", "Aegian Sea", "The Four Horsemen", and 9:20-10:59 & 13:20-19:19 of "All The Seats Were Occupied" (especially 13:50-14:50) some genius-level stuff worthy of appreciation.

Now this blu-ray very clearly states these were just "up mixes" on all the sales pages I saw - not discrete mixes or pure Atmos. So not sure where the "con" vitriol is coming from. To be frank, let's be fair to Vangelis and his estate for getting this release out in the first place. He left us too soon 2 years ago. It was rumored he was working on this project in the last year or so of his life, but probably simply ran out of energy and time. A music hero gone from this Earth, but so glad they are continuing to release some of the final projects, however imperfect. Getting the high quality stereo disc and Greek LP mix is worth the box itself in my opinion (plus all the write-ups and photos), but sorry others don't feel the same way. I'll take the up-mixes too and can always tinker with them myself with the other versions.

As to releasing other works in multi-channel. Yes and YES! I wish someone like Steven Wilson took a liking to the catalog. Too much goodness here to ignore, and would be incredibly suited to the true Atmos treatment. I hope others would welcome and encourage that.

I backed into Aphrodite's Child & "666" after getting lit up by Vangelis' peak '70's solo releases, Albedo 0.39, Heaven & Hell primarily. So some of the "666" was of course a fairly jagged contrast. Let the record show that I DID buy "666" & I still have it, but I doubt that I'll ever play it again. It doesn't suck BUT it's a deliberately "experimental" project that not everyone's gonna be willing to try to warm to. I file it alongside most Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention albums of the '60's & early '70's, "I admire them more than I like them." You're not wrong if you like "666," but I'm not wrong either if I can't (or won't force myself) to try to get on its particular wavelength.

 

[Malhomme]

Now this blu-ray very clearly states these were just "up mixes" on all the sales pages I saw - not discrete mixes or pure Atmos. So not sure where the "con" vitriol is coming from.

This is Amazon description in France
"Le coffret comprend : l’album remasterisé avec le mixage original, ainsi que la rare version grecque de 1974 (qui présentait des mixages très différents de ceux de l'album original), ainsi qu'un blu-ray comprenant les mixages Atmos & 5.1 et le mixage stéréo, tous supervisés par Vangelis".

Nowhere it says these are upmixes. It says "Atmos and 5.1 mixes with Vangelis supervision".
I discovered about it when opening the box. I send it back. A con, I stand on my description. Amazon description is not invented by Amazon. They use what they are given.

 

[birrrdy!]

I backed into Aphrodite's Child & "666" after getting lit up by Vangelis' peak '70's solo releases, Albedo 0.39, Heaven & Hell primarily. So some of the "666" was of course a fairly jagged contrast. Let the record show that I DID buy "666" & I still have it, but I doubt that I'll ever play it again. It doesn't suck BUT it's a deliberately "experimental" project that not everyone's gonna be willing to try to warm to. I file it alongside most Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention albums of the '60's & early '70's, "I admire them more than I like them." You're not wrong if you like "666," but I'm not wrong either if I can't (or won't force myself) to try to get on its particular wavelength.

Agree with much of what you said. If only some of that glory catalog could get the true MC treatment. I'd settle for two compilations rather than have someone forge through all of the discography!

https://www.discogs.com/master/1035353-Vangelis-Best-In-Space

https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-collection-rhino--mw0002392825

 

[birrrdy!]

This is Amazon description in France
"Le coffret comprend : l’album remasterisé avec le mixage original, ainsi que la rare version grecque de 1974 (qui présentait des mixages très différents de ceux de l'album original), ainsi qu'un blu-ray comprenant les mixages Atmos & 5.1 et le mixage stéréo, tous supervisés par Vangelis".

Nowhere it says these are upmixes. It says "Atmos and 5.1 mixes with Vangelis supervision".
I discovered about it when opening the box. I send it back. A con, I stand on my description. Amazon description is not invented by Amazon. They use what they are given.

Here's what I saw (and continue to see) on Amazon right now. Like you said, they just use what they are given.

https://www.amazon.com/666-Apocalypse-John-4CD-Boxset/dp/B0DF1G8TPK

"Deluxe four CD + Blu-ray edition. Contains remastered versions of the original album mix and the rare 1974 Greek LP mix (which featured considerably different mixes to the original LP release). The Blu-ray disc features a 96 kHz / 24-bit Atmos and 5.1 up mixes and stereo mix, all of which were overseen by Vangelis. The Blu-ray also contains bonus video content of a 28-minute episode of the French television show Discorama from June 1972 featuring Vangelis performing in the television studio and talking about the album (with English subtitles added). This set also includes a lavishly illustrated book featuring a new essay and original interviews with the band plus many previously unseen photographs that Vangelis sourced from his various archives around Europe not long before his sad passing in May 2022. 666 by Aphrodite's Child, released in 1972, is a landmark in the realm of progressive rock, hailed as a daring and innovative concept album even by prog-rock standards. This ambitious double album, spearheaded by Vangelis and lyricist Costas Ferris, explores themes from the Book of Revelation, blending rock, jazz, and world music with avant-garde experimentation. The album's unique blend of electronic effects, intricate guitar solos, and the evocative vocal performances of Demis Roussos pushed the boundaries of 1970s rock music. Though "666" faced some controversy and initial resistance due to it's unorthodox themes and length, it has gained a cult following and is now considered a classic in the progressive rock genre. While it did not achieve commercial success upon release, it's legacy as a masterpiece of experimental rock has only grown over time."

Sounds like a French translation issue of what is a UK import and pressing. And Amazon France apparently gave you the refund. So calling it a "con" seems a bit extreme and disrespectful, unless I am missing something else in French translation...

 

[mandrix]

666 was a bold concept at the time. Not for everyone, for sure, but enjoyed a fairly warm welcome amongst my friends at the time, though I don't recall anyone buying it, just listening to what was played on the radio.
I have fond memories of listening to some of it back in the early 70's.
Unlike albums such as The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and others in the same broad time frame, 666 just hasn't held up as well for myself. But I thought I'd give it a chance again.
Now that I have, only Aegian Sea still holds my attention.