I normally don't get excited about remixes and remasters (to my ears the mix
is, more often than not, ruined by turning up the bass or the vocals,
or...), but the Beatles, Sgt. Peppers 2017 reissue on CD is remarkably good.
A friend brought it over last night. We compared a pristine stereo LP and a
mono version on CD with the new, remastered CD.
On a scale of 1-10, the new version is a 12! It is so good, it's off the
charts.
Voices are not up front, in your face, like so many versions of this LP/CD.
Or, the voices are coming out of one speaker while the background voices
come out of the other. Very irritating unless the orange sunshine is
shining through the window pane.
On the new mix, you can hear the emotion, the nuance in their voices.
Instruments are crystal clear and their tonal signature is obvious. Lead
singers are well placed in the soundstage and background voices are clear
and distinct.
For instance, on Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, it starts with Lennons
trippy, droning clavichord (?). At the time, 1966, Lennon was full of
surprises that got young folks to actually listen to the music...and trip
out. Then, the bass steps in as John starts to speak/sing, his voice fading
into the sky like diamonds after each phrase.
Now, IMHO, Paul's contributions tended to take away from some of these
magical moments. Mostly by emphasizing his hook, the bridge, applying his
pop song signature to an already good to excellent song. His in-your-face
"Lucy in the sky with diamonds " sounds so out of place, likely dubbed in on
another track. It sounds like a completely different song in volume, style
and taste. It's a bold explosion from the speakers compared to the delicate,
secret aural space that John allowed you to enter.
On the new remix, Paul's bridge is much better integrated, mixed into the
song. It's not miked up, it's a better tonal match with John's spacey
journey. The song is much more involving and listenable throughout.
It seems the engineers removed some background noise, because the bite of
some of the atypical instruments- sitar, clavichord, harp- are distinctly
present and essential parts of the song. As it should be, of course!
Interesting phenomena that this is one of those LPs that I grew up with.
Always liked the music, but since acquiring a high end system, I almost
never listen to it because the recordings are disappointing.
But, with this new remix by George Martin's son, it will be at the top of
my critical listening list and definitely on my best of list.
If you like good, wonderful music from a different era, this new CD is like
starting over.
M
