It’s CTTE Jim, but not as we know it

Will this guy achieve to rewrite the whole history of progressive rock recordings all by himself ?

I'm afraid I'm still failing to grasp the relevance of such an endeavour. But I may well just be getting old and grumpy...

We're all getting old. I've had grumpy covered for much longer, so it's all relative.

I welcome his endeavours in the context of what is has, is and probably always will be shoveled out by the labels. We've had some cynical attempts and some apparently genuine attempts to "rescue" albums from this era which have invariably sounded pretty poor.

Wilson's credentials are as good as anyone's and better than most. And his track record is increasingly illustrious. I have now listened to the 192 transfer, twice and I must say that in terms of a more coherent presentation he's nailed it. I don't know how much mastering went into it but it sounds much less compressed and unfocused than Steve Hoffman's attempt earlier this year - to my ears.

So it transpires that I have an excellent transfer which is better than any digital release to date - in my subjective opinion - and a remix which musically sounds even better to me but which I think has gone too far from the original. 

The propensity for dredging up old material and repackaging it isn't likely to end anytime soon. In principle I welcome it, although it's always going to be a lottery. Same as ever, same as any other format.

This remixed version is on my current wish list. I think it'll be the sixth version of this particular recording in my collection. I'm hoping to be able to rip the high resolution DVD version and store it on the NS01 in order to play it through the NDS. Remixes are always a bit worrying, especially when it's a life-defining album such as this. But I remain hopeful.

I am particularly looking forward to Wilson's remix of Relayer which, owing to the density of the music, has always sounded muddy to me.

Is the Relayer mix on? That's wonderful. My favourite Yes album, probably the worst or second worst recording, and no matter what Wilson does I find it difficult to see how he could balls it up more than has been achieved to date. It could be rather good.

Having listened to the original version transferred at 24/192 I have no hesitation in recommending Wilson's CTTE over the Steve Hoffman production. The remix is something else, but the sound quality is good and you may really like his interpretation. I have to say I don't, although the Remix of Close To The Edge sounds just fine to me. It's the rest of the album that grates my brain somewhat. But I wouldn't take issue with the sound quality. It's top stuff.

Of course you're right, Harry. I'm just getting tired of this neverending cynical recycling of old recordings.

So far it went: take the vinyl master (with well-known limitations) and dump it to CD -> oh, but we could do better and overcome the limitations (and why not blast the volume and crunch the dynamics at the same time) and remaster for CD -> oh, but we didn't do it right the first time so let's remaster it again for this forthcoming anniversary (and crunch even more) -> iterate at will -> add SACD and DVD-Audio (twice) -> oh but now we've got high-res downloads so how about remastering again (i.e. take a viny master -- with well-know limitations -- from the previous remastering session and dump it as high-res with "appropriate" up-/over-/trans-sampling or whatever) -> oh but we didn't do it quite right the first time (and not even before for SACD and DVD-Audio, and we didn't sell enough of these anyway), etc. -> iterate at will -> add 5.1 mastering (expect 7.1 soon, 3D -- or whatever it will be called then -- just around the corner -> add audiophile editions (we did it before, but not quite right, so...) -> expect DSD soon ! ->  and now, how about a REMIX by a gifted young man with a top-notch track record (semi-pun more or less intended) ?

I can predict a truly faithful original mix edition in a not-so-distant future...

So much new music to discover instead...

I truly admire Steven Wilson. I'm convinced his work on remixes/remasters for KC, Jethro, Yes comes from his genuine reverence for these historical recordings, and I'm ready to believe his intentions are pure. And no doubt he's truly gifted. It's just that I find him more interesting for his own music than for all of this. And I don't like this idea of remix, altough one can argue it's just extending what is done with remastering a little bit further.

So which edition of Close to the Edge to get now ? (Can't remember how many I've got... Four or five I think...  )

If I read you correctly, it would be this 24/192 2013 remaster from HDtracks ? (I must dig your old posts, always very helpful.) It's not Wilson's remix, or is it ?

Grumpf

But again, thank you for your very informative posts, which I read with great interest. Of course none of this grumpiness is directed at you (or your love of Close to the Edge for that matter !).

ATB

Maurice

PS: Relief

No risk of remaster. Ever. It's already perfect.

I really enjoyed reading that.

My recommendation is the CD/DVD-A or CD/Blu-Ray remix packs released this week. As well as the remix there is a 192 flat transfer in both issues and I think this is (relatively) very good.

I would not recommend the HDT download. This time last week I would have.

Insert subjectivity disclaimer here.

WHAT ???!!!

Another 24/192 ????? The previous one is not even cold yet !!! It's not the same then ?

I've just read on StevenWilsonHQ that this is the definitive edition. Hurrah !

And I would have to rip the DVD-Audio ? How about this 24/192 as a download ? Don't even think of it, that would be too simple. Oh, and they would have to state explicitly which release it is, so one cannot mix it up with the remix or any other release. That will never happen.

I give up.

Burn. Them. All.

PS: But thank you for the recommendation and the kind words !

May I suggest a turntable?

Right !

Brilliant idea: I could print all my CD rips and high-res downloads to vinyl with a 3D printer !

PS: Rather, it occurs to me that this is the perfect time for one of your soothing baroque suggestions, Jan.

Love it. Where's the like button?

You might do if you went there. 

The dirty great bundle of files I got off the Blu-Ray had me researching and scratching my head for 24 hours. Well, not 24 hours straight.

Download might come. It's a good way of ripping punters off.

Make no mistake, this is a good effort. The 24bit releases in 96 and 192 previously available from HDTracks (and others? not sure) pale in comparison. It's well cold now. There was some suggestion that Warner blasted them out fast to mop up before the Wilson version arrived. But people say lots of things. Whos to know?

 Originally Posted by m0omo0:

This should do it :

 http://www.qobuz.com/album/joh...ntinue/3760009290754

(available, you'll note, only in 16/44 

Thanks, noted. (A lot to explore on this label. I only have the Forqueray by Blandine Rannou.)

I went for Tartini's Trio Sonatas eventually.

I'm currently listening to 'And You And I' from my original vinyl copy (gatefold sleeve) of this album and, notwithstanding the slight surface noise in the quiet passages, I think it's probably the best version I have! i wonder now why it would need to be remixed.

And why I bought three copies (so far) on CD!

Remixing 70s Prog Rock seems to be fashionable at the moment. Doubtless it will pass.