'Argus Through the Looking Glass'

Posted by: J.N. on 28 February 2011

Yes folks; it's Martin Turner's re-invention of the classic 1972 Wishbone Ash album. I've only just discovered it and it's not often I get this excited about a new CD. A beautiful re-interpretation for me, with its mediaeval lyrics about 'the big issues' of life, love and battles won and lost.

Martin Turner's bass playing is quite magnificent - effectively another lead guitar - beautifully mixed amidst the other three axe-meisters on the album.

And here's the kicker, fellow audiophiles - MT mixed and produced the album, and his studio ears appear to be in good working order. The recording is refreshingly NOT compressed to buggery and sounds superbly dynamic, clean, vibrant, spacious and smooth. Nice to hear that it can be done with Pro-Tools.

It's on a small indie label - 'Mystic Records'. It takes a major label to really screw up a modern recording.

Highly recommended if you fancy a bit of reincarnated seventies RAWK!

John.

Posted on: 02 March 2011 by Cookiemonster

Thanks - as soon as I read this I bought it online.

Argus is still one of my favourites !

Posted on: 02 March 2011 by mlauner

Hopefully they will remaster Live Dates as well. Still my favorite.

Posted on: 02 March 2011 by J.N.

Beware the curse of the remaster. They are sometimes 'de-noised' (losing some of the music in the process), and often compressed and optimised for Lo-Fi replay. I've just bought an old original 'Argus' CD which I prefer the sound of, compared to the later remastered version I also have.

I find it's a good sign on an old CD if one can hear tape hiss.

Live Dates II is a stonker. I've recently bought it on CD (nice job) and the big black stuff too - which is the best sounding version for me.

John.

Posted on: 02 March 2011 by TomK

I'd forgotten how good Live Dates is. Thanks for reminding me guys. Minor complaint is that there must have been other spare tracks to include as extras. Two versions of Phoenix seems a bit OTT.

Posted on: 03 March 2011 by J.N.

Hi Tom,

I'm talking about 'Live dates 2', just to avoid any confusion.

John.

Posted on: 03 March 2011 by TomK

Thanks John. Wishbone Ash Mk1 was a favourite band for sentimental as well as musical reasons. Live Dates is a fine album and once again thanks for reminding me but I have little interest in them after 73 or 74.

Posted on: 04 March 2011 by fathings cat

Thanks John, another good recommendation - as usual
Gary