I
ordered this box months ago and it just arrived and I have to say it is an
amazing package with an exact reproduction of the original shield cover fold
out and poster. Very nice. In addition, you get the original album remastered on
CD as well as a new mix by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) and a 5.1 DVD audio
mix by Mr. Wilson as well. This is a guy who really knows what he is doing. The
first CD features the remastered record from the original stereo mix down. In addition, you get to hear several
outttakes and demos and finally the Dave Brock sung version of Motorhead. Some
of this is pretty cool and some of it not that interesting. There are two
versions of Soldiers on the Edge of Time, one with Michael Moorcock on the lead
vocals (very passionate) and Nik Turner version. A track called On the Road is
a short 1min acoustic guitar piece with some harmonica performed by Dave Brock.
Pity this one is so short as this takes you back to the 1st album
vibe. Nik’s version of the Wizard Blew his Horn is also included. The demo of
Spiral galaxy is maybe even longer than the original and very searching and you
can hear the elements that were used to seal the final version which is for
sure better than this one. The instrumental version of Kings of Speed ends the
CD.
CD2 is the new stereo mix from the
original multitrack master tapes! All I can say is WOW…. Like Mr.Wilson did
with the King Crimson records, he makes his new mix have the same sound and
feel as the original so you don’t feel like you are hearing a totally different
album but he has made the clarity of the mix so amazing. You can really hear
things you could never hear or really appreciate on the original mix. Then
there is the bonus tracks, which includes a totally unknown jam from the March
1975 sessions called Dawn. A pretty cool track and Dave plays some different
guitar lines than I would have expected. In August 1975 the band played the
Watchfield festival in the UK and you have three tracks from this festival, all
are edits of longer pieces and the one called Watchfield Jam is actually just
the jamming part of Brainstorm. Circles and I am the Eye are also spaced out
jams. Some cool playing. This CD is 78mins long..
The
DVD contains 96khz audio versions of the remaster by Ben Wiseman, the new
stereo and 5.1 audio mixes by Steven Wilsion. These sound totally amazing on my
stereo and for sure are the only ones I will listen to with my friends when I
really want to impress them with how great this record is. It has always been
my favourite Hawkwind record and now I can hear it in the best quality version
possible. It will never get better sounding than this. Enjoy..
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