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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Lizard

From: kinchmusic@aol.com
Date: 2009-10-27

Daniel.
While I agree with some of what Mike says. For all the differences compared to the original mix, there remains the fact that what we have here really sounds incredible given it's age. Cirkus, for example, explodes into the room, and sounds masive, with instruments coming from everywhere! It really is how surround should be used.
For the sake of a few quid, you would miss out on a totally revitalised recording.
Yes it is different. But what's wrong with it being a different interpretation of what we all have known for so long?
Don't forget you will also be buying the original mix (2004 master edition) in lossless audio in the same package.
It's the same as with ITCOTCK. Yes, there are differences and ommisions,sure. But I now prefer the new mix in both 2 channel and 5.1 over the original, simply because the new version really kicks ass, in a way the original could only dream about.
IMHO of course!
Andy K


-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Swanson <tspit74@comcast.net>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:48
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Lizard

 
Thanks Mike. Lizard still sounds great on vinyl and the 30th anniversary remasters, so that's what I'll stick with.

A friend of mine bought the new Red package. I haven't paid much attention to the music, but I've watched the video portion about 10 times. Starless is awesome with Fripp's Mellotron and pianet painted black and Cross' painted white. Bruford is no slouch either, but I have to say that when Fripp says that Bill lacked subtlety and taste, he's absolutely right. Probably terrible to play with, but fun for us to listen to and watch.
On Oct 27, 2009, at 2:07 PM, Mike Dickson wrote:

I've just played through the '40th Anniversary' remix of Lizard and it seems to be more of the same. Weird mixing decisions. Odd stereo placements. McCullochs (frankly) annoying snare stuck way too high in the mix. But worst of all is what they do to the Mellotron. It's fairly well established in Cirkus and has a prominent place in the alternative version of Lady of the Dancing Water, but unfortunately it's posted missing in my favourite bit in the album.

The coda to the god-awful Jon Anders on song features a colossal Mellotron section that restates the melody from the verse, culminating in a wonderful resolution to A which then drops to A minor in entrance to the bolero. Oh dear. But it doesn't. The harmonic complexities of this section are lost once we realise that of the two Mellotronii recorded for this section, only one is on the new recording. Consequently, it all sounds a bit thin and a bit anti-climactic. 

On the positive side, the clarity on the CD is breathtaking, but the mixing decisions are weird in the extreme. 
-- Mike Dickson, EdinburghFree Music Project: http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ Or http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+DicksonOr http://soundcloud. com/mikedicksonOr http://www.planetme llotron.com/ revd4.htm# mikedickson