B
BiggerzBetter
Guest
Okay, I'm going to try to "review" this new DVD-A disc. I'm going to say right upfront that I'm about as far from being an expert as you can get. My hometheater system sounds great to my ears, but would probably only rate "average" on an audiophile's scale.
First thing is that this disc isn't currently available in the U.S. The CD version has a May 21 release date, but in Germany the disc hit stores in mid-April in three formats: CD, SACD, and DVD-A. Thanks to the internet, you can order the disc and forget about clueless record labels. I know Ferry probably has more recognition value in Europe thanks to his association with the classic Roxy Music group, but Frantic really shows how companies could (and should) release multi-platform titles everywhere.
On the music side, Frantic is a mixed bag. Literally. Ferry covers not just one but two Bob Dylan songs, as well as the old standard "Goodnight, Irene." I don't much care for these songs, though "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" was recorded live with just Ferry's voice and a piano and it sounds great. There are a couple of songs that seem like they were designed to be pop hits ("One Way Love" and "Goddess of Love"), and then there are the "standard" Ferry songs. For me, those songs are what I came to hear and those are the ones that really deliver. While not nearly as sonically layered as those on previous solo albums ( Boys & Girls or Mamouna), songs like "Nobody Loves Me" and "San Simeon" are still great examples of ear candy.
On the multi-channel side, Frantic uses a really nice approach for its mix. The 5.1 audio doesn't throw everything and the kitchen sink at you. I guess I was expecting exactly that because of Ferry's sound, but after the second listening I was really pleased to notice that the surrounds seem to have been sensibly planned. All of the songs have an expanded sound that makes their 2-channel versions sound flat and condensed. But the multi-channel mix isn't afraid to make good use of the additional speakers when it wants to. I was most impressed with the use of the center channel as a sort of "spotlight." I've come to expect mixers to use the center channel for lead vocals, but Frantic goes a step beyond this. Ferry's lead vocals aren't always locked into the center speaker; in some songs, an instrumental solo will occupy that spot while the vocals are spread out. There are definitely splashy surround effects during some songs ("Hiroshima" is a great example), but overall the audio mix here feels like what a good multi-channel mix for a rock/pop album should feel like. The mix also doesn't try to hit you over the head with its dynamics. When killer bass is called for, it kicks in. But this isn't going to be a demo disc for showing off.
Overall, I think this is a great showcase for how good an album can sound when the multi-channel design isn't an afterthought. I'm really happy with and have listened to it about four or five times since yesterday afternoon.
FRANTIC Bryan Ferry
Virgin Records {Germany}
5.1 mix (88.2kHz / 24-bit)
2.0 stereo mix (88.2kHz / 24-bit)
screen text biography with photos
First thing is that this disc isn't currently available in the U.S. The CD version has a May 21 release date, but in Germany the disc hit stores in mid-April in three formats: CD, SACD, and DVD-A. Thanks to the internet, you can order the disc and forget about clueless record labels. I know Ferry probably has more recognition value in Europe thanks to his association with the classic Roxy Music group, but Frantic really shows how companies could (and should) release multi-platform titles everywhere.
On the music side, Frantic is a mixed bag. Literally. Ferry covers not just one but two Bob Dylan songs, as well as the old standard "Goodnight, Irene." I don't much care for these songs, though "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" was recorded live with just Ferry's voice and a piano and it sounds great. There are a couple of songs that seem like they were designed to be pop hits ("One Way Love" and "Goddess of Love"), and then there are the "standard" Ferry songs. For me, those songs are what I came to hear and those are the ones that really deliver. While not nearly as sonically layered as those on previous solo albums ( Boys & Girls or Mamouna), songs like "Nobody Loves Me" and "San Simeon" are still great examples of ear candy.
On the multi-channel side, Frantic uses a really nice approach for its mix. The 5.1 audio doesn't throw everything and the kitchen sink at you. I guess I was expecting exactly that because of Ferry's sound, but after the second listening I was really pleased to notice that the surrounds seem to have been sensibly planned. All of the songs have an expanded sound that makes their 2-channel versions sound flat and condensed. But the multi-channel mix isn't afraid to make good use of the additional speakers when it wants to. I was most impressed with the use of the center channel as a sort of "spotlight." I've come to expect mixers to use the center channel for lead vocals, but Frantic goes a step beyond this. Ferry's lead vocals aren't always locked into the center speaker; in some songs, an instrumental solo will occupy that spot while the vocals are spread out. There are definitely splashy surround effects during some songs ("Hiroshima" is a great example), but overall the audio mix here feels like what a good multi-channel mix for a rock/pop album should feel like. The mix also doesn't try to hit you over the head with its dynamics. When killer bass is called for, it kicks in. But this isn't going to be a demo disc for showing off.
Overall, I think this is a great showcase for how good an album can sound when the multi-channel design isn't an afterthought. I'm really happy with and have listened to it about four or five times since yesterday afternoon.
FRANTIC Bryan Ferry
Virgin Records {Germany}
5.1 mix (88.2kHz / 24-bit)
2.0 stereo mix (88.2kHz / 24-bit)
screen text biography with photos
