DrMabuse2001
Well-known Member
I have been fortunate enough to be given check discs on the upcoming "Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds" MC SACD and thought I would post. I know there is a lot of interest in this release...
First of all let me say...after listening all the way through it made me quite melancholy for the bygone days of the Rock Opera! This may have been one of the last of it's kind and for those of us old enough to remember this period of the 70's this one was always unusual and VERY British. Unfortunately I have no liner notes whatsoever with the discs so I am approaching it blindly since I don't think I have heard JWWOTW since I retired my vinyl in the early 80's. I do remember most of the performers involved but I have no detail on any of the new remaster. That being said, here are my impressions on my first and only listen.
VOCALS
The Richard Burton narration has some interesting placement. It seems to be anchored in the dead centre but slightly above which gives it an authoritative feel.
The different lead singers are placed firmly in the front soundstage - very similar to what you would hear on a top notch stereo representation. The various backing vocals stretch into the surrounds, but more for choral effect than for "effect". I was very impressed with the way the vocals sounded overall.
As an interesting variation, when the characters "speak dialogue per se" they are placed in different areas. eg. When Richard Burton is talking to the Soldier early on - Burton is in the front left while the soldiers voice is placed in the right surround, giving an interesting spatial effect. Very kewl!
MUSIC
The drums and bass are in the front soundstage and the orchestral parts appear to be behind them which makes complete sense if you think of this being "staged" But for those of you who love surround despair not!
A large part of the guitar work is distinctly in the back channels making it really "pop". Also I found the synth work, which is also very prominent in this project also amplified in the surround.
They make very creative use of "effects" in all the channels whether it be the "close encounter" type call of the martians, the heartbeats or the lasers.
The surround mix I thought was TOP NOTCH, involving, dynamic and not gimmicky. The source material lends itself so well to this type of mix.
I think anyone who is familar with this project will feel like they are realy hearing it for the first time. Although it definitely sounds really dated in some places, especially the "disco drums" on a few tracks there are other areas where it is outright shocking in it's dynamics. While the bass is very subdued in the early part of the production, there is some intense stuff later in the program that solidifies that this is the way it was intended to sound.
I had forgotten how "Moody Blues" this project sounds, even when Justin Hayward is not singing.
All in all - a real crowd pleaser I think and no doubt worth the wait for all us surround nutz out there!
/\/\
First of all let me say...after listening all the way through it made me quite melancholy for the bygone days of the Rock Opera! This may have been one of the last of it's kind and for those of us old enough to remember this period of the 70's this one was always unusual and VERY British. Unfortunately I have no liner notes whatsoever with the discs so I am approaching it blindly since I don't think I have heard JWWOTW since I retired my vinyl in the early 80's. I do remember most of the performers involved but I have no detail on any of the new remaster. That being said, here are my impressions on my first and only listen.
VOCALS
The Richard Burton narration has some interesting placement. It seems to be anchored in the dead centre but slightly above which gives it an authoritative feel.
The different lead singers are placed firmly in the front soundstage - very similar to what you would hear on a top notch stereo representation. The various backing vocals stretch into the surrounds, but more for choral effect than for "effect". I was very impressed with the way the vocals sounded overall.
As an interesting variation, when the characters "speak dialogue per se" they are placed in different areas. eg. When Richard Burton is talking to the Soldier early on - Burton is in the front left while the soldiers voice is placed in the right surround, giving an interesting spatial effect. Very kewl!
MUSIC
The drums and bass are in the front soundstage and the orchestral parts appear to be behind them which makes complete sense if you think of this being "staged" But for those of you who love surround despair not!
A large part of the guitar work is distinctly in the back channels making it really "pop". Also I found the synth work, which is also very prominent in this project also amplified in the surround.
They make very creative use of "effects" in all the channels whether it be the "close encounter" type call of the martians, the heartbeats or the lasers.
The surround mix I thought was TOP NOTCH, involving, dynamic and not gimmicky. The source material lends itself so well to this type of mix.
I think anyone who is familar with this project will feel like they are realy hearing it for the first time. Although it definitely sounds really dated in some places, especially the "disco drums" on a few tracks there are other areas where it is outright shocking in it's dynamics. While the bass is very subdued in the early part of the production, there is some intense stuff later in the program that solidifies that this is the way it was intended to sound.
I had forgotten how "Moody Blues" this project sounds, even when Justin Hayward is not singing.
All in all - a real crowd pleaser I think and no doubt worth the wait for all us surround nutz out there!
/\/\
