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Post by blondeambassador on Feb 11, 2009 16:21:17 GMT
Yep, good stuff.
(On this point, SPOILER ALERT, if anybody is choosing nobly to wait until March 9th for their first listens and wants it to be a wonderful surprise, stop reading now!!)
My main point would be (aside from the fact that I personally love everything on it) how amazingly structured the album is, elements such as the 'did you feel love' motif returning throughout and sounds returning makes it an absolutely cohesive album that benifits most from listening start to finish.
The other thing that absolutely blew me away instantly was the beauty of the melodies. I remember an interview a very long time back when Jon explained that 'the sweeter bits would be getting sweeter' on album number 2 and that's something that is so, so clear, I adore Bloodless, AVO and the ending of Apogee/Reqium for exactly that reason. The end of AVO is one of the best endings to an album I've heard in a long, long time.
Disconnect is getting alot of negative response but I don't think that's entirely fair, I confess, I'm not a fan of the vocoder vocals on the start especially but when it kicks in, it's got the same beautiful qualities that much of the rest of the album does, including bringing in that motif I was talking about so well. It's true, it probably is the weakest track but thats weak on the scale of this album, which really isn't weak at all in reality.
What I would say, is in people's responses, I know it's inevitable but I'm absolutely sick of people saying it's 'not The Dark Third.' Yeah, well spotted. I think that although the sound itself is VERY 'PRR' to my ears, it is so in a different way and people need to stop comparing it so much and appreciate it on its own merits
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Post by ryan on Feb 11, 2009 18:42:45 GMT
SPOILERS etc.
I like Disconnect. It makes me think of Daft Punk. My biggest issue is the lack of low-end, the vocals, guitars and electronics are almost always up in the high end. It's just weird. Other than that (and it's not a massive thing in the grand scheme) it's REALLY, REALLY good.
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Post by musecubed on Feb 11, 2009 21:33:25 GMT
Disconnect's disappointing but it's not a bad song. I love the ethereal feel of Gloaming - I was initially disappointed that it wasn't quite as heavy as the live version, but after a few listens I've really warmed to it. Bloodless and Apogee are beautiful.
I can't believe I gave in though. I'm a terrible, terrible person.
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Post by baldyslaphead on Feb 11, 2009 21:51:35 GMT
SPOILERS (and hello again after a long old gap)
Great stuff - really nice progression (uh-oh; it's that word!) from TDH. I've only listened a couple of times. Part of me does resent the fact that it's been leaked because it fucks the ability for the band to get a big explosion of interest on release day, but great to have new stuff.
Interesting that they've caught the 80's electronica-rebirth exactly right. Of course, we know from things like VC and DEM that this is the course they've been exploring for longer than the 80s sound has been the big thing, so no dangers that they're just bandwagon jumping.
Is it confirmed that this is the full and final mix that's been leaked, because the files are clipped to fuck? I hope it's just a bad rip from whoever leaked it, but if it's from the master, it's a bit worrying.
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Post by ryan on Feb 11, 2009 22:25:14 GMT
We don't know really. It's possible that it isn't, but I would tend to suspect it is.
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Post by baldyslaphead on Feb 11, 2009 22:33:46 GMT
We don't know really. It's possible that it isn't, but I would tend to suspect it is. Well, I'm certainly no audiophile - in fact my hearing is a bit battered - but I can clearly hear that the quality of the files I've got is a bit nasty and as I say, I opened the files in Adobe Audition and they were obviously clipped above 0 dB which will fatigue the ears after a while. I know it's the fashion to have everything ultra-compressed so you get 'everything louder than everything else', not least because people listen to piss poor file formats most of the time, but it's a shame if the CD isn't mastered better. It would be a shame if this is the proper thing because the music is really good.
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Post by ryan on Feb 11, 2009 23:19:29 GMT
mp3s don't increase the volume, it should make something mastered cleanly clip.
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Post by baldyslaphead on Feb 11, 2009 23:31:51 GMT
mp3s don't increase the volume, it should make something mastered cleanly clip. I'm presuming you meant "shouldn't"? No, I know, but depending on who ripped it and how, it could theoretically have been something done in the rip and I'm hoping that is the case, because otherwise the mix is "hot". Edit: Oh, and I meant to add that I've updated the discography with the new album: prr.baldyslaphead.co.uk/
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Post by ryan on Feb 11, 2009 23:39:15 GMT
oh, yeah. opps.
aye, it could, but based on what was used to rip it (the version i have at least) i'd be very very surprised.
i see a promo is on ebay too.
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Post by baldyslaphead on Feb 11, 2009 23:47:07 GMT
oh, yeah. opps. aye, it could, but based on what was used to rip it (the version i have at least) i'd be very very surprised. i see a promo is on ebay too. Yeah - just saw that myself. Crap pic, isn't it?
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Post by ryan on Feb 11, 2009 23:49:04 GMT
yep.
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Post by blondeambassador on Feb 11, 2009 23:59:29 GMT
That annoys me...I mean, I don't want to open up the whole ethical debate again, as I think we've hashed over it enough times already but people actually making a profit off it really takes the piss... Part of me does resent the fact that it's been leaked because it fucks the ability for the band to get a big explosion of interest on release day, but great to have new stuff. I didn't get round to replying to that but absolutely...it still feels slightly dirty to me the fact that we are even talking about it when it shouldn't be available but it's happened and can't be reversed, so the best that can come of it is as many people hearing it that maybe wouldn't have done before and buying it/getting to gigs. But I realise here I go hovering on the ethical side of it all again, when really it's about time we focused on the sheer brilliance of the thing... ;D
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Post by timpenumbra on Feb 12, 2009 0:59:16 GMT
OK, BA how about a new thread specifically to discuss AVO - for those who have heard it, however they managed it? That way those who want to can wait till March 9th and ignore the discussion.
We need everyone that has 'acquired' it already and contributes on this board to buy at least one version of the cd - if not both! I know that won't happen, but surely if the 150 people on this board can't buy the fucking thing what hope is there? Even if you only ever listen to mp3s at least rip your own copy of AVO........
Not a rant, just my standpoint on this.
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Post by blondeambassador on Feb 12, 2009 1:09:34 GMT
Absolutely agree with that 100%, I'll be very ashamed of us as a fanbase if there are any regular posters on here who do not purchase a copy of AVO... And yeah, I did consider making a new thread but thought I might someone posted here first about AVO so thought it all might get a little disjointed but yes, this thread is getting slightly long anyway don't you think...
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Post by murphymurphy on Feb 14, 2009 4:19:04 GMT
Just preordered my copy from amazon!!! Coming all the way to America, woot!!
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