![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jazzy_daveIn the current Wire magazine (February issue) in the review pages looking at reissues, there is a whole page devoted to the two box set reissues of the oeuvre of Kate Bush.
However, as one Amazon purchaser mentioned it is less than what it seems.
I hate to burst people's bubble when it comes to someone as gloriously special as KATE BUSH - but on receiving this 'Remastered Part 1' box set today, day of release, Friday 16 November 2018 - I have to say that apart from the James Guthrie and Joel Plante Remasters of the seven stunning albums from 1978 to 1993 (this duo of Audio Engineers did all the Pink Floyd albums in 2011 to universal praise) - I'm massively underwhelmed.
Let's be real about this. There is nothing new here - at all - and in some cases, there's actually less. These albums should have been remastered decades ago and the new Fish People variants (her own label) offer only a tri-gatefold card sleeve with an 8-page booklet inside each that contains the lyrics, session credits, artwork and absolutely nothing else. The only words added are 'Remastered by James Guthrie and Joel Plante at Das Boot Recording' inside every one of the booklets (Doug Sax was also involved in "The Red Shoes"). The inside box ‘two worlds’ artwork is nice, the tri-folding gatefolds are pretty and each Fish People Logo Picture CD reflects the album artwork – but in truth not so you’d notice that much. There are no new photos - no essays - no history - no sense of place - and worse of course - having waited decades - there isn't a single outtake or unreleased anywhere."
On further inspection though, all the reworkings and alternatives are on the second box set - 11 CD's in total but at around seventy quid it is not cheap. Yet another Amazon buyer said "After the mildly disappointing presentation of the first box, things go downhill further still here. As someone else has pointed out, the lack of consistent presentation within this set makes it appear as though no thought has gone into it at all."
They could have done so much more, and in fact, perhaps it would be better to purchase the individual albums on CD or if you wish, the remastered vinyl. However, this review in Wire has allowed me to re-assess her work and to fill gaps in my own collection.
However, as one Amazon purchaser mentioned it is less than what it seems.
I hate to burst people's bubble when it comes to someone as gloriously special as KATE BUSH - but on receiving this 'Remastered Part 1' box set today, day of release, Friday 16 November 2018 - I have to say that apart from the James Guthrie and Joel Plante Remasters of the seven stunning albums from 1978 to 1993 (this duo of Audio Engineers did all the Pink Floyd albums in 2011 to universal praise) - I'm massively underwhelmed.
Let's be real about this. There is nothing new here - at all - and in some cases, there's actually less. These albums should have been remastered decades ago and the new Fish People variants (her own label) offer only a tri-gatefold card sleeve with an 8-page booklet inside each that contains the lyrics, session credits, artwork and absolutely nothing else. The only words added are 'Remastered by James Guthrie and Joel Plante at Das Boot Recording' inside every one of the booklets (Doug Sax was also involved in "The Red Shoes"). The inside box ‘two worlds’ artwork is nice, the tri-folding gatefolds are pretty and each Fish People Logo Picture CD reflects the album artwork – but in truth not so you’d notice that much. There are no new photos - no essays - no history - no sense of place - and worse of course - having waited decades - there isn't a single outtake or unreleased anywhere."
On further inspection though, all the reworkings and alternatives are on the second box set - 11 CD's in total but at around seventy quid it is not cheap. Yet another Amazon buyer said "After the mildly disappointing presentation of the first box, things go downhill further still here. As someone else has pointed out, the lack of consistent presentation within this set makes it appear as though no thought has gone into it at all."
They could have done so much more, and in fact, perhaps it would be better to purchase the individual albums on CD or if you wish, the remastered vinyl. However, this review in Wire has allowed me to re-assess her work and to fill gaps in my own collection.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}