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Vol. I
No. 10 The Digital Heartbeat CD Preview On a recent trip to San Francisco, a friend turned me on to some disc's that were not yet on the market. The collection included some recent DTS multi-channel mixes of classic recordings. So as not to confuse you these discs are in the CD format, although they will play on your DVD players as well. In order to get the full impact, you need the following: A CD or DVD player with a digital output; a DTS digital decoder; five speakers (amplified) and an active (amplified) sub-woofer. You’ll appreciate the investment in quality sound, as will your guests.
Those of you who have followed the Floyd over the years and attended their shows know there was always a surround system at their live performances to envelop you in the music. Music is a very powerful force on the human body. We tend to be lulled by it, driven by it and sometimes devastated by it. Pink Floyd was one of those bands who knew this and applied it to their show. Deep bass tones were generated that made ones body vibrate. Sort of what the term ‘good vibes’ was really about. Genesis, Yes and King Crimson were other acts that seemed to use the same formula. This great DTS transfer is silky in quality and the bass tones are tight and fast. Never has the sound of cash been so clean as its here in "Money". "Us and Them" floats on haunting keyboards and the sax solo's come to life. There were no tracks on this disc as it came from some master edit, so I wasn’t able choose songs. This presented no problem at all – this is one of those discs that you want to listen to from beginning to end. Great job on this one lads, keep them coming!
I did have track separation on this copy, but no liner notes. I’ve heard Heathen before but am not familiar with the songs, so it was as if I was hearing it for the first time. The sound on the first cut was a little disappointing, as the soundfield wasn’t quite right .One the second track, however, it all fell into place. This disc had a very pronounced front image, a good 3-D sound field and a very refined detailed mix. It was much cleaner than the usual Bowie style, which tends to use layers of sounds, sometimes making it sound thin. Again the DTS shined in its ability to faithfully reproduce strings correctly. Keyboards sound lush rather than tinny, and voices take on a much more natural tonality. Every DTS recording I’ve heard over the years always was impressive in some manner. They all seemed to be very life-like. Heathen too is another impressive addition to a select group of Quality DTS recordings soon to be available to the general public!
This disc rocks with excitement. Peter lets Tony Levin, his bass performer, play with deep sub sonic tones that, as I said before, lull you into submission. Deep bass can soothe you, just as Pink Floyd’s heartbeat throb brings one back to the womb. Levin’s sub-sonic barrage numbs you with its power. The vocals are angelic and clean, almost breathy in the mix, but always clean and clear. "Up" is another step in Peter's soaring career. The DTS process surely is a big competitor in the multi-channel race. Its large footprint in the motion picture industry assures it of a very successful future. Its entrance into the music field makes it a strong contender. Artists like Peter Gabriel, David Bowie and Pink Floyd 's support of DTS insures its place in the market. Next time I’ll review the Beatles White Album and Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe both in DTS multi channel sound, along with another surprise I’m sure readers will enjoy. Michael the K, in addition to his position as Associate Editor for Classifieds, is a long-time music producer and videographer living in Eureka. He can be reached at 445-4172 ex. 33, or at classifieds@humboldtsentinel.com.
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Copyright © 2005-06, Humboldt Sentinel. All rights reserved. |
Dark
Side of The Moon – I’ll bet your thinking “not
another version of that old thing.” Well guess again, this one is
a stunner! Right from the first deep thump of the heartbeat, you know
this is going to be good. This is Floyd the way they were meant to be
heard. The instruments and voices surround you, spaceships race from front
to back and voices take on a more refined quality. This suite has always
sounded great, but never have you been immersed so deep in the mix. The
sound overall is very modern, as if recorded today and not way back in
the early 70s.
Heathen
- This is one of David Bowie’s special projects where he lets it
all out and dazzles you with his talent. The work seems to flow in a pace
that transcends time. The 16 cuts were most generous, certainly no throw-away
tracks here! Every song stands on its own and delivers an atmosphere of
its own. I could have sworn I heard a throw-back style of the BeeGee's
on one cut. This isn’t the very best of Bowie, but it is Bowie at
his best.
Up
- Well I saved the best for last, and it’s no surprise at all. After
experiencing Peter Gabriel's Secret World tour both live and
on DVD as well as his Growing Up tour on DVD, one has to recognize
he's the leader in his field. All of his works seem to get more refined
and entertaining. The later works stand as a reference to all others who
strive to create masterful productions. This multi-channeled DVD is no
exception. The same care went into this project as went into all of Peter's
endeavors, which always feature high quality production values. Peter
instills in his shows that makes you keep coming back for more.