Carnival Redux

[sparks68uk]

 Still waiting on mine ( Not complaining as not long ordered)  but, I'm surprised ,so few reviews,so little feedback from those who have it? Should we all be worried,those of us yet to hear it,is it so bad? Surely not?

[Master Ray]

I have to ask... is the version of 'Stoned Fired And Full Of Grace' a full band version or an acoustic one?

It's a full band version.

Cheers, buddy... been waiting to hear that for many years, the acoustic version is probably one of my top ten NMA tracks.

Now I'm off to plan some nefarious crime so I can get the cash together to buy this doubtlessly excellent CD... 

[Valstar]

Didn't received the vinyl yet, but received the download version yesterday ! I have to say I enjoy much much more the new versions, hearing stuff that was not audible before. And there's some songs I really loved on this album prior to this mix (Red Earth, Too close to the Sun, Another Imperial Day, Island, Fireworks Night ...) but honestly, listening to the new mix and mastering, you realise that the album is much much more, in terms of arrangements, that it was possible to hear before. It's not like I'm discovering suddenly the album, it could have stayed the way it was. But then I would have more easily listened to live version of the songs than studio, now, I will definitely play the album more often. There's no way back IMHO. For the 4 bonus tracks, two were already available on lost songs, but the four of them makes a really nice addition to the album.

[Ghosttrain]

Well my copy finally arrived and i have to agree with comments already posted,sound clearer,some songs better,some originals better....worth it for the extra songs ..yes..I am enjoying it but this is a hard one for me as i posted earlier it is one of my favourite NMA albums.......still love LS43..

[sparks68uk]

  Me, I have it!!

 So far one listen only.
  I have no complaints.

 To my ear,my mind.Its a listening  album,not a full on dancing album was when first released.

I've spent a lot on Amps,speakers etc

  The mixing on this is great.
  Very forward, soo many layers.
  Can't fault it.
 Kinda sophisticated n Grown up album now.
  So many layers, very forward ,all in all a great thing.
  Not Better that the first album,just more grown up.

 For me,turn the lights out.
  Sit in the dark n listen....

Im loving it!

[spstreeter]

I bought the CD and the Vinyl version. I always liked Carnival although it was one of the NMA albums that I didn't "pull off the shelf" all that often. However, this remix is fantastic. I have been listening to it non-stop over the last week. My only complaint is that I do not like the album interior art work (for lack of a better term), the two faces are kind of creepy and feel out of place. Also, an issue with the vinyl  copy I received is that the album sleeves are torn on the side, it's like the albums were too big for the sleeves. However, I am not sure if that is just a result of the album's transatlantic  flight. Not a huge issue, still sounds incredible. Good work gents!

[Willard]

I am still waiting for my cd version from the shop (I think it shipped?), but I have been listening to a digital copy since release.  Quick thoughts: I think Caslen is the version from the BD3 single, I don't notice any difference.  Other than that, all songs are noticeably different.  I think that a few songs have different vocal takes, anybody else notice that? I no they said they weren't going to rerecord anything, but I wonder how much of the material is different takes recorded at the original sessions. Overall I am a big fan of this.  I know the idea of a redux for a long known and loved album can be contentious, but in this instance it really is more of a remix, as they are using originally recorded parts.

Also, I am loving up the full band version of Stoned, Fired and Full of Grace.  I would love to see similar treatment for Turn Away, and I still hold out hope that a studio version of Ballad II will make it out someday.  Maybe F#NY and BD7?

Lastly, I have noticed that some NMA albums are showing up on digital services, ones that I don't think were there before.  Lost Songs, the original Carnival, and Vengeance: The Whole Story (!)

[spookymizu]

Has anybody in the US received their Carnival Redux shipment yet?  It seems like that Carnival t-shirt would be perfect to wear for Christmas Eve!   

[Willard]

Has anybody in the US received their Carnival Redux shipment yet?  It seems like that Carnival t-shirt would be perfect to wear for Christmas Eve!   

Not me.  I preordered in September, and have been advised by the shop that it has shipped.  Patiently waiting.

[cthulhu]

Brilliant!
I had two listens to it. The first time was very intense, hadn't listen to the whole album for a long time and i had moments of surprise and pure joy and lots of energy coming from it. The new songs adding very good to the pace and mood, making it even "bigger". Such an intense ride and when i came to Carlisle Road it made me weep..
The arrangements and mixing and sound really make it a different album from the old mix. Too close to the sun has become so much more intense, like all intnese songs have become more open, wide and filled with playfulness.
Well, you can see it's so very hard for me to describe this, but i just love the redux!!!

I think someone asked if there was new recordings to it, because of the voice. I don't think so. I think this is all done by bringing it more to the front and adding maybe some overdubs here and there.
I find the new mix is giving everything a slightly different "place" in the song, making a different soundscape.

[Viv Savage]

Everything you hear on the Redux version was recorded at the time. There have been no overdubs made at all to this recording. Hope that clears it up :-)

[cthulhu]

Thanks for pointing that out. I used the wrong word, overdub, for what i meant. My thought was, that maybe there were some takes used, which didn't make it on the originial. Something like that. Also like a raw-data and then use a different effect on it.
I don't really know how this work was done, but it is clear that this is not a simple re-mix, but really a re-imagining of the album. Not just a slogan, but a true thing!

[Valstar]

Thanks for pointing that out. I used the wrong word, overdub, for what i meant. My thought was, that maybe there were some takes used, which didn't make it on the originial. Something like that. Also like a raw-data and then use a different effect on it.
I don't really know how this work was done, but it is clear that this is not a simple re-mix, but really a re-imagining of the album. Not just a slogan, but a true thing!

I think it's all the same takes, just took the original tapes and remastering it, the exact same album, takes and all, just remastered by a sound engineer

[FCAndre]

So after hearing the new vinyl version several times the new mix is really great and I like it very much. But with one exception. The voice in Another imperial day sounds like my needle has gone forever (that was in fact my thirst thought while hearing it for the first time) but it is only the voice. It sounds partly dull and is mixed much more in the background compared to the original CD version. On CD Justin’s voice is much clearer and louder. So a good reason to save the CD. Enjoy the record and see you next year somewhere on the road. André

[Pumpkin]

I have to say that when I first heard of the idea I had my doubts...serious ones at that. These things can go very badly.

I've given it a month now, and I have to say it's still brilliant and proves my doubts were unfounded. It's amazing just how fresh it sounds - almost as if it were actually recorded a few months ago. Testament to great talent and brilliantly crafted lyrics and music. I think I enjoy it more than when the original first came out, but can't quite put my finger on how and why.

Of course, it's highly unlikely, but I wonder what doing the same thing would do to LOHC. I was really disappointed when that first came out, and it took some time to grow on me - although I love some aspects of it now.