knife edge
Group: Members
Posts: 77
Joined: May 2003 |
|
Posted: July 23 2010, 14:31 |
|
Finally! I have the 2010 version of Ommadawn (and HR). The lost version is the thing I was most interested in...
I simply think that is gorgeous. As already said by caveman, there's something (no, there's much! ) so beautifully naive about it. But it's not only for this thing that this version sounds particularly good... there are also strong musical reasons.
There are many very good moments: - the "almost electronic" part near the beginning with this strange "arpeggiator" flying in the soundspace; - and not too far, that KingCrimson-ish guitar paired with the organ pedal, all that gives a very misterious, almost "creepy" atmosphere to the music, that is lost in the "official" version; - the armonic progression of the brasses and then the ones of the acoustic piano, different than the official version: so simple, so evocative, so effective; - the acoustic guitar moments, so many, with a special mention for the sweet finale... ok, near the finale you have the sensation that Mike didn't know how to properly finish the piece (but relistening to it I think is more the fact that we are used to the percussion official version)... but this fortissimo finale that flows into this intimate acoustic relax: one of the best little moments of Mike, IMHO; - the flute dialogues, so much more present that in the official final version, they are so emotionally played and mixed.
So... many of this moments get lost in the official version, but it's maybe for this reason that the version that finally ended on the official master is so perfect. Because it is the "same" music rerecorded without the emotional naive peaks of this "lost version", so it had the possibility to be refined, controlled, precisely edited and rendered. And it is the same reason why the "lost version" is so moving, because it's not refined, not controlled, not precisely edited, but maybe more linked to Mike feelings.
... with the exception of the drunk episode, so out of place (and so disturbing the music, there are good things happening behind the drunks, but they are barely heard).
Ok, I stop here
Ps: BTW I think I don't like the 2010 mix too much, (I don't see the reason to remix a perfect mix, and there are also a pair of clear "errors"), but this is OT...
|