Delfín
Group: Members
Posts: 667
Joined: Nov. 2000 |
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Posted: Oct. 16 2010, 21:27 |
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Hi guys. Being told by me before, for you all to know, that 'Tubular Bells 2oo3' is in my opinion, for technical and inspirational reasons, superior than the original recording (that meaning that we're speaking about the best piece of music ever recorded in my opinion), I have to say that I even prefer the 'B' side from the 'A' side on it.
The reasons are:
'Harmonics' is way better, softer, calmer, and more "harmonic" than thebeginning of the B side for TB. The Steinway piano is a DREAM and the voices and flute are much cleaner and more evocative than its predecessor's.
'Bagpipe Guitars' is that GORGEOUS 'Voyager' flavoured epic song with the astonishing Spanish guitar part adding dimension and perspective to the whole, and the overall sound is again much cleaner and powerful.
'Ambient Guitars' is a millimetric piece of musical precision with outstanding compressed clean guitars worked in perfection in which Mike described the most difficult part to re-record in 2oo3, as we all can notice.
On the other side,
Although I was completely stunned at the majesticness and beauty of 'Introduction' when I first heard it in a mall in Marbella (Spain), there's an element that spoils a little, slight bit the whole thing... Why on Earth the bass is a sparkly synthesised one, instead of the gorgeous Precision bass of the original?? I'd like to really know that one.
Well throughout the whole 'Part One' there are a few details that for me set the standards a bit lower than in the original. For example: Why mix the taped motor part with a distorted guitar?? For me it steals the weirdness and pureness of the section!! And there is a note in the ascending distorted scale leading to 'Jazz' that changes from the original in the wrong way!!
Well I'm being too critical to my favourite music piece of all time, but has to be said that for me 'Latin' is much better this time, as well as 'Jazz', and the 'Finale's climax reaches to that point with the choir and the new accurately added drums that never arrives in the first edition.
I mean, I think both parts on their owns overtake their predecessors, but 'Part 2' wins in excelence, precision, evocativeness, inspiration, and even spark with perfect rock 'n roll band feel in 'Caveman'. I must say 'Peace' is for me one of the few (probably the only one) which is better in the original. I rather go for the organ, the instrument Mike used originally when he first composed the song being 14, than with the acoustic, country/western melancholic feel. I think the organ brings much more drama and sentiment to it.
Overall, I must say, as well as TB1973 was obviously much more 'Part 1' weighted, in this case we can argue but for me, in the 2oo3 case, 'Part 2' marks the real gravity center of the whole.
Of course, this is subject to a whole lot of opinions, and I apologise for being that critical to some parts, but I really see how Mike sometimes felt tempted to a little trickery even when at the end, he showed us all that from the old years of big fame, the best from him was yet to come.
-------------- The most precious thing I possess, is knowing the answer's yes
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