Your Own Special Mix

A surround mix is always a matter of taste. There are many different approaches to them in rock music. Strong mixes rely on the concentration of the lead vocals on the center speaker (e.g. Billy Joel’s The Stranger and 52nd Street SACDs), while others use the rear speakers mainly or exclusively for echoes. Then there are the mixes that let the gimmicks fly at you. Surround mixes have one thing in common, though: They bring out many details the listener did not notice before. The acoustic guitar in Toto’s Africa can be heard very clearly on the SACD but not at all on the normal audio CD.

The DVD promo kicks off with Behind The Lines. The Remaster Edition was a pronounced improvement, but this version is perfect. The mix is full of power and sets the mood for the things to come. Nick Davis carefully balances subtle surround sound and moderate use of effects. The effects are used whenever that makes sense. The percussion in Dodo comes from the rear speakers; so, occasionally, do the vocals that all of a sudden refocus on the center speaker in the middle of the song. A terrific effect. Dodo in 5.1 is far better than the old stereo mix and the real winner on the promo DVD.
Your Own Special Way takes things more slowly. It is, of course, a ballad so there is no place for excessive effects. As Nick confirmed in the interview, it is Mike who sings the backing vocals at the end. Many Too Many and Follow You Follow Me profit from the remixing in the same way. They grow in stature and quality, though they do not have the best reputation with hard core Genesis fans. The surround mixes are quite light, well-balanced and rich in details. The piano in Many Too Many has never sounded as ‘real’ as here.
Entangled belongs in the same category, but its surround mix shows that Genesis worked in a very different way for A Trick Of The Tail than they would for And Then There Were Three. Entangled is a gem that grows and sparkles with the romantic qualities of surround sound.
One For The Vine is somewhere between Dodo and the ballads, for obvious reasons. The song (as well as Fading Lights, by the way) has elements of both. One For The Vine is real fun in surround sound. One notices little sound effects that could hardly be heard in the stereo mix. Turn It On Again has improved throughout, but the changes are not spectacular. Its quality matches that of Behind The Lines.
Abacab will be enourmously interesting. Because the version on the DVD sampler will NOT be identical with the SACD version the value of the promo as a collector’s item increases rapidly.
The DVD closes aptly with Los Endos. Many may consider this the highlight of the selection. The surround sound discloses less than one would expect, but it is a huge improvement over all previous versions.

Superlative could follow superlative in this review. Purists will complain that the original mixes will be lost. And they are indeed. Nick Davis’ new mixes, including the stereo mix, were made on the basis of the old master tracks and completely supersede the old stereo mixes. If you listen closer, though, you will notice that (as with the Platinum Collection) nothing was altered. It is just a job better done because more time and better technology were available. The DVD sampler makes us want more, far more. 5.1 fans will have a hard time waiting anyway. And they are right – never before did Genesis sound better, never was there more oomph to the music, more energy, more volume, more details. And let’s not forget – nobody added anything anywhere. It is all based on what Genesis recorded back then. It is your decision how far you want to get into that. The work of Nick Davis, who himself is a Genesis fan, is truly an astoundingly precise feat. If the SACDs keep what this promo promised we will re-experience the old records in a new way, perhaps even get to know them afresh.

Some Genesis fans will certainly consider buying a 5.1 surround system. Based on this promo we can only support their decision. A special on the technology and available hardware will soon be online.

COMPETITION:
Genesis News Com | International Fansite gives away some copies of the Promo DVD for competition.
To enter the Competition, proceed to our international Message Board and submit your votes in these polls:
What are your 3 favorite Genesis Albums? - click here
Which Songs do you want to hear live? (5 - 10 songs can be chosen) - click here
After yo have submitted your votes, send an email to this adress.
The eMail MUST contain: Your postal address and the username you have submitted your votes with. You may also let us know if you prefer a DVD Promo or a CD Promo (though we cannot guarantee to fulfil your request)
Competition closes 27th March, 12am CET. By entering the competition, you accept these rules!

• Christian Gerhardts
• translated by Martin Klinkhardt
• See also our Review on the CD Promo Sampler
• Reviews about the first batch an each SACD will follow