Sad Lovers and Giants-Mirror Test

[haastilecreation]

Has anyone received their copy of The Mirror Test and how is the sound?

[budaniel]

still waiting for mine. amazon took a while to ship it, but it finally shipped yesterday.

[budaniel]

I take that back. It was in a shipment with a bunch of other stuff, and it actually was NOT shipped with them and amazon just informed me it's taking longer than expected to obtain it--and NO sellers are offering it on amazon marketplace. I'm guessing the release was maybe pushed back?

[roc51]

Still waiting for mine, bought two copies, because SLAG releases tend to go out of print sooner rather than later.

I understand the band remastered this themselves, so we'll see. Epic Garden Music and Feeding The Flame were re-presses with expanded liner notes (interviews, photos, memories) as the band were apparently not part of the mastering process.

[haastilecreation]

I know someone has received this by now. Let us know!

[Sean]

I got it on Saturday but have not have a chance to listen to it. Maybe tonight.

[roc51]

Just an update, the band painstakingly remastered and remixed the CD and as such it is dubbed The Mirror Test Redux by the band.

Guitarist Tony McGuiness handled the work on this project, repairing, remixing and remastering it, bringing the album up to the standard that the band originally projected. It is now much warmer and crisp than it's original release.

[clarence]

I've listened to mine and think it sounds incredible! I've reluctantly become a cynic about most reissues over the last decade, but this is one I can truly hear the difference and in my opinion it sounds fantastic - all of the instruments stand out more and really make an impact. My favorite tune on the album, "House Of Clouds", sounds particularly good.

[roc51]

[quote][i]Originally posted by clarence[/i]
<br>I've listened to mine and think it sounds incredible! I've reluctantly become a cynic about most reissues over the last decade, but this is one I can truly hear the difference and in my opinion it sounds fantastic - all of the instruments stand out more and really make an impact. My favorite tune on the album, "House Of Clouds", sounds particularly good.
[/quote]

Agreed! And due to the original tapes being lost in a fire, this CD was digitally remastered from the original CD release, and not from vinyl.

The remastering is superb and really highlights what the end result will be when the band passionately involves itself in the project. I loved the original CD issue and running order, so this listen was like a brand new experience. There are subtle differences in some of the tracks and some have been reworked to fit the mood and sequencing of the album. The remastering is absolutely fantastic!

It was strange not opening with Ours To Kill, which set the mood of the album. The new issue closes with it, remixed and brought to a definite close. White Russians on the new issue is merged into Take Seven which took me off guard at first. I still believe Life Under Glass was the natural close to the album, but all-in-all, kudos to the band and Cherry Red for putting out their best reissue of the year so far.

I will listen to both versions of the albums as a result...the original issue remains one of my favourites but I love the new redux as well.

[budaniel]

That merging of White Russians kinda screws you up if you want to put the song on your ipod as I just discovered while listening to my 80s folder, when White Russians just suddenly cut off! Argh!

[roc51]

[quote]
That merging of White Russians kinda screws you up if you want to put the song on your ipod as I just discovered while listening to my 80s folder, when White Russians just suddenly cut off! Argh!
[/quote]

Agreed...not sure why Tony McGuinness did this...the original close of White Russians was fine and didn't need to be merged...do you agree the remaster was fantastic...remastered from the original CD