Visage - The Wild Life

[VicT]

I wish it could be a single CD instead of 7, but something like this:
1. Tar (Original 7" Version)
2. Night Train (7″ Version)
3. Hidden Sign (Tiger Face Flame Remix)
4. The Silence (Original Version)
5. Fade To Grey (Extended Version)
6. Mind Of A Toy (Extended Version)
7. Visage (Extended Version)
8. The Damned Don't Cry (Extended Version)
9. The Anvil (Extended Version)
10. Pleasure Boys (Extended Version)
11. Tar (Extended Dub)
12. Frequency 7 (Dance Version)
13. Never Enough (Richard Stone & John Bryan In Prague Version)
14. Fade To Grey (Tilt's Nu-Romancer Remix)
15. Tightrope
16. Love Glove (Orchestral Reprise)

[postpunkmonk]

I'm loving the 7x set. Was lukewarm to the idea of getting tracks I have elsewhere again [12" mixes - most of which I have on CD here and there] but the re-recorded versions were a gift. Once the news broke about the re-records, I was much more enthusiastic about the whole thing. The 7" re-records less so, since some of these were very carefully re-recorded. At best the download 7" versions function like BBC sessions of songs we already know well. The 12" mixes are in many cases definitive versions. If only the original 12" of "The Damned Don't Cry" had been this inventive! Someone else posted that this set was like the Blank + Jones ZTT set. I'd agree, but at best, B+J added to the ZTT legend without surpassing the holy Horn mixes. Many of these new Visage 12" versions for me supplant long existing cuts like "The Pleasure Boys 12," "The Damned Don't Cry 12," "Tar," and "Mind Of A Toy 12." Back in the day, only "Visage," "The Anvil," and "Night Train" had what I'd call strong 12" mixes, though the US 12" Luongo mix of FTG should also be included even though it was made for the US market at first. The instrumentals are nice for letting me savor the musicianship of the band. In particular, as a Robin Simon fan, I am happy to have these, though Steve Barnacle is no slouch either. "Fierce Verve" was packed with cool tracks. I challenge anyone not to dance when "Seven Deadly Sins Part Two" comes on. It was a killer on the Control Room 12" of "Lost In Static" and immediately became one of my top Visage tracks. Having the instro version on CD is a real plus, since it was all about the riffage on this amazing, driving track. My biggest beef with the whole thing? The mastering everywhere was loud and clear, but detailed. Lots of dynamic range everywhere except for the original 7" version of "Tar" on the basic CD. It was mastered from vinyl, which I can understand, but did they have to brickwall that single track? There is no nit pickingly definitive Visage collection, but "Wild Life" does redress the schism between the old and new eras of the band, and that's justification enough for the project.