What does it sound like?:
This is the first standalone release of the soundtrack to the 1972 film, available on double cd and double vinyl. Although you don’t get the excerpts from DSOTM, this being purely a document of the audienceless concert itself, you do get two extra tracks that don’t appear on the bluray or dvd versions, an alrternate take of Careful With That Axe Eugene and an unedited performance of A Saucerful of Secrets which runs for a couple of minutes longer. The show in the ancient amphitheatre was shot in October 1971, although this only produced footage of Echoes, A Saucerful of Secrets and One of These Days, the latter being shot at dusk – the lighting meant that only the footage of Nick Mason was useable, so it comes across as something of a solo performance! The remaining pieces, Careful With That Axe, Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun and the forgettable and mercifully brief Mademoiselle Nobs, were added later in the year at an indoor location in Paris, the clue being Rick Wright’s disappearing beard. The new stereo mix created by Steven Wilson is very impressive (you’ll need the bluray if you want to hear his 5.1 and Atmos mixes) and brings a new found clarity to the recording, in the process revealing previously hidden details which is pretty remarkable given the source material comprised just four mono tracks for the instruments plus vocals and sound effects. He has also reinstated the short introductory piece, already a topic of some debate on here, which appeared in the original film but was absent for some reason from the 2002 Director’s Cut DVD. If you’re a fan of this era of Floyd’s music then this really is a must have purchase even if you already own an earlier version, as it really shines some new light through those old familiar windows.
What does it all *mean*?
If you have an urge to hear this version of Echoes as it was actually performed with the two separate sections reunited, then you need to seek out the Obfusc/ation disc from the Early Years box, which incidentally also has the alternate version of Careful With That Axe that’s included here.
Goes well with…
Relistening to the live set from Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, which provided a welcome new lease of life for the music from the early part of the Floyd canon.
Release Date:
Out now
Might suit people who like…
Remembering the day, apple pie with no crust!
Finally got round to watching the Bluray yesterday. I can take or leave the visuals, to be honest, but the Wilson Atmos mix is tremendous.
I believe the Atmos mix is available on streaming to remove the need to watch it !
Saw the film on IMAX a few weeks ago which was just OK and hasn’t aged too well.
However streamed the album on Qobuz and it sounds amazing through my sound system. Great mix by Steven Wilson. Will probably buy the vinyl
I seem to have acquired both this CD and a Blu-Ray.
Watched this at the Olympic studios cinema. Absolutely magnificent. Worth it for the first 5 minutes of Echoes, Gilmour and Wright looking beautiful and talented