90, EX:el, Gorgeous & Don Solaris Deluxe CDs Feedback

SteveC · Post by **SteveC** » 29 Sep 2008 20:10

Mark wrote:Since we are on the subject of sleeve colours, text etc.... The boxes are a bit flimsy. I broke my ex:el box today trying to flip the tray to CD 2.

Yes, I broke my ex:el box as well, must be a design fault or we're the two people most eager to get the CDs out

SteveC · Post by **SteveC** » 29 Sep 2008 21:08

I know whatever ended up on the bonus discs would have created a riot of opinions between us staters. My initial thoughts. Well I agree with the comments about 90 and echoed them on a previous posting, but as Markus said, "The bonus disc has to work as an album as a whole". If you compare all the bonus discs, 90 is the only one which could have been released as an album in itself. If the Pacific 909 mix was included in place of the Britmix, this would have been one mother of an album.

As Pob says, the remastering is extraordinary. Hearing Cobra Bora was like hearing it for the first time and gave me that goosebump sensation all over again.

For me, the opening four tracks on the ex:el bonus disc make this the best of the bunch. The Lift Heavy mix seemed faded on my CD single and it is hearing it in high definition digital whats its stereo sound that took me back to the days of it's original release.

The Cubik mix is fantastic and you expect Darren to shout "Once more for the ladies in the house" at any minute and hearing the tracks you haven't heard for years bring back the memories of sifting through vinyl releases in HMV and playing it for the first time at home, Ski family and Ooops springing to mind.

As for Gorgeous, well I'm just pleased that Mondonet is there.

.........and Don Solaris, The live mix of Spanish Marching is great, although I don't think this seemed to work live, much better on the CD. Relay also seemed to be the live version but ends suddenly, maybe we need mix two to go with it......and the legendary Sure Is Pure mix gave me the gooseys all over again especially when it kicked in after 2 minutes.

Overall, something for everybody, newbies, people who only bought the albums and serious collectors alike. I think they got the balance right. Obviously we would have wanted more but then the bonus material may have become more obscure and experimental.

Lets hope a new generation of 808ers emerge as a result of the release and they go out and find the obscure and rare gems we've all had the delight in listening to..........nowadays it's just one click away.

808state's Tartan Army · Post by **808state's Tartan Army** » 30 Sep 2008 14:43

SteveC wrote:I'd love to hear this album that was scrapped in order to produce Don Solaris. Does it still exist in some format, has elements of it been released, or was it simply reworked to appear on Don?

I was just thinking the exact same thing, myself.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 30 Sep 2008 16:16

I'm guessing the tracks may have been re-used (Outpost, State to State 2) or perhaps we've had them as Globalstate tracks?

If this is not the case and theres some kind of full unused album sitting in those 808 archives gathering dust It would be great to see if Graham could co-ordinate some sort of download-only album? I would certainly pay good readies to listen to this curios scrapped album. If it's half as good as Don Solaris it would be great.

It would make it a very good end to what has been a very good 808 year.

I was thinking that since we've had the ZTT re-releases would they not consider releasing some new material? I know the partnership with the company in the Don Solaris era went a bit sour, but it seems that with the work Graham has done with the re-issues old wounds may have been healed a little? That's presuming the guys do want to do it. I guess with the number of live shows this year doing well perhaps its time for a renaissance?

I've listened to new efforts by The Grid, Underworld and Bomb The Bass is waiting for me so if they can do it surely 808 can!!!

SteveC · Post by **SteveC** » 30 Sep 2008 16:36

Now we've been spoilt with remastering the masters, it seems a shame that Outpost is lying there in it's lonely stereo bed. Hopefully if the re-releases do well ZTT might consider buying the rights to Outpost and giving it the same treatment, maybe for 808s 25th birthday. Hopefully between now and then 808 can spend their millions in royalties on getting together again and recording some new stuff

IanPeel · Post by **IanPeel** » 03 Oct 2008 15:07

Great review now up on The Quietus:

http://www.thequietus.com/articles/808-state

Post by **markus** » 03 Oct 2008 22:49

Rumour has it that only initial copies of ex:el purchased from ZTT shop have the bad artwork and that the ones distributed to shops will have an improved colour, i.e. green will be yellow.

Pob · Post by **Pob** » 03 Oct 2008 23:46

markus wrote:Rumour has it that only initial copies of ex:el purchased from ZTT shop have the bad artwork and that the ones distributed to shops will have an improved colour, i.e. green will be yellow.

So we have super-valuable limited editions, eh? Cool!

Jamesqdot · Post by **Jamesqdot** » 07 Oct 2008 13:53

markus wrote:Rumour has it that only initial copies of ex:el purchased from ZTT shop have the bad artwork and that the ones distributed to shops will have an improved colour, i.e. green will be yellow.

My copy was from HMV and it has the dull green text on the cover. So maybe it was just "initial copies".

Qubism · Post by **Qubism** » 09 Oct 2008 12:15

I just got my 8cds of 808 Heaven from Amazon.co.uk and my ex:el still has Green Text.... I'm quite glad if it is a limited mis-hap....cool!
I haven't listened yet, work gets in the way! Will be testing the surprisingly meaty speakers in the car later.....Will they survive the proper CD versions of Ancodia(Call the cops) etc?

Qubism

G · Post by G » 09 Oct 2008 17:20

got mine from downtown tokyo... no color problems would have liked a weebox to put it in and the fking tax I had to pay on it was ridic...any way...

My opinion is it is nice done and my comments are only about CD2 from each album.

1. 90: Best of the bunch. Enjoyed every thing on it to the max.
2. Ex cel: Enjoyed all except Lift / Open your mind. (Ski Family was bringing back the memories though

3. Gorgeous: Hard work at points...funnily enough Gorgeous was released about the same time I kinda distanced myslef from going to raves wi my mother, auntie, grandma, your mother, the next door neigbour mother etc. Highlights for me on it are Reaper Repo...
4. Don Solaris: CD 1 was a decent album but CD2 just aint 808 for me. Spanish Marching was not interesting missing some vitamains there and Joyrider sure is pure is mix is ok but I think a bit overrated on this forum, bland bollox if you ask me...

All said and done I think this collection shows the non conformity of 808 state, they were never ones to be rushed or put in a box, thats why I love them. Generally I go along with the sometimes hard but fair report of Quietus.

God bless yer...

Beam me up Scottie....
G

Post by **markus** » 10 Oct 2008 13:19

Reading
http://www.neworderonline.com/Forums/Me ... adID=43684
regarding the New Order 'remasters', I think we have nothing to complain about at all!

IanPeel · Post by **IanPeel** » 10 Oct 2008 13:52

All four reissues will feature on BBC Radio Scotland's Alternative 90s show this coming Monday night.

And a nice piece from Blurt: http://www.blurt-online.com/news/view/589/

And more to come...

IanPeel · Post by **IanPeel** » 11 Oct 2008 09:21

Pitchfork news: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/n ... -plan-gigs

Pitchfork review: coming soon

ZTT website: http://www.ztt.com/news/media_coverage_ ... state.html

IanPeel · Post by **IanPeel** » 11 Oct 2008 12:20

Great review in Word magazine out this weekend.

Will post a scan on Monday.