Metamatic Forums Socialising The Green Room Best album/reissue of 2008

Looks as if the lastest Visage - 'The Anvil' cd will not be part of the definitive released versions, but rather a nice stop gap for now. Latest news at E.V. Linky .

I had a sinking feeling about the whole thing when Cherry Red was mentioned. They try, but quite frankly, it would probably be better if I dig out my vinyl (buried in Sheffield somewhere)and rip it myself.

Yes i know what you mean, its not quite what we all had in mind with the new material in process and the chance of some quality remastered re-issues. Having said that, its no guarantee the back caltologue will still be out, but this one is unlikely to detract from them.

It's odd the way various labels treat albums; I had a look at the Edsel re-issues of the Thompson Twins albums 'Quick Step & Side Kick' and 'Into the Gap' yesterday. Digitally remastered, restored artwork, 2CD editions with the original cassette mixes, re-mixes & b-sides - clearly a lot of thought, research and effort went into the re-issues, very much like the effort that went into the 'Metamatic' Special Edition - it makes me realise more and more the effort Rob and Cerise put in to the Foxx/Ultravox re-issues.

Why can't all record labels think like this?

Its a fairly basic format to stick to really. Just have to remaster the album followed by its singles b-sides in release order, then the remixes in order. If you run out of cd space on one, then its the album on cd1, and b-sides and remixes on cd2. Artwork needs to be quality reroductions of the original artwork, and extended artwork inside. Your right that the Ultravox! and 'Metamatic' are about the only ones at this level of doing the whole remaster thing. Im pleased with how the OMD ones are going too, but not the Numan albums from '78 to '80. Telekon was a catalogue of mistakes in itself.

Looks like more effort than I relised goes into these re-masters. Having read the above posts here is a news page from someone who runs a Thompson Twin fansite and had been involved in the planning. Not sure if it was just a low point for him but if these figures are right then how can they possibly make any money?

31st October 2007 APO and Set fall thru the net.
The re-issues will NOT be happening. Sorry but it really isn't financially feasible at all to do this. The cost of licencing and remastering are way too much for anyone to contemplate. Here come's the truth. Bothe CD's would sell less than 10,000 copies WORLDWIDE. That's a MAXIMUM income for any label of £2,000. Licencing alone comes to £80,000 MINIMUM. It's not going to happen - Sorry - Neither is ANY future re-issue program.

I am writing this with a heavy heart. There is NOT enough demand for the project to happen and therefore, This is the end of the line.

I have devoted enough time and effort to do this. I have been kicked enough. It's time for someone else to try to do it.
BMG and Warners know the score and now so do the Twins fans. It's regurgerated Greatest hits from now on.
We just aren't a large enough or organised enough movement to make it happen.
So, I am officially leaving my 15 year old dream alone for the time being.
Thank you SOOOOO much to everyone who supported this dream.

What a relief that John owns all his solo material.

I can't complain with the remasters of recent years from John, Ultravox, Numan and OMD.

Visage could be the only let down :rolleyes: but thanks to fans out there I have the non-album tracks on some smart CDRs.

Chris C

Nick Cave's Dig Lazarus Dig!!!

The last song, More News from Nowhere is compulsory listening.
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Hard to imagine that Cave could get even better, but he's just an inspiration

Hi Newvox,

I'm intrigued - what's wrong with the 'Telekon' remaster? (Although I am annoyed they didn't follow the original vinyl sequencing when it came to placing 'I Die: You Die' and 'We Are Glass')

Thats one of the problems with it Garry, the fact that the tracks are in the original master tape order. These days its easy to change the order with an mp3 programme, or just programme the cd player as we know. The real problems with 'Telekon' is 'I Die, You Die' should have been the UK version and not the US one IMO. Worst of all though is 'Remember I Was Vapour' and 'The Joy Circuit' are mixes without some of the main instruments needed for those very songs. Most noticable is the viola missing from the left channel on 'RIW Vapour'. The best cd version of 'Telekon' is still the double album 'Telekon / I Assassin' Bega 19. Even this version has 'We Are Glass' midway through the album. It is at least the original album and singles tracks though.