Tchad Blake, Peter Gabriel. UP

Light · #1 01-06-2003

O.K. I am not usually one to get blow away by the engineering on a record. It just ain't my thang, you know. I'm a song guy. I learned to record because I can't write great songs, but I have an intuitive knack for technical stuff. I always have. But I don't pay much attention to other peoples engineering, I listen to the songs.

For Christmas, however, I got a record which blows me away, from and engineering point of view. THE NEW PETER GABRIEL ALBUM ROCKS.

It is Peter Gabriel, so the songs are obviously going to be good. That goes without saying, and it is very true in this case. Great songs. So having great songs on a record would normally put me in a place where I don't really notice the mix. Tchad Blake mixed the album, and it is just great. It is creative, and at every point seems to enhance the songs, while painting some wonderful contrasting colors. I am, and have been, a big fan of Tchad Blake’s work, but this is one of his best, to my ear.

Killer album, with great songs, and one of the coolest engineers on the planet. I'm happy.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

Ulli · #2 01-06-2003

And I totally agree

Brilliant work, excellent songs as we know it from Peter and also exciting production work. I found it very interesting that this album sound modern/temporary on one side but the sound also reminds me of older Gabriel albums from 20 years ago....
And now waiting for the live shows to come

- Ulli -

Sunburn In Cyprus - ElectricDancePop
Find our music at http://www.besonic.com/sic

Light · #3 01-07-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Ulli

And now waiting for the live shows to come

- Ulli -

I missed the live show here in Minneapolis (the first time he ever came here, to). I got a call to work the show, but I was already going to see Ani DiFranco with my sister, which she had given me as a B-day present. Ani was great, so I couldn't be too disappointed, but it would have been a cool show to see. And not just as a fan of his music. I work as a lighting designer, and his shows are always amazing. I learned more from the Secret World Live video than any other source I can think of.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

Ulli · #4 01-07-2003

I live in Europe and have to wait a little bit, but it is worth the waiting

Saw 2 performances of the Secret World Tour and this was already impressing, so I have very high expectations. But I guess Peter will surpass them

- Ulli -

--
Sunburn In Cyprus - ElectricDancePop
Find our music at http://www.besonic.com/sic

Light · #5 01-07-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Ulli
I have very high expectations.

Ulli -

All the stage hands I know, and the LD's I know who were there said the show was pretty cool. This is a jaded lot, so if they like a show, it is saying quite a lot.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

mgraffeo · #6 01-08-2003

There's a pretty good article on this album in this month's EQ magazine, with a sidebar on Tchad Blake. Worth reading...

-mg

Light · #7 01-08-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by mgraffeo
There's a pretty good article on this album in this month's EQ magazine, with a sidebar on Tchad Blake. Worth reading...

-mg

Thanks, I'll find that. It is a great record.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

RWhite · #8 01-10-2003

Well, I like Peter Gabriel. And all I've heard from the new album is what I've heard on radio. But I have to confess, after hearing that material, my reaction was: "he took 10 years to make THIS????"

Like you you said, it sounds just like his older material - except the songs are not as good. It might be an OK album, but I really expected much more.

Light · #9 01-10-2003

Listen to the album before you judge the songs. It does NOT sound like the old stuff. It sounds like Peter Gabriel, so there is always going to be similarities. However, the production is VERY different, and the best songs (as usual) have not been put out on the radio.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

adam · #10 01-13-2003

You know, I always wondered who picked PG's singles. The Barry William's show is the WEAKEST on the album.

Look back to the past 2 albums.
Us -- Steam, Kissing the Frog (Though I think diggin' in the dirt was a single, but not nearly as big) - 2 of the weakest on that great album. Talk to me became good for telecom ads.

So-- Big Time and Sledgehammer. God I hated these songs when they came out. Years later discovered the other great songs on the album. I do have a new appreciation for BT and SH though.

I agree, the production is top notch. growing up and sky blue are too favorites, sound wise. I did find a fair bit of clipping in some of the louder passages, that kind of bug me. Moreso after syncing parts of songs to my recently completed honeymoon video.

Ulli · #11 01-13-2003

Dunno what they took to release BWS as single..... Some kind of strange natural drugs I think

But "More than this" which has been released now as single is really brilliant, esp. the guitar work. Also on "Growing up". Someone wrote on the Realworld forums "David Rhodes is god" , any doubts? Listen to those songs

BTW: Has anyone heard the "More than this" remixes? Haven't heard them so far myself

- Ulli -

--
Sunburn In Cyprus - ElectricDancePop
Find our music at http://www.besonic.com/sic

Light · #12 01-18-2003

I have not heard any remixes. Did Tchad Blake do them? That I would like to hear. He is just so damn good.

The other CD I have been just blown away by this year is Joan Osborne’s "How Sweet it is." It is an album of soul covers, and it is way past cool. Very cool, unusual arrangements, nice feel, good mix (NOT over compressed), great songs, and Isaac Hayes!!!! The best part, though, is without question her voice. Knocks me out.

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi