Gentle Giant, the excellent progressive rock band with an excellent run from 1970 until 1980, produced a series of great and enduring albums for several labels. In fact, over the years, the fan-base has been as strong as if the band still recorded, and played live on a consistent basis. And, over the years, there has been a series of remasters and repackaging of the best works (that could be acquired).
In 2005, a series of reissues were revisited by Derek Shulman, an original member of the band to celebrate the band’s 35th anniversary. And those were well received.
However…
Enter Steven Wilson.
As you are all too familiar with, Steven Wilson’s remix cred is impeccable. When he likes a project, he can deliver the definitive audio version of that album. On July 22, Alucard Records, with the distributing muscle of Universal, will reissue the 1974 Gentle Giant title of The Power And The Glory as a Steven Wilson remix. As far as we know, there will be several versions of the album. One version will be a 2CD set, another will be a 3CD set, and there will be a Deluxe 2CD/DVD version.
The Power And The Glory is, like many of Steven Wilson remixes, an album that will be hotly anticipated, especially for it’s 5.1 Surround mix.
More information forthcoming.
Being a huge Gentle Giant fan, I am always glad to hear of yet another remaster and especially with Steve Wilson involved. However, I was somewhat disappointed with his The Yes Album work. I found the audio quite surprisingly lifeless. Even the 5.1 version left me cold. All the right notes are there but something’s missing for me. I then played my Rhino remaster and the album came to life for me. I hope that Mr. Wilson is not spreading himself too thinly and that we can expect wonderful things with GG and his forthcoming other projects.
Bob,
I had the exact opposite reaction. I thought the SW Yes remasters (especially TYA) were stellar. I also thought the 5.1 mixes were mind-blowing. I guess such things are subjective.
Though in all honesty, I didn’t do a direct comparison with the Rhino discs.
The Steven Wilson King Crimson sets were superb as were his Jethro Tull and Yes sets. I’m really looking forward to this as I’ve had Gentle Giant on my radar.
I totally agree with comments on his other work – The Yes Album took me by surprise however. I am a huge Wilson fan, and love his music as well as his studio technical skills. But as Bill B said, it is very subjective. One thing that happens to me, is that I have the expectation of two things with Steven Wilson remixes – that he places the right things in the right places in the mixes, without tampering (much) with the original mix, and that the sound envelopes you in a way (including stereo) that involves me completely. With The Yes Album, I really felt that though it was technically a home run, the warmth and “live” feel he brings to the table just wasn’t. The trade-off is that his stereo mix is better than the Rhino in detail. Ah, the trials and tribulations.
What a shame he’s not starting the Gentle Giant remixes/remasters with a better album than “The Power and the Glory”. I would have thought “Octopus” or “In a Glass House” would have been better candidates.
Steven seems to run on his wishes these days.
Steve Wilson’s remix/remaster of King Crimson’s ‘ Lizard ‘ is by far an over achievement and quite revealing ! What a fresh and detailed remix of very high quality indeed ! However, the aqualung JT and the Yes album did not show much difference compared to the previous ones. I’m anxious to hear the new remix of GG’s power and the glory though. This one of a kind album deserves a proper remix and remastering.