Needle Time

  Ultravox - Vienna  [CHS 12 2481 UK 1981 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] After recent issues with noisy, dirty & somewhat expensive electricity to my set-up, I've invested in a power conditioner in an attempt to overcome the associated issues. I upgraded the turntable a few years ago with the excellent but bulky Shooster BOTW power supply, however Pro-Ject Audio continue to ship their £600 phono amps with cheap & nasty 18v power supplies which do little to combat dirty home electricity. I last ripped this twelve inch pressing of the Ultravox classic Vienna back during August 2020, I thought it would be perfect to test out the benefits of cleaner power to my set-up. Oh my word, I shall just let the results speak for themselves..... A1 Vienna B1 Passionate Reply B2 Herr X

  Ultravox - Vienna (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) [CHRX1296 UK 2021 24-Bit FLAC] Like many of you, I grew up with Ultravox's best-selling  Vienna album. I've had copies in various formats over the years, so save for a little bit of unnecessary vinyl noise in the quiet bits on this new pressing for RSD2021, I have never heard it this good.  To me, the original sounded rather flat and a little two dimensional, lacking clarity, detail and depth in places, everything seemed wrapped up in a foggy hue. These issues were likely part of the album's original charm, but it could have sounded better (imho) - nothing against Connie Plank's original mix - I am assuming that is how they wanted Vienna to sound in 1980. Consequently,  the original sounds incredibly dated - this version brings Vienna bang right up-to-date without overworking the mix, or adding additional instrumentation. Back in 2020, Steven Wilson was drafted in to produce a new mix using the original masters, fres...

  Ultravox - Vienna [CHS 12 2481 UK 1981 24-Bit FLAC] I mentioned back in my August 2019 post of how disappointing Vienna sounded on vinyl to my ears (especially the album version), I had ripped my original crackly seven inch and always thought the mastering wasn't that great. Now, a year on, I've acquired a mint condition UK twelve inch pressing with lovely wide grooves (just a fiver in Reckless, Soho), ripped it using my new set-up, low and behold - it sounds damn fine.  It is also a relief to hear the Kraftwerk-influenced Herr X how I believe Connie would I have wanted it on vinyl. As I said back then,  Vienna is only really memorable for me because it is one of those songs which reminds me of a time and a place, a bit like Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street and Dean Friedman's Lucky Stars it gets annoyingly stuck in a different era, it's not a particularly good song (a bit over pompous IMHO) yet it is stuck in 1981 and you return to your world in 1981 just by l...

Ultravox - Vienna [CHS 2481 UK 1981 24-Bit FLAC] It has always bugged me how flat the vinyl album pressings of Vienna sounded and the remasters should obviously be avoided. I took it upon myself to attempt the best possible rip from my original 7" single and despite just a little crackle, it sounds pretty good. Vienna is only really memorable because it is one of those songs which reminds you of a time and a place, a bit like Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street and Dean Friedman's Lucky Stars it gets annoying stuck in a different era, it's not a particularly good song (a bit over pompous IMHO) yet it is stuck in 1981 and you can remember your world in 1981 just by listening to it. A1 Vienna B1 Passionate Reply