Jon Anderson - Olias Remaster

[Dan Roth]

Hot on the heels of the Song of Seven remaster, here comes Olias also from Esoteric, this time with a Remaster and an "Upmix" due out March 26th. I am particularly thrilled about "fully restores the stunning original artwork" - the artwork on that on that original record was masterful :

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/...panded-edition

• A NEWLY REMASTERED & EXPANDED 2 DISC EDITION OF THE LEGENDARY 1976 SOLO ALBUM BY YES VOCALIST JON ANDERSON
• NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES
• FEATURES A DVD WITH A HIGH RESOLUTION 96 kHz / 24-BIT RE-MASTER OF THE ORIGINAL STEREO MIX ALONG WITH A 5.1 SURROUND SOUND UP-MIX DERIVED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES
• WITH FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK AND AN ESSAY WITH AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JON ANDERSON
• INCLUDES ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET WITH NEW ESSAY

Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the release of a new expanded and re-mastered 2 disc edition of the classic debut solo album by YES vocalist JON ANDERSON, “Olias of Sunhillow”. Released in July 1976, the album was a conceptual work recounting the story of an alien race on a journey to find a new world following volcanic destruction on their home planet. All music on the album was written and performed by Jon Anderson and the recording took place at Anderson’s Buckinghamshire home studio whilst Yes were on hiatus following the tour to promote the album “Relayer”. Initially recorded on an 8-track tape machine, the arrangements were then re-recorded on to a 24-track tape machine. The album saw Jon perform the music entirely alone, teaching himself to play keyboards and acknowledging the influence of such legendary musicians as Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz and Vangelis on his work. Indeed, it was even rumoured Vangelis performed on the album, something the maestro would deny in interviews.

“Olias of Sunhillow” was released by Atlantic Records in the summer of 1976 in an elaborate gatefold sleeve designed by David Fairbrother-Roe and was a top ten album in the UK. This Esoteric Recordings edition has been newly remastered from the original album master tapes and fully restores the stunning original artwork and also features a booklet with a new essay and exclusive interview with Jon Anderson.
Over the ensuing years the excellence of the album has led to many calls for the album to be remixed in a 5.1 Surround Sound format. Alas, despite extensive research, the multi-track masters of the album cannot be found. However, this expanded edition of “Olias of Sunhillow” features a DVD featuring a high resolution 96 kHz / 24-bit re-master of the stereo mix and also includes a high resolution 5.1 Surround Sound up-mix derived from the original stereo master tapes as an additional feature.

Track Listing:

DISC ONE:
OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW
REMASTERED EDITION
1. OCEAN SONG
2. MEETING (GARDEN OF GEDA)
SOUND OUT THE GALLEON
3. DANCE OF RANYART
OLIAS (TO BUILD THE MOORGLADE)
4. QOQUAQ EN TRANSIC
NAON
TRANSIC TO
5. FLIGHT OF THE MOORGLADE
6. SOLID SPACE
7. MOON RA
CHORDS
SONG OF SEARCH
8. TO THE RUNNER

DISC TWO:
OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW
HIGH RESOLUTION 96 KHZ / 24-BIT
5.1 SURROUND SOUND UPMIX & STEREO REMASTER
1. OCEAN SONG
2. MEETING (GARDEN OF GEDA)
SOUND OUT THE GALLEON
3. DANCE OF RANYART
OLIAS (TO BUILD THE MOORGLADE)
4. QOQUAQ EN TRANSIC
NAON
TRANSIC TO
5. FLIGHT OF THE MOORGLADE
6. SOLID SPACE
7. MOON RA
CHORDS
SONG OF SEARCH
8. TO THE RUNNER

[ronmac]

YAY!

Hoping for a single-disc release.

[Steve F.]

How does a 5.1 ‘up mix’ actually work?

Is it today’s ‘Rechanneled For Stereo’?

[Rick L.]

How does a 5.1 ‘up mix’ actually work?

Is it today’s ‘Rechanneled For Stereo’?

It's today's "buy it again ".

[chalkpie]

I got the vinyl for $5 in excellent condition. The real Jon plays on my copy.

[Koreabruce]

How does a 5.1 ‘up mix’ actually work?

Is it today’s ‘Rechanneled For Stereo’?

I was wondering that myself...

[Udi Koomran]

How does a 5.1 ‘up mix’ actually work?

Is it today’s ‘Rechanneled For Stereo’?

I have no idea
But
Gong You which is my favorite album ever...
2 side B was not mixed in quad Simon Heyworth did a upmix
Is for me the equivalent of audio alchemy no idea how the hell was he able to turn a stereo mix to a stunning surround experience -left me laughing shaking my head in disbelief ...
This did not sound fake or synthetic
Elements were distinctly placed and moved in surround
Voodoo!

[Sunlight Caller]

^^^ There’s deep Planet Gong magick bound within those grooves. It couldn’t happen with the music of mere earthbound mortals.

[Steve983]

Great news, thanks.

Sent from my SM-T290 using Tapatalk

[rdclark]

There were three tracks on the Steven Wilson edition of Gentle Giant's "Octopus" that were upmixed using the Penteo plug-in for ProTools, because the multitracks were missing. They sounded OK, but were distinctly not discrete 5.1. They didn't sound too artificially processed, more like a stereo mux with surround ambience.

I would certainly not buy something just for Penteo upmixes. So yeah, I'd be in for a remastered stereo single-disc re-release if the sonic upgrade was significant.

[Steve F.]

Udi,

I'm impressed that YOU were impressed.

I have no idea
But
Gong You which is my favorite album ever...
2 side B was not mixed in quad Simon Heyworth did a upmix
Is for me the equivalent of audio alchemy no idea how the hell was he able to turn a stereo mix to a stunning surround experience -left me laughing shaking my head in disbelief ...
This did not sound fake or synthetic
Elements were distinctly placed and moved in surround
Voodoo!

[Udi Koomran]

Udi,

I'm impressed that YOU were impressed.

Yeah i was expecting some sort of fake synthetic phased audio and instead was floored by the result

[chalkpie]

Yeah i was expecting some sort of fake synthetic phased audio and instead was floored by the result

Udester - Are there programs that allow you to isolate each instrument/voice/sound from a two-channel stereo mix and then essentially do whatever you want with those (like then essentially having a 24-track or whatever master for example)? Is this close to how the surround Gong You was done?

[Mister Triscuits]

Given the low price and the absence of any mention of special packaging, I'm guessing this will be a standard CD-sized product, which makes a joke of the "FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK" claim. This is an album that must be experienced in full 12-inch format, not least because the text that accompanies the artwork is hard enough to read even at full size. The original is such a beautiful marriage of music, image, and story that it will inevitably suffer from any kind of corner-cutting to fit modern formats and budgets.

[taliesin]

^^^ There’s deep Planet Gong magick bound within those grooves. It couldn’t happen with the music of mere earthbound mortals.

Well Jon has never been earthbound so we can hope they get some of the same magic ��

Given the low price and the absence of any mention of special packaging, I'm guessing this will be a standard CD-sized product, which makes a joke of the "FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK" claim. This is an album that must be experienced in full 12-inch format, not least because the text that accompanies the artwork is hard enough to read even at full size. The original is such a beautiful marriage of music, image, and story that it will inevitably suffer from any kind of corner-cutting to fit modern formats and budgets.

Esoteric generally do a good job with their packaging but the artwork will definitely not have the same impact in the smaller format. I don't think there's much they can do about that - I imagine they didn't feel the economics supported doing a full size reproduction.

I'll be interested to hear the 5.1 upmix - hoping it works as well for me as the Gong did for Udi.

[Fracktured]

Interesting news Thanks for posting. I would probably respectfully pass on this not because I wouldn't think it was well done but because I have two copies of the original album, one copy is the original lp I bought when it was released and another pristine copy that I found in a thrift store a few years ago. The artwork is stunning for sure. I love it. I also have the original Japanese cd release which sounds great to me. Sometimes you just have to put your foot down and say I'm not buying it again. There would have to be something pretty amazing about this release to make me bite. I'm not even sure what a upmix is or whether it really makes that much of a difference in sound. Interesting though it is. Thanks again.

[chalkpie]

Interesting news Thanks for posting. I would probably respectfully pass on this not because I wouldn't think it was well done but because I have two copies of the original album, one copy is the original lp I bought when it was released and another pristine copy that I found in a thrift store a few years ago. The artwork is stunning for sure. I love it. I also have the original Japanese cd release which sounds great to me. Sometimes you just have to put your foot down and say I'm not buying it again. There would have to be something pretty amazing about this release to make me bite. I'm not even sure what a upmix is or whether it really makes that much of a difference in sound. Interesting though it is. Thanks again.

I think there are some albums that are just best presented on vinyl due to the artwork and the general vibe of the music, and this is one of those cases imo. I have the olde CD as well but I only play the vinyl when the urge for playing this pops up.

[ronmac]

I also have the original Japanese cd release which sounds great to me.

I have that, too, but am still hoping for an improvement. There's very little separation and I'm hoping that the new one breathes a bit more.

[rickm]

Hold on.... were not the Olias' master tapes lost?

[Mister Triscuits]

Hold on.... were not the Olias' master tapes lost?

The multitracks, yes, as mentioned in post #1. But apparently they do have the stereo master, and they will use digital trickery to fake a 5.1 mix.

[JJ88]

The multi-track masters for Going For The One and Drama are also apparently lost. All very unfortunate, when you consider that Genesis basically still have everything.

[Brainforest]

One of my favorite albums ever. Hopefully the remastered stereo version will be available as a high-res download. Never understood why some of the companies who come out with these big reissue packages don't also offer the digital version for fans who don't buy physical media, especially when there's virtually no extra expense involved in doing so.

[3LockBox]

In my opinion I don't think there's going to be any kind of remastering that will make a remarkable improvement. This is an album that screams for an actual remixing (not the same as a remastering). Of course, it doesn't help that the album's creator had an "everything but the kitchen sink" approach for this project. IMO, Olias of Sunhillow is the aural equivalent of shoving 10 gallons of stuff in a 5 gallon bucket.

[rickm]

...This is an album that screams for an actual remixing (not the same as a remastering).

Can they do a remix without the multi tracks?

[ronmac]

In my opinion I don't think there's going to be any kind of remastering that will make a remarkable improvement. This is an album that screams for an actual remixing (not the same as a remastering). Of course, it doesn't help that the album's creator had an "everything but the kitchen sink" approach for this project. IMO, Olias of Sunhillow is the aural equivalent of shoving 10 gallons of stuff in a 5 gallon bucket.

Perhaps, but software, these days, can work wonder in the right hands.