| Review by downunderman May 18, 2014 (6 of 6 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics: |
Given that there has been a fair bit of disquiet around the quality of the various Police SACD releases over the years it was with some nervousness that I put my money down for this one, even though the promise was that this was taken from the original UK master tapes in 2014.
I'm very glad I did.
The original SACD issue from way back when was something of a horror. Sounding flat, lifeless and claustrophobic. It was not a good listen.
This SHM-SACD on the other hand is the polar opposite and really jumps. The instruments are very well separated and crisply (but naturally) rendered. Gone is the background fog that enveloped the original A&M SACD and the soundstage is also well rendered. There is a good level of clean space between the various instruments now. Though it needs to be pointed out here for the uninitiated that the drum kit is pretty much in your lap, mixed as it is way out front. The drummer clearly wasn't joking when he said the Police were HIS band. So it is by no means a traditional soundstage, but I'm guessing that, at least in part, the band also had an ear out on how it might sound on a car radio. It truth it sounded pretty good on the radio back in the day.
I can even say that overall this was a well recorded album when it was put together and more than up to the super audio treatment- it sounds wonderful.
This Police title can be bought with confidence.
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| Review by vonwegen July 6, 2014 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics: |
Lest anyone get the idea, from an otherwise spot-on sonic review, that this album is one long, song-by-song drum solo, I have to say that it is not that at all. You hear all 4 elements of this wonderful, explosive band very clearly, though the live drums catch your attention first. Producer Nigel Gray really excels here in capture both the group's raw energy and their jazz-esque finesse, and no song cries out for something unfairly buried in the mix. The bass guitar lines are full and clear, Andy Summers' guitar is too, and Sting's vocals bob and dance around in the stereo picture like something Lee Perry cooked up in Kingstown, Jamaica in The Ark.
A few songs don't quite meet the "Classic Album" standard, but the band's playing excels throughout. and best of all, this SHM-SACD lets you really crank it up for full effect. Yes, I should mention that this is my favorite Police album, because it really captures their magic in wonderful high fidelity, all the way through. Their later albums are all good too, but never sparkle as much as this one, mastered by a real expert.
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| Review by Marpow June 17, 2015 (2 of 4 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics: |
The Police-Regatta De Blanc SMH SA-CD 2013 Reissue
A 1979 recording brought to life via this SHM SACD.
The performance for me is all over the place, the hits I love and the others I don't like at all.
The stereo sonics are outstanding. Big stereo stage, great right/left balance, good depth. Bass, drums, and guitar are well in sync with each other.
Packaging, the great little Japanese box with mini replica album cover (not gate fold), mini paper lyrics and Japanese liner notes.
Wish I liked more of the songs.
This review is a copy from my review of the A&M version that was put there by mistake. 11/2/14.
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