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According to Amazon Japan, both this title and the Planets (Tomita) will be 5.0 multichannel.
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rammiepie said:
According to Amazon Japan, both this title and the Planets (Tomita) will be 5.0 multichannel.
That's great news. It's really weird, because I've recently been trying to find our if the once reported DVD-A of this album was ever actually released or not - but without success. I see that the DVD-A is listed on Amazon.com, but stating "currently unavailable".
As the happy and lucky owner of The Planets 2003 DVD-A, I shall look forward very much to this SACD release. Tomita's music is particularly suited to the multi-channel audio treatment.
Thanks for this good news, Ralph.
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Post by 51surr April 20, 2011 (3 of 21)
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rammiepie said:
According to Amazon Japan, both this title and the Planets (Tomita) will be 5.0 multichannel.
Thanks for the info. I look forward to getting both of them. I remember having Tomita's "Snowflakes Are Dancing" in a vinyl CD4 format.
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51surr said:
Thanks for the info. I look forward to getting both of them. I remember having Tomita's "Snowflakes Are Dancing" in a vinyl CD4 format.
A quick correction: the Planets will be in 4.0 surround, same as the DVD~A, with the addition of a bonus cut.
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Does anyone have anything to report yet on either of these Tomita titles? I'd be really interested to know how the Planets SACD varies over my CD and DVD-A versions. If it's of interest to anyone, the DVD-A of The "Planets" is a "remake" (which the SACD appears to be too), rather in the same vein as Mike Oldfields "Tubular Bells" album. The DVD-A of "Tubular Bells" which I own is a 2003 remake of the original - same as Tomitas "The Planets 2003" DVD-A. Similar, but noticeably different from the original LP or CD of each other.
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Post by windhoek August 12, 2015 (6 of 21)
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Hey Steve, I'm sure you recommended this on AVF way back when, and I'm pleased to say I finally bought a copy and am about to listen to my first non-synth Tomita album. I've no idea what awaits, but I'm sure it'll be multichannel magic :)
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Post by windhoek August 12, 2015 (7 of 21)
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Wow! That's how I'll begin to describe my experience of hearing The Tale of Gengi for the first time.
As expected the surround channels were well utilised with a nice blend of static and sweeping music and the Dynamic Range was excellent too, but the music? Oh, the sweet music. I felt as though the narrator with her seductively sweet voice was speaking directly to me and only to me. Her whispers spoke to me like no other and if I were ever stranded on a desert island with no Girl Friday, but had instead her voice, her caressing whispers, I would never feel alone. Then towards the end of Disc 1, another voice; a female voice of foreboding and fear, not at all honey-like.
The music was immense too and one particular instrument stood out. I don't know its name, but in my mind, it sounds like someone playing a bagpipe with a kazoo jammed into one of its aural orifices! It sounds weird - its actual sound and I admit, my analogy - but I liked it - its actual sound and I admit, my analogy.
I think this one goes into my Top Ten SACDs and replaces Tomita's The Planets, Ultimate Edition and is recommended.
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windhoek said:
Wow! That's how I'll begin to describe my experience of hearing The Tale of Gengi for the first time.
The music was immense too and one particular instrument stood out. I don't know its name, but in my mind, it sounds like someone playing a bagpipe with a kazoo jammed into one of its aural orifices! It sounds weird - its actual sound and I admit, my analogy - but I liked it - its actual sound and I admit, my analogy.
I think this one goes into my Top Ten SACDs and replaces Tomita's The Planets, Ultimate Edition and is recommended.
Derek, I've been hemming and hawing over purchasing this disc and your mini review has persuaded me to take the plunge. It is two actual mch SACDs or an SACD and a RBCD?
Is the narration overly intrusive?
Ultimately, I wish they'd release some of the Vangelis albums in 5.1. Great to have Blade Runner on SACD but like the movie (which sells for a fraction of the SACD's price) it should've been 5.1. Blade Runner (soundtrack)
I did hear a rumour that the wonderful Jon (Anderson) and Vangelis album "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" might have an SACD release. If you've never heard it, it's a fantastic album with Anderson in top vocal form with soaring melodies.
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Post by windhoek August 12, 2015 (9 of 21)
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rammiepie said:
Derek, I've been hemming and hawing over purchasing this disc and your mini review has persuaded me to take the plunge. It is two actual mch SACDs or an SACD and a RBCD?
Is the narration overly intrusive?
Good Morning Ralph and all,
The Tale of Genji is a 2xSACD release, presumably because the total running time is 87 minutes with roughly 60 minutes on disc 1 and the rest on disc 2. I admit there were times I became aware of the length of this work, but even so, I didn't feel any desire for it to end because it's so sublime and imo, Tomita's high watermark.
The narrator's voice is one of the things that make the music so special. I've never experienced such intimacy through this kind of medium before. It sounds weird, but it really seemed like she was whispering sweetness for my ears only. When you get your copy, I'm sure you'll know what I mean because her voice and the whole thing is positively enchanting!. She speaks in Japanese of course, and apart from the word, Genji, I've no idea what she was saying...perhaps Brett, our man in Japan can give us a translation?
I've got the Blade Runner SACD and even though it could have been a great multichannel release, it's still a great release in stereo nevertheless. I have The Friends of Mr. Cairo on vinyl, although haven't played it in a while...but now that you mention it, I think it's due a spin :)
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windhoek said:
Hey Steve, I'm sure you recommended this on AVF way back when, and I'm pleased to say I finally bought a copy and am about to listen to my first non-synth Tomita album. I've no idea what awaits, but I'm sure it'll be multichannel magic :)
Derek,
Wow – I had forgotten all about this thread! As you know, I’m a committed Tomita fan – and have been since I first heard “Snowflakes are Dancing” on LP in the mid-70s.
I’d like to say that you are correct with stating that I recommended this SACD album, but it’s unfortunately not true. Not because I don’t like it, but purely because it’s an album that I’ve just “hopped over” and therefore not added to my collection. I was intrigued by it from the moment I heard of its pending release, so perhaps I posted something on AV Forums back then. I remember reading one review somewhere, a couple of years ago perhaps, and my decision not to purchase was (perhaps unfairly) based on that alone. The other Tomita SACD that I haven’t bought is the “Symphony Ihatov” – although I can’t really think of a reason why I’ve avoided it. Instead, I have just stuck with stuff I know from Tomita, although in all honesty, the SACDs (and DVD-A) of music originally released on LP and CD – are as best as I can tell “remakes” – or at the very least not identical to the pre-hi-res albums. I sold all of my Tomita LPs around the year 2000, and in more recent years, I’ve replaced my CDs – all with the exception of “Firebird” - which I really hope will be released on multi-channel SACD.
Anyway, back on track! I have been very interested to hear your feedback on “The Tale of Gengi” – very interesting. I’ll have to decide which way I go – do I spend more money! I actually thought that this was a totally synthesised “typical” Tomita album, but you’re saying that it non-synthesised music - is that correct? From what I’ve read online, “Symphony Ihatov” is a mixed synthesised and “real” instrument album – but your feedback on “Genji” surprises me.
I have all of the Tomita hi-res versions of “The Planets”, which are “The Planets 2003” DVD-A, “The Planets – Ultimate Edition” SACD and “Planet Zero” SACD. These are all different from each other – the “Planet Zero” appearing to (at least my ears) include a real trumpet.
Thanks for your posts.
Steve
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