I must admit, I've really enjoyed listening to EER over the past week. It's probably the first time I've dropped 3 figures on what is essentially a live album but there is no denying it is a classy package and sounds excellent. Like many here I was at the gig in 2018 so felt I had no choice but to purchase and I've tucked away my ticket stub into the box-set.
The audio sounds better than Troxy, Bestival and NOMC15 all rolled into one. I opted for the "Super Deluxe" option but without the t-shirt, A2 print or badges which I found to be taking the piss a little bit. Merchandising overload and superfluous. I've also not been impressed with the band t-shirts from Warners recently, the neckline is ridiculously tight. I'm a standard 'M' and every Mute t-shirt I've ordered fits perfectly but the recent Warners ones just seem an odd fit. I'm not that much of a fat bastard yet! (honest).
T-shirt whinging aside... when lifting the lid off of the set I recommend using plastic gloves or something similar as the black sleeves can be magnets for thumb-prints despite best intentions. The hardback book and everything contained in the sleeves - plus the CDs & Blu-ray replica mini-LP sleeves - are really nice. Sitting on my shelf next to the Movement and PC&L Definitive Editions it blends in well as they're all the same size. The bad old days of the Rhino 2xCD Collector's Editions are thankfully fading fast and the Definitive Low-life box-set can't come soon enough, in my view.
It is a bit bizarre Tutti Frutti was omitted from the CDs as Disc 1 is only 50 minutes, which leaves a fair amount of space left over. It could have easily been accommodated between KW1 and Sub-Culture as it is in the Blu-ray's running order. I had a crack at checking out the DTS-HD audio stream on the Blu-ray which while sounds great on my TV is mastered differently (lower) to the CDs. Unlike previous DVD releases, there are no extras here which is no big deal. With the exception of the Glasgow ones (Hooky & Steve wandering through a tunnel) I don't think I watched most of the previous/collective DVD extras more than er, twice.
I think, for the money, a Hi-res version of the audio on the Blu-ray wouldn't have been too much to ask. The 24-bit version is currently on Qobuz for £23 quid (minus Tutti) but for once I'll stick with my CD rips as they sound just fine. As for Tutti itself, I can also for once live without it being there.
In terms of the tunes... Ultraviolence and Disorder have been receiving an absolute caning on my playlist; I like the "deathly reverb" effect they applied to Bernard's vocal which is less obvious on the MIF show. Also WFTSC because I find the Planet Funk rework sublime... and finally the holy trinity towards the end. Low point? Tutti probably, which is why I'm not exactly mourning its loss from the CDs.
A solid 8/10 from me. The Super Deluxe box price is admittedly a bit eye-watering but the CD + Blu-ray package are a decent price for 2 hours' worth of high quality audio/video.
Edited by user 16 May 2021 15:53:35(UTC)
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