Any other fans of the 'werk out there? Kling Klang have just released a box set with eight of their main albums repackaged and remastered. Here's a quick 'First Play' style early review.
It's been available as a promo for years, but it was finally released properly on Friday. My copy arrived from Amazon this morning.
First, the packaging is gorgeous. At first I thought I had ordered the vynil box set by mistake, but it comes in a large 12x12" box with a separate folder holding eight twelve inch booklets, one for each album. Each booklet has photos from the period the album was released. The front cover of the box has an deliberate optical illusion image that does my eyes in.
The CD's are repackaged in new cardboard sleeves, many with new covers, although the old covers are still on the inside. There's very little writing in the whole package, which is in keeping with the group's style.
I listened to Trans Europe Express in the car on the way to work and the difference in sound quality is immediately apparent, particuarly on Metal on Metal which was always quite grating on the old CD compared to the vynil, but here the warmth and hypnotic rhythms are back. There's still the glorious analogue sound, but with a cleaness that belies their age.
And all for just over £60, which next to the recent Beatles' boxsets is an absolute bargain, especially as I'd argue two of the albums rank amongst two of the best albums of all time.
The only slight downside is that it's incomplete and misses out their very early work by starting with Autobahn, but this is a catalogue of the sound they are famous for and so it's a a minor thing.
Plus eight albums is a more digital number than eleven.
It's been available as a promo for years, but it was finally released properly on Friday. My copy arrived from Amazon this morning.
First, the packaging is gorgeous. At first I thought I had ordered the vynil box set by mistake, but it comes in a large 12x12" box with a separate folder holding eight twelve inch booklets, one for each album. Each booklet has photos from the period the album was released. The front cover of the box has an deliberate optical illusion image that does my eyes in.
The CD's are repackaged in new cardboard sleeves, many with new covers, although the old covers are still on the inside. There's very little writing in the whole package, which is in keeping with the group's style.
I listened to Trans Europe Express in the car on the way to work and the difference in sound quality is immediately apparent, particuarly on Metal on Metal which was always quite grating on the old CD compared to the vynil, but here the warmth and hypnotic rhythms are back. There's still the glorious analogue sound, but with a cleaness that belies their age.
And all for just over £60, which next to the recent Beatles' boxsets is an absolute bargain, especially as I'd argue two of the albums rank amongst two of the best albums of all time.
The only slight downside is that it's incomplete and misses out their very early work by starting with Autobahn, but this is a catalogue of the sound they are famous for and so it's a a minor thing.
Plus eight albums is a more digital number than eleven.
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