Cocteau Twins ‎– Victorialand

I don't know if it just varies per copy, but mine sounds really good. Super clear. Lots of warmth. Don't exactly understand the complaints. I don't have an original pressing to compare it to, but to my ears, it sounds great. But usually originals do sound superior. But as far as remasters go, this one is pretty good. I'd recommend picking one up.

This 33 1/3 reissue is kind of sad. Obviously no research into the original which played at 45 rpm giving it more dynamic range. 4ad is sleepwalking on these reissues completely disrespecting their legacy. Maybe they can work with Fontana to release a definitive collection more inline with the original intent. The BBK and HOLV were high quality pressings but these recent reissues are missing the mark.

This pressing is strikingly much better then the 2020 repress.

Just wondering how this original for-France cut compares with the original for-UK cut with different matrices. This one was pressed by the great Pathé Marconi plant in France, the UK issue also pressed in France, but by MPO.

I’m leaning toward the Pathé Marconi, but only if they used a lacquer that was cut with the orig. tapes. Can anyone confirm?

This is a shocking remaster / reissue, as is the recent Garlands repress. The reissues lack the emotional brilliance and splendour of Fraser's voice and deadens it completely. Fortunately, I still have my original UK pressing and listened to both records back-to-back track-to-track. Avoid these reissues at all costs and buy the first pressings.

Also, to quote 4AD: "Using new masters created from high definition files transferred from the original analogue tapes". Enough said!

Unfortunately, I've had pressing errors on two copies, both of which I have now returned to my ever patient record dealer - shout out to Norman Records, UK.

On both the copies, the A side has been covered in the worst non-fill I've ever seen on a record. Sometimes, you get a few streaks of it to an isolated area of the disk but, in this case, both copies looked like they had been sneezed on. The result being distortion throughout, not at all desirable on a quiet record like this.

A great shame because Victorialand is a fantastic record.

My copy of this is a bit noisey, with distortion on B2, but otherwise rather pleased to just actually have a copy. Packaging is very nice