Mike Oldfield – Crises

This pressing has bad flat noisy sound quality dont buy.

The track Rite Of Man was not on this! Mistake is from 1982, FMO sessions.

This edition by Disky is easy to identify with it's darker green artwork and picture disc. I had an 80s pale blue edition I unfortunately sold. The sound here is nothing special with a lack of bass. The highs are squishy and bright. Like a hissing steam pipe! Simon Philips superb drums seem thin on the title track. The mix overall lacks depth and seperation. I have always loved the snare drum after 14:55, it really kicks ass like he's hitting it with two sticks with a tiny delay, a flam? The drums are close miked for most of the rest of the album, a bit unusual in the reverb drenched 80s! Shadow on The Wall has nice dimension on the kit giving a hint of Led Zeppelin.

the 2000 HDCD remaster I really like as it sounds compressed and chunky. The drums are big and fat, bass drones more and the treble is silky.

The 2013 remaster is more compressed with bigger, fatter bass. Treble more silky and better than the Disky. The Watcher and the Tower section has lovely plump bass and the drums clatter nicely.
14:55 flam snare is great and the kick drum far bigger and sounds like a basketball bouncing on floorboards.
It's a fatter sounding album overall and better than the Disky!

The level of quality Sonopress delivered in the '80s to early '90s is truly astounding. Had not listened to this in years,and it was an absolute delight to revisit.
This German Pressing has power,punch and presence.
On the other hand it gives the instruments some space and opens up an airy,multidimensional sound field that becomes the music congenially.And isn't it a treat how quietly these older records often play between tracks?Quite a soothing experience after listening to a bunch of contemporary releases with their QC issues.
So this is a proficiently manufactured record from the heyday of Vinyl and is definitely worth some consideration.

The HDCD series was nasty because it butchered the artwork. It destroyed the individual album identity.
Which is best? Original CD? HDCD or new remaster? I had the powder blue 1987 CD but sold it. I've a Disky and the Deluxe edition. Just bought the HDCD to compare!

I had this back in 1990, I shouldn’t have sold it. I’ve the remaster deluxe and the nasty old Disky!

This is a really great sounding pressing! IMO up to par with the UK pressing and with the added single "Mistake" to the album, this is not something to sleep on. Why the remastered release from 2013 did not include "Mistake" is mind-boggling.

Yes, comparing to the 1983 release is night and day. This remaster is flat and not at all dynamic. Very low output, It’s truly dreadful. Seek out an original 80s release if you want this on vinyl. Such a shame because it’s one of Mikes best releases.

The drums at the end of side 1 are epic! Great sounding album, flimsy vinyl, 180g pah!

Definitely not my favorite Oldfield record but there is so much power on this one. Great bass and punch.