Amorphous Androgynous – Tales Of Ephidrina

Listening to mine right now, it's pretty quiet both sides, certainly nothing to be too concerned about. Not a comment to gloat, rather stating that not all are bad copies.

I missed this first time around and only got round to hearing it this year thanks to the digital release (on Tidal in my case).
It's been on rotation since then, it's just wonderful - deep, dark, driving and uplifting by turns, with some exquisite layering, as others here have called out.
I prefer it to Lifeforms.
For me, this is to FSOL as Meddle is to Pink Floyd - the one I reach for and play a good deal.
Outstanding.

My copy has many clicks on A and B sides (C and D are loud and clean), but the sound is good generally.

''Made in Czech Republic'' sticker on shrink wrap. This piece of info should have warned me. As in 75% of the cases, also this Czech plant pressed vinyl has many issues. Especially Side B comes with unbearable surface noise. Such a pity that this plant continues to not have their act together. Labels should avoid until quality control issues are solved. We pay top dollar for vinyl nowadays. Fine…but give us top quality products in return

What a shame. Side B has static noise throughout in the left channel. I’m returning mine. Such a good record ruined by a poor mastering and pressing. AVOID.

much more compressed compared to the original. dynamic range score ranges from 5-9 compared to the originals 11-15. i’d still get this for the bonus tracks, but i’d hunt down/keep a cheap original copy for sound quality

Bought to replace my well-worn original CD, and out of curiosity for the bonus tracks.
Still my favourite of FSOL's albums, this. Not as patchy as Accelerator, or as abstract and drifting as Lifeforms (both of which are, nevertheless, great albums), I'd put this up there with their epic singles (Cascade, My Kingdom) and I think it's aged just as well as those.
The CD remaster gives - as seems to be par for the course these days - very slight, barely perceptible improvements in clarity and 'soundstage', bass is a little tighter, and overall loudness is increased (those early 90's CDs always have me reaching for the volume knob as they're quiet compared to today's releases), but with that comes a reduction in dynamics (eg, the previously-quiet album opening, with its Predator samples and effects, is now much louder). I always felt the opening track lacked some oomph in the bass, and I still feel the same here with this remaster - which I guess means it was just never there in the production, rather than a weakness in the original master. The rest of the album proper (I can't speak for the bonus tracks, as they're all new to me) sounds as good as I remember.
The extra tracks are nice. Mountain Path - an alternative version of Mountain Goat that adds a bit more guitar and keys - is pretty wonderful, in fact. Static Field and Sky-Scraper Xtnd sound a little more like Accelerator cuts: repetitive techno (not, in itself, a bad thing) with drum tracks that borrow from the KLF's (as The Jamms) Grim Up North, with some nice trippy FSOL effects and samples (including the "it's not my problem" used in Accelerator). Sky-Scraper Xtnd is more kinetic and (for me at least) less enjoyable, with it's frantic analog bassline and keyboard stabs, chords and bird calls that are very much of their time. 808 State did this kind of thing better in the late 80's. Lastly, Swab Alt is, you guessed it, a rework of Swab (track two) - and not a bad one, but you'll almost certainly prefer the original.
Props to the label for giving this RSD version a CD release. I'd like to see that happen more often. A digital release would have been nice too (yes, I know CD is digital, before any pedants jump on that; you know I mean a download) so that completists could get the extra tracks on their own.

Unfortunately my copy have a noise along all the B side/tracks, like what AffineTransform has already say
Very disappointed with this. :(

The album is OK, but feels a bit dated now, a sample collage that is rough around the edges. They made giant strides releasing Lifeforms less than a year later, that is a polished diamond.

Having bought the original 30 years ago I can confidently recommend this to anyone, especially those who haven't yet owned it.one of the best ambient techno albums of ALL TIME.plus the repress has been shown respect and the 12" is fantastic.