Idles – Ultra Mono

One of the dirtiest albums I've ever received. My copy is so noisy I thought is might be part of the mix. That said when cleaned and turned up to 11 this album sounds amazing. I actually think the mono does the record justice. This is punk not Dark Side of the Moon.

5000 copies is totally wrong. During pre-sales (the one and) only version (not only limited but numbered) advertised as 5000 copies was the transparent mono one. This vortex was advertised as 'limited' but there was no indication whatsoever on the number of copies pressed. Possibly 10000? Maybe.
Obviously more copies than the 5000 mono transparent which is the 'queen' version, 1st pressing, numbered and most expensive as retail price. The 'reverse' artworks weren't advertised at all, some kind of 'easter eggs' surprising those who received it randomly. These are now going for stupid prices, basically for no (music/pressing/audio/artistic) reason if not just for the fact that there are few.

5000? You have been fooled by the record stores as usual...and by the the way: No one bother to sign 5000 records, thats Mission Impossible.

Hello, the Vortex cannot be limited to 5000 units if 5000 people own it here on discogs... don’t you think?

limited to 5000 ? Are you really sure ? 4960 have it in their collection and it's still available in stores...

My opinion about this version :
First, I'm happy to have an album called "Ultra Mono" in mono. It makes sense I think. Because I was sad for missing the ultra clear version, i'm pleased to get this version which was supposed to be stereo like all the black editions.
Second : the sound and pressing. The pressing is flat and visually perfect. The level is quite low and i need to push the volume. Is it a problem? No, even if i hear background noise between tracks or on quiet parts. To my ears and with my system (class A integrated amp, klipsch speakers, Technics 1200gr with Nagaoka MP110), it sounds amazing, very full, dynamic and punchy. A "in your face record" for sure. The mono pressing is fitting perfectly the purpose of the record, a visceral manifesto of modern punk music. I would like to try the stereo version but this one is in need to be kept. An excellent pressing, despite all the bad opinions I've read about it.
It's a 5, one of the best album of the year.

I preordered this version. Then I started reading all the negative reviews on this version before i received it. So I went and bought the Deluxe issue also. So now, I have both and have listened to both. This Vortex version sounds fine to me. It's still powerful music. There are some light pops and clicks in the quieter parts but overall, the music overpowers any real issues for me. My copy has a slight dish warp but I love the cool looking wax on this copy. However, I will admit, I prefer the Deluxe version in stereo, it just sounds better to me. Still just as powerful as the vortex but the Deluxe Stereo version sounds better to me than the Vortex Mono version. I was planning on selling my Vortex version but not anymore, I'm going to keep both amazing versions of what I consider to be my AOTY.

This version is in fact mono. Does anyone know if it's a real mono mix or just a fold-down stereo? Digital versions are stereo.

They should mention that some preorders from Roughtrade and Recordstore UK had signed sleeves by the band.

Super noisy pressing. Disc is flat though. Not a huge fan of bands going hog wild over compressors in the studio, especially with this kind of music, but it works!

Liner notes give me cult vibes, and the lyrics are a bit on the nose at times but I do get the hype.