Really pleased with the digital release and I'm more excited about getting the physical copies when the arrive. The instrumental versions took a bit of getting used to but are a great listen. However, it's the under the sea versions that have really helped ease my hangover today which has been a godsend.
Nearly recoved thanks Lou! It was self inflicted, a perfect storm of open air gig, half decent weather and being stood too close to the bar. I'd do it again so I've not learnt my lesson.
I was initially gutted about the second delay but I have so enjoyed the digital release today. I am not generally a fan of instrumental music but it turns out when your brain can add in the lyrics it knows should be there, it is something of a revelation. All in all, this is a fabulous package.
I’m wondering, have you reworked the instrumentals or is it literally the album track without the vocals? I feel like I can hear new stuff but I don’t know if it’s just that it’s usually masked by the vocal track.
The instrumentals should just be the original with all vocals muted! It is not impossible for some of the sonic characteristics to change, though, because compression that’s added at the mastering stage — usually a pretty subtle amount, but not always — will react differently to the songs when they’re missing the loud lead vocal. I believe we went for a relatively gentle master on this record; after spending an unusual amount of time tending to the fidelity of the recordings and the sonic idiosyncrasies of the tones, we didn’t want to obscure that stuff with a heavy handed master. The upshot is that the recordings end up on the “quiet” side, but when you turn up the volume there’s more to hear (“louder” recordings have had sonic information squashed — not to suggest that’s always a bad thing; compression is at the very heart of the rock & roll sound (it’s a big part of what a guitar amp does, for example)). Meandered there a bit. Tldr: the instrumentals have no added elements, but may indeed sound a bit different.
Hey, Jessica — YES, a second delay was announced earlier this week. You should have received an email from either the US or UK store (whichever you ordered from) with details, including a link to an exclusive remix of Label Man Ed's voice message to us in which he explains the delay. Which store did you order from? Will try to figure out how they missed you…
Really been getting into the instrumentals today/ training my brain not to expect Keith to start singing. The Dumb Luck one in particular is 🔥
The initial email missed me, but it just landed. I feel really bad for Ed 🫶🏽 Less so for me. I get all the perks now!
Really pleased with the digital release and I'm more excited about getting the physical copies when the arrive. The instrumental versions took a bit of getting used to but are a great listen. However, it's the under the sea versions that have really helped ease my hangover today which has been a godsend.
LOVE Sous La Mer! Hope you’ve recovered!
Nearly recoved thanks Lou! It was self inflicted, a perfect storm of open air gig, half decent weather and being stood too close to the bar. I'd do it again so I've not learnt my lesson.
Hangovers are God’s way of reminding us we’re human 😂
Who were you seeing?
Underworld at the Piece Hall in Halifax.
Nice! Sounds like a good night
It was a great night and the venue is great for live music.
I was initially gutted about the second delay but I have so enjoyed the digital release today. I am not generally a fan of instrumental music but it turns out when your brain can add in the lyrics it knows should be there, it is something of a revelation. All in all, this is a fabulous package.
I’m wondering, have you reworked the instrumentals or is it literally the album track without the vocals? I feel like I can hear new stuff but I don’t know if it’s just that it’s usually masked by the vocal track.
The instrumentals should just be the original with all vocals muted! It is not impossible for some of the sonic characteristics to change, though, because compression that’s added at the mastering stage — usually a pretty subtle amount, but not always — will react differently to the songs when they’re missing the loud lead vocal. I believe we went for a relatively gentle master on this record; after spending an unusual amount of time tending to the fidelity of the recordings and the sonic idiosyncrasies of the tones, we didn’t want to obscure that stuff with a heavy handed master. The upshot is that the recordings end up on the “quiet” side, but when you turn up the volume there’s more to hear (“louder” recordings have had sonic information squashed — not to suggest that’s always a bad thing; compression is at the very heart of the rock & roll sound (it’s a big part of what a guitar amp does, for example)). Meandered there a bit. Tldr: the instrumentals have no added elements, but may indeed sound a bit different.
Thank you! I actually really appreciate the level of detail in your answer.
I have a zine-shaped hole in my life. All good. Have enjoyed listening! 🎧📜
I felt the exact same way. When I get a notification of a new SDIR post, I am over there to Substack as fast as my fingers can take me!
I didn’t get an email myself. But I guessed it was delayed “/
The last update I got said the vinyl would ship 'at the end of June'. There was another delay after this?
Hey, Jessica — YES, a second delay was announced earlier this week. You should have received an email from either the US or UK store (whichever you ordered from) with details, including a link to an exclusive remix of Label Man Ed's voice message to us in which he explains the delay. Which store did you order from? Will try to figure out how they missed you…
I also ordered from the US store and did not get an update this week.
I ordered from the US store.
Hey, guys. US store, it turns out, did not send out their email 😑 Going out today!
Feels very completionistically cool to have that era in one bundle! And interesting that the demos seem to be exclusive to Slow Descent?!!
True! Once we've churned through all 10 on here, we'll send a streamable playlist out to subscribers like we've done with Great Apes.
This^ is why we buy you guys a beer each and every month from now until infinity, Chris. We are the SDIR hardcore. 🫡
🙏