Saturday Deluxe / 28 May 2022
ABBA, Paul Weller and xPropaganda…
ABBA Voyage concerts begin
After all the hype and planning, ABBA Voyage, the ‘concert like no other’ opened to the public yesterday. I was there and there is a lot to talk about! Full SDE review coming very soon…
Paul Weller’s Will of the People
This week, the reissue of Paul Weller’s 2008 album 22 Dreams was officially confirmed. News of this 2LP vinyl reissue has been allowed to leak into the public domain via a listing on Amazon UK back in April and SDE duly reported it to fans.
The link was eventually removed, because it seems as if the plan was to announce this on Weller’s birthday which was on Thursday, 25 May. That’s what happened, in the end, although the cat was already out of the bag.
However bizarrely, in another twist, when the Amazon product listing returned, in the ‘product description’ section was details of a yet-to-be-announced Paul Weller collection called Will of the People. Now removed, this text described the collection as a follow up to the 2003 Fly on the Wall compilation which gathered B-sides and rarities and was issued as a 3CD clamshell box package and as a 3LP vinyl set.
Will of the People will take the listener through “a similar mix of rarities, this time spanning the period 2002 to 2021”. The collection has been “compiled by Paul Weller himself and Paul has provided artwork ideas and sketches for the design”.
Presumably it will be issued on both CD and vinyl and the release will include sleeve notes from writer and broadcaster John Wilson. More news on this when we have it.
Read more about the Paul Weller 22 Dreams vinyl reissue
xPropaganda chart success
Congratulations to Claudia Brücken and Susanne Freytag of xPropaganda. Their album The Heart Is Strange entered the UK charts at #11 yesterday which is very impressive! Different times, and different band of course, but it’s worth reflecting that this does surpass the chart peak of Propaganda’s A Secret Wish which reached #16 in 1985.
As is sometimes the case, once we’ve finished shipping pre-orders of an SDE-exclusive product like the blu-ray audio edition of The Heart Is Strange, the SDE shop has a small amount of leftover stock, which is down to cancellations and contingency. Therefore, if you missed out, you have a small window of opportunity to snag a copy of the limited edition blu-ray with Atmos and 5.1 mixes and the 2CD set with instrumentals (which is now deleted). Head over to the SDE shop or use the buttons below. Strictly limited to one per customer for each edition, and read the notes below with regards to blu-ray and EU shipping.
TECHNICAL NOTES: This blu-ray audio requires a blu-ray player. Decoding the Dolby Atmos mix requires a Dolby Atmos-certified soundbar or a Dolby Atmos-compatible AV Receiver/Amp. The Dolby Atmos mix will ‘fold down’ to 5.1 or stereo if a Dolby Atmos decoder is not detected.
EU SHIPPING NOTES: If you are ordering from the EU please be aware that that goods may be subject to import VAT when they arrive from the UK. The prices the SDE shop charge do not include VAT.
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Great news about The new Weller comp! I guess if we’re lucky next year or the year after we might get a third installment of Modern Classics. ‘Even More Modern Classics’ perhaps?
Now I bought the blu-ray – any advice on entry level set up for Dolby atmos?
I wouldn’t look at an entry level set up, if I’m being honest. You can buy a single soundbar that will give you what it claims is Atmos, but without at least two rear speakers you’ll not get any benefit.
I just bought an Atmos upgrade for my existing system. I now have what some people would STILL call entry level and it’s cost me around £1500 for the soundbar, two rear speakers and a subwoofer. I would have had to spend the extra £450 needed for the better soundbar to get the full effect, but I couldn’t justify it. It still sounds great but it’s not true Atmos.
I’m not saying you can’t get an Atmos system for less, I’m just saying that you’d be better off starting with one higher end component and then adding to it in the future, rather than getting something basic which you may not be happy with. Assuming you can afford to do that, of course.
Thanks. I feared that would be the answer… I once bought an LG 5.1 soundbar and stopped using it because it sounds more tinny than my LG TV built in speakers.
Jarvis Cocker’s excellent new book and exhibition off Baker Street in London deserves a mention on a Weekend Deluxe
Not too surprised that Xpropaganda charted so high with all the formats available. I guess it will completely disappear next week but a good result nevertheless. They deserve some success.
If I knew it was as good as it was I would have jumped on a couple of the now sold out formats.
You should have known, because I was saying it was really good back in February.
I stand corrected. Reluctant to buy multi formats of one album though I did buy two anyway. The first “single” I think is actually one of the weaker tracks although still pretty good.
I was shocked by the chart placing too as didn’t think the original Propaganda were that big in the UK?
However as Paul has said the album really is superb, on first listen I wasn’t totally sold on it but then after a few listens it kicks in and is now my go to album of the month. For synth fans it is a must.
Just ordered both formats of the xPropaganda album and I’m over the moon. Thank you, Paul!
xPropaganda ordered!
Me thinks hypocrite!
This then rules out a third edition of everything from SDE!
Keith S
7 MONTHS AGO
Hi Paul,
Sorry if I have missed the same question.
Are there plans release more of the previous boxsets? Misssed out on ‘The Hurting’ and ‘Songs from the Big Chair”!
There must be buyers out there who missed them the first time round given the number of comments.
Many thanks and keep up the great work.
Last edited 7 months ago by Keith S
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SDE Hall of Fame
Paul Sinclair
7 MONTHS AGO
I very much doubt it, given that they reissued the box sets only last year. To be honest, I can’t believe any Tears For Fears fans missed out TWICE, especially SDE readers, since so much coverage was given (both times).
Sorry, Keith – I have no idea what on earth you are trying to say here…?
I apologise.
Sorry for the post.
You do a good job.
Maybe a TFF SDE special Blu-ray for SFTBC and The Hurting will come, hopefully.
Keith
What on Earth does Paul have to do with Tears For Fears Boxsets that you missed to buy not once but twice? Just hop on discogs and buy them and be done with it. Life is too short to whine all the time.
So a non-box set for £38.
Not bad!
Love the Propaganda album. Liked it immediately upon first listen. So cool that the first line of lyrics you hear is “Eye to eye…”, a knod to their best known song Duel. I regetted missing out on the pre-order for the bluray so I jumped on this welcome occasion.
Didn’t notice. There’s a “don’t be a fool” Dr Mabuse reference too. I forget where
It appears to be the week of ABBA – in heaven and hell – even if the new Propaganda album is actually absolutely ‘heavenly’!! Can’t wait to hear your review of the Voyage show Paul – to be in the room when the fab four appeared on stage must have been quite a moment after what is unanimously called a ‘jaw-dropping’ show. Very much hope sales of the Voyage album rally with this – it really is a very much under appreciated comeback. For me it’s a superb album and I just hope they have one more album in them before they really do call it a day.
How many off Thea’s ‘FAB FOUR’ bands are there??? And are you still allowed to visit a concert wearing a bag on your back?? As per picture…
I have not yet received the BR and 2cd. But I did receive the expanded limited edition with the extended version and bunch of edits. The album is excellent. Very similar, in terms of sound, to Secret Wish. I love it. Can’t wait to listen in surround sound.
What expanded LE are you referring to? For xPropaganda? Where was that available?
It was available through the Universal store but has sold out which is a shame as the remixes are superb and it was a very fair price for a signed edition too. Hopefully they’ll repress some more for fans who missed out or at least make the remixes available digitally.
Yes, it’s also signed, the old fashioned way, with a sharpie on the booklet. I had no idea it existed until someone mentioned it here and I quickly bought one. It has the extended version of Only Human. The best song of the album in my opinion, plus some edits. It also has different artwork.
Here is the link:
https://www.discogs.com/release/23176646-xPropaganda-The-Heart-Is-Strange
If people are interested, there is also a cd of xPropaganda performing the entire album Secret Wish with some bonus tracks. It’s also limited but you can still buy it from Band Camp. Only 700 copies.
https://xpropaganda.bandcamp.com/album/a-secret-place
Thanks Kauwgompie,
though my bank account begins to ache a little under the repeated debits of the last few days.
Within this extended weekend (we had a holiday in Germany last Thursday, resulting in half the population taking the Friday off too) i now have purchased the Suzanne Vega Close Up-book style cd-set, the xPropaganda blu-ray-audio from Paul, the Spooky Tooth “The Island Years”-cd-box for a good price via eBay and now thanks to your mention of it this live album of xPropaganda.
As the wise man from Finland, Jarmo Keranen, here once wrote:
So what, it’s only money…
Oh wait, I have it! I was initially thinking, how did I miss this pre-order?? It arrived on the same day as the other formats. It was so nice to see that they signed the actual booklet and that actually it was in a resealable plastic sleeve, in addition to the complete sealed CD. I had only ripped the 2CD version to iTunes for iPod plays, totally forgot this was a different track listing.
MyxPropaganda vinyl/blu-ray/double CD bundle arrived a few days ago, and besides the new album being really, really good, I have to give kudos to Paul for again including really robust packaging – everything arrived in perfect condition. I can’t tell you how many times packaging from UK/EU sellers arrive crushed and damaged – but Paul always takes that extra step. Greatly appreciated!
Just got around to the 2nd “instrumental” disc – does anyone else have the vocal versions instead of instrumental on the 2nd disc?
Mine does not.
I wish Amazon would follow Paul’s fine example, have lost track of how many things have arrived in flimsy packaging whilst a packet of sweets for example is sent in a sturdy box for crying out loud. No consistency!
Well, wasn’t going to buy The Tipping Point BR – Did
Wasn’t going to buy xPropaganda BR – Just did…… I am a lost cause. The Elton 4LP (Green) box turned up today, another thing I wasn’t going to buy. Still, who needs food.
Can’t wait to read what you thought of Voyage Paul. All other reviews have been extremely positive so far. Which was nice (c) Mark Williams.
Hi Chris,
don’t torture yourself too much.
It’s safe to say that there are lots of “lost causes” (including me of course) reading (and commenting) on this fine website.
On the bright side if money for food is getting tight you can save it on alcohol which would (referring to your comment in the current “deals”-section here) prevent you from buying the “Fugazi”-SDE…
Classic case of win/win ;-)
It is better to regret the things you’ve done than the things you haven’t done :)
So, I also ordered it now.
Got my BR+double CD. It has been a while that I listened to a CD and felt that the entire album was good. The last time I had that was with SOFAD.
This xPropaganda album is excellent but moreover, the regular CD is sonically sublime. Mr Lipson didn’t succumb to the Loudness War bait and clearly the band is being rewarded in the charts! Hopefully the record companies will notice and turn the volume knob equally counter clockwise.
Lastly, it is one of the albums where the music by itself can carry the song. This explains, at least to me, why the second CD is the instrumentals.
Excellent investment into the CD x2 and BR. Worth every penny. Thank you Paul. Hopefully many more to come.
What’s SOFAD? Songs of Faith & Devotion? Hope not, that’s from early 90’s. That means 30 years ago that an entire album was that good. Curious though.
Yes that’s the album!
I know it’s sad that that’s the last one I can think of. Honestly, my focus has shifted from the music to sonics as I have aged. It’s pathologic, I admit but I have a hard time enjoying it if the dynamics are poor. I’ll give you an example: Keane’s Under The Iron Sea suffers from loudness but pales in comparison to what followed. It’s hard to listen to distortion and still appreciate the music. Same for post Exciter Depeche Mode.
I admit that I am in the minority overall but I don’t feel awkward admitting it on this forum as a lot of people (I think) are of an age group where you/they appreciate sound quality. One reason to buy the physical product is to listen to it on a stereo system which would relay the quality better than some earpod. That’s the reason I come to this website.
I would like to believe that Paul considers this to a degree too and would like to think that that was the reason he asked Mr Drummie whether he was involved in the mastering of the new box set but, that may be my projection and I could be entirely wrong.
As for xPropaganda, the music is really good (very much a throw back to the 80’s) but the recording is so good that it elevated my perception of it.
Hope this explains.
Thank you for reading.
It’ll be interesting to see what (or if all) of WELLER’s rarities will get released on “Will of the People”. Including B-Sides, collaborations and Deluxe Edition extras, there’s about 5-6 CDs worth of material. 2003’s “Fly on the Wall” itself wasn’t complete, although the CD edition nearly got it all.
Unlike ‘Fly on the Wall’ where it was easy to purchase CD singles of all Paul Weller’s singles, it’s been more difficult to find recent releases on CD. Some have been vinyl only, promo CD’s or digital. It’ll be nice to have everything collected together on CD.
Yes!!!! Finally got to bag both the BluRay & 2CD of xPropaganda!! Missed out first time around cuz of my recent cruise…now I will have the first 3 SDE BRAs!! Had a strong hunch this would happen, thanks Paul…also thanks for the tip of the upcoming Weller 3CD rarities set…instant bag, that one…
Thanks for the chance to bag the xPropaganda-blu-ray once more. Ordered it right away.