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Soft Cell / Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret SDE-exclusive blu-ray – unboxed!
SDEtv takes a look at the SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio of Soft Cell’s Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, which is #15 in the ongoing SDE Surround Series. This is a limited edition pressing of 4,000 units. There’s a few copies still available, only from theSDEshop.com.
This is released today! Order from the SDE shop using this link or the button below. Other blu-rays are available in the blu-ray section of the site.
Tracklisting
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret Soft Cell / SDE-exclusive blu-ray
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Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret + Bonus singles. 2023 Dolby Atmos Mix, 2023 Dolby Atmos Instrumentals, Original 1981 Stereo Mix
- Frustration
- Tainted Love
- Seedy Films
- Youth
- Sex Dwarf
- Entertain Me
- Chips on my Shoulder
- Bedsitter
- Secret Life
- Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Bonus tracks
- Memorabilia
- Torch
- What!
HD Promo Videos
- Bedsitter
- Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
- Torch
- What!
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39 thoughts on “Soft Cell / Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret SDE-exclusive blu-ray – unboxed!”
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This has been on really heavy rotation at Warby towers.
I’ve just seen they’ve announced Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing and The Art of Falling Apart for 2024,here’s hoping for further blu rays!
Shamefully just got around to playing / watching this release.
What an absolute thrill seeing that series of videos again.
Atmos sounding great in the album but unfortunately I only have an atmos soundbar so stereo through my proper setup will probably be my go to. But the overall atmos mix is transformational.
Absolutely amazing release.
First, let me say that I am a HUGE proponent of SDE and all of Paul’s efforts, and I haven’t found the time previously to express how much I have been enjoying the SDE Surround Series (I’ve purchased all but 3-4 releases). That’s a long-winded way of saying I don’t enjoy pissing in the party bowl for this awesome release — an album I adore and originally owned on vinyl in junior high (!!!) – but despite my concerted efforts, I can’t get any center channel signal out of the Dolby Atmos mix on my very well-sorted 5.1 system.
Background: All SACD/DVD-A/Blu-Ray Audio discs play without issue on my trusty Oppo-105, and I only have a handful of releases where the center channel purposely has no audio (95% of those are straight Quad transfers), but this is the first modern Atmos mix I’ve run across that produces no center channel audio in regular 5.1 “fold down” playback on the Oppo. To double-check, I also played the disc back on my primary video player (Panasonic DP-UB9000) and monitored the 5.1 feed directly, then through the Oppo (HDMI feed from the Panasonic) — no matter what, I get a somewhat thin 4.1 mix. I’ll add that there’s no receiver or other decoding device in the chain — the analog audio routes through a passive monitor controller to powered 5.1 monitors.
Before deeming this a likely technical issue in the mastering/pressing, I accept that this could be a conscious choice by the artists/production team NOT to leverage the center channel in 5.1, but it seems truly unlikely and more like an oversight. Either way, this release doesn’t feel 5.1 compatible like other SDE releases, and while I know it says Atmos on the tin, some of us have substantial investments in 5.1 rooms, and the center channel is often the most expensive speaker (as is the case in my setup), so it’s a pretty big miss for it to go totally unused.
Lastly, while I have many discs that include distinct 5.1 and Atmos mixes, I find that they playback exactly the same on my 5.1 system, so I can always default to the Atmos mix — this the first exception.
Paul & Community: any ideas?
Whoever did the remix has chosen not to use the center channel for whatever reason. I agree it’s rather unusual, although by no means unique.
I understand the explanation, but perhaps a disclaimer is in order because a great 5.1 system is still far better than an average Atmos system, so this is simply a bad product for many of your Customers, more of whom are likely to have 5.1 than full Atmos.
To be fair, I’m going to replace the word “unusual” in your description with “terrible.” Truly, the vocals in 5.1 are completely lacking — what a waste of Marc Almond’s talent – and as I noted, I have a few intentional 4.1 mixes that far outperform this in terms of representing the original mix in a spatial setting.
I played the Soft Cell disc back to back with the Trevor Horn 5.1 release, and they sounded like different systems entirely. Methinks the 5.1 mix was a lazy, software-based toss in. Disappointing.
When you say they’re “lacking” they are in the front left and right channels and not in the centre. This mix was done at Abbey Road Studios by the way. I was trusting them to do a great job. Atmos mixes do vary. Someone was telling me they didn’t think the Trevor Horn mix was very good the other day, while someone else said they were really enjoying Soft Cell!
Hi Paul,
I suspect there are at least two camps on the issue. Those who might listen less critically and are thankful for whatever is issued, and those who are expecting only the best on all releases. I assume you can identify with both groups.
FYI, I have a full 7.1+4 Atmos system run via a Marantz 7012 AV amp with an Oppo 205 player. So while not the best, its not a Home Theatre system in a box system either.
Like Synth80s, I applaud the SDE Surround Series and have collected the majority, have been wowed by several including both TFF releases, xPropaganda, Orbital, and ABC, and am always exited to hear which album is coming next. Long may it continue.
That said, the Soft Cell BD has been the most disappointing in the series so far. Apart from the lack of center channel, the lack of a 5.1 mix, and the poor fold down to 5.1 identified by Synth80s, I also question some the decisions made by the mixers of the Atmos. Two specific examples:
The opening of Frustration has the opening “Fr fr fr frustrationnnnnnn!” swirling around the listener but then the initial staccato synths come weakly from the front and rear speakers unlike the stereo version were they are pointedly prominent. This misfire totally changes the song.
The opening of Sex Dwarf, as it segues from Youth, seems muted and Marc’s vocals are lost in the mix, then several bars in, the rumbling baseline suddenly appears and Marc’s voice is more prominent. It’s very different from the original and I would say inferior.
In addition, the stereo mix is the 2023 remix which is horribly brickwalled, like all the recent mastering of Soft Cell’s work and painful to the ears even at moderate volumes. Marc’s vocals are way too loud and grate at times. I listened to my 1996 CD and it sounded very good and was much easier on the ears. I am suspecting thy didn’t offer the original stereo mix because the new stereo mix sounds so bad next to it. Thankfully the Atmos mixes (vocal and instrumental) don’t sound brickwalled.
I know you had no role in the decisions made or what mixes would be offered but the extra tracks don’t make up for the lack of additional mixes and strange decisions on the Atmos. I would have liked the original mix in hi-res and a 5.1 mix as the 2023 stereo mix is almost unlistenable and a 5.1 mix would surely have had to use the center channel.
This release makes me appreciate the other SDE Surround Blu-rays even more and especially the Hurting and Lexicon of Love releases and the work of Steven Wilson in general. Some people are clearly still learning how to do Atmos. This one seems rushed to meet the release date of the boxed set and clearly shows that Abbey road is only as good as the people using it.
Last, the Soft Cell reissue campaign has been a bit of a disaster so far IMO. I bought the Keychains and Snowstorms box and have played it once. Great track selection but the brickwalling is horrible. The same problem appears to afflict the 2023 remastering of NSEC. Until those in control stop brickwalling these releases I will likely avoid buying them. They are not worth the effort.
Sorry for the rant.
Long live the SDE Surround Series.
Derek L if I understand correctly you also hear no center-channel audio on this release when played in Atmos, correct? Like @synth80s I hear no center channel in 5.1 (via TrueHD), which I thought might be a fold-down issue with my aging setup. Whatever the mixing decisions were, I share the disappointment in what seems a missed opportunity to showcase Almond’s beloved vocals, especially after hearing vocals on the Lexicon of Love BD coming through with startling clarity in the center.
Looking forward to this, it appears that the essay included here is also in the oversized book in the “ultimate edition,” now if this were an XTC release the whole boxed set would be neatly on this one disc!
Just received mine. Wonderful release and well worth the admission price !
The HD videos are a nice addition and looking excellent in my humble opinion.
I’m a sucker for slipcases and I cannot wait to get my copy.
An absolute belter of an album, too few acknowledge what this gem did to so many scenes. “Sex Dwarf” practically invented the electro industrial genre so much is owed to that track alone.
Congratulations on another astonishing release. May I also point out that your packaging is excellent not just in terms of the artwork and attention to detail but also the shipping packages. It’s so nice receiving orders without having issues on bent, broken corners etc. Thank you!
Many thanks for the great feedback!
This is an interesting release. At first I mainly bought this to support SDE Surround Series, as the only song I really cared about was “Tainted Love”.
I took a listen at the rest after pre-ordering and thought “wow this has not aged well”.
When I got the disc, I started with the Atmos Mix. While “frustration” is a mess (but I guess that is on purpose, as the stereo mix sounds like a mess to me too), everything after sounds fresh, modern and like it was born again yesterday.
This shows how surround mixes can make you hear music in a new way, without changing the music itself.
I pretty much disliked the original stereo mix but I found myself listening to PG I/O, Trevor Horn and Soft Cell in atmos in a row yesterday. Three very different musical experiences, three great musical moments.
These series introduced me to music I might not have listened to without the appeal
of SDE Surround Series on the cover. I have followed this site for something like 7 years, and discovered so much music I might need to move, just to store it in all the physical format I have collected thanks to (or because of..) this website.
Take care of yourself and keep on taking care of music the way you do, I am not done with discovering new artists and old artists with you Paul!
Thank you!!
I’m really looking forward to this one. I have an original CD. The jewel case alone has got to be worth 100 to a museum. Revolutionary audio. Gay sex in your face. The height of civilization, to me.
Looking forward to this. It will be the first time I’ve ever listened to the album. (Yes, all sorts of albums have slipped under the radar over the years, which is really saying something, considering how much I purchase/listen!)
Paul – is there any way you can use your credit with Tears for Fears/Steven Wilson to re-release the Songs from the Big Chair album on Blu-ray? I missed out on that one (having purchased the only box set version available – DVD), and now regret not supplementing with the Blu-ray. Too expensive to buy existing copies, though. I wonder if there’s some new version of that release that could make it worthwhile, i.e. Atmos mix/Instrumental mix/b-sides? Doesn’t anyone want to hear “Pharaohs” at loud volumes in spatial audio besides me?
Doesn’t the Blu Ray have exactly the same audio content as the DVD-A in the box set?
Yes but it would be uncompressed on Blu-ray. In addition, a re-release would be a good opportunity for additional content. Love your profile pic, btw, Mark. That gets my blood boiling!
Yes that’s Black Moonlight off Duran Duran Danse Macabre, the top is the 24/96 stereo mix (DR6) the bottom is the stereo fold down of the 5.1 (DR14). The stereo fold down sounds truly amazing.
The same happens with TFF The Tipping Point, Blur Ballad of Darren and Peter Gabriel i/o.
If I call the SFTBC DVD was DVD-A and all three mixes were 24/96 lossless.
I’d never heard TFF’s “The Hurting” before I bought it on blu-ray from this website. I totally know where you’re coming from! 2nd your thoughts on SFTBC.
Unless I’ve been in a coma and missed it, I don’t think SFTBC has been released as an SDE standalone Blu-ray disc, just Tipping Point and The Hurting. If it has I’d be interested to see a link, as this would’ve been an instant buy for me
It wasn’t SDE but SFTBC was release on Blu Ray with 24/96 original master stereo, SW Stereo mix & 5.1, I have a copy
Yes, this is indeed the case.
I’ve just seen a listing from Amazon, it was out in 2014. Probably explains why I missed it!
Steven Wilson did announce he created a Dolby Atmos mix of ‘Seeds Of Love’ since the 5.1 blu-ray release in the box set for streaming services. It wouldn’t surprise if he’s also created a Dolby Atmos mix of ‘Songs From The Big Chair’
If there was ever going to be a re-release of these albums, I imagine it would be superseded with the Dolby Atmos Mix.
Please have them be SDE Surround Series releases, pretty please.
Thanks Paul for the series, I’m a sucker for surround music and have been collecting them since the 90’s battle of SACD’s and DVD-Audio.
I don’t know how many units sold means a success for record companies but I had hoped more stand alone releases became available. The PWL release also shows even just hi-res stereo blu-rays could be marketed.
I look forward to some more releases in 2024, there’s already some interesting dolby atmos mixes on streaming services to choose from, just disappointing that ‘Band on the Run’ which could help the market, is streaming only. I think that would be your biggest coup if you got to release the dolby atmos mix.
Might I ask who won the battle? :)
Depends. The market would say DVD-A, his ears possibly SACD.
I think its a personal preference some prefer DSD and others prefer LPCM…..
This is a fantastic release. The Atmos mix gives it air and space, like listening to it for the first time again!
Very impressed.
Very nice.
It is beyond my means to even have contemplated collecting this sde series here……, but I am very curious/interested to see
1) a row of them all ….spines showing, on a shelf
2) what a mountain of 4000 copies looks like, at Sinclair Palisades.
I can but dream.
Regarding your 1) – I recall a couple of images of collections of all, at the time, of the SDE series put up in comments on past SDE posts (although I’ve just spent 10 minutes or so trawling through past posts to find one of those pictures but haven’t). I was missing a few titles in the series, however I recently lucked out and managed to find and order the ones I’d missed. Those missing ones are now in transit to me (with the exception of the Def Leppard pre-order). I should have a complete collection in the next week or two. I might take a pic and post it then.
Harcourt,
After 3 shipments from SDE having arrived this week (the last one today) my SDE Surround Series collection is finally complete and up-to-date. The photo is just of 1 of each title, although I have some duplicates (including the two second editions).
That’s a pretty picture! Thank you for collecting all the releases:)
Another purchase that I wasn’t going to buy…really must stop watching your Youtube channel.
Thank you for the variety in the SDE blu-ray series , I’ve not purchased all of them but I’m taking chances and haven’t been disappointed.
Keep ’em coming