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Wire: Mute Era productions

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    The band have expressed dissatisfaction with the production on the Mute albums. Have they ever considered remastering these albums to make them closer to the records that they wanted, or, is this not possible?
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    This is something I was thinking about asking here. I finished reading "Read and burn" a few weeks ago, and the parts about "A bell is a cup" are still in my head, what I read about the band thinking it is a great album that got ruined in the mixing stage.
    I wouldn't care so much for other Mute era albums so much, but "A bell is a cup" is one of my favorite Wire albums. If I were a member of the band, and the recording tracks existed as to be re-mixed properly, I definitely would go for it.

    Anyway, I think this is the kind of thing that's often said under the point of view of the musician who created the songs. I guess the re-mixed thing would be so different to what was released. I you get what I mean, artists are usually the worst critics for their own work. In the end, what you got in your hands is the tracks as you recorded, and you can improve the mix but not change what you recorded - that would be re-recording.
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    Remastering and remixing are two entirely different things. The latter would be reliant on the multi track tapes being available, digitising them and then someone doing the remix. Would that be Colin? Would he have time, the willingness or funds to do this? And what if Graham, Bruce or Rob didn't agree with his version having spent the time doing it?
    Remastering only relies on the mixed down tape being sent to a mastering studio. No doubt Denis Blackham.
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    Kevin, this my my interest. They might all agree that a record is imperfectly mixed, but might have different views about perfection. Also, after thirty years, might there be a temptation to "modernise"?
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    A Bell is a Cup is perfect the way it is. Anyone going back and remixing it (which would probably just mean turning the guitars up and the snare down, making it significantly more rubbish) would have me to answer to.
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    My view is that remastering is certainly in order for all the Mute era albums. Leave them as they are mix wise. For good or bad (and that's subjective anyway) they are what they are. But they could sound better from the poor 80's mastering compared to what can be done nowadays.
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    Remastering only relies on the mixed down tape being sent to a mastering studio. No doubt Denis Blackham.

    After 45 years at the helm, Blackham retired recently.

    As far as remixing/remastering is concerned... waste of time in my opinion, time that would be far better spent ploughing energy into new material, moving forward. Stay present in the present.
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    As far as remixing/remastering is concerned... waste of time in my opinion, time that would be far better spent ploughing energy into new material, moving forward. Stay present in the present.

    Agreed to some extent...but if they are ever to be reissued in 'definitive and/or expanded' editions then remastering should be done sensitively. A shame Denis has called it a day. A gentleman and a scholar!
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    Those albums are what they are and in my opinion they sound pretty good on vinyl, it's the CD mastering that is shit.
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    If there was a kickstarter to help fund a double "remastered + rethought" Manscape I would throw money there in a heartbeat. Have it have both a remaster of the 1990 mix and a new remix / remaster. At the time, only about half of it gave me a spark and the rest was a curiosity. It'd be interesting what could come out of that. Heck, it'd be fun to have the separate tracks and play with them.
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    More recently ive felt and wanted The Ideal Copy to have a kinda Read & Burn mix.

    Madmans Honey in a Kinda Agfas of Kodack vibe.

    Horatio
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    Sounds radical, Horatio.
    I have been listening to the first couple of albums on Mute a lot more recently, and I cannot escape the feeling that these records are far from perfect, there are some great songs which are a tad too polished. I know that Wire feel that also, and it is intriguing to consider the album that they might have made, albeit, with the same songs rather than a radical reconsidering of the material. When I listen to the alternative versions on Coatings and Silk Skin Paws 12 inch, these tracks are not generally better than the album versions, though this is a debate in itself...
    I would like something bolder though, I see where you are coming from.
    Still, now time to look forward to the new material.
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    I do hope that none of the Mute era material is messed around with, I have enjoyed Wire's music from Pink Flag to the present and the songs as they were recorded stand up fine to my ears. Plus, we also have the legal bootleg series for different and interesting representations of many of the Mute era songs, through development etc. Focus on the present and the future now I reckons ;-)

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