Lament
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| Price: | £8.69 |
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #12856 in Digital Music Album
- Published on: 2009-09-08
- Released on: 2009-09-07
- Running time: 8100 seconds
Customer Reviews
Treasure Trove
Last summer I saw Ultravox on a festival over here. I didn't think Midge Ure was in particularly great vocal shape then, but the electronic landscapes he and his bandmates created, transported me back to the early 80's, when I was really young and smitten by that arty esoteric sound.
Concertopener Astradyne set the atmosphere of the show and Ultravox's greatest hits set (with the occasional albumtrack) confirmed that they really have an impressive body of work, despite some critics comments that the music hasn't stood the test of time.
From Lament, the setlist contained One Small Day and of course Dancing With Tears In My Eyes.I'd loved to hear some more tracks of this album, which I consider as their strongest next to Vienna.
This more than welcome re-issue is well worth the wait. The album itself can be heard in pristine sound quality on disc 1. Ultravox had reached its highest peak here in sheer versatility and songcraft. I really don't think there is a weak track in this collection of songs. You will hear full bodied rock but also folk- and world-influenced songs.
Disc 2 is a treasure trove of 12 inch mixes, work-in-progress-mixes and (instrumental) B-sides. You can indulge in and choose between 3 different epic versions of One Small Day. On the contrary, the 10 minutes plus version of Dancing doesn't really work and never climaxes.
The real gem however is the extended, solemn, elegiac version of the title track Lament. I heard it for the first time more than 20 years ago and it still moves me.
Lament isn't a classic album like Vienna, but one that certainly merits to be rediscovered.
Golden opportunity missed? Where are the US mixes?
Not usually one to review in any form before the actual release date (though promos are starting to circulate) I have been eagerly awaiting the expanded treatment of "Lament", Ultravox's last album proper.
As a fan, one of the most elusive vinyl only releases is associated with this album and its singles, the US/Canadian only 12" ft "Dancing With Tears" (extended mix by Steve Thompson) and "One Small Day" (club mix by Kervorkian). These mixes have yet to surface on any compilation as far as I am aware, even if only restorable from vinyl.
Huge disappointment then as this reissue does not address this! We have the 3 UK mixes of "Day" and the standard 12" mix of "Dancing", yet with careful reshuffling of some b-sides and short instrumentals onto the 30 minutes of space at the end of CD1 these rare and sought after mixes could have been included on CD2. Even if they had to be restored from good vinyl (with a note explaining this) surely the label concerned could have given fans a truly closer-to-complete version?
This is still a great album, and based on the other recent 'definitive' 2-CD releases I am sure the mastering and presentation will be very good.
But what a golden opportunity missed (to improve sales too!). Hohum....
Lament....... & That's Not All ........
This isn't a review but It's worth noting that there will be additional tracks which aren't included on the reissue.
There has been a huge debate on this at the Ultravox forum, but I'm not getting into that !
For download only.......
Release Date : Monday the 7th of September, 2009
Please note that the following four tracks are ONLY available as part of the Lament Digital Download.
12. Love's Great Adventure (Extended Version)
A-side of the 'Love's Great Adventure' 12 inch single.
13. White China (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, Jun 84)
B-side of the 'Love's Great Adventure' 7 & 12 inch singles.
14. Man of Two Worlds (Instrumental)
Extra track on the 'Love's Great Adventure' 12 inch single.
15. Heart of the Country (Special Re-Mix)
A-side of the 'Heart of the Country' 12 inch single.




