First & Last & Always at Forty

THE place for your Sisters-related comments, questions and snippets of Sisters information. For those who do not know, The Sisters of Mercy are a rock'n'roll band. And a pop band. And an industrial groove machine. Or so they say. They make records. Lots of records, apparently. But not in your galaxy. They play concerts. Lots of concerts, actually. But you still cannot see them. So what's it all about, Alfie? This is one of the few tightly-moderated forums on Heartland, so please keep on-topic. All off-topic posts will either be moved or deleted. Chairman Bux is the editor and the editor's decision is final. Danke.
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Ocean Moves
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
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Joined: 08 Nov 2004, 19:22
Location: Australia

Someone on one of the unofficial (closed) Facebook groups has this week published downloads
of their own work to "clean up" First & Last & Always, and a few other
tracks from the pre-1985 era, apparently done using the audio tool "Fadr".,
under the title "First & Last & Always at Forty".

There are a few positive messages from listeners... and what appears
to be a far from positive piece of feedback from Dave Allen - toward
the principle of the uploader making the material available on that group in the first place
(if identities are to be believed).
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MoBetaBlues
Road Kill
Posts: 74
Joined: 03 Jan 2022, 10:54

wow, interesting! how do they sound? do you have a link (which group is it)?
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Ocean Moves
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
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Joined: 08 Nov 2004, 19:22
Location: Australia

The Facebook group is called : The Sisters Of Mercy 1980-1985 Group
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mh
Above the Chemist
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Joined: 23 Jun 2003, 14:41
Location: A city built on rock 'n' roll

I've listened to it, or at least the "reworking" of the title track.

It's interesting enough, with some added clarity and punch; in particular it's easier to follow the bass line through the song.

On the other hand it's ruined by excessive compression, which really kicks in badly on the chorus and turns everything to harsh murk.

Overall the negative effects of the compression far outweigh anything positive, and the original vinyl remains the preferred, definitive version. This is aside from consideration of any legalities or principles, of course, so just judging it on it's own merits.

I'm fairly satisfied that the Dave Allen commenting on it is the Real Thing, from other evidence.
If I told them once, I told them a hundred times to put 'Spinal Tap' first and 'Puppet Show' last.
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GC
Slight Overbomber
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Joined: 27 Dec 2005, 22:05

I thought them quite listenable. A bit more bouncy than the originals.... had to turn my bass down.
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mh
Above the Chemist
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Joined: 23 Jun 2003, 14:41
Location: A city built on rock 'n' roll

I have to say, (with one exception) I don't think there's anything disastrously wrong with the original production. It is what it is, a product of it's time, not representative of the live sound and certainly different to what came before, but it's what emerged from the state the various people involved were in nonetheless. It certainly captures a phase of the band, the Psychedelic Spaghetti Western Guitar Twirlers are all here.

The only track I'd consider genuinely "bad" is Possession, and that's a comment on the production, not the song. Too many whooshy effects, stereo panning and other gibberish detract and distract from the song itself.

Otherwise the original album is fine. Even something like Walk Away (which I don't like) or NTTC (which I do), I'd quite happily sit down and discuss the pros and cons of over a few pints with anyone. That's not a bad end result, I think.
If I told them once, I told them a hundred times to put 'Spinal Tap' first and 'Puppet Show' last.
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GC
Slight Overbomber
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Joined: 27 Dec 2005, 22:05

I kind of agree that the producer has the right to feel a bit pissed.
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Ocean Moves
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
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I listened to them and have found them quite nice and listenable... Vocal and bass seem to have a bit more prominence and clarity in the mix. As for compression, perhaps, but I didn't find it unduly detrimental.

Given this was done ostensibly by one person and a tool available on the web, I wonder what could be achieved by going back to the source audio stems with cutting edge audio tools available in 2025 and having another crack at producing the record ?
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The Violet Hour
Road Kill
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Joined: 06 Feb 2025, 01:35
Location: Somewhere On The Black Planet

Ocean Moves wrote: ↑02 Apr 2025, 22:02 I listened to them and have found them quite nice and listenable... Vocal and bass seem to have a bit more prominence and clarity in the mix. As for compression, perhaps, but I didn't find it unduly detrimental.

Given this was done ostensibly by one person and a tool available on the web, I wonder what could be achieved by going back to the source audio stems with cutting edge audio tools available in 2025 and having another crack at producing the record ?
I've thought about this a lot recently myself, taking the bed tracks and remixing them into something more punchy, biting and live, a cross between the remastered BBC sessions and the best live versions of those songs from '84-'85. I love the original album (otherwise none of us would be here of course), but it would be an interesting experiment, capturing more of the essence of the live, raw Sisters. Are there stems floating around of these tracks? Given the right tools and materials to work with, I'm sure a few of us would love to have a go at it.
Violet
__________
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will
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Fodderstompf
Amphetamine Filth
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Joined: 16 Aug 2010, 16:56

Try voice.ai to split the track into stems and then Audacity for the mix, should work out fine
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