By Enrico Spinelli
Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like reissues, remixes, remasters or similar operations at all: I have always thought that a record should be listened to as it was conceived, inserted in its time without modern upheavals or various trinkets .... but ... This is a sick remix!!!
Let's start by saying that I have always loved "Animals", because of its being a bit like an album for connoisseurs, absolutely not suitable for radio (consider that they are 3 songs of 18, 12 and 10 minutes plus a short ballad divided into two parts, opening and closing), and also because from this moment my beloved Pink Floyd will begin a journey that will lead them to works that are vital for me such as "The Wall" and "The Final Cut"; and what about the famous cover, with that pig that takes a flight from an industrial suburb ?! In short, this record, inspired by George Orwell's "Animal Farm" has always represented for me one of those plays that may not be easy but capable of giving you unspeakable sensations and emotions.
The dislike for the sound of this album and the need to give it a more appropriate dress have always been two of the few things on which the three remaining band members could agree. For these reasons, a remix was created in 2018 but wasn't released until now because of Gilmour and Waters' arguments. And as I mentioned, the end product is absolutely insane: each instrument is given the proper amount of room and respect in addition to the sound being well-defined, rocky, and forceful at the appropriate spots.
The listener, who has spent years listening to the original vinyl, CD, or cassette tape, notices that every element stands out perfectly. This is because the details have been cleaned up by a production that is clearly subpar, and this listener is also one who has been grinding the original recordings for years. The cover, which is great, really beautifully captures the emotion that these 42 minutes of musical history represent.
It is not, therefore, a modernization operation because everything was done in full respect of the work, its nature, its time and its message, and all this can only please those who have always believed "Animals" an album worthy of being alongside the great classics.
Yes, I liked it a lot, and I know that sooner or later I'll get it on vinyl too...