Esoteric’s reissue of Anthony Phillips’ back catalogue continues with a deluxe 3cd/1dvd definitive rerelease of 1978’s ‘Wise After The Event’ – review by Tim Darbyshire
This deluxe clamshell box contains 3 cds, 1 dvd, a 2-sided poster and a 20-page booklet containing the usual excellent informative contextual essay from Jonathan Dann.
Cd1 is the 2016 Stereo mix of the album, CD2 is the Demos, Out-takes and extras disc (identical to the 2008 re-issue), CD3 is the 2008 remaster of the original 1978 mix (identical to the 2008 re-issue), and the DVD contains the 2016 mix in 5.1 Surround Sound for the first time. The new stereo mix and 5.1 mix are by Simon Heyworth (of Mike Oldfield fame).
Following 1977’s ‘The Geese And The Ghost’, Ant’s second solo album ‘Wise After The Event’ was released in 1978 and was more song-based (albeit long, ambitious and multi-layered songs). Unable to call on friend Mike Rutherford to appear on the album – due to the latter’s commitment to touring with Genesis – Ant enlisted the help of King Crimson alumni Michael Giles and Mel Collins and ex-Caravan member John G Perry to record the music, aided and abetted by producer/performer Rupert Hine.
The new mixes are very rich and lush sounding – bringing new life to an album I’ve not heard for a few years. ‘Birdsong’, ‘Moonshooter’ and ‘Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends’ are the stand out songs for me. Less pastoral sounding that ‘The Geese And The Ghost’, but more progressive and ambitious than its follow up (1979’s ‘Sides’), ‘Wise After The Event’ would please existing fans but not be commercial enough for the record company.
Fans might question why this has been reissued again after a double cd came out in 2008 – and both discs are repeated here – but I feel the 5.1 Surround Sound mix justifies it. But you’re not into 5.1 mixes then I can understand this feeling…..
Esoteric have once again produced a nice package of high quality – the artwork by Peter Cross is mesmerising of course – and the album itself is a classic of Ant’s progressive era. ‘Sides’ will follow with a similar deluxe reissue from Esoteric in April 2016.
Track Listing:
CD 1 – Wise After The Event – 2016 Stereo Mix:
1. We’re All As We Lie (4:34)
2. Birdsong (7:30)
3. Moonshooter (5:52)
4. Wise After The Event (8:45)
5. Pulling Faces (4:32)
6. Regrets (5:15)
7. Greenhouse (3:00)
8. Paperchase (5:28)
9. Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends)? (8:30)
10. Squirrel (4:28) – originally released as the B-side of the 7″ single release of We’re All As We Lie.
CD 2 – Wise After The Event – Demos, Out-takes and extras:
1. We’re All As We Lie – Link
2. Sleeping On An Interstellar Plane (Greenhouse demo)
3. Paperchase (instrumental demo)
4. Birdsong (instrumental demo)
5. Moonshooter (Cottage Tapes demo)
6. We’re All As We Lie (Cottage Tapes demo)
7. Pulling Faces (Cottage Tapes demo)
8. Squirrel (instrumental mix)
9. Wise After The Event (instrumental mix)
10. Magic Garden (solo piano mix)
11. We’re All As We Lie (7-inch single mix)
12. Regrets (piano mix)
13. Chinaman (basic guitar mix)
14. Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends)? (instrumental mix)
CD 3 – Wise After The Event – Re-mastered version of the original 1978 stereo mix:
1. We’re All As We Lie (4:34)
2. Birdsong (7:30)
3. Moonshooter (5:52)
4. Wise After The Event (8:45)
5. Pulling Faces (4:32)
6. Regrets (5:15)
7. Greenhouse (3:00)
8. Paperchase (5:28)
9. Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends)? (8:30)
10. Squirrel (4:28) – originally released as the B-side of the 7″ single release of We’re All As We Lie.
DVD (NTSC, Region Free) – Wise After The Event – 2016 5.1 Surround sound Mix:
1. We’re All As We Lie (4:34)
2. Birdsong (7:30)
3. Moonshooter (5:52)
4. Wise After The Event (8:45)
5. Pulling Faces (4:32)
6. Regrets (5:15)
7. Greenhouse (3:00)
8. Paperchase (5:28)
9. Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends)? (8:30)
10. Squirrel (4:28) – originally released as the B-side of the 7″ single release of We’re All As We Lie.
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