Closest thing to perfect for this series...
Daniel W. Kelly | Long Island, NY United States | 09/30/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is rare to have basically no complaints about one of these compiliations, but retro active 6 piles on the 12" versions that have never made it to CD yet. There are a few mix choices that are suspect and a couple of songs that are fairly common on CD, but who cares? With a 6th volume, Hi-Bias hasn't even come close to going stale with this series. Let's hope for at least 20 volumes!
Track times:
1. Chains of Love(undeterred mix)...Erasure (8:24) (this sounds like an extended version of the extended version! Never heard this one before)
2. The Love Cats...the cure (4:36) (modestly extended mix at not even 5 minutes long)
3. mothers talk...tears for fears (6:13) (First time I've ever seen my US 12" version on CD. Finally! This should have been on the reissue of Songs from the Big Chair!)
4. 19 (destruction mix)...paul hardcastle (7:05) (one of several mixes of this track)
5. round & round...new order (7:08) (NOT the original extended 12" version. This mix is a bit more house than new wave sounding. I prefer the original 12" version)
6. major tom...peter schilling (8:06) (the super extended 12" version, which is a little excessive and choppy in places, not making the fantastic long album version any better. Also switches languages in between)
7. Obsession...Xymox (6:37) (the version on the US 12", completely in tact! FINALLY)
8. we close our eyes (total overhang mix)...go west (5:56) (this one is not rare at all, but on numerous 12" CD collections)
9. my heart goes bang...dead or alive (7:15) (after the tragic decision NOT to release the Japanese double disc set with ALL their 12" versions, this is long overdue and much appreciated. ONLY Retro Active series seems to know that there were tons more great 12" versions by Dead or Alive besides You Spin Me Round. This is my favorite mix from the 12". The B-side was the "american wipeout mix", which was on the import of DOA's "Evolution", but unfortunately, faded about 15 seconds early.)
10. kiss you...eight seconds (6:02) (you'd be hard pressed to find any of this band's music, let alone 12" versions, on CD)
11. King for a Day...Thompson Twins (8:02) (Fantastic way to end the collection, since this was one of few 12" mixes that isn't on the TT's import 12" mixes compilation)"
One Unfortunate Flaw Mars An Otherwise Good Collection
Davidp. | Jax. Florida | 10/25/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"My one disappointment with this collection is that the extended version of "Major Tom ( Coming Home )" by Peter Schilling has a "Major Problem ( In The Mix )".
Somehow, in remixing this track for CD release, they have mixed it 'out of phase' which makes certain parts of the instrumentation drop in volume as more is added to the mix. It almost sounds as though they were using a really old version of Dolby Noise Reduction which also used to have a tendency to 'step on' some frequencies, and cause the volume to bounce up and down. These fluctuations in volume are a bit irritating, and mar an otherwise pretty good CD.
One warning: as with most of the Hi-Bias "Retro Active" series, this CD is mastered pretty hot, which almost makes the high end distort at times."
Brialliant Series, Great Volume 6
C. E. Hornberger | Maryland, USA | 11/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As always, Hi-Bias does it again with their Retro-Active series. Essential for 80's remix enthusiasts, and just a couple of comments about some of the songs:
Erasure-Chains Of Love (Unfettered Mix)...this version is available on the US 12", and (believe it or not) is listed on my 12" as a Shep Pettibone remix. This version is not even on the Erasure box set!
Tears For Fears-Mother's Talk (Extended Version)...why this wasn't included on the Songs From the Big Chair deluxe version is beyond me, as it is superior to the longer (and somewhat monotonous) remixes included there.
New Order-Round & Round (Club Mix)...I've been waiting for this to commericially available for some time, and the sound quality is amazing. My 12" lists this is a Kevin Saunderson remix.
Dead Or Alive-My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me To The Doctor)(Extended Remix)...wow, another great sounding DOA 12" remix from Hi-Bias. Wish I could get some more, like "I'll Save You All My Kisses", "Turn Around & Count 2 Ten", or the Migthy Mix Part 2!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1