Max Read talks about re-mastering "Touch Me"

- FROM 35 YEAR OLD TAPES!

The existing release of Touch Me always suffered from a lack of "sparkle" and also a lack of real "bottom end". Why the CD ended up sounding the way it does is for a number of reasons. Firstly, the album was recorded at the Enid's home on a home made desk - this gives it plenty of character!

The home made desk introduced mains hum into the recordings in varying quantities and this prevented the original mastering engineer from addressing the problems with the lack of bass; if he added bass he'd be also turning up the hum, which in some places was quite severe.

Fortunately, we now have some very sophisticated software plugins for coping with exactly these kind of problems. I used a plugin that features several notch filters based at mains frequency (50Hz) and then the first eight harmonics. This has the miraculous effect of clearing out pretty well all the hum without having a noticeable impact on rest of the sound.

The other main problem with the tape was clicks, scrapes and pops caused by various things such as:

1. Static discharge from the tape spools.

2. Electrical equipment turning off or on during recording, eg. a fridge.

3. Actual sounds made during recording such as chair creak, woodwind intruments valves etc.

4. Dodgy equipment / wiring.

In the world before digital, the only way to reduce these types of annoying sound was to remove some of high frequencies in the recording by using an equaliser, hence a dull sound.

REMOVING CLICKS AND POPS

With a modern digital work station - and a bit of skill and patience - it's now possible to remove clicks and pops by manually re-drawing the actual waveform. This requires a little "artistic licence" or guesswork, but the results are that the annoying sounds are completely removed without noticeably affecting the sound. In the example below, the click has been drawn out of the left channel but remains in the right:

After removing all the nasty noises, this left me free to adjust the sound with a bit of EQ exactly as it required. The recording was fairly lacking in bass so I used a plugin that generates new bass harmonics to really fatten up the sound. The top end was pretty good straight from the tape and with the clicks removed it could be adjusted in real-time according to the programme material, without highlighting any nasties. 

Robert and I are pretty pleased with the results, which are certainly an improvement on existing CDs in circulation. Touch Me is now available as an HD FLAC download along with several other new titles in the HD Download section of the website. A CD version will follow soon.

 

 

Cult 70’s symphonic progressive rock act The Enid are to make a return to standing club venues in April and May of this year with special guests Enochian Theory:

Tuesday 23rd April – NEWCASTLE, The Cluny
Wednesday 24th April – GLASGOW, 02 ABC2
Thursday 25th April – MANCHESTER, Ruby Lounge
Friday 10th May – LEICESTER, The Musician
Thursday 30th May – BIRMINGHAM, HMV Institute
Friday 31st May – LONDON, Barfly

Tickets are on sale Monday 11th February at 9 a.m from:

www.ticketweb.co.uk 

The last few years have seen The Enid play seated venues and festivals throughout Europe, but very much as an underground, and to some extent forgotten, entity. The 1970’s saw the band as a big player in a music scene thriving on the musicianship and creativity that progressive rock had to offer. Now, they are once more getting the recognition they deserve, hand in hand with prog’s return to prominence, having returned with a new line up – still drawn together to this day by Robert John Godfrey, who has this to say:

"In April and May the band will be playing in intimate music clubs on small stages, with a great sound and all of you just inches away from the band; it will remind us of our roots and will be fun for all. These shows will mark our return to standing rock venues after a surge back into the spotlight,crowned by recognition from the Guardian readers in their 2012 top 10 album& tracks poll. We now have a vast repertoire to choose from and we are committed to keep the best of it in play; from the vintage years to the present and beyond.Nothing is off limits."

The album that Guardian readers so rapturously got behind was Invicta – their 13th studio album. It appeared in a top 10 poll populated by much more familiar names to the contemporary ear: Frank Ocean, Tame Impala and 2012’s Mercury Prize Winners, Alt-J. Maintaining the band's tradition for narrative, the record marks the second edition in a planned trilogy of releases, building upon musical motifs of 2010 predecessor, Journey's End.

Exploring the relationship between one and the many, the record aims to interpret wider themes of what humanity is able to achieve as a collective; celebrating greatness yet acknowledging adverse extremes. From the immense choral arrangements of "The Whispering", featuring over 200 vocal layers, contrasted with the hauntingly beautiful solo tones of "One and the Many", Invicta laments on the power of the whole. Individually we are all alone but together we are invincible.

Formed in 1974 by acclaimed composer and pianist, Robert John Godfrey, The Enid are renowned for their large-scale, myth and fantasy-inspired instrumental pieces. In the early 80s The Enid became the first band ever to self-fund their recordings with contributions from fans in advance; a revolutionary concept that has since led to bands as diverse as Marillion and Radiohead taking lead from their approach. Following a break in 1988, Godfrey rediscovered his musical muse five years ago and has since lovingly reformed The Enid with original drummer Dave Storey plus new young recruits, Jason Ducker on guitars, Max Read on vocals and keyboards, Nicholas Willes on bass and percussion and Joe Payne on lead vocals – a line up that spans three generations.

 

 

The eagerly awaited, brand new album is now available in our shop.

"A conceptually brilliant, musically astonishing album" - Prog Magazine.

 

The Enid present their 13th studio album INVICTA. This masterpiece goes hand in hand with its predecessor, Journey's End as the second in a planned trilogy.

INVICTA marks a new era for The Enid, and is undoubtedly “The Enid” through and through. It has utilised the talents of the new line up - generations new and old – to bring you the most impressive album of 2012, which is both unique and current.

As well as reaching the top 10 in the 2012 Guardian Readers' Poll, the album has received rave reviews in the UK and Europe, including DPRP, Musikreviews, and Progarchives.

 

ORDER HERE

HD "AUDIOPHILE" VERSION 

For the discerning listener we have created an HD version of Invicta. The album was recorded and mixed at 96kHz and the HD version maintains the 96kHz 24bit signal path and also has a larger dynamic range than the CD version, which has been mastered and mixed to work well in an IPod / car audio situation. Turn off the lights, unplug the phone and enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Listen to some Snippets

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Leviticus

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Heaven's Gate

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Witch Hunt

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The Whispering

 

TRACK LIST

1. Anthropy
2. One And The Many
3. Who Created Me
4. Execution Mob
5. Witch Hunt
6. Heaven's Gate
7. Leviticus
8. Villain Of Science
9. The Whispering

The creative process.

The band are spending every spare second working on the new studio album - Invicta. Max, Joe and RJG are providing the raw ingredients and already have the six main tracks underway.

The album artwork has been created by the artist Bob Read - Max's Dad - loosly based on on concept by Robert.

The way into Invicta and the themes in common for the whole trilogy are RJG's current preoccupation. The band are also playing around with concepts for rhythmic ideas, mutiple overlaying time signatures and using them as templates when constructing the brand new tracks.

As the raw ideas become solid the material will be "fleshed out" with symphonic orchestration, giving Invicta that 'Enid' sound which we all know and love.

The band record most of the material in the traditional analogue format, which is how they are able to achieve that vintage sound on their albums. The differences between analogue and digital are subtle, but the Vintage Cadac Desk (used by The Enid in their studios since the production of Something Wicked This Way Comes) cannot be beaten in its ability to provide wholesome sounding recordings.

Have a look around the band's amazing recording studio - which is also their home - at www.lodgerecording.co.uk

No.3 in the Arise and Shine series

The band have been slaving away in the studio to create part three in the Arise and Shine series. The album features completely reworked pieces from the back catalogue, as performed live in the 2012 shows.

The album introduces new band member and lead vocalist Joe Payne, revisiting songs such as Raindown (Something Wicked This Way Comes), Summer (The Spell), and Salome (Salome). Extra care has been taken in the selection of each track, chosen not for their nostalgic value, but instead for the opportunity to prove how the band has developed (and continues to develop) with the new line-up.

The artwork for this album was inspired by the Enidi, who were invited to put forward ideas for the front cover. The glow which can be seen around each members silhouette represents the aura of colour - an interpretation of the way each person 'shines'.

Just as the Live at Symphony Hall CD was produced in a trendy looking Digi-Pak, Shining also arrives in this glossy fold-out case. This new format does far more to compliment the tastes of those who value product quality, somewhat reminiscent of a record sleeve. Other features include song lyrics (old and new), a debuting message from latest addition Joe Payne, and an informative on the Enidi.

 

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Raindown

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Tripping The Light..

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Summer

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Autumn

AVAILABLE NOW

Presenting an album of romantic music for piano and orchestra accessible to all, yet wholly uncompromising in its content.

Of the eight compositions, some are rooted in Robert John Godfrey's past containing themes and motifs to which he has often returned.

The raison d'être for this album is to raise the needed investment for The Enid. This will provide the means by which this 21^st Century incarnation of the band with a new generation of dedicated young players can have the future and stability they so richly deserve.

Now available to order from our shop here.

 

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE OF TRACK 1

 

The Stables, Milton Keynes

On Saturday 30th June The Enid are back, playing their first show in the UK since November 2011. The evening presents the official debut of new lead singer and keyboardist Joe Payne. He's been working hard to master the art of The Enid, and has already been compared to the great Freddy Mercury after appearing with the band in Holland earlier this year. Why not head to the FORUM for a gander at some of the comments? 

Last years show at The Stables was completely sold out, so be sure to get your tickets without delay from The Stables Box Office. The Enid's set will include more greats from the back catalogue, some of which won't have been performed live for decades. 

 

Arise and Shine 3: Shining

Following the success of the Live at Symphony Hall CD, the band have decided to release all new CDs in the same delux packaging. After all, this is the Saville Row of music, and this new DigiPak reflects that. In fact, you can expect a philosophical chinwag from RJG himself on the matter of "Saville Row" vs "Primark". The band also present the third in the Arise and Shine series: Shining. For this album of revisited works, the tracks are brought to life with theatrical vocals, fresh orchestrations and uncompromised diversity. The pending artwork was inspired by creative input from the Enidi, and the process featured in the 'What You Get From The Enidi' video, filmed in March.

 

Other News

New Horizons - 2013

With a mind to reach out to the younger generations, the band have hired a new booking agent. The band plan to tour on a much grander scale next year, sharing stages with some of the most current and followed rock bands of today! This music is timeless, but people need to hear it to believe it. The band won't have toured this much since the Something Wicked This Way Comes tour, back in 1983! Let's make sure this music lasts forever.  

Watford Colosseum

Plans for the 2012 big show at Watford Colosseum on November 10th are well under way. An after-show party has been booked in the venue itself immediately after the show and this time the band have extra crew which means they'll be able to go straight there! Tickets will be on sale in the next couple of weeks and Enidi members will have the best choice of seats, as well as the usual discount.

A Fond Farewell

The Enid and Enidi said their goodbyes to a great follower of the band who passed away earlier this month. Graeme Donald posted regular comments on the forum, and his interpretation of 'What the Enidi means to me?' says a lot about the Enidi community and the special relationship Enidi members have with the band. Robert performed The Mirror of Love at the funeral, requested by Graeme's daughter Karen.

Robert John Godfrey's The Mirror Of Love: Voted 65 in Classic FM Hall Of Fame 300.

3rd Higest new entry

Based on his original composition of forty years ago, The Lovers, this new and extended visualisation of his youthful "Rachmaninoveske" composition looks back at young and painful love as RJG puts it, "through the other end of the telescope".

His inspiration for this new composition is Sonnet 76 by Shakespeare.

This composition along with "The Art Of Melody" will appear on Robert's forthcoming album of piano music entitled "The Art Of Melody" and both are currently available for download on Amazon and on iTunes.

Both compositions were also performed by Robert and the CBSO at Symphony Hall Birmingham in October 2011. You can watch the video here and purchase a CD of the entire concert - recorded by Abbey Road - here. 

See what's being said about it on the Classic FM Hall Of Fame.