Chrome (8) – Chrome Box Revisited

Superb mastering, pressing, and packaging of these truly unique artists. Cleopatra still sells this box from their website for $199, but I managed to get an unopened one from a brick-and-mortar shop here in LA for considerably less (after some careful online sleuthing). I was first introduced to Helios and Damon's work when I moved to SF in '90 from a helpful friend who taped his Chrome Box for me onto cassettes. As my cassette player and tapes remain in the closet, I streamed their stuff from Spotify today on the drive to the aforementioned shop, and even the "high bit rate" plan I have gave me little warning of the brilliant, chaotic, psychedelic sci-fi musical worlds that this pressing manages to conjure. Truly unusual, complex, and radical stuff. Shame that they never acquired an audience beyond underground freaks like me, but this version of the box, at least, presents them properly.

I usually avoid "remasters" at nearly all costs, but I'm glad I took a chance here. I have the original pressings and these sound just as good, for the most part, and maybe even a little better! Particularly on "Alien Soundtracks" & "Half Lip..". Those are somewhat chaotic, lo fi recordings with a lot going on. These new pressings really help to bring out a lot of the smaller details that were often way buried in the original mixes. At least, to my old ears! As the other commenters mentioned the booklet is really great. Nice, sturdy and attractive box too. Whether you are new to Chrome or just wanting to revisit this is an awesome release. Highly recommended!

In addition to Razielek:
The new vinyl versions sound somehow louder, with more punch, phatter. The older versions sounded clearer, brighter, and lighter. Hard to decide which sound better... These albums here are not very audiophile pressings, more lo-fi beasts. Maybe not worth replacing your originals but a fine overview since their beginning. The book is very fine, too, full of photos, storys, interviews. And included here: Into the Eyes of the Zombie King, one of Chrome's greatest and most underrated albums. Very dark dark dark.

Curious as hell about this too.

How does it look/sounds? Anyone can report?

Edit: I bought it. I have listened to all albums already - when I will have some time I will post full review but in a nutshell: there are some minor issues, but it's very good overall :)

Edit:

What we get is more like expanded edition (as title suggests) than mere reissue of original Chrome Box. Everything comes in solid, silkcreened box with big Chrome logo on front. Sadly there is no ribbon in there so getting LPs out is not so easy. Anyway it comes with AMAZING booklet (more like a book) with many, many photos, ilustrations and other memorabilia. Book covers history of Chrome from the begginning to mid 80s and is very informative. Big thumbs up.

All LPs comes in individual covers that replicates original artwork; sadly there are no original inserts. Sometimes there are no track titles to be found (apart from labels on records); originally they were in inserts. Most artwork is replicated in booklet (covers, inserts, singles covers etc). LPs are HEAVY and flat. Not one of them is scratched or something and generally there is no background noise, pops etc BUT on my copy of No Humans Allowed is something on side A (some mark) that effects on listening; it sounds like a scratch but it isn't. It goes on about 1 minute it's not big problem anyway. Now for the sound. It's obviously better than CD version of Chrome Box. I have Dossier clear vinyl edition of Half Machine Lip Moves to compare. New version sounds louder, it has more punch. Older version sounded clearer, brighter. Hard to decide which one sounds better. On the same album there is one mistake: originally between Tv As Eyes and Zombie Warfare there is no break, they run smoothly one into another but here there is break. These albums are not audiophile recordings to begin with; more like lo-fi beasts. Anyway I'm happy with them but maybe not worth replacing if you have all albums already.
As a bonus there is often overlooked album Into The Eyes Of The Zombie King. As a proof that they are not sourced from CD title track is in its longer, LP version. Strangely track Trip The Switch and And Then The Red Sun are switched; same on tracklist on cover. Go figure.

Overall its amazing set, truly an art object.