New Order in Dolby Atmos

From Facebook:

We are pleased to announce that New Order's music will be released in Dolby Atmos spatial audio for the first time later this month. Mixed from the original master tapes by Steven Wilson, and overseen by Stephen Morris, the albums 'Movement' and 'Low-Life' along with the single 'Blue Monday' will be available to stream from 20th September. To celebrate the release, Apple Music in conjunction with Dolby, will be hosting a special one off Q&A with Steven and Stephen at 1900 on 18th September at YES in Manchester.We will be offering 15 pairs of tickets for fans to attend, on a first come first serve basis. Keep a look out for the link to sign up, coming soon...

Ah you beat me to it. I was probably gonna post it in the Social Media & Streaming thread, cos I'm not sure that re-doing 40 year old records in Dolby Atmos is something we should get excited about.

Too bad Mr Monkhouse isn't active here these days, I know he loves it when NO re-issue their old stuff in a new way... I guess they can't keep re-issuing it physically so now they've found a way to reissue it digitally!

[TWITTER]1831030612482003157[/TWITTER]

[TWITTER]1831030618005643355[/TWITTER]

There should be 4 (four!) tweets above this sentence, but it may take a moment for them to load. They skipped from Movement to Low Life, so I guess KW1 won't be sounding extra special any time soon.

PS: I know the Chemical Brothers got George Martin's son, Giles to do some Dolby Atmos stuff at Abbey Road for their most recent album (although I don't think it was even the whole album, just a track or two), and I guess if NO ever release anything new, we can expect(?) it to get a Dolby Atmos iteration. But old stuff? Hmmm...

Could be interesting. I have a 5.1 Bluray set up at home and I've got quite a few of Steven Wilson's surround-sound remixes on blu-ray (mostly XTC) and a few others (VU's Loaded in surround sound is really nice)

Fun to listen to but I don't really know much about Atmos and the step up from 5.1

I assume you need a dedicated Atmos setup? They seem pricey

But the fact NO are doing this makes me think they must believe their is a market for it?

PCL being omitted make me think they maybe can't find the master multitrack tapes?

GotBlueEyes wrote:

I assume you need a dedicated Atmos setup? They seem pricey

I don't subscribe to apple music, but my understanding is that if you stream/download apple music on your phone, the apple app is capable of delivering the dolby atmos stuff to your earphones. I believe airpods are compatible, you may have to check if other brands are.

But don't sue me if I'm wrong on this!

I don't have a Dolby Atmos speaker set up but i do have headphones that support it, the Sony WH-1000XM5. Often listen through the Amazon Music Unlimited which is the only music streaming i subscribe to. But this New Order in Dolby Atmos will only be avaialable with Apple Music? Have i understood that correct?

Fotz wrote: But this New Order in Dolby Atmos will only be avaialable with Apple Music? Have i understood that correct?

I really hope it will be available on Bray. Anyway I will not subscribe to Apple Music for that...

i think its streaming only.

maybe paul at superdeluxedition will be able to get to put it on bluray audio,.

i don't have an atmos player, but it will still be interesting to hear reviews.

later | || | | || | ne gative 1

Debaser wrote:

my understanding is that if you stream/download apple music on your phone, the apple app is capable of delivering the dolby atmos stuff to your earphones. I believe airpods are compatible, you may have to check if other brands are.

Fotz wrote: I don't have a Dolby Atmos speaker set up but i do have headphones that support it, the Sony WH-1000XM5.

I've seen Atmos advertised as a feature of certain headphones, but two questions

1. presumably your phone/laptop/whatever device you connect them to has to have the Dolby Atmos decoder in-built?

2. is it any good? I struggle to understand how two in-ear buds can replicate spatial audio in any meaningful/comparable way to multi-speaker in-room setups

setups

^ sorry, tried to quote but it going weird

My phone is a Samsung A12 and it supports Dolby Atmos. My laptop doesn't. So i can listen using my phone. Amazon Music Unlimited has quite a lot of stuff in Dolby Atmos.

I my Sony headphones are not in ear buds but the overhead type.

I can notice the difference when listening in Dolby Atmos. Instruments are more seperated and clearer, each has their own place

Fotz wrote:

I can notice the difference when listening in Dolby Atmos. Instruments are more seperated and clearer, each has their own place

Thanks

I guess with the headphones it's tricking the brain through clever technology, whereas in-room multi-speaker audio, it's physically projecting the sound from different locations

I would be interested to experience/compare the two

Guess I've had a lot of Atmos exposure in the big cinemas in the last few years

The new ATMOS mixes should be out on streaming now FYI.

An article on the process with Stephen Morris: IrishMirror.ie

Interesting read. Thanks for the link, Andy.

They mention not know the origin of the Jeffrey Bernard quote from the start of This Time Of Night.

I've been trying to track this down for a few years, and I strongly suspect that it might be from this programme:

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cd06f8bc09bb4719948c5cadc7116e43

It was broadcast on 21/03/85, so really close to when they were recording the LP. I reckon Steve sampled the TV.

Anyone know for definite? JJ etc?

If anyone has a copy of that TV programme (highly unlikely, but thought I'd ask), I'd like a copy if possible. Just to either confirm or eliminate it as being the Jeffrey Bernard source.

perspexorange wrote: Interesting read. Thanks for the link, Andy.

They mention not know the origin of the Jeffrey Bernard quote from the start of This Time Of Night.

I've been trying to track this down for a few years, and I strongly suspect that it might be from this programme:

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cd06f8bc09bb4719948c5cadc7116e43

It was broadcast on 21/03/85, so really close to when they were recording the LP. I reckon Steve sampled the TV.

Anyone know for definite? JJ etc?

If anyone has a copy of that TV programme (highly unlikely, but thought I'd ask), I'd like a copy if possible. Just to either confirm or eliminate it as being the Jeffrey Bernard source.

I actually tweeted Steve about this and he responded. He previously thought it was probably from the same programme as the one I suspected. However, from all accounts, it was not... and the original source remains a mystery.

Andy wrote: An article on the process with Stephen Morris: IrishMirror.ie

This was surprisingly good. It gets better as it goes along.

perspexorange wrote:

perspexorange wrote: Interesting read. Thanks for the link, Andy.

They mention not know the origin of the Jeffrey Bernard quote from the start of This Time Of Night.

I've been trying to track this down for a few years, and I strongly suspect that it might be from this programme:

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cd06f8bc09bb4719948c5cadc7116e43

It was broadcast on 21/03/85, so really close to when they were recording the LP. I reckon Steve sampled the TV.

Anyone know for definite? JJ etc?

If anyone has a copy of that TV programme (highly unlikely, but thought I'd ask), I'd like a copy if possible. Just to either confirm or eliminate it as being the Jeffrey Bernard source.

I actually tweeted Steve about this and he responded. He previously thought it was probably from the same programme as the one I suspected. However, from all accounts, it was not... and the original source remains a mystery.

Good effort Perspex. I don't know the answer but I guess if anyone else here does, you can get back on twitter and dazzle Steve!

Interesting to hear Steve say it was the first time in more than 40 years he had any pleasure listening to Movement. For me, the "revelation" moment for Movement was seeing Hook & The Light playing the album live. It had a magic or life to it that I hadn't previously appreciated.

Steven and Stephen clearly got stuck into it:

Steve and myself were having conversations about what kind of outboard affects Martin had and was using to create certain echo effects and modulation echo effects on the original mix of Movement

And challenged by Low Life

And the only multi-tracks for a five-minute instrumental Elegia were its original epic 17-minute version. Morris compared trying to figure out how the edit for that was pieced together to doing a jigsaw puzzle which had the potential to drive you insane.

In terms of whether forumites like Fotz can listen to this, it does appear to be Apple-only at the moment. That also rules me out for now.

I'd be interested to hear from any "Apple people" on the forum as to what they think of this new iteration. Was it worth the effort by Steven and Stephen?

I'm Apple through and through.

I've had a listen to Movement but not BM/LL.

Maybe it's my old, old years, but I haven't really noticed anything major. It just sounds nice and clean. There were a handful of times where I heard stuff that I don't think I've heard before. Things like backing vox being slightly more prominent in the mix.

I'm not an audiophile, so really not the best person to ask.

Still, I'm happy they've put the effort in. I'm sure it'll be worth it for younger-earred people.

PS As I've mentioned before, Movement wasn't an LP I initially loved, but I think it's awesome now. I think I always felt the production made the sound a bit too 'dull'. What was a real revelation to me with the LP was listening to the many brilliant live versions of the tracks. Gave me new perspective on the tracks themselves (rather than me dwelling on the production).

Oh, plus those Cargo mixes on the Definitive Edition were amazing!

In terms of whether forumites like Fotz can listen to this, it does appear to be Apple-only at the moment. That also rules me out for now.

I'd be interested to hear from any "Apple people" on the forum as to what they think of this new iteration. Was it worth the effort by Steven and Stephen?

Rules me out too - and I have to wonder what the return on investment is here. It's not a physical product they can sell (unless they release it on bluray at some point?) and the only people who can listen to it are

1. those who already have Apple Music (not me) AND
2. have kit that can play dolby atmos (also not me)

I guess there will be a small number of fans so desperate to hear this that they may invest in an Apple Music subscription and the necessary dolby kit - but that ain't me either. At best I'd pay a tenner to go and hear a playback in a cinema auditorium at full blast

I can only assume that Apple funded this and NO/SW just took the money and had their fun

I don't have an Apple subscription so no for me.

Fotz wrote: I don't have an Apple subscription so no for me.

I'm also not an Apple person (iPhone vs. Android is a bit tribal around these parts). For some reason the surround sound/Atmos stuff doesn't really excite me. I remember buying the box set of Depeche Mode's Sounds of the Universe when it came out, which included a surround mix. I listened to it twice.

Perhaps the next track they should release in this format could be the b-side to "Transmisson"...

Silly question, maybe. But how do I know the mixes are Atmos, or how to find them?

LostSiren wrote: Silly question, maybe. But how do I know the mixes are Atmos, or how to find them?

It tells you in Apple Music. Can't easily link an image (try this - https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CMoeb-dNMxs16a7g3m8UqHeAS0Fqw59W)

This completely passed me by - I only found out about it yesterday.

I have Apple Music, played on a Mac mini that connects via HDMI to my 5.1 AV amplifier (HD only; can decode up to Dolby HD/DTS HD Master Audio). Atmos mixes are downmixed such that they come out as a 5.1 multi-channel stream. So, I gave Low Life, Blue Monday then Movement a spin this evening, and thought the mixes were excellent.

In a similar vein to other surround mixes, everything has a bit more space to exist, and the overall sound has a greater clarity. This often gets said, but I noticed things I hadn't heard before, and heard other things in a different light. For me, the dynamic range also seems much better. The placement of sounds in the mix is quite restrained, but an evolution of the original stereo mixes. I think there are many highlights, but Doubts Even Here is a particular one for me.

I think Steven and Stephen are definitely on to something here, and I hope more Atmos mixes are made available. I'd happily pay for physical copies - a decent re-mix feels like a more exciting proposition to me than another remaster (although I'm equally a fan of the excellent Definitive editions). I thoroughly recommend giving these mixes a listen if you are able.

PS it took me a while to find the mixes. Movement is on Apple Music as the 2019 Remaster, Low Life as the 2022 Master; and Blue Monday as the 2023 Digital Master (single). All show the Dolby Atmos and Lossless logos when you select them.

Despite having Apple AirPod Pros and an Apple Music subscription, Spatial Audio completely passed me by, until New Order announced these Dolby Atmos releases.

Really impressed with the three releases so far, so much so I’ve bought a Sonos Era 300, so I can enjoy them in my sitting room.

Hope, we get PC&L and maybe Unknown Pleasures/Closer in Dolby Atmos too.

Movement (2019 Remaster), Low Life (2022 Master) and Blue Monday (2023 Digital Master) are available on Qobuz since 19/09/2024 but unfortunately, it seems to be stereo versions.

so in april, steve wilson mentioned they might come out physically.

along with frankie goes to hollywood - welcome to the pleasuredome, and some tears for fears, and of course new order..

https://www.musicweek.com/live/read/a-new-generation-are-excited-about-rock-steven-wilson-on-touring-his-top-3-conceptual-rock-album/091856

"In addition to your solo work, you are one of the world’s most in-demand remixers of spatial audio, creating new stereo, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos surround mixes of classic albums by an array of artists. Is this work that is particularly rewarding?

“It's been very exciting for me to find myself, for the very first and only time in my career, actually at the forefront of something rather than being 30 years behind everyone. Tomorrow [April 17 – the interview took place earlier this month], the premiere of the Pink Floyd At Pompeii – MCMLXXII is happening at Imax in Waterloo, so my Atmos mix of that is being premiered with the film. And with a Q&A with myself and Nick from the band. So that’s very exciting for me because, growing up, Floyd was basically my Beatles. They are the foundation of my musical DNA.

“There’s a whole bunch of things coming up, some of which haven’t been announced officially yet. I did the New Order catalogue last year. That's already on streaming and coming out on physical Blu-Ray soon. My remix of Welcome to The Pleasure Dome by Frankie [Goes To Hollywood] is supposed to be coming out… The Tears For Fears catalogue, that’s been a pleasure to work on.”

whether they will come out or not is still debatable...

we'll see perhaps.

later || | || | ne gative 1

I spent out on a pair of Sonos Era 100 speakers and a Sonos Beam ( soundbar) some months back. They really are pretty bloody good. Anyway, i've only just got round to trying an Apple Music subscription so i could check out these new New Order in Dolby Atmos mixes . Had to add the Apple Music app into the Sonos player to be able to play Apple Music through my Sonos speakers. Looked up and found the Movement and Low Life Dolby Atmos mixes ( and also the Blue Monday one) . Have listened to Blue Monday and some of Low Life so far.

Yep, interesting to hear what Steve Wilson has done ( with Steve Morris overseeing ) . On Blue Monday, the synth comes in specifically it seems concentrated on the right speaker. That's a good example of what Steve Wilson has done with these mixes, he'll take a particular part of the music and concentrate it to a particular side. To some success with a lot, but maybe not with some ( IMHO). Then on the TSCH-TSCH-TSCH-TSCH/TSCH-TSCH-TSCH-TSCH break on BM he put the final TSCH to the right hand speaker.Okaaay...

Overall on Blue Monday it's a noticeable difference in listening experience. The Kraftwerk 'Uranium' sample takes on a slightly different sound to my ears.

Perfect Kiss, the cowbell flies from speaker to speaker and those main synth flourishes have a slightly different feel and seem concentrated to the 2 side speakers. Bernard's voice is clearer and dead centre coming from my Sonos Beam soundbar

This Time Of Night, Steve's drums seem more prominent , almost live sounding. They seem to dominate on the fade out more than i'm used to. Again, lots of synth detail is concentrated to the side speakers, enabling me to appreciate them more clearly.

But the sound can tread a thin line between getting a little chaotic at times. . Be interested to hear what Elegia sounds like, not got that far yet.

But yeah, overall quire a different listening experience!

Doubts Even Here, wow , now this i really am enjoying. Even Hooky's vocals sound great. Those funereal synths cutting through fantastically, really grand sounding. Fantastic detail

Really liking Movement in Dolby Atmos. Much more so than the Low Life mix. A whole new listening experience for Movement. Steve Wilson has brought out into focus and detail so much of the sounds.

Had a listen on headphones ( i have a pair of Sony WH1000-XM5's that also support Dolby Atnos) and found listening on them isn't as great as it is on my Sonos speaker set up. It's nice but the sound detail seperation isn't as interesting, it's more or less the same as listening to the old standard mixes. So i'd definitely say listen on a Dolby Atmos speaker set up rather than headphones.

One thing i've found with the Dolby Atmos mixes is Stephen Wilson has ended up making Bernard's vocal much clearer but they suffer at times with being kind of a little too dry. Still, i'm sure i've picked up on one or two vocals from Bernard on Movement that i'd never heard before. Same goes for a lot of the sounds, too.

Movrment maybe is a great album afterall. It was indeed just the production that plagued it ( of course, the live and session versions always were phenomenal).This Dolby Atmos mix definitely gives me a great new appreciation . I'll be listening to this a lot more than the Dolby Atmos mix of Low Life.

Pash wrote:

In a similar vein to other surround mixes, everything has a bit more space to exist, and the overall sound has a greater clarity. This often gets said, but I noticed things I hadn't heard before, and heard other things in a different light. For me, the dynamic range also seems much better. The placement of sounds in the mix is quite restrained, but an evolution of the original stereo mixes. I think there are many highlights, but Doubts Even Here is a particular one for me.

Yep, agreed.

Andy wrote:

Perhaps the next track they should release in this format could be the b-side to "Transmisson"...

Haha! I see what you did there. Yes, maybe the, ahem, novelty wiĺ wear off.

Ideally, the Dolby Atmos mixes of Movement and Low Life will, as mooted, be released on Blu Ray and i won't need an Apple Music subscription to listen to them.