Alan Parsons - Stereotomy

2007 digitally remastered and expanded edition of the Alan Parsons classic album that was originally released in 1985. Parsons himself digital remastered all his catalog albums reissued in 2007 using the original master tapes. The difference in sound quality is amazing-each sounds absolutely fantastic. The packaging includes revamped booklets with fresh, elaborated liner notes based on interviews with Parsons and Woolfson as well as rare photos and memorabilia. Album Description

Great album

Stereotomy is a great album. Title track is one of the Project's best moments period and the rest flows nicely along. Whole album has a much different feel than any of the other albums, which makes it stand out nicely after all these years. Bonus track "Rumour Goin' Round" is a nice rocking instrumental. Remaster sounds crisp and powerful. Highly recommended for fans that don't want all APP songs to sound like "The Same Old Sun" or other Woolfson-sung soft rock ballads. October 6, 2008

Alan Parsons' near-favorite Project, second only to "Tales"

Even for the ardent fan of The Project, the virtues of Stereotomy may not be as readily accessible as their earlier releases. While the last two albums had a somewhat softer feel and Eric Woolfson's lead vocals throughout, Alan took the ninth project in a distinctly differenent direction after Lee Abrams, a prominent spoken word contributor to their preceeding album Vulture Culture, complained of the direction their recent work had taken by exclaiming, "Where's The Wulrus"? Thus was born the title to one of the finest group efforts The Project has ever performed, one that earned yet another Grammy nomination for the group.

For those fans who took a liking to the softer approach with Eric Woolfson's lead vocals, Stereotomy may have been a bit of a shock. While the title track, In The Real World, and Where's The Wulrus all had a harder edge, each also deserves a close listening, especially the former and the latter which are laden with ornate and ambient depth. Not to mention it was here John Miles made his triumphant return to The Project after last appearing on PYRAMID.

However, it should also be noted that the softer side of The Project was alive and well in songs like Light of the World, Chinese Whispers, and the astounding Limelight featuring the vocals of Procol Harem's Gary Brooker.

This new remaster has a warmth that, while present on the original vinyl, was somewhat lacking on the compact disc released by Arista. Of the bonus material, the two standout tracks are the instrumental version of Light of the World and the brand new song Rumor Goin' Round. My personal view parallels those of both Alan and Lee Abrams: this departure from the softer approach of Ammonia Avenue and Vulture Culture, while good albums in their own right, was well overdue as The Project had become a little too conventional by the mid-eighties. Stereotomy, on the other hand, is anything but conventional. September 25, 2008

Stereotomy

I've never owned a version of this album until now, so I don't have a clue if this is an improvement regarding the audio. I have been a fan of the Alan Parsons Project since I Robot & owned everything through Eye in the Sky. It was about that time, for various reasons, that I quit purchasing albums. Stereotomy managed to get to #43 on the charts. The song "Sterotomy" made it to #82 on the singles chart.

The Project has always used a rotating group of vocalists but at the core of this were Lenny Zakatek, Chris Rainbow & Eric Woolfson. For the first time on any Project album up to this point there isn't a Zakatek lead vocal. Eric Woolfson doesn't do a lead vocal either for the first time since The Turn of a Friendly Card. This is further evidence that the Project was taking a different tack.

The first thing I noticed with this album is there a definite eighties influence in the music, dance rhythms have been incorporated into the music of APP. Stereotomy isn't a bad album; I know it's not considered to be the best in his catalog, no, not even close, yet there isn't a weak moment in it. Unlike most of the Project's albums this one didn't open with an instrumental. It definitely makes one feel as if the Project was making a conscious effort to go into another direction. Also, unlike most of the Project's earlier efforts, there isn't a standout song here. The songs that immediately struck me as good were "Stereotomy", "Urbania" & "Where's the Walrus?", the latter two being instrumentals. Instrumentals have been one of the greatest strengths of the Project.

There are four bonus tracks here which show the evolution of some of the songs that are here. One of the bonus cuts is a song that wasn't included on the original album. Let me add one more thing: Ian Bairnson is an excellent guitarist who hasn't received all the credit he's due. He's one of the most tasteful of lead players always giving exactly what the songs required. He's well known in the circle of musicians but the public, in general, doesn't give this man the proper credit. My hats off to you, Ian Bairnson! April 24, 2008

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