Yaz - In Your Room

2008 four disc (three CDs + NTSC/Region 0 DVD) anthology of the '80s Synthpop duo's recorded works on three CDs plus a bonus DVD that features classic Yazoo television performances from the BBC, promotional videos and a new short film containing exclusive new interviews with Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet. The box set features remastered and 5.1 mixes of both Yazoo's classic albums Upstairs At Eric's (Disc One) and You And Me Both (Disc Two) plus a third disc of B-sides and remixes. In short, this is an excellent set for Synthpop, Vince Clarke/Erasure/Depeche Mode and New Wave enthusiasts! NOTE: For legal reasons, Yazoo had to change their name to Yaz for all U.S. releases. This box contains the original albums under the duo's original name. Tracks, CD1: Upstairs At Eric's (Remastered); CD2: Nobody's Diary (Remastered); CD3: B-Sides And Remixes: Situation; Situation (Extended Version); Don't Go (Re-mix); Don't Go (Re-Remix); Situation (US 12" Mix); Situation (US 12" Dub); The Other Side Of Love; The Other Side Of Love (12" Remix); State Farm; Nobody's Diary (Extended); State Farm (Extended); Situation (Re-Recorded) +DVD. Mute. 2008. Album Description

Should be "In Your Room", too.

You've probably already heard the music, but, here it is in remastered sound, 5.1 surround sound and includes remixes and b-sides. The packaging is great and the interviews are revealing. I was always under the impression that Yaz ended for other reasons. It is nice to hear how age and a different perspective can bring two very different people back together. Who knows what the future holds for Yaz? If anyone could record and write for two different bands it would be Vince Clarke. Many of the remixes on the discs I heard for the first time after this purchase and they are all great. The only song missing here is "Tuesday", which is on their greatest hits disc, but not on either of the studio albums. August 18, 2008

Really Worth It?

I'm a big fan of Yaz but was this release really worth it? The two albums in remastered format have been out for a few years. The "remixes" CD wasn't anything to write home about, especially when compared to the remix EPs released in the UK which were significantly better. Then there is the DVD. That might be worth something but personally I watch those maybe once or twice. Overall I think this is a steep price to pay for what you actually get. August 11, 2008

ALMOST perfect!

I am thrilled to have this set! I'm not too upset about some of the missing remixes as some. My only complaint is that State Farm and Situation were not remixed in 5.1. I love the 5.1 remixes they add a fun complexity to the songs with much better dynamic range and sound field image. If you're a completest don't bother buying the U.K. edition. For all the extra money all you get is a "oo" at the end of Yaz. They are otherwise identical.
August 5, 2008

Great re-mastering, but sadly missing a few key elements.

Criminally overlooked in the United States, Yazoo (Yaz in the US) was a short lived collaboration between Vince Clarke (the founder of Depeche Mode and Erasure) and Alison Moyet. Two albums, four singles, and that was it. Fantastic early 80's electronic pop. The remastering on the re-issues is fantastic, and it sounds like it was recorded yesterday, very crisp and fresh sounding. Having all of the 12" singles digitized and cleaned up is fantastic treat as well, as my old vinyl 12" singles are a bit tired after all these years. The videos included on the DVD are a fun addition. I doubt the TV appearances will bear much repeated viewing, but it is fun to see just how young this dynamic duo looked back then. These are all lip-synched tv appearances, so it's purely enjoyable for the sake of the visuals, albeit with no live performances. The 5.1 surround mixes are done well, but I find very little use for these in general, as I'm usually not sitting still in front of my TV to listen to the perfect audio surround sound mix in the "sweet spot" (though I do appreciate their inclusion here.)

There is bit of disappointment with this otherwise well executed box set, however. Firstly, while it includes the video from the 1990 re-release of "Situation" and the 1999 re-release of "Only You", it doesn't include any of the fabulous remixes from either of these eras. Being a completist, I have all of them on other formats, but I think everyone would have appreciated representation of these remixes, especially the 1990 mixes of "State Farm" and "Situation". There were a ton of remixes released alongside the "Best of" collection in 1999 and it's a shame none of those are represented either. Most heartbreaking is the decision to leave out "Get Set," which is the Holy Grail to Yaz collectors as this gem of a song is, and sadly remains, completely unreleased. Written as the theme song for a BBC music tv program, Vince and Alison decided they didn't want it on this box set because, as Alison states, "We felt that it didn't fit in with our body of work." This box set was really our last hope for this song to see the light of day. It's really too bad... box sets are designed for rabid fans, collectors, and completists and this one falls achingly short of being truly complete.

August 3, 2008

re-visited bliss

fascinating, timeless electro-pop gems that deserve a second listen after all these years. The two seminal artists have remained vital through the years and, as they so perfectly proved on their new tour, achieved something together truly memorable and so exciting.

They brought real emotion and vocal prowess to a genre that dangerously hovered near perpetual monotony and mechanized boredom. There is exceptional vitality and energy to these songs as the artists are visionaries who raised the bar very high.

Kudos to Andy Bell for sharing Vince's genius with the woman who kinda helped put them all on the map. Here's to the long-lasting future of all three - who brought us into their brilliant world and have kept us there delightfully for so many years. July 27, 2008

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