ribonucleic
04-19-2013, 11:05 PM
While there is substantial and knowledgeable guidance in "The Blade Runner Soundtracks Ultimate Thread" (Thread 72496) and "Do Androids Dream Of Lossless Audio Files?" (Thread 75274), it is buried deep where those in need of it will have trouble finding it. So here are my own thoughts on the matter. Additions and disputations are welcome.
The question "Which of the bajillion Blade Runner editions should I get?" has no simple answer. But I think I can narrow it down for you.
My qualifications? I have listened to every BR bootleg ever released. Ha ha, no. But I have read the "Ultimate" and "Android" threads in their entirety. (No small project!) So I'm confident that I'm aware of the major contenders.
So... are you a Leon, a Deckard, or a Roy?
LEON
"Uh... so which one do I get?"
The "2019 Edition".
A lean 67 minute edition focused on the most memorable Vangelis material - albeit one whose sound quality would later be surpassed. [And Track 8 is slightly marred by dialogue.] I affectionately refer to it as the "Basic Pleasure Model". This should have been the standard commercial release. It is what I would give to a friend with a general interest in the soundtrack. If I could have only one edition and was never allowed to skip tracks, I would choose this one.
DECKARD
"I must hunt down the right one."
The "EMS Recombination 2011 Definitive Edition".
A culmination of almost 30 years of fan labor, this is the pinnacle of quality. You could download just the first two discs, delete a few tracks of interest chiefly to completists, and have an edition that would satisfy all but the most hardcore proponents of the work. (Though there is exquisite music on disc 3 that I wouldn't want to be without.)
ROY
"I've heard things you wouldn't believe."
At this level of intensity, there will be no substitute for handcrafting your own edition. Use the EMS as a backbone and supplement it with the "29th Anniversary Limited Edition".
If the EMS is 100% sound quality/95% completeness, the 29th is 95% sound quality/100% completeness. It also hews closer to film order - making it a valuable guide to assembling your own track list.
If you've gone this far, you might also consider adding "Los Angeles November 2019" as a resource.
It is an ambient sound suite meant to transport the listener into the world of the film. I imagine it would be valuable in fashioning bridges between cues.
So where to grab all this goodness?
The "2019 Edition" can be found in 320 in the Ultimate Thread here (Thread 72496). FLAC links here (http://forums.ffshrine.org/f92/blade-runner-fan-editions-guide-perplexed-131480/#post2332347).
To the best of my knowledge, working FLAC links for "EMS Recombination 2011 Definitive" can currently be found only on Avaxhome here (http://avaxhome.ws/music/bootlegs/Vangelis__Blade_Runner_EMS_Recombination__2011.htm l).
The "29th Anniversary Limited Edition" is available in FLAC here (http://misterekis.blogspot.com/2012/08/vangelis-blade-runner-29th-anniversary.html).
"Los Angeles November 2019" can be found in 320 in the Ultimate Thread. It is available in FLAC as Disc 3 in the otherwise-to-be-avoided "Esper Retirement Edition" here (http://misterekis.blogspot.com/2012/02/vangelis-blade-runner-esper-retirement.html).
The question "Which of the bajillion Blade Runner editions should I get?" has no simple answer. But I think I can narrow it down for you.
My qualifications? I have listened to every BR bootleg ever released. Ha ha, no. But I have read the "Ultimate" and "Android" threads in their entirety. (No small project!) So I'm confident that I'm aware of the major contenders.
So... are you a Leon, a Deckard, or a Roy?
LEON
"Uh... so which one do I get?"
The "2019 Edition".
A lean 67 minute edition focused on the most memorable Vangelis material - albeit one whose sound quality would later be surpassed. [And Track 8 is slightly marred by dialogue.] I affectionately refer to it as the "Basic Pleasure Model". This should have been the standard commercial release. It is what I would give to a friend with a general interest in the soundtrack. If I could have only one edition and was never allowed to skip tracks, I would choose this one.
DECKARD
"I must hunt down the right one."
The "EMS Recombination 2011 Definitive Edition".
A culmination of almost 30 years of fan labor, this is the pinnacle of quality. You could download just the first two discs, delete a few tracks of interest chiefly to completists, and have an edition that would satisfy all but the most hardcore proponents of the work. (Though there is exquisite music on disc 3 that I wouldn't want to be without.)
ROY
"I've heard things you wouldn't believe."
At this level of intensity, there will be no substitute for handcrafting your own edition. Use the EMS as a backbone and supplement it with the "29th Anniversary Limited Edition".
If the EMS is 100% sound quality/95% completeness, the 29th is 95% sound quality/100% completeness. It also hews closer to film order - making it a valuable guide to assembling your own track list.
If you've gone this far, you might also consider adding "Los Angeles November 2019" as a resource.
It is an ambient sound suite meant to transport the listener into the world of the film. I imagine it would be valuable in fashioning bridges between cues.
So where to grab all this goodness?
The "2019 Edition" can be found in 320 in the Ultimate Thread here (Thread 72496). FLAC links here (http://forums.ffshrine.org/f92/blade-runner-fan-editions-guide-perplexed-131480/#post2332347).
To the best of my knowledge, working FLAC links for "EMS Recombination 2011 Definitive" can currently be found only on Avaxhome here (http://avaxhome.ws/music/bootlegs/Vangelis__Blade_Runner_EMS_Recombination__2011.htm l).
The "29th Anniversary Limited Edition" is available in FLAC here (http://misterekis.blogspot.com/2012/08/vangelis-blade-runner-29th-anniversary.html).
"Los Angeles November 2019" can be found in 320 in the Ultimate Thread. It is available in FLAC as Disc 3 in the otherwise-to-be-avoided "Esper Retirement Edition" here (http://misterekis.blogspot.com/2012/02/vangelis-blade-runner-esper-retirement.html).