It showed up, I threw it in immediately and listened to the whole thing. This isn't the kind of album that you just listen to a few tracks or bits an pieces. It urges you to listen all the way through. They really did go all out for this one IMHO. There was always a bit of "muffle" to it, even on the SACD, which I thought was just how the master must be. The SACD is still very clear despite that and I can crank it, but the improvements here are very noticeable. Some things have changed in a good way and others were sort of left the same with a bigger presentation. I believe the previously linked reviewer said the mix was done "respectfully" and I would have to agree. There's nothing gimmicky here.
Speak to Me and Breathe sound very similar to before, except for the synth which is either really remastered or was totally redone. That was a bit surprising, but the clarity it provides still works. With On The Run, the footsteps that previously sounded like someone running from speaker to speaker with a bit of depth to it, now sounds like someone running about the room, complete with the sense of the size of the room. On Time, the clocks always sounded impressive and clear, now they have an added sense of the space you are in with them. The coins and drawer sound pretty much the same on Money, which works for me. I don't think it needed anything added. Bass on the album as a whole feels cleaner and more pronounced.
For most of the tracks, the Atmos isn't in your face, it is used effectively to give a huge front stage and a lot of the ambient synth and guitar sort of floats above. Some vocals, like the echo on Us and Them, almost seem to float away above you. Probably the single most noticeable improvement though is the ambient voices. The levels of them have been increased and they are very clear and more prominent now across the whole album. Overall, I will say: fans of this album and Atmos should pick this one up.
