Global Communication - 76:14 Album

I have to say, the 2 copies I received of this release are noisy as all hell.Both copies have been cleaned with an ultrasonic (3 and 4 times, respectively), but the noise is ruining the listening experience (more on that later).Both prints are the white vinyl, BTW.I also received the new 36 & Zake https://www.discogs.com/36-2-zak%C3%A8-Stasis-Sounds-For-Long-Distance-Space-Travel/master/1674900 on the same day, and it's incredible!Now, onto the serious stuff, this version sounds pretty bad!I have the original release from 94, a re-release from an American label a few years back, the Discotheque release (CD & vinyl), and a few CD releases from over the years.Do not let anyone fool you, this version is not up to any of those others I have.I don't know who is ultimately responsible for the re-mastering, but this version is all over the place.Levels of certain instruments on some tracks sound so quiet, you have to really stress to hear them; a good example is 1st track on side 2 - there's musical detail in there you have to really focus on to hear them, and then the main drum track comes thundering in.Also, where's the bass on the tone drops of track 2 - I LOVED those, and now all you can hear is the initial tone/note, and no bass as it falls - even the original CD had all of these elements in full effect.I have to say, I was really looking forward to this, and the reviews here were setting this up to be something really special, but man, what a letdown..I cannot figure out why people are saying this release is so good, when it's hard to even get past all the crackles throughout both discs.The packaging is indeed top notch, and if only MOV had got their shit together and printed a really nice pressing - this could have been SO damned good.I'm still waiting for the black vinyls to arrive, so who knows, but going on what I have so far, I know Mark & Tom will hit their re-release out of the park later this year.It is crap that MOV/Sony went ahead on this on their own, and I for one, completely understand why Global Communication were really pissed of at them for putting this out - if you're gonna do it, do it right!I know they will..

Like the other people who posted positive comments on this pressing, I have no intention of fooling anyone. I've bought some shit pressings in the past and been happy to call it out when it's happened (I've been mugged twice by Plain records). However, for me this isn't the case with the MOV pressing. Like you, I've got other copies to compare against and to me it sounds really good; every bit as good as the 2005 issues which MOV appear to have used as the masters (please see the discussion below re the JONZ Loud mastering) and more rounded than the 1994 CD. Maybe it's just a case of to each their own.

Hi Dave! Thanks for the reply.No, I'm not mates of Global Communication - just a long time fan, and someone who also knows (especially) Mark Pritchard, will do his absolute best to make sure the music sounds as good as it can - for any release!I actually have a really nice 1210g that was modified by KAB (check them out here: https://www.kabusa.com I've since received a copy of the black vinyl edition from MOV, and it does sound leaps & bounds better than the clear edition (IMHO), but it doesn't take an audiophile to hear it's been maximized for loudness throughout - the originals don't suffer from that! As for 24 bit - I feel it's very presumptuous to assume GC haven't hung on to their masters - of all their music - why would an artist on a small independent hand over their precious master to a major - especially as it appears neither Mark or Tom had any idea MOV were repressing? Anyway, I for one am thoroughly looking forward to their repress of Blood Music, and whatever else they want to put out.If this doesn't appeal to you, then do indeed - skip it!

Sad to hear the 1994 CD you have referenced has cackle! As for the recent vinyl in order of likelihood from low to high you either have a crap turntable, have been very unlucky compared to all the other reviewers here or are mates of Mark & Tom! As for the pending reissue I look forward to it but a likely costly boxset with Pentamerous included (greatness that it is) does not seem the best if looking out for fans in my view but perhaps a tactic to get us all to buy it again! Doesn't sound like they have an analog master so hard to imagine it will be any better (24 bit vs 24 bit).

The Music On Vinyl reissue is available via Juno NOW!

Save your money, don't shell out for the unauthorized MOV repress. GC themselves have stated that only they have the masters, thus the MOV repress would've been mastered from a CD copy.They've also said that they're currently putting the finishing touches on an official repress of their own (with bonus material!), which will be announced soon and released in 2020. Support the artists, not Sony.

Certain records, are wonderful to be played with Vinyl. But particularly with ambient music from the 90ies onwards, digital is the better choice imo. Not standing at a mixer fooling around with the music, but instead sitting in the sweet spot and sucking it in!!! Than sonics can be clean, crystal clear at all time and specialy don't like to get up and flip the record! No need for a trophy on wall, But that's just I, sometimes.

repress this please ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Repress is coming in January! On colored vinyl. Music On Vinyl is releasing it.https://www.hhv.de/shop/en/item/global-communication-76-14-coloured-vinyl-edition-704175?p=P2kSwN

This Masterpiece of Electronica is without a doubt one of my most treasured musical escape hatches I put this on and i drift and I yearn. In fact; when listening to these frequencies i it seems that i feel the whole gamut of Emotion, human or otherwise. Global Communication is right! Melancholy and the Infinite Goodness! Favourite track - 9:25 Please repress this on vinyl guys!

Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton should get the Polar Music Prize! They are true innovators in the field of electronic dance music, ambient, and a plethora of interesting strands, tangents, and back-alleys of the hardcore continuum. This is a sublime piece of art. As someone else said in the comments, a lot of so-called "intelligent dance music" was little more than pretentious, overloaded, over-intellectualised equilibrism. Alongside other, perhaps more well-recognised artists such as Aphex and Autechre, this is the opposite of posey affectation. An overlooked classic, similar to Gas 0095 in its approachability, humility, and emotional lustre.

I'm just curious if there are plans for the repress of this album?

I usually find ambient and several IDM variants to be the Derrida of electronic music: pretentious, postmodern nonsense masqueraded as something deep. This is not that. This is real. Meaningful, lush, tactfully layered, smooth. Simply and absolutely beautiful ambient music. The only way it should be.

When are we getting a repress of this? I don't feel like paying $200 for a piece of music.

Repress is coming in January! On colored vinyl. Music On Vinyl is releasing it.https://www.hhv.de/shop/en/item/global-communication-76-14-coloured-vinyl-edition-704175?p=P2kSwN

Weird, I've had track 2 from this disc for a long time, but it's named "Mystic Institute - Ob-Selon Mi-Nos (Re-Painted By Global Communication)". Any ideas what the story is here?

This is the release, in case anyone is wondering: https://www.discogs.com/Mystic-Institute-The-Cyberdon-EP-Reload-Remixes/master/78500

Answered my own question... Mark Pritchard is half of Mystic Institute, and also half of Global Communication. I must have this from the earlier Mystic Institute release.

I bought this when it first came out and for whatever reason it did not grab me then ... but it has my attention now! Beautiful, lush, sublime it's mesmerizing from start to finish. Whatever made me want to listen to this, it is the perfect soundtrack for my life right now. Serendipitous.

We all need to create a petition directed to Sony Music for the reissue of this fantastic album.The whole world needs to hear Pitchard and Middleton's timeless music again, too bad they don't work together any more....

This was always one of my favorite albums throughout the most formative period of my life. My 'favorite' song on it changed, from the most immediate and obvious at first (14:31, etc.) to probably the most subtle but powerful (4:14). I grew right along with this.

A detailed track by track breakdown of the LP. Ideas, gear used, etc. Quite a good read ...https://medium.com/12edit/global-communication-76-14-story-behind-the-album-b1fe01658bd8

This needs a repress a 2017 repress. : - )

I bought this CD 15 years ago when I was just getting into ambient music, it's reputed to be a classic. I found it really disappointing, some nice textures, but predicable plodding melodies which simply couldn't engage my interest. I recently had another listen 15 years later and came to the same conclusion. I wanted to like it, but I honestly can't understand what all the hype is about. This is the most uninteresting release I've heard in the ambient genre

What a clown. But he's listened to a lot of ambient music, so he knows what he's talking about. In the ambient genre.

shindo I bought this CD 15 years ago when I was just getting into ambient music, it's reputed to be a classic. I found it really disappointing, some nice textures, but predicable plodding melodies which simply couldn't engage my interest. I recently had another listen 15 years later and came to the same conclusion. I wanted to like it, but I honestly can't understand what all the hype is about. This is the most uninteresting release I've heard in the ambient genre Now go Back and say/write everything in reverse :)

My daughter was born to this LP so it will always be intrinsically linked with that beautiful life changing experience. Even without that, i still consider this album a masterpiece. Selected Ambient Works deservedly gets a lot of credit but Mr D James is a bit of a one trick pony in comparison to the sprawling works and sheer variety of output from Tom Middleton and (and more importantly) Mark Pritchard.

This release is divine. Really, really special. Probably the best fusion of sparse beats (when available) with drifting ambience that is constructed in a very clever and inventive way, which is why it is a joy to listen to over and over again. Crucially, this was released in 1994, a year i remember as the big records companies, stung by not picked up on House, rave and baggy quickly enough to harvest the money, were avid to push Ambient and IDM (hate that term) as the new big thing. Remember virgin's spiffing AMBT series launched that year? This was when there was the frisson of excitement and possibilities in the zeitgeist, and experimentalism was bankrolled. Not like now, alas. So this is very much of it's time and a leading contender for the forerunner, along with Aphex, Seefeel's 'Quique', and Irresistible Force's 'Flying High', and The Orb, of the perfect time(less) capsule; and also transcends it by being a gem that comes up fresh as paint each listen.

I don't even deserve to post a review here. I feel so small and void compared to this outstanding release. Like a breakfast kiosk against a skyscraper.If someone follows (or have read) my reviews, then either he or she knows that I say this quite often, but let's be honest: this is art. Period. People obviously have opinions, I know a few guys around who have found this mediocre or poor, but...respect this release please. There is a certain reason why 76:14 comes up in literally all "top XY ambient albums of all time" lists, general electronic music recommendations, why this one is rated at 4.72 / 5 right know, based on 870 ratings (and no, it is not hype).Call me stupid, call me small-minded, but albums like this one always make me realize one of the aspects of life: it has this splendid abstraction called music. Music is something that you either like or don't. Generally speaking, this is music, but - and this is the point in my opinion - if you enjoy it, you will enjoy it big time. This is a higher state...I'm a dude in his early twenties, so, obviously, I won't cry, but deep inside it really drives me there.I'm not sure how well this one aged, and frankly I don't care. I have discovered it like eight years ago, I've gone through the discography of BoC, Mr. Eno, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Amon Tobin, you name it, and this LP stayed with me; so, when it comes to me, it stood the the test of time, definitely. I have never even considered the option that this one is outdated or redundant these days. It's an everlasting ordinance of ambient music. I highly recommend this to anyone, irregardless of age, mood and musical interest.5 / 5, upliftingFavourites: can't point out a single track, this is what came to my mind right now. Ask me a minute later, and this would be different:- 9 : 25- 7 : 39- 9 : 39- 4 : 14Thanks for reading.

Music can be divided essentially into two categories. Beautiful and ugly. You decide where to place 76.14. Now begin to talk about the album. First, it is incorrect to talk about music when it comes to 76.14.76.14 is a treaty, a unique document. The music contained in this document represents the substance, the highest level ever achieved of electronic music. Throughout your life you will hear lots of music, good, bad, good quality, creative. But you will never experience the sensations of deep intimacy and lightness, the proximity of the unknown and the very meaning of life in the universe such as the sound of this masterpiece. This album is absolutely transcends any earthly categorization and classification of what can be called music and in today's music scene this album is unique and unrepeatable. Unmatched.

Not much that I can add to the plate with all these great reviews already here. What I will say is that the rumors are true... This CD is amazing and seems to be a hidden ambient/IDM gem from the 90s that not a whole lot of people know about. Even here in the time I write this (2006) Global Communication have still not released a proper follow-up to this album. I know the two have been busy with their own projects but sometimes I think they wanted to end Global Communication with this classic and have people remember this album as their sound. Its hard to pick favorites here seeing how the album needs to be listened to as a whole... I could tell you about how 14:31 is a slow, ambient piece with a "tick-tock" sound running throughout the track. Or I could tell you that 8:07 has a dancey feel to it with what is either an amazingly real sounding synth line, or female vocals. I could tell you all these things.. But the only thing I want to say now is BUY THE ALBUM! Its worth every penny.

While not exactly a proper album, Remotion was a pretty good follow-up for 76'14. I also highly recommend Pentamerous Metamorphosis. Both of those were amazing too…but nothing ever topped 76'14.

Without a doubt this release is in a class all by itself. Brings to mind some of the immersive games I've played (Myst) with amazing clarity. One of my personal favs in the ambient genre. A positive vibe throughout, yet dark, mellow and involving. I can listen to this everyday, but don't so I won't wear out the feeling I get when I listen to it. Tom and Mark at their absolute best!

Interesting that you mention Myst. This is exactly what I think of every time I hear this album.

Although, it was the earlier cosmic housey sound that really got me into Global Communication. It didnt take me long to discover and fully appreciate the superb quality of this album. In addition to being one of the most technically sounding albums Ive ever heard, the layout and synths are out of this world. 7:39, 8:07, 9:39 are amazing! A MUST for any collection.

This is a fantastic album from the era when ambient was at its peak, rank this alongside works like The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld, KLF's Chill Out. Those who know of Tom Middleton will probably know of his work as Cosmos (spacey lovely house), Jedi Knights (nu-school breaks which inspired the likes of Adam Freeland) and his Sound Of The Cosmos mix (which is a blinding exercise in breaks, house and downtempo spread over 3CDs) ... or perhaps the even later Global Communications tracks The Way / The Deep which explored funky cosmic house. This, however, is as far detatched from the housey Middleton as possible. 76:15 follows the 'swirling ambience' template, beatless, seamless and atmospheric ... taking you on a journey from one end of the CD to the other. Take 9:39 for example, full of deep space cosmic bleeps, a hypnotic 'warrooooooom!' bass pulse, and eerie choral synths. Definately swirling ambience. There are some astoundingly beautiful moments on here too. 14:31 is plain gorgeous, a slowly ticking clock keeps the beat of the track while lush orchestral synths create a gorgeous uplifting mood. Its not all totally beatless, 9:25 has a gentle break that helps the track move along. Think Orb's Supanova At The End Of The Universe and you're pretty much there. 7:39 features almost Plaid-y Warp style synths, while 8:07 and 5:23 work hypnotic keys over deep pulsing Sasha style bassline stabs. 12:18 finishes off the album with more dramatic orchestral synth action like in 14:31 ... a top closer. As you can tell, the entire album is named after the sum of its track times, with each track named after how long it is. Apparently to stop the listener having preconceptions about how the music sounds before they listen to it. A nice idea, this is an album you make your own concept for, your own story ... as opposed to The Orb's journey from Earth to the Ultraworld.

The best ambient album I've heard so far. Excelent melodies, amazing production skills... Brilliant ambient album! Track 2 is also known as 14:31 (Ob-Selon Mi-Nos) Track 5 is also known as 7:39 (Mark's Birthday Retake) Tracks 7 & 8 are known as 8:07 (Mayden Voyage) and 5:23 (Mayden Voyage). Even though, the album is entitled "76:14", my CD player says that the total length is 76:17... :)