1. Beds Are Burning
2. Put Down That Weapon
3. Dreamworld
4. Arctic World
5. Warakurna
6. The Dead Heart
7. Whoah
8. Bullroarer
9. Sell My Soul
10. Sometimes

1988s Diesel and Dust by Australian band Midnight Oil was this politically-oriented groups first global success. Propelled by the hit single, Beds Are Burning, this album, the sixth the band would release, went platinum in the United States. Deluxe Vinyl Replicas by Culture Factory constitute high quality reissued compact-discs which reproduce all the components of the original LPs and are their exact replicas in compact-disc size (5.3 x 5.3 inches), with authentic single or gatefold cardboard jackets and paper sleeves. In addition to the above, each compact-disc Deluxe Vinyl Replica includes a black finish CD complete with the original label to give it the look and feel of the original record album. Culture Factory strives to achieve an authentic sound with the highest possible fidelity to the original studio masters.

Our remastering process brings out the music's true dynamics and original clarity with low levels of noise. In the remastering studio the audio tracks are handled in the form of high-definition, 96Kz / 24-bit digital files for greatest preservation of fidelity. Signal compression is sometimes used to bring out frequencies that were absent or barely heard in the original recordings, and we use the least amount of compression possible. While sound perception varies greatly among individuals our vinyl replica CDs are designed to provide the optimal listening experience when using flat EQ settings. Brand new, original, factory-sealed, limited edition CD release.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E5XLYYE/?tag=imwan-20

1. Blue Sky Mine
2. Stars Of Warburton
3. Bedlam Bridge
4. Forgotten Years
5. Mountains Of Burma
6. King Of The Mountain
7. River Runs Red
8. Shakers And Movers
9. One Country
10. Antarctica

Blue Sky Mining was Midnight Oils 1990 follow up to their popular album Diesel and Dust. The albums first song, Blue Sky Mine addresses the exploitation of mine workers, carrying on the groups approach to promoting social justice. Deluxe Vinyl Replicas by Culture Factory constitute high quality reissued compact-discs which reproduce all the components of the original LPs and are their exact replicas in compact-disc size (5.3 x 5.3 inches), with authentic single or gatefold cardboard jackets and paper sleeves. In addition to the above, each compact-disc Deluxe Vinyl Replica includes a black finish CD complete with the original label to give it the look and feel of the original record album. Culture Factory strives to achieve an authentic sound with the highest possible fidelity to the original studio masters.

Our remastering process brings out the music's true dynamics and original clarity with low levels of noise. In the remastering studio the audio tracks are handled in the form of high-definition, 96Kz / 24-bit digital files for greatest preservation of fidelity. Signal compression is sometimes used to bring out frequencies that were absent or barely heard in the original recordings, and we use the least amount of compression possible. While sound perception varies greatly among individuals our vinyl replica CDs are designed to provide the optimal listening experience when using flat EQ settings. Brand new, original, factory-sealed, limited edition CD release.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E5XLZ2U/?tag=imwan-20

Couldn't get the cover art on here.

OK-been waiting forever for remastered Oils, so here I ask: are the Culture Factory remasters as shrill, compressed to hell and ear-bleeding as I have heard?

I am almost certain to take the plunge here anyway, but I am a little apprehensive. Sure hope the other albums get the treatment if these are done right.

No bonus tracks? Blue Sky Mining did include a bonus track in Australia for a while. I have it. Strangely called "you may not be released"

The original US issue of Diesel and Dust was a fantastic sounding CD. Good luck improving the sound of that one.

And "Gunbarrel Highway" isn't listed for Diesel and Dust. Odd. It was allegedly left off the US release because it contained the word "shit" which I can't help but be skeptical about.

Absolutely. They're awful.

I've always thought Midnight Oil sounded fine on CD.

Hmmm...I will have to think about this. I have heard this company does a beautiful job with the packaging and presentation and then destroys the sonics despite their pretentious mumbo-jumbo about the sound they state.

Here it is again:
"Our remastering process brings out the music's true dynamics and original clarity with low levels of noise. In the remastering studio the audio tracks are handled in the form of high-definition, 96Kz / 24-bit digital files for greatest preservation of fidelity. Signal compression is sometimes used to bring out frequencies that were absent or barely heard in the original recordings, and we use the least amount of compression possible. While sound perception varies greatly among individuals our vinyl replica CDs are designed to provide the optimal listening experience when using flat EQ settings. Brand new, original, factory-sealed, limited edition CD release".


I don't own these on CD anymore and I did not get the Deluxe of Diesel & Dust because it offered little.

Did anyone get the current Essential Oils comp and how did that sound?

I really do not understand the logic with the remastering process by Culture Factory. Why should we have to adjust our equalization settings to flat in order to listen to its remasters? Why can't we leave our equalization where we normally set it? I have an idea. How about not brick-walling the music on these discs to death in the first place. Then we would not have to adjust them to a flat setting! Got that, Culture Factory? With all the poor reviews and complaints about the sound, one would think that Culture Factory would get it. Instead, the label continuously boasts about its stunning mastering process and refuses to address the negative feedback on the audio. What a joke! It's even more a shame since the label does a really good job with the packaging and the artwork. It's a shame that the person or the team involved with the mastering is completely clueless as to what most fans want.

No. I downloaded a FLAC copy of it in order to test out the sound. The audio has been brick-walled big time. It's about as loud as anything released today. I wouldn't call the mastering bad necessarily since I don't find it too harsh. But, again, that's just my opinion. I tend to like my mastering more on the loud side, not just overdone. This is overdone, but it's not the worst offender that I've come across. Your average audiophile would cringe, however. Maybe I just need to set my EQ to flat as Culture Factory has suggested?

Diesel and Dust
Original USA issue - Columbia CK 40967 = DR14 (just ripped my copy)
2007 Legacy Edition = DR10 (from the DR database)

Essential Oils
Disc 1 = DR6
Disc 2 = DR5
Both Essential Oil values taken from the DR database

The original USA issue was a great sounding disc so the DR14 was no suprise. I doubt if any label could put out a better sounding remaster. BTW, there are a ton of used copies of the original version available on ebay for as low as a dollar.

The Essential Oils comp looks like it should be avoided like the plague.

I personally would not buy ANYTHING from CF without first hearing it; as every title I've heard has really sucked badly.

I own all the original Midnight Oil CDs they all sound great apart from the first 2 albums from the late 1970s which were independently recorded and issued, they sound awful.

Agree, the original Columbia releases from the late 80s/early 90s were some of the best sounding CDs I had in my collection when they came out, and they still are. No need for reissues on these (although I did pick up the deluxe Diesel and Dust when that came out, mainly for the notes/dvd). I have both of these on vinyl too, and it's interesting they'd give Blue Sky Mining a black finish CD to replicate the vinyl release - my LP is on blue vinyl.

Also, "You Shall Not Be Released" appeared on the CD "maxi-single" of "Forgotten Years", which might have been the first attempt at carbon neutral non-glossy cardboard gatefold packaging of a CD, because that's just how Midnight Oil was. <grin> It drove me nuts.