‘Remastering’ is a word that can evoke anticipation, indifference, or doubt — often all at once. For some, it holds the promise of revival, a chance to breathe new clarity into a cherished favourite. For others, it reeks of commercial exploitation, a slick repackaging that risks sacrificing the original soul of an album at the altar of modern polish. But what does it truly mean to remaster a work? And more intriguingly, what does it take to do it well? To explore these questions, we turn to the enigmatic Will Wood and his recent remaster of The Normal Album — an opus as peculiar as it is profound.

What the Heck is a ‘Will Wood’?

Will Wood (formerly of The Tapeworms) is unconventional, to say the least. Relentlessly teasing the boundary between eclectic and eccentric, if you haven’t ventured into his music, it’s probably because you’ve been too busy with artists that are far easier to classify. Comprising an idiosyncratic mix of cabaret, jazz, alt-rock, and musical theatre, Wood’s music doesn’t just defy genres — it gleefully tramples over them. With lyrics diving into themes like mental health, societal norms, and the absurdity of existence — all delivered with a wink and a nudge — Wood is anything but mainstream.

“Will Wood has created something that feels both familiar and new”

But whether you love him or leave him, there’s no denying that The Normal Album, one of his most critically acclaimed works, is a rollercoaster ride worth every loop and twist. So when Wood announced he’d be remastering this already cherished body of work under the title The New Normal!, it heralded more than just an audio upgrade; it brought into question the very nature of artistic evolution.

Remastering: A Delicate Art

At its core, remastering involves revisiting a recording and enhancing it using modern technology — adjusting levels, refining equalisation, and expanding dynamic range to better suit contemporary listening environments. But like a well-intentioned facelift, it’s a process that can either rejuvenate or ruin, depending on the hand that wields the scalpel. A great remaster can reveal hidden depths, adding layers of nuance that were previously muffled by older technology. A poor one risks flattening those layers, sanding down the rough edges that gave the original its character.

Then why remaster The Normal Album, an already well-received work? The answer lies not in fixing what was broken — because nothing was — but in amplifying what was already there. The remaster is less about correcting past mistakes and more about reimagining the possibilities, using today’s technology to sharpen the contours of an already striking piece without compromising the original vision. This is where Will Wood’s meticulous approach to The New Normal! shines. The remastered version isn’t about slapping on a new coat of paint; it’s about bringing the artwork into sharper focus.

“The answer lies not in fixing what was broken — because nothing was — but in amplifying what was already there”

One of the most striking improvements is the clarity of the mix. The original recording, while praised for its complexity, sometimes allowed its intricate arrangements to blur, like a vivid painting viewed through foggy glass. The remaster wipes that glass clean. Instruments that were once buried now emerge with newfound precision, each element distinct yet harmoniously integrated. It’s the aural equivalent of moving from standard definition to high definition — everything is clearer, crisper, more immediate.

Take, for instance, ‘Blue Velvet Reboot Starring Tom Waits (Suburbia Overture 2024 Edit)’, a track that was already a kaleidoscope of shifting moods and tempos. In its remastered form, the song’s transitions are more pronounced, its emotional peaks and valleys sharper. The expanded dynamic range tightens each sonic element, giving the track a sense of space that was less apparent in the original mix.

Revisiting the Emotional Landscape

But technical precision alone doesn’t make a remaster successful; it must also reconnect the listener with the emotional core of the album. This is where Will Wood’s involvement becomes crucial. Rather than handing over his work to an outside engineer, Wood was deeply involved in the remastering process, ensuring that the adjustments served the music rather than obscured it.

In ‘Love, Me Normally’, the remaster doesn’t just amplify the sound; it amplifies the feeling. Wood’s vocals, now given more room to resonate, cut through the mix with a vulnerability that feels both raw and refined. The track’s lyrics, dripping with irony and desperation, hit harder, leaving a more lasting impression.

The New Normal! also includes previously unreleased studio demos, such as ‘I / Me / Myself’. These additions offer fans a raw, unfiltered look at the songs before they were fully realised, complementing the remaster and underscoring the album’s journey from its initial conception to its reimagined form.

A New Lens on a Familiar Work

Ultimately, the remaster of The Normal Album as The New Normal! is more than just revisiting an audio, it’s a re-contextualisation of the original work. By refining the technical elements without compromising the album’s emotional core, Will Wood has created something that feels both familiar and new — a fresh lens through which to hear an already intricate and layered piece of art.

With this remaster, Wood has revisited his work with the wisdom and clarity that time affords, infusing fresh energy into an album that, even in its original form, felt ahead of its time. The New Normal! exemplifies how an artist can revisit their past not as a closed chapter but as a living document, inviting listeners to rediscover and re-engage with the music anew.