On an Island Mixing

Through many listenings now. Ive got what you would consider a "hi-fi" system, and I am wondering if anyone else notices that the guitar tracks (the solos, I mean), seem pushed back into the mix of everything else? I dont think its pulled out enough, and loud enough compared to the background music. Too much volume in the background? Ive never noticed this with any Pink Floyd work, and I thought maybe Im just crazy. But sure enough, after testing other albums, I noticed the lead guitar was much more forward....I prefer this SO much more....to have things as DISTINGUISHABLE as they can be without a ridiculous amount of seperation. Im no recording engineer, but I can compare to other albums and know what I like. Why would David do this? The guitar work is so perfect! Bring it out! Dont let it get lost in the hundreds of background tracks!
By the way, I am referring to several tracks on the album, not just the title track, though it it most noticable on this one.

Maybe he wanted to hide the fact that his album essentially consists of a dozen odd guitar solos and little else. :P

Seriously though, it's probably just the influence of Chris Thomas and Phil Manzanera; both producers are noted for their preference of an intricately-blended sound over individual instrumentation. I think your concerns might be rectified in a 5.1 surround mix, which David is considering for release after the tour ends.

I think the mix is quite good on An An Island. I heard the title track on the internet, but it was not until i had the cd that i really appreciated the harmonies on it. I feel that the guitar is balanced well and the album is brilliant.

I really like the sound of the album and the sound of both vocals and guitars. I specially like the sound of the solo on "The Blue". I also think that the orchestration is quite good as it complements the sound with an adequate background but without becoming intrusive or "wishy-washy" and this balance is hard to find in rock orchestrations. I totally agree with the idea that all the instruments should serve the song/sound and not the other way round. This is why I admire and respect so much Mr. Brian Wilson , he always looks for the overall sound picture using any instrument that may serve the general aim (empty bottles, bicycle rings, mallets, theremins, whatever...)

But I've got one question about "On an Island". In a song like "The Blue" you've got no less than three people playing piano: David himself, his wife and Jools Holland... Do you really need so many people playing piano in a song where the piano is not all that relevant to begin with?

But the piano IS a big part of the song. Its many layers of guitars and piano make it dreamy and the lyrics are perfect for this song...

Well, thats just the thing with me. Ive always liked the "less is more" kind of approach usually. However, it is at least interesting to have all the layering that there is on this album. I think it does all fit together well really, but I guess I just feel like David should be showing off a little more by pulling out the guitar parts. This would lead to a more agressive sound though, and thats not what he was going for on this album clearly. I can respect that.

Dont think of this as a negative criticism, I was just trying to tell is anyone else noticed it....compared to pink floyd albums. The solos just arent as loud relative to the background music as they are on songs like Mother, Comfortably Numb, Dogs, etc. I think the background is substantially louder on the title track and Take a Breath. On The Blue, its a different story, the guitar pops out much more.