I bought this on cassette way back in the summer of 87 and was completely blown away. It's mystical, romantic, celtic, historic, you name it. I subsequently bought it on CD (prior to the 1998 remastering). Well I've just finished listening to this 2008/09 remaster, and it blows me away. I do not have anything close to an audiophile level system, but was able to discern a soundstage like I never heard on these songs before. There's depth and spacing to the mix and the individual instruments. There are walls of enveloping synths, very clear melodic guitars, a rhythm section of bass guitar and kick/bass drum that you can feel. It's very clear - not at all muddy. One of my favorite Van records (along with Moondance, Into the Music, Wavelength, and Poetic Champions Compose) just got way way better! Can't wait to hear more of these remasters!