August 30th, 2024
Meet Patrick Leonard and Me at Innovative Audio, NYC September 19th not suggesting you fly in or anything like that... By: Michael FremerIf you are in the New York metro area, on September 19th Innovative Audio is hosting an album release party for Patrick Leonard's new album It All Comes Down to Mood. Patrick will be there and following playback of the entire album on the big Wilson Chronosonic XVX speakers Patrick Leonard and I will talk about it's creation, the musicians like Tony Levin, Martin Barre and others who participated and if there's time, Patrick's incredible... Read More
Comments: 0August 29th, 2024
Newvelle Returns to NOLA For Little Freddie King limited to 500 copies By: Tracking AngleNewvelle's Elan Mehler was kind enough to give Tracking Angle an exclusive on this press release and offer. Since there are but 500 copies pressed, here's the story: The legendary Little Freddie King returns to Newvelle Records with a stripped down - and decidedly different - sound. The blues titan appears here just a few years following his acclaimed release Going Upstairs but now in raw, unadorned form. Paul DeFiglia on upright bass and Bobby Lewis on harp... Read More
Comments: 1August 27th, 2024
Zesto Audio - Andros Spirit Vacuum Tube Phono Preamplfier Dave McNair eats Greek food as he reviews an entry level tube phono pre from Zesto Audio By: Dave McNairHigh-end audio has a rich history of husband-and-wife teams. In the case of Zesto Audio, head honcho George Counnas designs the circuitry, and his wife Carolyn creates the line's distinctive, unmistakably artsy, curvaceous looks. She also does Zesto's marketing.George’s back story includes being part of a research and development team designing airborne navigational systems for the Royal Air Force and later as a recording engineer, musician, and producer.... Read More
Comments: 12August 27th, 2024
Yes Forged Ahead with "Relayer" The beginning of the end of their classic run? By: Dylan PegginAmongst contemporaries like King Crimson and Genesis, Yes had more than enough going for it to stand out from the crowd. The combination of Jon Anderson’s angelic falsetto and abstract lyrics, Chris Squire’s lead-like bass runs, Steve Howe’s experimental guitar explorations, Rick Wakeman’s classically-inspired keyboard flourishes, and Bill Bruford’s percussive jazz fills encompassed the trappings of progressive rock at its most potent. Yes spent first half of the... Read More
Comments: 5Just because Tracking Angle unapologetically advocates for analog-based audio doesn’t mean we are digital troglodytes. I am confident that many professed analog lovers out there are "closet streamers," so staying updated on the fast-changing developments in the digital arena is important. Combining analog musical satisfaction with digital music's convenience and accessibility is a lofty but worthwhile goal. But don’t fret; this is not an announcement... Read More
Comments: 9August 24th, 2024
A Double LP Of "XO" Does A Tremendous Disservice To Elliott Smith limited to 4000 numbered copies—part of Interscope Vinyl Collective subscription series By: Morgan EnosElliott Smith’s 1998 major label debut, XO, isn’t as vibey as its predecessor, 1997’s Either/Or. Nor is it as laser-focused as its follow-up, 2000’s Figure 8 — the Sgt. Pepper... to XO’s Revolver.Still, XO is special. It captured a crucial creative flowering for the late Smith, where an artist known for lo-fi hyper-intimacy strolled into a succession of L.A. studios with a head full of new sounds, and the confidence to let them loose. And a large handful of its songs... Read More
Comments: 3August 24th, 2024
"L.A. Woman" DCC Compact Classics, 45rpm and Plangent File Comparisons you axed for it! By: Michael FremerHere's what happened and why the original review did not include comparisons to the DCC Compact Classics version, the Sax cut double 45 and the Plangent processed edition: just as I'd done the original vs UHQR comparison, it was time for a major loudspeaker install so I was down for two days. Rather than wait I chose to post what I already had. Now here's the rest.First, with the new speakers set up for review (Acora VRCs), I re-listened to tracks from... Read More
Comments: 11August 22nd, 2024
Does the UHQR "L.A. Woman" Really Beat the Artisan Sound Recorders Original? dowel box detesters and "I don't want to get up four times" whiners diffused! By: Michael FremerArtisan Sound Recorders masterings from "back in the day" were and are held in the highest esteem, kind of like "RL STERLING" (or any Sterling). For instance, if you want the best version of Exile on Main Street you want one with the Artisan stamp on it. The original L.A. Woman has the Artisan stamp.An original L.A. Woman pressing sounds great as anyone who owns one knows. It's arguably the best sounding Doors album. I have two and both also... Read More
Comments: 17August 21st, 2024
Producing, Mixing & Mastering the new DGG Original Source Series "Bruckner Complete 9 Symphonies" Box With DGG's Johannes Gleim, EBS's Rainer Maillard & Sidney Meyer and of course Mark Ward and M.F. By: Tracking AngleAn exclusive transatlantic video discussion including an essential new historical video covering the original DGG production of Herbert Von Karajan and the BPO's Bruckner Symphony cycle, hosted by Deutsche Gramophon's Johannes Gleim with Emil Berliner Studios' Tonmeister, mastering engineer and Managing Director Rainer Maillard, cutting engineer Sidney Meyer, Tracking Angle's contributing writer Mark Ward and editor Michael Fremer. This box set is... Read More
Comments: 5August 20th, 2024
Josh Moshier Explores the Semi-Permanent An Interview and Review About His First Solo Album - "Semipermanence" - and Composing Career By: Evan TothToday, it’s rare to discover music without any prior knowledge of it. We usually have some vague sense of the genre, sound, or artist. But, I had no idea what to expect from Joshua Moshier before the needle hit his debut album’s grooves. It quickly became clear to me that Moshier is an exceptionally talented musician. And I further learned that he’s an Emmy-nominated composer, songwriter, and pianist who has crafted music for series, films, interactive media, and the... Read More
Comments: 2August 19th, 2024
Our Man In Japan Covers the Recent Tokyo Audio Fair Good music and good vibes By: Tracking AngleOur man in Japan, whose website is Rice Field Records took in the recent Tokyo Audio Fair and produced this video report. The show always has a great vibe. Attendees are respectful and most often want to hear classical music and good jazz. The presentations are useful too. Enjoy! Read More
Comments: 0August 17th, 2024
Injection Molded Records Are Here! listen and compare the same title pressed two ways By: Michael Fremer(There's NEW AUDIO attached to the video below). The German company Sonopress last year announced that it was developing an injection molded vinyl record production process, calling the resulting record an "EcoRecord". The environmentally friendly process is similar to how optical media like laserdiscs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are manufactured (Sonopress developed 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray technology). With optical disc popularity giving way to streaming... Read More
Comments: 16August 16th, 2024
J.R. Boisclair and I Visit "The Audiophile Junkie" and Explain Pros and Cons of Tangential vs. Pivoted Arms Audiophile Junkie is not a vinyl guy but we felt obligated to clarify By: Michael FremerOur friend Charles Kirmuss appeared on The Audiophile Junkie YouTube channel recently and claimed the superiority of tangential tracking arms without explaining the negatives. There are positives and negatives to everything in this hobby so J.R. and I asked to make a joint guest appearance to "cavitate" the situation.The video is below. The comments so far are interesting. My favorite is this one: "Excellent information. Very enjoyable. I sent this... Read More
Comments: 17August 16th, 2024
"Quick Drop" Doors "L.A. Woman" 33 1/3 UHQR From Analogue Productions limited to 4500 copies, packaged in new style box + die cut direct to board jacket By: Tracking AngleKind of a "surprise drop" from Analogue Productions. Bernie Grundman mastered from original analog tape at 33 1/3, AAA all the way, pressed on 200g UHQR Clarity vinyl. New packaging, plus die-cut direct to board jacket duplicates the original. One of the best Doors albums and possibly the best sounding as well. Read More
Comments: 14August 15th, 2024
Early "Daze" Neil & Crazy Horse with Jack Nitzsche Is a Great Horse Compilation yes, mostly for hardcore fans By: Michael FremerIt seems like the only notifications in my inbox that come more often than Democratic Party money begs are Warner Records announcements of new Neil Young Archive releases. It's hard to keep up and so many are so good. Very little filler. There are 198 tracks in the upcoming Archives Vol. III (1976-1987) and I'v been sorting through that, though there won't be vinyl. Understandable! This recent one deserves your attention if you're a true Neil and... Read More
Comments: 4