Welcome to Capital Audiofest!

Analogue Alchemy at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Ola's Final Round of Room Reports at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Acoustic Signature at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Electrocompaniet at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Ola's Second Round of Room Reports at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

AudioNostrum at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Miłocha Analog Engineering and the Miłocha Orion turntable in Warsaw

Meet the ARCAM Cinema 30s

Pure Sound Warps Time | Revel Performa4 Floorstanding Loudspeaker

Ola's first multi-company room report from Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Cool Gear Seen at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Ken Micallef interviews YG's Matthew Webster in Warsaw

Take 5 Show Report

LATEST ADDITIONS

Sound Chaser

Sound Chaser #13: Cindy Blackman Santana's Coherence, Spirits Dancing in the Flesh

Mike Mettler Sep 21, 2026

Photo by Denise Truscello

Drummer Cindy Blackman Santana sings along to music from Herbie Hancock, Davis, John Coltrane, Tony Williams, and Wayne Shorter to get her creative juices going. "I do that all the time!" she exclaimed. "It's like breathing to me. It's second nature."

Gramophone Dreams Phono Cartridge Reviews

Gramophone Dreams #113: Mono Carts and Glowing Tubes

Herb Reichert Sep 18, 2026

I believe that every question has only one right answer. And that most of us are pretty challenged when it comes to knowing what it is. I know I am. To redeem myself, I've devoted my life to thinking up dumb questions.

As We See It

Shifting Gears, My Final Word on Record Cleaning

Jim Austin Sep 16, 2026

Earlier this year, I wrote two articles on record cleaning, in particular the ultrasonic kind. Some of the ideas I expressed were good and correct, like the choice of surfactant (Tergitol 15-S-9). Others, like the amount of Tergitol to use, were less well-considered.

My Back Pages

Oscar Peterson: a Centennial, a "World Tour," and a Love Letter

Thomas Conrad Sep 15, 2026

Oscar Peterson was born in 1925. In late 2026, a set titled World Tour was released on the Mack Avenue/Two Lions label. It is advertised as "part of the continued celebration of Peterson's centennial." Consider this article a modest attempt to join the celebration.

Recording of the Month

Recording of October 2026: Margaret Glaspy: I Am Both

Jim Austin Sep 14, 2026

Margaret Glaspy: I Am Both
ATO Records (auditioned as 24/192 FLAC). 2026. Joe Henry, prod.; Patrick Dillett, Thom Beemer, engs.; Chris Gehringer, mastering.

Re-Tales

Re-Tales #70: Is This Heaven? No, It's a Record Store in a Shopping Mall.

Julie Mullins Sep 11, 2026

Believe it or not, there are still active shopping malls in the US—and at least one, Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, leases to a modern record store, The Sharp Notes. The notion is so retro it's almost quaint.

Music and Recording Reviews

September 2026 Classical Record Reviews

Sasha Matson, Jason Victor Serinus, Stephen Francis Vasta Sep 10, 2026

Jim Pugh: New American Symphonies; Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto VI, Sergio Azzolini, L'Onda Armonica, Rebekah Heller: Righteous Rage; Moszkowski: Orchestral Music, Volume 4, Sinfonia Varsovia/Ian Hobson; R. Strauss: An Alpine Symphony; Metamorphosen, London Philharmonic Orchestra/Edward Gardner.

Music and Recording Reviews

September 2026 Jazz Record Reviews

Thomas Conrad Sep 10, 2026

Ambrose Akinmusire/Mary Halvorson: Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings; Tyshawn Sorey: Members... Don't!; Steve Wilson: Enduring Sonance.

Music and Recording Reviews

September 2026 Rock/Pop Record Reviews

Ray Chelstowski Sep 10, 2026

Kacey Musgraves: Middle of Nowhere; The Red Clay Strays: Grateful; Noah Kahan: The Great Divide.

Interviews

Pumpkin Seeds: Billy Corgan is a Busy Man

Mike Mettler Sep 09, 2026

Billy Corgan is a busy man. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman has a schedule that would exhaust artists half his age. (He's 59.) Right now the guitarist/vocalist is guiding Smashing Pumpkins on "The Rats in a Cage Tour," in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the alt-rock giants' biggest release, 1995's 5× Platinum, double-album epic Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.