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I was walking through the woods one day when I happened on a large, flat rock near the base of an old ash tree. Conditioned as I am from such rambles with my daughter, whose interest in wildlife echoes that of my own childhood, I bent down and lifted one end of the rock, hoping to catch a glimpse of some exotic creature or another: perhaps a delicate ring-necked snake, or a plasticky-looking red eft. The rock came loose without too much effort and teetered on its broadest edge, but before I could let it flip to one side, I recoiled in horror: There, amid the millipedes and ant larvae, was a…
Now, because a cutter head works on the same principle as a phono cartridge (only in reverse), then as long as its input voltage remains constant, velocity will remain constant as well—and groove amplitude will decrease as frequency rises. Thus, left to its own devices during the mastering stage, an electromagnetic cutter head cuts a constant-velocity groove, creating groove modulations that vary in amplitude with changing frequency.
Particularly within the three or four octaves that comprise the midrange, that's a piece of cake, and the systemic changes in amplitude introduced to the…
The value of music as a commodity, and as one of mankind's wonders, has never been in such flux. Retail record shops are dying, the former major labels are focused on making records for kids (the same kids they're suing), and the business overall remains wedded to an incredibly short view (get a hit or get out), but the music itself continues to trickle through to those who want it—and, yes, on some level would die without it.
If change exhilarates rather than terrifies you, the collapse of the traditional music-business model has made for a very exciting time. Like wine grapes…
JOHN ATKINSON
ELGAR: Violin Concerto
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: The Lark Ascending
Hilary Hahn, violin; London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Deutsche Grammophon 28947-48732-6 (multichannel SACD/CD). 2004. Martin Engstroem, Thomas Frost, prods.; Stephan Flock, balance eng., stereo & surround mixes; Sam O'Kell, eng. DDD. TT: 66:10
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: The Lark Ascending
Hilary Hahn, violin; London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Deutsche Grammophon 28947-48732-6 (multichannel SACD/CD). 2004. Martin Engstroem, Thomas Frost, prods.; Stephan Flock, balance eng., stereo & surround mixes; Sam O'Kell, eng. DDD. TT: 66:10
For the longest time I was sure I was going to nominate our May 2006 "Recording of the Month," Daniele Gatti's performance with the Royal Philharmonic of Tchaikovsky's Symphony 6 (SACD, Harmonia Mundi HMU 807394), for one of my 2008 "R2D4" slots.…
JASON COHEN
PARKS AND RECREATION: What Was She Doing On the Shore That Night?
Hush HUSH059 2006 (CD). Michael Johnson, prod.; Adam Selzer, eng. DDD? TT: 33:14
Hush HUSH059 2006 (CD). Michael Johnson, prod.; Adam Selzer, eng. DDD? TT: 33:14
Classically trained Portlander Michael Johnson is best—if barely—known for making records as Reclinerland, a project that included members of the Decemberists and Norfolk & Western on 2003's The Ideal Home Music Library, ostensibly an unearthed trove of Tin Pan Alley compositions. His more recent project is (post)modern all the way—well-observed and keenly orchestrated indie bombast bubblegum that's far too unabashed and…
ART DUDLEY
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto 1
Clifford Curzon, piano; London Symphony Orchestra, George Szell
Decca/Speakers Corner SXL 6023 (LP). 1962. AAA. TT: 48:15 (Also available on CD: Decca 417 641-2, ADD.)
Clifford Curzon, piano; London Symphony Orchestra, George Szell
Decca/Speakers Corner SXL 6023 (LP). 1962. AAA. TT: 48:15 (Also available on CD: Decca 417 641-2, ADD.)
Much has been made of how Brahms waited until age 44 to compose his first symphony, feeling as he did the force of Beethoven's legacy at his back. Yet an arguably greater influence came from Brahms's mentor and friend, Robert Schumann, who urged the aspiring composer to begin writing orchestral music in 1853, when Brahms was only 20. That was also the year Schumann re-…
MATTHEW FRITCH
MARK LANEGAN BAND: Bubblegum
Beggars Banquet BBQCD237 (CD). 2004. Mark Lanegan, Chris Goss, prods.; Tracy Chisholm, Alain Johannes, Rick Will, Jonas G., Matthias Schneeburger, Aldo Struyf, David Catching, Brian Baker, Rick Miller, Rail Rogut, Pete Martinez, engs. ADD? TT: 49:14
Beggars Banquet BBQCD237 (CD). 2004. Mark Lanegan, Chris Goss, prods.; Tracy Chisholm, Alain Johannes, Rick Will, Jonas G., Matthias Schneeburger, Aldo Struyf, David Catching, Brian Baker, Rick Miller, Rail Rogut, Pete Martinez, engs. ADD? TT: 49:14
"Did you call for the night porter? Smell the blood running warm?" Welcome to Hotel Lanegan; it's as cold, dark, and creepy as a coffin, but there are plenty of guests. The sixth solo album by the former Screaming Trees frontman features Polly Jean Harvey and members of Queens of the Stone Age…
FRED KAPLAN
MILES DAVIS QUINTET: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings, 1965–1968
Miles Davis, trumpet; Wayne Shorter, tenor saxophone; Herbie Hancock, piano; Ron Carter, bass; Tony Williams, drums
Mosaic MQ10-177 (10 LPs). 1965–68/1998. Irving Townsend, Howard A. Roberts, Teo Macero, orig. prods.; Frank Laico, Fred Plaut, Stan Tonkel, orig. engs.; Michael Cuscuna, Bob Belden, reissue prods.; Mark Wilder, remix. AAD. TT: 7:21:52
Miles Davis, trumpet; Wayne Shorter, tenor saxophone; Herbie Hancock, piano; Ron Carter, bass; Tony Williams, drums
Mosaic MQ10-177 (10 LPs). 1965–68/1998. Irving Townsend, Howard A. Roberts, Teo Macero, orig. prods.; Frank Laico, Fred Plaut, Stan Tonkel, orig. engs.; Michael Cuscuna, Bob Belden, reissue prods.; Mark Wilder, remix. AAD. TT: 7:21:52
All the great albums, plus extras, by Miles' greatest quintet— E.S.P., Miles Smiles, Nefertiti, Filles de Kilimanjaro, etc.—recorded in a time of…
STEPHEN MEJIAS
HENRY FIOL: Fe, Esperanza y Caridad
Henry Fiol, lead vocal; Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, Lionel Sanchez, trumpets; Charlie Rodriguez, tres; Alfredo Valdes, piano; Guillermo Edghill, contrabass; Alberto Valdes, conga; Johnny Rodriguez, bongos; Roberto Torres, maracas, guiro, clave; Yayo El Indio, Ramon Rodriguez, Roberto Torres, chorus
SAR SCD-1012 (CD). 1979/1990. Roberto Torres, prod.; Jon Fausty, eng. AAD? TT: 46:49
Henry Fiol, lead vocal; Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, Lionel Sanchez, trumpets; Charlie Rodriguez, tres; Alfredo Valdes, piano; Guillermo Edghill, contrabass; Alberto Valdes, conga; Johnny Rodriguez, bongos; Roberto Torres, maracas, guiro, clave; Yayo El Indio, Ramon Rodriguez, Roberto Torres, chorus
SAR SCD-1012 (CD). 1979/1990. Roberto Torres, prod.; Jon Fausty, eng. AAD? TT: 46:49
Fe, Esperanza y Caridad (Faith, Hope and Charity) is so beautifully penetrating, so heavy with warmth and passion and soul, that it's nearly…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Single-ended solid-state monoblock power amplifier. Output power: 200W into 8 ohms (23dBW). Frequency response: –3dB at 100kHz. Voltage gain: 20dB balanced, 20dB or 26dB unbalanced. S/N Ratio: 74dB ref. 1W, 100dB ref. full power. Distortion: <1% THD at 1kHz. Output impedance: approximately 0.1 ohm. Input impedance: 10k ohms. Input Common Mode Rejection Ratio: 60dB.
Dimensions: 16.5" W by 10.5" H by 16.5" D. Weight: 130 lbs each.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 7006/7.
Price: $14,000/pair (1997); no longer available (2000 onward).…