Needle Time

  23 Skidoo - The Culling Is Coming [OPT23 UK 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Known better for their industrious & tribal post-punk, 23 Skidoo have occasionally released works to challenge the listener. The Culling Is Coming is one.... and very likely the most challenging. Side one is also known as ' A Summer Rite - 11AM 17.7.82 ' and features the band onstage at the WOMAD Festival where they were joined by David Tibet for a lengthy session of noise, loops and metal percussion. Side two is named ' A Winter Ritual ' is a gamelan-style serious of compostitions recorded at Dartington College Of Music. This is my rip from an original UK pressing, released on  Operation Twilight, a subdivision of  Les Disques Du Crépuscule. There have been subsequent reissues of this album on a variety of other labels, most of which appear to having flipped the album running orders. A1 Banishing A2 Invocation A3 Flashing A4 Stifling A5 Healing (For The Strong) B1 G-2 Contempla...

  Split Enz - True Colours [SP-4822 USA 1980 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I don't know why sometimes I get frightened.... From obtuse prog to quirky new wave and power pop, the history of Split Enz is a bizarre one. You could be forgiven to think that they were an Australian band (this album was recorded in Melbourne), they were not, they were from Auckland, New Zealand ....and that is very important if you are from the lower hemisphere! For many, True Colours was their commercial breakthrough, the differing approaches of the two Finn brothers are very evident, so much so that their Kiwi label Mushroom Records did not initially believe there was a hit on the album, even though the record opens with I Got You , which was massive on nearly every continent. What's The Matter With You and Poor Boy were also singles in the UK and America, the former revealing sixties pop influences, the latter fitting neatly into eighties pop history. Others say Missing Person should have been a single a...

  Jimi Hendrix with Lightnin' Rod - Doriella Du Fontaine [CEL0166 RSD2011 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I last ripped this single back in 2010 from an original crackly French Celluloid Records pressing. In 2011 it got a reissue for Record Store Day, so twelve+ years on I am using the better re-release copy for a much improved listening experience. Originally recorded by Alan Douglas in 1970 (and never released) of a jam session featuring Jimi Hendrix on guitar & bass, the legendary Buddy Miles on drums and keyboards and the voice of Lightnin' Rod aka Jalal Nuriddin of The Last Poets. Bill Laswell performed post-production duties back in 1984 to breath new life into this long lost recording of a unique blend of rap, rock jazz and blues. A1 Doriella Du Fontaine B1 Doriella Du Fontaine (Instrumental) B2 O.D.

  The Durutti Column - The Return Of The Durutti Column [FACT 14 ITA 1981 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] An old favourite ...however slightly different and a brand new rip to boot. Effectively just Mancunian guitar virtuoso Vini Reilly and legendary producer Martin Hannet left to their own devices (bird tweets and treated drum machines) in Cargo Studios, Rochdale with occasional bass & drums from original Nosebleeds, Toby Toman and Pete Crooks. Most will know this record and its significance, if not why not?  Factory Records licensed their early releases through Base Records in Italy and for some reason the Italian label changed the running order on FACT14. They also injected the new Untitled track which didn't feature on the original UK sandpaper sleeve release. The album opens with Requiem For A Father rather than Sketch For Summer which is moved further down side A.  This pressing has some very long gaps between the tracks and a good clean with surfactant and the Hummin...

  Miles Davis - 'Round About Midnight [MFSL 1-373 USA 2013 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Columbia Records in 1957. The Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissues of the Mile Davis catelogue on Columbia Records are considered to be some of the very best versions of the man's work. 'Round About Midnight marked his debut for Columbia after years with Prestige Records, with a little Blue Note period in between. MOFi are now open about their sourcing for this serious and this album was cut from a DSD64 transfer from the original master tape. The tape clearly reveals its age on playback, and MOFi have left all those little glitches in place. What is more important about this historic recording, is that it also features a young John Coltrane making his debut as part of The Miles Davis Quintet. A1 'Round Midnight A2 Ah-Leu-Cha A3 All Of You B1 Bye Bye Blackbird B2 Tadd's Delight B3 Dear Old Stockholm

  Sven Wunder - Late Again [PP1004 SWE 2023 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] The greatest thing to come out of Sweden since Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid, composer Joel Nils Danell returns with his fourth self-produced & self-released album in his Sven Wunder alter-ego. I've featured all his previous releases over this year - they are all quite different, following lounge-styled themes, but in a variety of international flavours. Late Again hasn't actually been released yet, it is scheduled for late September, however I managed to sneakily grab a pre-release copy. As the title hints, Late Again is chilled organic music for late nights & early mornings, blending cool  jazz & cinematic orchestration into brief nocturnal compositions of around three minutes, which is enough to hold interest without numbing the listener into boredom.  As always the musicianship is exemplary, the arrangements detailed & spacious, well produced, recorded to good old fa...

  Herbie Hancock - Man-Child [PC 33812 DEU 2013 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Columbia Records in 1975. I can't speak highly enough of the quality of releases from German reissue label Speakers Corner Records. Their attention to detail is outstanding, all releases are sourced from the original master tapes, cut all-analogue by skilled mastering engineers, pressed on some the very best quality vinyl and wrapped in high spec reproduction jackets. Recently, the rumour mill was suggesting the label had closed its doors, thankfully that has been quickly quashed and this small scale outfit remain in business. Hancock's stunning funk opus Man-Child was cut by Dutch mastering engineer Willem Makkee and pressed at Pallas in Germany. A1 Hang Up Your Hang Ups A2 Sun Touch A3 The Traitor B1 Bubbles B2 Steppin' In It B3 Heartbeat

  Kabbala - Ashewo Ara [RF 1211 UK 1982 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Just a  little afro-funk to follow on from this week's earlier African journey. Last ripped over the summer of 2015, I thought this much-in-demand single needed a new rip. They just don't make records like this anymore, and courtesy of  small British independent label Red Flame Records to boot. Guaranteed to get even the stiffest of hips moving ...and I am sure there are plenty of those around here, it's time to liven up your Friday night. Fan-funking-tastic! A1   Ashewo Ara B1   Voltan Dance Kabbala - Yen-Nbo-Ose (Rejoice) [RFB 3172 UK 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] This was the follow up to Ashewo Ara however it was the superb b-side Yo Yo Dance which I remember went down best at clubs back in the day. This is another new rip to 176.4kHz resolution. London-based Ghanaian brothers, Isaac & Michael Osapanin laid down a big band heavy funk beat which crossed over into the UK indie ma...

  The Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good [TPLP5 UK 1988 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Some of you have been asking for this album. Well, here you are. Formed from the ashes of Icelandic art-punks K.U.K.L. came the daughters of Guðmund & Örnólf and the sons of Ólaf, Baldur, Benedikt & Erling, With a big helping hand from BBC's John Peel & his regular play of the classic single, Birthday , Iceland's greatest musical export The Sugarcubes found their way into nearly everybody's home. Life's Too Good was their first and best album by far, featuring the singles Birthday , Deus , Motorcrash & Coldsweat , but it will always be about Birthday and that instantly recognisable bassline intro. Thankfully it wasn't all about Björk, the complicated pixie-like queen of Icelandic pop, fellow vocalist Einar Örn Benediktsson contrasts the Björk voice in many ways. A non-single,  Delicious Demon remains a personal favourite after all these years. This original UK ...

  Bauhaus - The Singles 1981-1983 [205 889 DEU 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Once upon a time, I owned every single by Bauhaus, however when times were hard they had to go. For me Kick In The Eye is the band at their peak, from then on it was a slow & painful descent into dissolution. I am not too sure where I obtained this six track German 33rpm pressing of the Beggars Banquet singles, it is not the best pressing quality but very worth a listen for a revisit to the first three tracks alone. Whilst the Ziggy cover was their biggest moment, I'm not so sure one of the personalities involved was suited to the growing fame. I'll get around to ripping a slightly different pressing of their final album over the next few weeks. A1 The Passion Of Lovers A2 Kick In The Eye A3 Spirit B1 Ziggy Stardust B2 Lagartija Nick B3 She's In Parties

  Bauhaus - 4AD [BAD 312 UK 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Nice mini-LP compilation of 4AD era tracks from the influential Northampton post-punk goths Bauhaus. I have always wondered how Bauhaus would have sounded if they had stuck with 4AD Records instead of flipping over to Beggars Banquet.  They would perhaps have survived their 1983 meltdown ....plus their record sleeves would have been better for sure.  Dali's Car anybody? A1   Dark Entries A2   Terror Couple Kill Colonel A3   Telegram Sam B1   Terror Couple Kill Colonel (Version) B2   Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores B3   Crowds

  Soft Cell - Torch [BZS 912 UK 1982 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] A few months back, a revered blog follower 'contracted' me to acquire, rip and post certain earlier vinyl releases by Soft Cell. The extended UK twelve inch version of Torch was a part of the plan, however never happened at the time. I can now complete that project as I've finally been able to acquire a copy of the UK release in excellent rip worthy quality. Enjoy! A1 Torch B1 Insecure Me

    Paul Simon - Graceland [88691914721 USA 2012 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Following on from mainstream Tuesday is an album which I last ripped from my original 1986 pressing a few years back. Whilst eighties WEA Germany pressings can always be considered as excellent quality, I thought I would do some research and seek out what is regarded as the very best modern pressing of Graceland.  In Europe, we only have the anonymously mastered Record Industry pressing which has been pressed from the 2015 Music On Vinyl metalwork. The Ryan K. Smith RSD2012 AAA cut from the original master tapes, pressed at RTI, has remained in-print in the USA for the last ten years and I was lucky enough to happen across a copy to rip. Here are the results.  Boosted by a worldwide hit single, You Can Call Me Al (with more than a little help from Chevy Chase). Graceland was also Paul Simon's biggest selling album since he parted ways with Art Garf - it also followed his aborted marriage to Pri...

  Roxy Music - Avalon [2311 154 DEU 1982 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] From glam art-rock protagonists to smoochy housewife favourites and kings of the long slow fade, ten years was a long time in Roxy history. After a short run of early Roxy Music albums a while back, I was surprised how many requests I received for this particular album of soft-focus adult-orientated rock. My copy is a 1982 German original pressing, released as part of EG's deal with Deutsche Grammophon, mastered by Robert Ludwig and pressed at PRS in Hannover. It certainly brings out the very best of what is an incredibly lush sounding recording. This could well mark the return of mainstream Tuesday. You know you want this. A1 More Than This A2 The Space Between A3 Avalon A4 India A5 While My Heart Is Still Beating B1 The Main Thing B2 Take A Chance With Me B3 To Turn You On B4 True To Life B5 Tara

  Various Artists - Abstract Magazine Issue 6 (Audio Visual) [SAM 006 UK 1986 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC The week kicks off with a brand new rip of Volume 6 from Rob Deacon's Abstract Magazine albums, my first since the ESWA post in 2015, and a significant improvement on that effort.  Once you get over the dramatic post-Holst drama of  In The Nursery, this set features the Sheffield industrial funk trio of Hula, Workforce and Chakk, an unreleased Tim Oliver remix of A Certain Ratio's Sounds Like Something Dirty , Dutch electro-goths Clan Of Xymox, Adi Netwon's Anti-Group, Ted Milton's nutty post-Beefheart sounds of Blurt and Parisian cold-wave band Clair Obscur. Essex post-punk funksters A Primary Industry close the whole thing out. A1   In The Nursery - Breach Birth (Blockade Mix)  A2   Workforce - Skin Scraped Back (Remix)  A3   Xymox - Muscoviet Musquito (Remix)  A4   Blurt - Gravespit (Live)  A5   Clair ...

  Hiroshi Suzuki - Cat [WRJ010 LTD CHE 2021 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Columbia Records Japan in 1976. Since I began posting Jazz every Sunday, this album has been one of the most requested reposts, I thought I'd go one better and prepare a whole new rip. It is time for a half speed mastered repress of one of the most sought after Japanese jazz albums of all-time. If you don't believe me, have a look here . Originally released on Columbia Records in 1976, Cat was the second and last solo album by master of the trombone, Hiroshi Suzuki. It has been elevated towards holy grail status by jazz collectors & aficionados all over the world for its fusion of virtuoso horn over a slick funk-fusion groove.  Suzuki had based himself in Las Vegas as part of Buddy Rich's ensemble, but returned to the Nippon Columbia Studio in 1975 to record his most celebrated work. Recorded over just two days, Suzuki was reunited with Kunimitsu Inaba on bass, Akira I...

  Azymuth - Telecommunication [CR00517 USA 2022 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on the Milestone label back in 1982. Releases from Craft Recordings Jazz Dispensary sub-label have been rather difficult to track down on European shores. Only a few were available via Vinyl Me Please, the remainder were mail order to US customers but only in very limited numbers. It is pleasing to see that Craft are now getting the second batch of pressings out to Europe on import only to their usual distributors, hence reducing all the additional costs for buyers outside the USA. I'm still awaiting Johnny Hammond's Gears album to come off the slow boat across the pond, so in the meantime was pleased to encounter Azymuth's Telecommunication in a local store at a reasonable price. This reissue was expertly cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearant from the original master tapes, and pressed by RTI, splendidly reproducing the sunny sounds of Brazilian soul-jazz-funk fusion into the the dullest o...

  A last word on this for now... A huge thank you to all those who kindly donated to the cause over the last week. Your donations and contributions are much appreciated. I'll be bringing the donation drive to an end on Monday, all those who contributed have been sent an invite link to Digitalia . There are still three or four bouncing emails, so if you think you haven't received a link, please get in touch directly via the email address in the sidebar. For those who still wish to participate, the donation link is also in the sidebar. Digitalia will be migrating to Word Press in September and I will ensure all those with access get the appropriate new links. I'll give plenty of notice in advance of the Needle Time migration to Word Press on this Blogger site later in the year. Many thanks BM.

  Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Mega Mix) [538933 7 UK 2019 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Another new rip upgrade of an old post. I was contemplating another attempt at a rip of my scratchy old 1982 pressing of this electro-disco classic, but it may be beyond repair, so again I reached for this 2019 pressing on Columbia Records. Originals almost seem impossible to find good quality originals these days.  As a bonus you get an extended version of an Earth, Wind & Fire disco standard on the flipside. A1 Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Mega Mix) B1 Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions - Boogie Wonderland

  Two People - This Is The Shirt [12" POSPX 741 UK 1985 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Here is a band who knocked on the lower echelons of the hit parade with that popular brand of grown up sentimental sophisticated guitar pop. Unlike contemporaries The Blue Nile, Black, The Bible and perhaps even Talk Talk, they failed to find success and vanished after just three or four singles. Here is my favourite, This Is The Shirt . An album would have been quite special but it never happened. This is a brand new rip of a single first posted here back in June 2020. A1  This Is The Shirt A2  This Is The Day (Part 1) B1  Sister Sister B2  This Is The Day (Part 2)

  The Wake - Something Outside [FBN 24 BEL 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I last ripped this twelve inch single back in November 2021, however I realised sometime after that I had clipped the intro drums. This is a brand new rip without any clipping, and thanks to some hardware upgrades since 2021, has a much improved sound stage and is much more dynamic. By relegating The Wake's first single for Factory to the Benelux division, the label declared their lack of interest in the band. Other knew better, including Kid Jensen and John Peel who occasionally featured the single on their evening playlists for BBC Radio. I recall I first heard the track on Jensen's evening show before Peel. There was a time when I proudly stated that this was my favourite single of all time. Now, past my mid-50's, I no longer make such brave statements, nor do I confess to having any faves of all-time. Something Outside still, for me, ranks as one of the most wonderful records I have ever heard - tho...

  Various Artists - Abstract Magazine Volume 5 [SAM 005 UK 1985 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Last ripped back in March 2015, and then only available for two weeks, I thought I would have a go at re-ripping my two Abstract Magazine compilation albums after giving them a good few cycles in the ultrasonic. The results should speak for themselves. The late Rob Deacon's Abstract Magazine collected interviews, articles and unreleased tracks from his favourite bands, initially on Third Mind Records, he formed his own Sweatbox label on which volumes 5 & 6 were released - the first three volumes did not come with a vinyl record. After closing down Sweatbox Records in 1989, Deacon went onto release the more successful Volume book & CD series. Volume 5 will make for uneasy and difficult listening for the uninitiated, that's probably what makes this collection so essential. Hackney & New Cross metalworkers Test Department kick things off complete with a Scottish pipe band and a str...

  Revenge - Gun World Porn [FAC 327 UK 1992 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] It took a line-up change for New Order's Peter Hook side-project Revenge to produce their best work. The introduction of the talented guitarist David Potts generated greater cohesion and structure into what had been over-complicated and, at times mundane electronic indie rock.  On the project's final release Gun World Porn , Revenge finally made sense and a few years later Hook and Potts were to return as the hit generating Monaco. Expect to hear plenty of the most recognisable bass sound in indie rock. Enjoy A1 Deadbeat A2 Cloud Nine B1 State Of Shock B2 Little Pig

  New Fast Automatic Daffodils - Stockholm [BIAS 229 WHITE BEL 1992 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] ..and then came Stockholm .  Ripped from my near mint white label version, this single should have been massive. Built around one hell of an earworm of a chorus, the New FADS whisk us away from the rainy north-west to the chill of a Swedish capital winter and then to the sultry French Riviera. Just wait for those guitars. A1 Stockholm B1 Stockholm (Radio Edit) B2 Cannes

  New Fast Automatic Daffodils - It's Not What You Know [BIAS 2019 BEL 1992 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Whilst I appreciate that many will really appreciate the early singles and 1990's Pigeonhole album, in 1992 the New Fast Automatic Daffodils really cranked up the guitars and with it their rock-chops on their second album Body Exit Mind . Here is the first of two singles from that period to test your speakers. Just a little less funky than the earlier releases, Andy Spearpoint's lyrical canniness remains, the songs are fuller sounding & more maturely arranged with some wicked bass work & even rock guitar solos - the new New FAD whole sound remains wrapped in the splendidly named Icarus Wilson-Wright's percussive mastery. If you don't know the New FADS, look no further for inspiration than the excellent Beatlemania ! A1 It's Not What You Know A2 Head On B1 Beatlemania B2 Beautiful

  The Chameleons - Script Of The Bridge [BAMLP08 UK 2014 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Statik Records in 1983. Wikipedia reckons that The Chameleons are the most underrated band ever to come out of the eighties Manchester music scene. I agree, but also think it is possible that they were the most underrated band on the planet that decade. Foolishly dropped by CBS after just one record, the foursome found themselves on London's Statik Records, where they followed their debut single In Shreds with the pounding alternative rock single,  As High As You Can Go , the rousing & anthemic  Up The Down Escalator , and the more melodic  A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days singles. All three singles feature on Script Of The Bridge , their important debut long player. Copies of this album were hard to find in Manchester back in 1983 - Statik never seemed to press enough as they clearly underestimated demand, consequently originals fetch good money these ...

  The Fall - Perverted By Language [MOVLP3321 NLD 2023 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Rough Trade Records in 1983. I was surprised to see that Dutch reissue label Music On Vinyl were releasing my favourite Fall album this year. My UK original is not in great shape and I was keen to hear how the Record Industry pressing would sound compared to my somewhat lifeless UK original.... and I am somewhat impressed. For me, this record would always be about Eat Y'Self Fitter which a young Blogmeister & chums could be heard reciting word for word through the streets of Manchester following late night drinking sessions...the usual routine was Corbieres, then a few pints of Guinness in the Lass O'Gowrie, followed by further decadence & ligging in FAC51 until closing time.  This album also sees the introduction of Brix Smith who gets to lead the vocals on probably the weakest track, Hotel Blöedel . Stand outs will always be the aforementioned opener,  Smile and...

  Blogmeister Blegging Again Folks,  Over the next few months I will commence the movement of my sites away from Blogger onto a more private Wordpress platform. The first to move will be my Digitalia site which is limited to those who donate to the costs of ripping vinyl for Needle Time . All those who donate will have exclusive access to Digitalia , which is a multi-genre, multi-sourced project, similar in approach to my pop-up blogs which were published sporadically over the last few years. There will be plenty of the styles and comment which you would normally expect to see here on Needle Time , plus one or two nice surprises. I still receive a hefty volume of re-post requests for rips posted to Needle Time and ESWA . From today, all re-posts will go exclusively on Digitalia , plus as a bonus, I have begun to post selections of my work from vinyl which have never been publicly available before to the private site. You will also find lots of releases created from non-vinyl...

  Sonny Rollins - Go West! (The Contemporary Records Albums) [CR00434 USA 2023 3LP 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] As parts of the Contemporary Records reissue series, Craft Recordings/Concord went to the great Bernie Grundman to cut this three LP set all-analogue from the original master tapes. Usually this series went to the Quality Record Pressings plant in Salina, Kansas however RTI in Camarillo performed the pressing matters, likely because QRP are a little busy pressing Steely Dan reissues. QRP's parent company Analogue Productions did release their own version of the Way Out West album all analogue a few years back, cut by Kevin Gray & Steve Hoffman - you will pay a small fortune for that 45rpm release these days, but not as much as the silly price required for  The Electric Recording Co. release from 2020. Original 1957 pressings of this album also fetch princely sums and the current market has been awash with low-quality, dubiously sourced versions for a while now. This s...

  Earth, Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World [IMP6015 USA 2023 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Columbia Records in 1975. It's a damp Saturday night, nobody else is home, the neighbours are away ....time to close the curtains, dig out that mirrorball, your best collar & medallion combo, those long forgotten disco-pants and your favourite cubans. Do you feel dirty now? There are currently three versions of this classic soul/disco album in-print, the source used for the Music On Vinyl edition remains unknown, both the Speakers Corner and Impex Records versions are cut all-analogue, however Impex went to Kevin Gray to cut the lacquers from the original master tape and this release was pressed carefully at Record Technology Incorporated. Further evidence perhaps that with the right mastering engineer, a reissue album could possibly sound better than the original pressing. A1 Shining Star A2 That's The Way Of The World A3 Happy Feelin' A4 A...

  The Strokes - This Is It [VMP-RR001 USA 2023 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Rough Trade Records/RCA back in 2001. Recently, Vinyl Me Please launched their VMP Rock Series with this exclusive Ryan K Smith cut pressing on multi-coloured splatter pressing, initially suggesting that this was the first time on vinyl. However, that line seems to have been dropped when the label realised that it was only the first release on vinyl with this particular running order in the USA.  The track New York City Cops was replaced with When It Started following the 9/11 attacks on the compact disc version. The American release also came in this more artistic and less 'cheeky' sleeve, than those of us on this side of the pond bought at the time of release. Smith's new remaster reveals all the hidden complexities in the original recording, the guitars hold more detail, the band sound tighter and the overall feel is much less loud (always a good thing) than my original Rough T...

  New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies [FACT 75 UK 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] I've been wanting to upgrade the May 2020 rip of my original UK pressing of this album for a while. This rip has been a work-in-progress for a few months, so after a combination of surfactant, distilled water, attrition, multiple runs through the ultrasonic and just a wee bit (an under-exaggeration) of manual declickage, it would be an underestimation to say that I am now pleased with the results. This rip is for all you who have taken the time to contribute or donate to Needle Time. The site is fast approaching two million hits and with approx 2000 unique visits per day, I am extremely grateful to the small percentage who take the time to participate. New Order's second full album, Power, Corruption & Lies is an important, but not flawless, record from an important time in my life which still stands proud in my collection. This is a rip from my original pressing bought in the Newcastle bran...

  No-Man - Heaven Taste [PUU-43 FIN 2016 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] No-Man were an arty ambient trip-hop ensemble assembled by multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson and vocalist Tim Bowness, backed by former Japan members Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri, accompanied by violinist Ben Coleman. A twenty-one minute version of their dreamscape piece Heaven Taste first appeared on their Painting Paradise EP , released on One Little Indian Records back in 1993. In 2016, Wilson remixed and edited the track exclusively for unusually named Finnish label Puu Records, with an additional remix by Finnish composer Lassi Lehto using his Jimi Tenor alter-ego. For me, it is all about Karn's virtuoso fretless bass and Barbieri's unique style of electronic soundscapes, some of which from this track were to find their way onto Porcupine Tree's extensive floydian opus  The Sky Moves Sideways in 1994 . A1 Heaven Taste (Original Mix Edit By Steven Wilson) B1 Heaven Taste (Remix B...

  Elton John - Honky Chateau [VMP-167 USA 2023 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] It was only a matter of time before The Reg appeared on my blog, whilst a little too mainstream for some, we should still all appreciate the man's work over the decades. I am no big fan (maybe of only 2 or 3 albums), but was dragged along to one of his farewell shows earlier this year and almost enjoyed myself. What's surprising is that two of the backing musicians that night also appeared on this album, originally released back in 1972. Best known for the inclusion of  Rocket Man , this album varies widely in styles from rock & pop, through to country, plus of course a little bit of honky-tonk. Vinyl Me Please managed to secure the master tapes for this 50th Anniversary limited exclusive pressing and handed them to Ryan K. Smith for AAA mastering duties. I've compared this rip to another of the worldwide UMG 50th Anniversary release (cut from digital) and this VMP version blows it away. Smith has unc...