June 1st, 2023
The Dare's Borrowed Nostalgia For The Hardly-Remembered 2000s 'The Sex EP' is hedonism manifested in its dumbest form, taken to its absolute dumbest conclusionBy: Malachi Lui
“I’m losing my edge…to the art school Brooklynites in little jackets… and borrowed nostalgia for the unremembered 80s.”When a then-32-year-old James Murphy uttered that line on LCD Soundsystem’s 2002 debut single “Losing My Edge,” it was about the millennial hipsters taking over New York City, recycling culture and fashion from a quarter-century before. Unlike their aesthetic predecessors, they didn’t have to work hard to find anything; they were “internet seekers who... Read More
Comments: 20June 1st, 2023
Taylor Swift's Record Store Day Exclusive: "Folklore: the Long Pond Studio Sessions" the 2020 disney+ documentary soundtrack encapsulates the artist's most vulnerable momentsBy: Nathan Zeller
Black velvet skies, desolate streets, and lilac bags beneath everyone’s somnolent eyes. Is the foreboding purple from sleep deprivation, early morning’s merciless frost, or both? Fossilised fingers despite wool gloves, numb toes underneath double-layer socks; next year remember three pairs. It seems an ordinary Saturday yet early as 3:00 AM record collectors camp outside. Why? Record Store Day; the day Taylor Swift fans receive their yearly limited edition release.
Read More Comments: 0June 1st, 2023
Munich High End 2023 Wrap Up and Alternative View TrackingAngle hired a local to cover some of the showBy: Carlos Martin Schwab
For High End Munich 2023 I brought onboard Carlos Martin Schwab, a Munich area-based writer who in previous years has done no-nonsense show coverage for other sites. I asked him to cover some brands and non-analog related products. You'll note he covered OMA. I asked him to do that because pre-show I decided against entering the OMA room. Why? I was disinvited from a factory visit by OMA's founder. I was supposed to go there for The Absolute Sound, which is reviewing the K3 turntable I reviewed for my previous endeavor and they wanted video factory coverage and an owner profile. Ultimately, I decided it was best to cover the room, which I did in a video posted on YouTube. The encounter left one consumer-observer to comment under the video "I foresee Fremer unloading his OMA TT soon… the tension between him and Weiss was palpable". Martin Schwab also covered a few rooms i didn't assign but I'm glad he did, especially IO Design, an amazing sounding loudspeaker covered last year that I didn't have time to hear this, though I've heard it's been further improved. Martin Schwab encountered my friend Rick Rubin with Al DiMeola. His comment further elucidates his distaste for the industry, which I find amusing. He didn't think I'd run his comment you'll read below that ends with "...ego is counted by the ton." That's because he doesn't know me well. The show was a great success attracting 22,137 visitors from approximately 100 countries who came to see products from 550 exhibitors representing 54 nations. More than 1000 brands were on display. While 22,137 visited the show in person, to date, more than 34,000 people have viewed TrackingAngle.com's first day video coverage on YouTube. Such is the power of the Internet.
Read More Comments: 0June 1st, 2023
Ghost Adds Some Flavor To Their Phantomime Sweden’s theatrical metalheads provide some fun from covering Iron Maiden to Tina TurnerBy: Dylan Peggin
Ghost is a band you can hardly run away from. Tobias Forge, who assumes the role of frontman Papa Emeritus IV backed by a revolving door of anonymous musicians known as Nameless Ghouls, has brought an element of theatricality back into the music world that can be traced to older acts such as KISS and Alice Cooper. With a schtick that serves as a Satanic parody of Catholicism it's one that could be seen as either sacrilege to the superstitious or tongue-in-cheek... Read More
Comments: 4June 1st, 2023
John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy 1961 Village Gate Recording Recently Discovered in the New York Public Library For the Performing Arts Archives "Evenings At the Village Gate..." released globally on Impulse! July 14thBy: Tracking Angle
June 1, 2023 (New York, NY) In the summer of 1961, John Coltrane headlined at the celebrated music venue, the Village Gate. With a lineup of musicians that included McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, Elvin Jones, and the fiery playing of Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate captures the creative and transformative spirit that sprang from the pairing of Coltrane and Dolphy, and the evolving short-lived quintet. Evenings At The Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric... Read More
Comments: 0May 31st, 2023
My Flea Market Crate Digging Dozen Treasures For $3 Or Just Junk?By: Joseph W. Washek
I've been buying records in antique and second-hand stores, thrift shops, and Goodwills since 1965. In my town, there was a Goodwill store with a large display table, approximately six feet by four feet, piled high with hundreds of unsleeved 45 rpm records priced at two for five cents. I would go through them every few weeks searching for Beatle records, always unsuccessfully, except once when I found a new copy of Swan 4182 "Sie Liebt Dich (She Loves... Read More
Comments: 3May 30th, 2023
Craft's Jazz Dispensary Announces "A Triple Groove of Top Shelf Series Reissues" (Plus a "Smokeware" Offering) from Jack DeJohnette, Idris Muhammad and Leon SpencerBy: Tracking Angle
The press release poop: Los Angeles, CA (May 30, 2023)‒Jazz Dispensary is proud to announce the next harvest of its offerings from the acclaimed Top Shelf series, with a triple groove of reissues featuring Jack DeJohnette’s Sorcery, Idris Muhammad’s Black Rhythm Revolution!, and Leon Spencer’s Where I’m Coming From. These reissues mark the first wide vinyl release of all three albums in over 40 years. As with every title in the Top Shelf series, which reissues the... Read More
Comments: 0May 29th, 2023
Maps and Legends: The Story of R.E.M. Book review and interview with author John HunterBy: JoE Silva
Massive new career retrospective on Athens, GA's college rock heroes from a former local scenester
Read More Comments: 2May 29th, 2023
Haruomi Hosono’s ‘Hosono House’ At 50 The ever-changing legend's first solo album, reissued in Japan by Bellwood/King RecordsBy: Malachi Lui
Recently reissued for its 50th anniversary, Haruomi Hosono's 1973 solo debut Hosono House wasn’t the start of his career, but the first development towards forging his own path. It’s a short, comfortable-sounding record whose homely, domestic charm has proven its lasting appeal.
Read More Comments: 0May 29th, 2023
"Nuggets" Comes Alive Rhino Records founder attends live "Nuggets" show benefitting the Autism Healthcare CollaborativeBy: Harold Bronson
In 1970 Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman thought that the many wonderful, obscure singles by post-Beatles American rock bands should be preserved. He assigned staffer Lenny Kaye to assemble a lineup that was released in December 1972 as "Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968". It didn’t sell well enough to make the charts. In 1998 Rhino’s four-CD box set—compiled with Kaye’s input—got the attention it deserved and sold... Read More
Comments: 0May 26th, 2023
Munich High End 2023 Show Coverage Day Four More important and fascinating productsBy: Michael Fremer
Some important products are in this video shot Sunday, the show's final day. Especially interesting was the Supatrac arm made in Chelsea, London, England as well as the Takumi turntable, made in The Netherlands, though the name sounds Japanese. High End 2023 was a fantastic show in every way. Details upcoming in the final show post. When it was over and I'd returned to my hotel room to edit video, by around 8 PM I got really hungry but there were no... Read More
Comments: 3May 25th, 2023
No Sanctuary Here - a Deep Dive Into Music at the Munich High End Show played-to-death audiophilia and mind-expanding esoterica in Munich’s listening roomsBy: Jan Omdahl
At audio shows, music can all too easily be reduced to just signal – a tool by which to evaluate equipment, or the success or failure of a gear maker to get decent room sound. All the more reason to celebrate the people bringing great, eclectic and surprising music – and great sound. Jan Omdahl spoke to some music-loving audio mavericks at Munich’s High End.
May 24th, 2023
Munich High End 2023 Day Three Coverage CH Precision P10 phono preamp demo was among the day's highlightsBy: Michael Fremer
Saturday was the first of two consumer days at High End Munich 2023 and the MOC was packed from 10:00 AM opening time until just about the 6 PM close. Among Saturday's highlights was a special demo of CH Precision's new P10 two chassis phono preamp—a step up from the already outstanding P1/X1 combo that's my solid state reference. A direct comparison made clear that the P10 is even better than the P1/X1, but of course there will be a full upcoming... Read More
Comments: 0May 23rd, 2023
"Future Hi-Fi, What's Next?"—A High End Munich 2023 Panel I participated in a panel discussion speculating on the future of Hi-FiBy: Michael Fremer
Friday morning at High End Munich 2023 I participated in a panel discussion speculating on the future of hi-fi hosted by Olaf Adam editor of hif.de. The other panelists were Ljubiša Miodragović editor of Serbian audio site Hi Files and Stuart Smith, editor of HiFi Pig.I began by quoting something I'd written in a Music Connection op-ed back in the mid 1980s. The editorial was so controversial the editor put at the top a disclaimer making sure readers knew this... Read More
Comments: 1May 21st, 2023
Munich High End 2023 Show Coverage Day Two specialized turntable, phono preamp and cartridge coverageBy: Michael Fremer
High End 2023 day two for me began as a panel discussion participant in an event titled "Future-Fi" hosted by Olaf Adam, Chief Editor of the German hi-fi website hifi.de. The other panelists were Ljubiša Miodragović from Serbia, who writes for "Hi-Files Audio Video Magazin", and from Great Britain, Hi-Fi Pig's editor in chief, Stuart Smith from Great Britain. We were there to predict the future of audio.We had a full house for a lively... Read More
Comments: 0May 19th, 2023
Munich High End 2023 Show Coverage Day One a whole lot of analog (and more) to see and hearBy: Michael Fremer
Miracles are made of this: i flew into Germany a few days early to attend Clearaudio's 45th anniversary party. A factory tour video of that will post following High End show coverage. I flew to Zurich Sunday evening the 14th and got on a short Swiss Air flight from there to Nuremberg. The plane was hit by lightening half way there so had to turn around and return to Zurich. Upon landing we were told to quickly exit and head down to the gate where the airline had... Read More
Comments: 4