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Lacquer cutting began Wednesday, Feb. 3rd for When the Levee Breaks Vanessa Fernandez's sophomore "triple A" Groove Note album.

Analogplanet recently reported on the unique planned "direct to lacquer" mixing process. Producer and Groove Note label owner Ying Tan had hoped to mix the record "live to lacquer" by parking a multitrack analog tape recorder-equipped remote recording truck outside Grundman's mastering facility and mixing the multitrack analog recording as Grundman had done years earlier for a Supertramp single that yielded spectacular sonics.

Unfortunately, the plan encountered major obstacles: the City of Los Angeles wasn't keen on having a large van parked on the street during rush hour, and refused to issue a permit (had it been for a major motion picture the permit no doubt would have been issued) and the insurance costs were prohibitive—as was the hourly rate for the truck rental, but that was a cost the producer was willing to shoulder to get the best possible results. Also considered was parking the truck in an adjacent unused parking lot and paying for a hole to be drilled into the adjoining wall so the cables could be run—and of course paying to seal it back up—but that too wasn't possible.

So, in the end engineer Michael C. Ross mixed conventionally to two track analog tape using United's (formerly Ocean Way) highly regarded mixing board. United is literally down the block from Bernie Grundman Mastering. Ross preferred it this way, and ultimately Tan agreed it was best. The sonic loss is minor but having as much time as needed to perfect the mix was major.

I got to hear some of the tunes cut to lacquer on Wednesday and the arrangements, performances and sonics are spectacular.

Much of the album, spread onto three 180g 45rpm records, is acoustic, but songs like "Kashmir" with Jim Keltner on drums, rocks out big time. These are fresh arrangements by guitarist Tim Pierce whose playing credits include session work withBruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Johnny Van Zant, Meat Loaf, Patty Smith, Joe Cocker, Michael Jackson, Joan Armatrading, Madonna, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, The Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Alice Cooper and others. The instrumental performances add new luster to the old chestnuts. Old fans will enjoy the new musical environment and some non-Led Zep fans will be won over.

Most importantly, Ms. Fernandez, a long time Led Zep fan, has the vocal chops and the sensibility to wrap her cords tightly around the lyrics and wring new meaning from them. From what I got to hear later on a lacquer, the performances and the sonics will drop your jaws and maybe even your pants!

Here's the YouTube video shot during the first mastering session: