Can't wait for the whole album to be released.
World Premier! Vanessa Fernandez's "Kashmir" From "When the Levee Breaks"
With permission, here's the world premier of "Kashmir" transcribed from the lacquer.
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Holy cow! That sent a chill up me when it kicked in! It's really different, almost like a dissected version. i love how everything is so clear and those drums hit you right in the gut. I love it, but they may need to back them off just a hair...I think. Sadly, I'm sure I won't be able to afford the record when it comes out, but thank you for the sample Michael!
That's fantastic.
But what is the buzz I'm hearing?
It's in the video. It starts when the cartridge is just about a half-inch or so from the surface as it's lowered to the record. If I pause the video, it stops. So it's not on my end. What speakers are you listening on? Check on the video on a computer via relatively full-range speakers or a headphones and you should hear it.
I hear it too, but only when I turn the volume up to ear splitting levels and it continues through the entire album, but can only be heard during the quieter parts.
It sounds like my tube phono preamp does, but again, the volume has to be extremely high at ear damaging levels. At realistic levels, it's completely non audible.
I have Mission planar desk speakers with a subwoofer for my computer. I hear it pretty clearly.
.....the worst rendition of Kashmir I've ever heard. Talk about insipid :-(
destined for audiophile demo greatness. Sadly Ms. Fernandez is not floating my boat. :(
Makes me wish page could've given us AAA versions of the catalog.
Mike, my comment above made me think of a question; i apoligize if this is a dumb question. let's say some hypothetical band really wants to remaster their catalog AAA, but the original tapes are unusable for whatever reason. Do the original lacquers and/or metal stampers still exist? If so, are they usable? If they do and the original master was good enough, why don't older artists use them?
Hey Mike,
Regarding those mid 90's re-issues- 1. Was that part of the famous Classic Records LPs?
And 2. Did Bernie do the mini-LP gatefold CD versions too? Just curious, as I have the first 5 CDs (as Japanese imports), and honestly, they rate a very close second (esp. LZ II) to the RL side one you posted a while back. I bought the newly redone Jimmy Page LPs or I and II, and boy, do I feel ripped off!
Back on topic- while my personal jury is still out on Vanessa's voice, I LOVE the "deconstructionist" arrangement taken here. BTW, Is that Jim Keltner on the kit? I've shared it with my brother-in-law and one of my best friends- both of whom are accomplished drummers themselves...
Steinberg UR-22 24/192 usb interface Grado 80s and my Focal Spirit Pros. Grado more high end, but not the low end of the Focal's. I don't know what the encoding of YouTube is, but I have no albums from ITunes (256) that sound this good. I have some of my own at 2496 and 24192 that do.
The one way I get to hear what a $10K phono stage sounds like in my own home. Loved the tour with Bernie G.
Grounding issue for sure.
I was really looking forward to this release as Use Me was stunningly good. Not sure about this one now. This may not be the music for her. Sounds good though. I'll have to wait for the review of the complete album.
Music is great, she's horrendous! Sounds like a wailing banshee! People need to leave songs by Led Zeppelin, Beatles, etc. alone. Other renditions of famous bands hardly ever work out. I definitely wouldn't buy this. Not my cup of tea.
How about Hendrix "All Along the Watchtower", Joan Jett "I Love Rock and Roll", Janis Joplin "Me & Bobby McGee", Santana "Black Magic Woman", CSN&Y "Woodstock", Manfred Mann "Blinded by the Light", The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man", Patsy Cline "Crazy", all covers and hey, how about Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" which was actually a song by Jake Holmes who was backing up The Yardbirds in 1967 when Jimmy Page first heard it. No credit was given to Holmes on Zeppelin's 1st album leading to years of copyright court battles.
These are just off the top of my head but what do I know, I also like Trent Reznor's cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song", maybe even better.
I like the concept but I wonder why they chose this particular singer?
her voice is nothing special bordering on mediocre.
Nothing personal against her or Mr. Fremer, but I found "Use Me" to be so poor musically as to be unlistenable. The constant refrain of glowing reviews on this website of her music really is inexplicable to me.
Sound quality seems good (and I don't hear any buzz).
I'm not sure I like the mix - her voice is dry and very upfront - usually not a bad thing but doesn't seem to fit the music.
I still look forward to hearing more though.
Thanks for sharing.
didn't mind at all the violin rendition of Page/Jones work, but I found Ms. Fernandez's voice irritating.
The big surprise/shock here when I started the track was how polite everything sounded - the vocal and percussion on the LZ version are both quite processed; here those elements sound quite realistic. The vocal section where she hits those highest notes do not sound thin per se, only unprocessed.
I would buy this record. I would see this vocalist live too.
Jim T: if I'm ever in the same room with you I have to show you my HiFiMan headphones - you'll toss those Grados in the trash! (To everyone else: Jim & I know each other and I would never steer him wrong)
I was really impressed by the sound of the music but not by the performance which is of course typical of a lot of audiophile demo discs.
Sound: 10 (wow!)
Music: 2 (meh!)
James, Dublin, Ireland
Do I miss Plant's banshee wail from his rendition? Sure, but then again that's mostly memory talking.
But Fernandez adds a funkiness that's compelling in its own way.
More of what I miss is Bonham crashing the toms. Zep's version has those majestic, dynamic swings about it.
She sounds like a student of the Holly Cole School of Modern Jazzy-type Singers. The players are very concise in their playing; the arrangement needs a lil bit of soul. Thanks for sharing-
... Vanessa Fernandez album! I love it, thanks for sharing Michael, I was quite anxious to get to hear something from the new album :)
This is funny. The Stylus is bouncing up and down and the far shot shows the lacquer swaying off centre! No wonder all these recent albums have off Centred sides, it's the way the Lacquer is!!!!!
LMAO.......
Oh Bernie, what a disappointment.
Where is the link to a pre order Michael????
the beave
to get off this drillship, go home and crank up my Classic Records 45rpm. This was/is awful....................
It's an extra track on the "Thud" vinyl special edition. Outstanding album.
I'm guessing this Vanessa Fernandez album will be a treat sonically.
Sonics for audiophiles. The music is MOR. Sorry.