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DiscographiesFeatures
Yellow Magic Orchestra: Explorations, Part 2 (1983-Present)
Malachi Lui  |  Aug 20, 2021  |  2 comments
Concluding our multi-part exploration into pioneering Japanese synthpop group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), this week we’ll analyze the trio’s work from 1983’s Naughty Boys to the present day. We’ll only focus on the core catalog albums; as good as non-album tracks like “Chaos Panic” and “M-16” are, coverage of those would interest only maniacal completists. Those who aren’t yet caught up can view the series’ previous features below:

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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
Analogue Productions Unleashes the Funk on Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters
Simon Guile  |  Aug 18, 2021  |  14 comments
With a career spanning more than six decades, Herbie Hancock is one of the most treasured names in jazz. From his early days with Blue Note, to his last release (2010’s The Imagine Project), there are more than a few of his impressive 46 albums that people consider to be favourites. My personal favourite however, is the fusion classic, 1973’s Headhunters.

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Phono Preamp Reviews
Six Acoustic’s Transparent York MM/MC Phono Preamplifier
Nathan Zeller  |  Aug 16, 2021  |  101 comments
The term oversaturated adequately describes most of the entry-level phono preamplifier market, no thanks to those selling functionally identical electronics distinguishable only by brand logos. For a multitude of reasons, mainly their unremarkable sound, seasoned audiophiles steer clear of these products. Their avoidance may also be caused by an allergy to inexpensive items, but that’s mere speculation. Unfortunately, new audiophiles know no better and often fall victim to the sub-par offerings. It’s up to talented engineers like Six Acoustic founder Steve Meszlenyi to show newbies what they’re missing.

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DiscographiesFeatures
Yellow Magic Orchestra: Intermission, 1980-1982 (Solo LPs & Side Projects)
Malachi Lui  |  Aug 13, 2021  |  6 comments
Continuing our multi-part exploration of Japanese synthpop group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), this week we’ll analyze Yukihiro Takahashi, Haruomi Hosono, and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s solo LPs and side projects from 1980-1982. For brevity’s sake, we’ll exclude the artists’ production work for other acts, focusing only on Takahashi, Hosono, Sakamoto, and Hideki Matsutake-led projects (apologies to fans of Kenji Omura’s Spring Is Nearly Here). In addition, releases only reviewed digitally here won’t feature sound scores. Below are links to this series’ previous features:

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News
Sister Publication Sound&Vision's Great ATMP Feature is Definitely Worth Reading
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 11, 2021  |  11 comments
AnalogPlanet's "sister publication" Sound&Vision the other day published "The Making of All Things Must Pass" a comprehensive feature by Matt Hurwitz complete with outstanding studio and other photos.

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News
First Six Bryan Ferry Albums Released on AAA Vinyl?
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 11, 2021  |  17 comments
Don't know how we missed this but Bryan Ferry's first six solo albums are about to be released on vinyl, "...re-mastered from the original tapes at Abbey Road Studios and cut by Frank Arkwright." It's unfortunate that today we can't be sure if that means an AAA cut or if Arkwright used the original tapes and digitized before cutting. Hence the question mark in the headline.

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Album ReviewsBeatles
On the All Things Must Pass  Remix “The Quiet Beatle” Gets the Final Word (Revised lacquer cutting info)
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 09, 2021  |  81 comments
When George Harrison, the youngest Beatle, passed away November 30th, 2001 at age 58, Allan Kozinn’s front page New York Times obituary referred to him as “the quiet Beatle”, which during the group’s touring years, is what the self-effacing youngest member of group was often called.

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News
VMP Announces AAA The Story of Vanguard   Box Set
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 09, 2021  |  4 comments
Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) announced today The Story of Vanguard anthology, limited to 1000 copies on six 180g colored vinyl box set pressed at GZ Media. The mono box set was cut by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, Nashville from original master tapes.

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DiscographiesFeatures
Yellow Magic Orchestra: Explorations, Part 1 (1978-1981)
Malachi Lui  |  Aug 06, 2021  |  4 comments
Introduction

This is the part one of a multi-part exploration of Japanese synthpop pioneer Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) previewed in the recent “Yellow Magic Orchestra: Prologue”. This week, I’m dissecting the group’s albums from the 1978 self-titled debut through November 1981’s Technodelic. While I did as much research as possible, in the English-speaking world little verifiable information about YMO exists. Earlier this year, Ryuichi Sakamoto associate Eiichi Yoshimura published YMO 1978-2043: Definitive Story Of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but no English translation exists (and I’ve not yet learned Japanese). Much of what’s on Wikipedia has no traceable citation; to avoid inaccuracies any info from there will be mentioned as “supposed” or “presumed”.

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Analog Gear NewsNews
EMT Debuts New "Novel" Moving Coil Cartridge Line
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 03, 2021  |  9 comments
Based upon six years of electro-mechanical analysis EMT's new "Novel" moving coil cartridge line features a new multi-layer core transducer that includes a sapphire cantilever inserted within a coated high-strength titanium structure and a double-layer core designed to reduce eddy current loss. The stylus is a "multi-radial diamond.

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