LATEST ADDITIONS

Mike Mettler  |  Feb 07, 2023  |  24 comments

The more we listen to our vinyl, the more we notice how much our LPs need regular cleaning, regardless of whether they’re new or used copies. Record cleaning devices range widely in terms of performance and options, of course, and we will be reviewing a number of them in the coming months here on AP. In the meantime, one such device that caught our eye recently is one that’s now being offered by noted German manufacturer Rekkord, who are set to serve up the appropriately named RCM recording cleaning machine later in February. Read on to find out more about this well-acronymed RCM. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Feb 03, 2023  |  0 comments

As good and desirable as blues guitarist Mel Brown’s 1967 Impulse Records debut album Chicken Fat is, the reality is he’s not quite a household name, even among many jazz and blues aficionados. That said, enough people have discovered Brown’s music to warrant its inclusion in a significant new reissue series from Verve By Request/UMe that’s being pressed by Third Man Records. Read Mark Smotroff’s dive-into-the-frying-pan review to see why you might want to add Mel Brown’s tasty-sweet funky 180g Chicken Fat LP to your vinyl collection. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Feb 02, 2023  |  2 comments

“It’s nice to talk analog. You’re speaking my language.” That’s Janis Ian, iconoclast singer/songwriter who’s made a lifetime-slash-career out of breaking barriers and forging new paths when it comes to making music that is equal parts folk, country, rock, and all points in between. And she’s very much speaking our language too, of course. Read on to see what Ian and AP editor Mike Mettler discussed when they got on the phone recently to delve into the making of Light, the importance of evaluating test pressings, and how she applies analog-oriented principles to catalog reissues regardless of the format. . .

Julie Mullins  |  Feb 01, 2023  |  0 comments

New LP review alert! This is the first installment in a new series of album reviews we’ll be doing here on AP wherein we catch up on LP releases we weren’t able to cover when they initially came out in the not-so-distant past, but are indeed ones we feel are worthy of note. Read on to get our take on Andrew Bird’s most intriguing 2022 LP, Inside Problems. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Jan 31, 2023  |  5 comments

You can have the best gear in the world in your system ready to play all those new and/or vintage LPs in your collection, but if any piece of equipment in the playback chain is not properly stabilized — especially when it comes to fortifying your turntable and/or amplifier(s), for example — then you’re just asking for unnecessary noise-related complications. With that in mind, the E1X Isolation Base from HRS might make for quite the good, stable option. Read on to get all the E1X base details. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 27, 2023  |  3 comments
If you’ve found yourself aching to hear some rich, vintage-sounding, progressive-leaning, post-psychedelic independently made music with authentic roots — but are tired of playing your well-worn copies Pink Floyd’s Meddle, Todd Rundgren’s Something/Anything?, and The Pretty Things’ Parachute — then you might want to check out Sweden’s Dungen (pronounced Doon-yen). Mark Smotroff gets his Moog ‘N’ Mellotron on to explore the band from the land of the ice and snow and midnight sun’s latest, late-2022 LP En Är För Mycket och Tusen Aldrig Nog (which translates to One Is Too Many And A Thousand Never Enough). Read on to get his take on this adventurous post-modern LP release. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Jan 26, 2023  |  6 comments

Vincent Audio knows from phono preamps, and the company’s PHO-701 MM/MC hybrid two-chassis model now emerges in the wake of its vaunted PHO-700 predecessor. How does it stack up? Read on to get all the PHO-701 spec details. . .

Ken Micallef  |  Jan 25, 2023  |  5 comments

AP editor Mike Mettler asked ace reviewer Ken Micallef to come up with a list of his Top 10 jazz releases on vinyl for 2022, and Ken happily complied, and compiled accordingly. Read his list of new and historical jazz LPs of note from the past listening year right here. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Jan 23, 2023  |  16 comments

Is there a more storied, historic company name when it comes to the history of the turntable than that of Victrola? Well, the company that’s been manufacturing audio gear since 1906 is still going strong, having recently announced at CES 2023 that their next-gen turntable, the Stream Onyx VPT-2000-BLK-ATE, will be coming our way in mid-to-late February. Read on to find out about the Stream Onyx’s feature set, pricing, and connectivity options accordingly. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 20, 2023  |  2 comments

In the annals of jazz history, one artist who often gets overlooked was one of the early architects of the saxophone sound, dating back to the 1920s when he was arranging for Fletcher Henderson. His name is Benny Carter, and his stellar 1958 album simply titled Jazz Giant has just seen a 180g 1LP reissue from Craft Recordings, via an all-analog remaster by Bernie Grundman. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if this Jazz Giant is a must-have addition to your jazz vinyl listening experience. . .

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