Mike Mettler

With AXPONA now only just a few days away, we’re continuing onward with our new-gear preview series, right up until we arrive at the show itself. Today, we zero in on some exciting news from the Poland-based company J.Sikora, who have announced the unveiling of the 15th Anniversary Edition of their Standard Max turntable as a “worldwide premiere” at AXPONA. Read on to see what to expect from this limited-edition anniversary table. . .

With AXPONA a little over a week away, we wanted to get an early jump on looking at some of the cool new products we expect to be checking out firsthand at the show. First up, we’re already quite intrigued by French manufacturer Analog Audio Design’s TP-1000 reel-to-reel player, which is finally making its stateside debut after being introduced in Munich last year. Read on to see all the cool features and specs of the TP-1000. . .

All I need is a cinema show — that, and the radio. Okay, so we slightly butchered the opening lyrics to “Turn It On Again” there, but if you’re a Genesis acolyte and you know (what I like), then you know what we mean. The reason for the above line adjustment is that Genesis is set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their October 1999 Turn It On Again: The Hits compilation by way of two separate vinyl editions via Atlantic/Rhino on May 3, 2024 — marking the 18-song career-spanning collection’s vinyl debut. Read on to see which tracks are on it, and which specific cut is making its own LP debut. . .

Eleven days ago, we lost another good one. Karl Wallinger, the visionary bandleader, singer, songwriter, composer, and all-around sonic Svengali of the alt-pop-leaning British collective known as World Party, sadly passed away on March 10, 2024, at the still young age of 66. In a recently unearthed, previously unpublished interview with AP editor Mike Mettler from 2012, Wallinger discussed the importance of how to properly sequence song cycles on LPs, why he once wanted to open his own record store, and his early proclivity for listening to progressive artists like Yes, Pink Floyd, and ELP on vinyl — plus, he shows us, on video, his unique DIY double-tracking vocal technique. . .