This subject started with a general chit chat on the phone to Roger from Tiger-Paw. The main reason he has not been very fora-active of late is because he is now “in that place” with his current vinyl playing system.
This, for most of us, I would say, is the most coveted place to be. You find yourself totally ignoring the system and its many component parts. These literally melt away and you are just left with the music.
There are no itching feelings of wanting more this, deeper that, the music has now sucked you in so completely that in effect the system has ceased to exist. It steps aside to be a servant of the music. What then happens is that you tend to become a hermit, enslaved by, yet in thrall to, your record collection.
Any spare time you do have is, in general, spent preparing for and listening to your favourite albums. I have a cubicle in my rack dedicated to hot favourites.
Albums that I just want to keep playing all the time, and any new ones that come onto the radar.
I know that by now, there are a fair few of you, who will be nodding in agreement and admitting that they are “in that place “also and perfectly understand Roger’s situation.
Roger, it has to be said, has spent quite some time being totally taken with the Ekos SE arm and is even now, still one of that arm’s most ardent admirers. What has caused his own personal earthquake is discovering that the Aro in conjunction with his new Kernel subchassis has taken him to that special place. Entirely unexpectedly too.
“I, now, totally get the Aro, and it’s my personal favourite at home” is how he put it.
Having heard the Aro at length, I know exactly what he means. It does offer an alternative view, it may not have the resolution ,or the slam and attack of the Ekos SE but it is very believable and real, and downright sexy too.
One record stood out for him, Robert Plant’s 1983 Solo album “Principle of Moments”
He felt it was a “difficult” album for a system to retain control of, but his new configuration was offering a hitherto absent insight. I knew I had a copy, but it has remained little played, which in itself is a telling fact.
Looking at the matrix numbers it is an original UK release A4/B4 , pressed in Germany at Alsdorf, with double sided STERLING stamps in the dead wax. A good sign that.
This album was released on the Esperanza label cat no. 79-0101-1 and featured a class act of musicians accompanying our Rob.
Phil Collins or Barriemore Barlow on drums, bass- Paul Martinez, guitars- Robbie Blunt,
Keyboards- Jezz Woodroffe
Playing with Robert Plant caused them to step up to the plate in a big way I suppose, because this album sounds considerably Led Zeppelinesque. The power and scope of the sound is truly awesome. It is a truly fiercesome cut, at an incredibly high level. There is a vast amount of processing on Plant’s vocals. I think I counted up to 4 echo plates on one vocal track alone.
The whole thing just lifts you up out of your seat and pins you to the back wall.
It certainly is difficult alright, I can imagine many cartridges rendering this album almost unlistenable, but the overall sound is just totally sweet as well. Dynamic sweep is just beyond stupid, to a place where it would bulldoze any digital file into next week.
It went straight into my top ten of all vinyl albums, hot favourite for the next few weeks, nay months.
Difficult? Yes, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The single Big Log is OK, but not the best cut on this album by a long chalk.
Buy it, enjoy it, test your system out with it, then love it.
A must have for anyone who likes Zep.
This, for most of us, I would say, is the most coveted place to be. You find yourself totally ignoring the system and its many component parts. These literally melt away and you are just left with the music.
There are no itching feelings of wanting more this, deeper that, the music has now sucked you in so completely that in effect the system has ceased to exist. It steps aside to be a servant of the music. What then happens is that you tend to become a hermit, enslaved by, yet in thrall to, your record collection.
Any spare time you do have is, in general, spent preparing for and listening to your favourite albums. I have a cubicle in my rack dedicated to hot favourites.
Albums that I just want to keep playing all the time, and any new ones that come onto the radar.
I know that by now, there are a fair few of you, who will be nodding in agreement and admitting that they are “in that place “also and perfectly understand Roger’s situation.
Roger, it has to be said, has spent quite some time being totally taken with the Ekos SE arm and is even now, still one of that arm’s most ardent admirers. What has caused his own personal earthquake is discovering that the Aro in conjunction with his new Kernel subchassis has taken him to that special place. Entirely unexpectedly too.
“I, now, totally get the Aro, and it’s my personal favourite at home” is how he put it.
Having heard the Aro at length, I know exactly what he means. It does offer an alternative view, it may not have the resolution ,or the slam and attack of the Ekos SE but it is very believable and real, and downright sexy too.
One record stood out for him, Robert Plant’s 1983 Solo album “Principle of Moments”
He felt it was a “difficult” album for a system to retain control of, but his new configuration was offering a hitherto absent insight. I knew I had a copy, but it has remained little played, which in itself is a telling fact.
Looking at the matrix numbers it is an original UK release A4/B4 , pressed in Germany at Alsdorf, with double sided STERLING stamps in the dead wax. A good sign that.
This album was released on the Esperanza label cat no. 79-0101-1 and featured a class act of musicians accompanying our Rob.
Phil Collins or Barriemore Barlow on drums, bass- Paul Martinez, guitars- Robbie Blunt,
Keyboards- Jezz Woodroffe
Playing with Robert Plant caused them to step up to the plate in a big way I suppose, because this album sounds considerably Led Zeppelinesque. The power and scope of the sound is truly awesome. It is a truly fiercesome cut, at an incredibly high level. There is a vast amount of processing on Plant’s vocals. I think I counted up to 4 echo plates on one vocal track alone.
The whole thing just lifts you up out of your seat and pins you to the back wall.
It certainly is difficult alright, I can imagine many cartridges rendering this album almost unlistenable, but the overall sound is just totally sweet as well. Dynamic sweep is just beyond stupid, to a place where it would bulldoze any digital file into next week.
It went straight into my top ten of all vinyl albums, hot favourite for the next few weeks, nay months.
Difficult? Yes, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The single Big Log is OK, but not the best cut on this album by a long chalk.
Buy it, enjoy it, test your system out with it, then love it.
A must have for anyone who likes Zep.