Happy HiFi Memories!
DSR | out beyond the sticks | 10/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard this amazing record (the first of four similar albums) way back in 1974, along with another, life changing record of very different music which was "Phaedra" by Tangerine Dream! It was the first time I'd ever really heard a "decent" sound system and the JBL speakers I listened to loved this kind of percussion - most smallish UK speakers of the period would curl up and die if fed this kind of percussive music at any realistic volume - . This recording was done on the best gear they had back then and, despite or because of the analogue recording process, the original LP still sounds pretty good to my ears, although the music is rather dated now in places.
For 2007, it's apparently been re-mastered and a little "no-noise" processing done to remove what little tape hiss was there in the original "Quadrophonic" mix used for this release (why not the Stereo one?).
Listening on headphones it's easy to hear what's been done. It's not too bad, but quiet fades show the gentle hiss behind the instruments abruptly cut out when the music stops or during a quiet passage. I think they should have left alone myself and left what little hiss there was in place, but it's a personal view and a matter of taste.
A wonderful piece of audio history. As well as there being some powerful percussion of various types and well recorded brass and some synth, the recording was superb for its time and I still think that every HiFi should have a copy..........
P.S I hope the other three releases get to be released as well as the production is equally good on all of them and the music has consistant high spots through them too."
