If you follow this blog you’ll have seen some really exciting stuff going down in the world of tape this year. It’s been a bumper (and for me, budget-busting!) year for tape. My bank balance is now groaning at the seams but my tape collection is looking pretty darned awesome! I thought it might be … More Looking back at 2023: a great year for new releases on tape!
Scheherazade is without a doubt my absolute favourite piece of classical music. It’s packed with passion and sensuality in spades as it journeys through an utterly captivating story. And what a ride of heavenly and hellish contrasts! You’ve got hellfire dynamics and the menacing sultan’s theme. Then there’s the tempestuous storms at sea, the shipwreck … More “The macro and the micro in complete detail”: Chasing The Dragon’s new tape recording of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade
Chasing the Dragon is a UK-based niche audiophile label that makes superb quality recordings on reel-to-reel tape only, which are then released as master tape copies as well as in various vinyl formats (direct cut, audiophile and binaural) and on CD. Chasing the Dragon’s Mike Valentine has just announced that all of their master tape … More New from Chasing the Dragon: custom-made reels for all master tape copies
by Neville Roberts A new tape with a difference from the British audiophile recording company Chasing The Dragon! Mike Valentine, the brains behind the Chasing The Dragon audiophile recording label, is frequently asked about the best way to record music and the differences between various recording techniques. Of course, he has his own definite views … More An “incredible” new tape with a difference: Chasing The Dragon allows listeners to compare recording techniques of Mendelssohn’s Octet
It seems quite the norm these days for audiophile recording labels to offer a sampler or demo tape that contains extracts from their tape library, and the UK’s Chasing The Dragon is no exception. Run by the husband and wife team of Mike and Françoise Valentine, Chasing The Dragon offers a wide range of classical … More Neville Roberts reviews Chasing The Dragon’s new Sampler Tape
Between them, Dave Denyer and Neville Roberts have clocked up quite a few visits to London’s AIR Studios in the past year or so. And why wouldn’t you, given the opportunity! In this case the opportunities have been offered by Mike Valentine of audiophile record label Chasing the Dragon, whose live studio recording sessions are … More Review: ‘A Day In The Life’ by the Quentin Collins All Star Quintet – the latest release from Chasing the Dragon
The eighth in a short series of videos captured at the recent Hi-Fi Show Live in Ascot, UK – in which we grab a quick chat with a handful of fellow R2R appreciators. Here, we talk tape with Mike Valentine of UK-based audiophile label Chasing the Dragon. Always an engaging and entertaining speaker, Mike gives … More A quick chat with… Chasing the Dragon’s Mike Valentine
Making high-quality audio recordings in a recording studio is one thing but making audiophile recordings at a remote venue has its own particular challenges. Neville Roberts visits London’s Temple Church to attend one such recording session featuring two of the Bach Cello Suites, performed by the renowned and award-winning cellist, Justin Pearson. I’ve been fortunate … More Recording the Bach Cello Suites: behind the scenes and a free sample download
Well, we did it… this Hallowe’en weekend, The Reel-to-Reel Rambler went from being an online webzine to a collaborative live event at Hi-Fi Show Live 2019 – and what a show it was! If there was any doubt about the growing interest in reel-to-reel, then this weekend must surely have put it to rest. The … More Hi-Fi Show Live 2019: “a pivotal moment for tape”!
The Rambler has some very exciting news to announce…. this October we’re celebrating all things reel-to-reel at the UK’s biggest high-end hi-fi show and we’d love you to come along and join us! The show: Hi-Fi Show Live, Ascot, UK, 26th-27th October 2019 Hi-Fi Show Live, now in its 7thyear, is run by AVTech Media, … More R2R live! The Rambler will be at the UK’s Hi-Fi Show Live this October – with tape decks both vintage and brand new, tape labels, tape manufacturers, tech tape advice and more (oh and Ken Kessler!)
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 