Category: Music on R2R: news & reviews

“The macro and the micro in complete detail”: Chasing The Dragon’s new tape recording of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade

July 14, 2023

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

New on tape: Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio no. 1 in D minor Op. 49 from UltraAnalogue Recordings

May 8, 2023

There’s something about the number three: it’s the first prime number, it’s the symbol of the holy trinity, it defines the dimensions of the physical space in which we exist. In contrast, in a duo (a pair, a duality), there’s a kind of balance between ‘x and y’. But when you add a third element … More New on tape: Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio no. 1 in D minor Op. 49 from UltraAnalogue Recordings

From ‘meh’ to ‘masterpiece’: Charles Mingus’ Mingus Ah Um from Hemiolia Records on 15ips 2-track tape

May 2, 2023

Did you ever have an album that you really wanted to like – say, because it’s held in high esteem and seen as a great example of a genre you love and know a thing or two – and yet, you just can’t get into it? You have a nagging suspicion that ‘it’s not you, … More From ‘meh’ to ‘masterpiece’: Charles Mingus’ Mingus Ah Um from Hemiolia Records on 15ips 2-track tape

Exclusive news! New tape release from Hemiolia: the seminal Getz / Gilberto

March 17, 2023

Oh boy. Bit of a scoop here folks. Not only do we now have one of my all-time favourite recordings – Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue – in its full sublime tape glory, but now another absolute jazz classic has just been released on 15ips 2-track tape. Thanks to Italian label Hemiolia Records having signed … More Exclusive news! New tape release from Hemiolia: the seminal Getz / Gilberto

The best version bar none: Miles Davis’ ‘Kind of Blue’ on copy master tape from Hemiolia Records

March 3, 2023

Cards on the table: this is one of my all-time favourite albums, so I’m going to get into some fairly extensive rambling here. What can I say, I’m excited! Yes, there have been many and varied reissues and versions of Miles Davis’ seminal 1959 masterpiece over the years. But it’s never before happened on 15ips, … More The best version bar none: Miles Davis’ ‘Kind of Blue’ on copy master tape from Hemiolia Records

New from Chasing the Dragon: custom-made reels for all master tape copies

February 21, 2023

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

John Coltrane’s Blue Train: Hemiolia’s new master tape copy vs. Blue Note Tone Poet’s vinyl release

January 16, 2023

Regular readers may recall that back in November I posted in great excitement about an announcement by Hemiolia Records that they were planning to release some ‘Holy Grail’ albums on tape. Well, the excitement just got even bigger – because I have the first three titles!! One of them is an all-time favourite album of … More John Coltrane’s Blue Train: Hemiolia’s new master tape copy vs. Blue Note Tone Poet’s vinyl release

Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak & Mendelssohn: new master tapes from UltraAnalogue Recordings

December 9, 2022

I had an excited message from Ed Pong of UltraAnalogue Recordings the other day. Ed sounded like he was on the kind of high that you only get from those peak musical experiences (you know the ones!) – and with good reason, since he’s just finished making several new master tape recordings of a stunning … More Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak & Mendelssohn: new master tapes from UltraAnalogue Recordings

straight2tape – a brilliant new concept of real, up-close-and-personal, music events

November 30, 2022

‘Being there’ One of the phrases I use most often when reviewing tapes is, I’m afraid, a rather hackneyed one: “it’s almost like being there” (or some variation on that theme). I make no apology for it, because this (for me) is without doubt the most soul-stirring aspect of tape as a format for enjoying … More straight2tape – a brilliant new concept of real, up-close-and-personal, music events

Hemiolia Records releases Miles Davis’ masterpiece on tape – and there’s much more to come!

November 7, 2022

You know those late night conversations that happen among tape lovers, the ones that kick off with someone asking (usually after a few drinks), “if you could listen to absolutely any album on tape, what would it be?”… and you know how everyone then shares – with misty eyes – their list of ‘fantasy’ tapes, … More Hemiolia Records releases Miles Davis’ masterpiece on tape – and there’s much more to come!