As a fan of both jazz and classical music I’m pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to releases on R2R tape. But if rock and / or metal are more your thing, then you’re possibly feeling a bit neglected. So here’s some good news for you: German label Horch House recently released ‘Live From … More One for rock / metal fans at last! Alice Cooper live on tape from Horch House
If, like me, you’re both a tape devotee and a jazz fan, you’ll no doubt have been following this year’s incredible releases from Italian label Hemiolia Records. If you’ve somehow managed to miss it, here’s the long story cut very short: a year or so ago, Hemiolia signed a deal with Ermitage Distribution allowing them … More Latest new tape release from Hemiolia Records: Dave Brubeck’s ‘Time Out’
August 25th was kind of a BIG DAY in the world of this reel-to-reel rambler. One of my absolute favourite albums of the noughties – The White Stripes’ Elephant – was announced for release not only as a UHQR 2 x 45rpm vinyl edition, but also as an Analogue Productions Ultra Tape. For some reason … More Thunderously good: The White Stripes’ seminal album ‘Elephant’ on UHQR vinyl and Ultra Tape
Gillian Welch’s 2011 album, the Grammy-nominated The Harrow & The Harvest, described by the Washington Post as “Welch…at her haunting, heart-aching best,” will be released for the first time ever on reel-to-reel tape via her own Acony Records. Welch’s long-time collaborator David Rawlings says about the release, “as someone who spends a lot of time … More Gillian Welch to release ‘The Harrow & The Harvest’ on reel-to-reel tape via Acony Records
Amazing news folks… 2023 is the 20th anniversary of The White Stripes’ critically acclaimed album Elephant and the team at Analogue Productions and Acoustic Sounds are celebrating in the kind of style we music-loving audiophiles dream of – with a special re-release on UHQR vinyl, SACD and…. (cue drum roll): reel-to-reel Ultra Tape! I’ve got … More Analogue Productions & Acoustic Sounds announce The White Stripes’ ‘Elephant’ UHQR vinyl and on Ultra Tape
Analogue Productions is part of US-based company Acoustic Sounds which, if you’re a long-time tape fan, you’ll no doubt already be familiar with. Acoustic Sounds’ Chad Kassem is a huge blues and jazz fan, and APO Records (Analogue Productions Originals) is his own label. Chad began recording various blues legends back in the early 1990s. … More Analogue Productions announces 10 new bluesy albums on Ultra Tape
If you’re a follower of this blog, you’ll already be familiar with Italian label Hemiolia Records’ major scoop in terms of some pretty special tape rights acquisitions, and you may have already checked out some of the incredible albums that have been released on tape as a result. If not, you can check out my … More Getz / Gilberto reviewed – and three more jazz classics announced from Hemiolia
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
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
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
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 