In a strong start to 2020, Vocallion reissued a nice batch of quad hybrid SACD’s. Collectors got a lot of Rhythm and Blues among other classic 70’s quad reissues. One of these is the soulful and danceable Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes which have immersed listeners with a playful mix from their “Black & Blue” album featuring lots of panning while the included bonus album “Wake Up Everybody” is more restrained, with greater similarities to modern multichannel mixes. I find these two different approaches to the quad mix work well with their respective albums with excellent sound quality spinning from the SACD. In my view the leader of these two releases is Black & Blue which was released on… Continue Reading

When I first heard Marillion’s 1983 debut “Script for a Jester's Tear” I was delighted at the prospect of a new generation of prog rockers that created a modern take on the sound of early Genesis. Their complex and intricate entry is often still considered the band's best, setting a high bar for their later releases. The album is chalk full of songs that are staples at their live gigs, starting with the title track. Now, nearly forty years later, Script for a Jester’s Tear has been released as a deluxe, 4 CD + 1 Blu-ray Edition on Esoteric Records. The set contains a remixed stereo version by Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh, plus an all-new 5.1 Surround mix of the complete album. In… Continue Reading

Multi-Grammy Winning Pianist Bob James releases “Feel Like Making LIVE!” as a celebration of his unique artistry, reflecting on a storied career stretching back nearly six decades. On this album he steps back to his piano trio roots, which is how the Missouri-born musician started his music career back in 1963. The line up on this release includes bassist Michael Palazzolo along with drummer Billy Kilson and the album was recorded live in the studio as a unique audio-visual spectacular, utilizing the best available filming and recording standards, including Dolby Atmos sound and 4K ultra high definition video. High resolution audio enthusiasts will find a wide range of physical format… Continue Reading

Syrek is the project of guitarist/composer Terry Syrek, who has worked with an impressive list of renowned artists including Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci among others. Story is set to an instrumental progressive metal soundtrack that easily will be favored by fans of Liquid Tension Experiment, Joe Satrani, and Dream Theater. Syrek has assembled an impressive international lineup of musicians including: German drummer Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson, Dewa Budjana). Bass guitar duties are covered by Bryan Beller from America (The Aristocrats, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani) and Indian bassist Mohini Dey (Steve Vai, Tony McAlpine). Keyboards are handled by Lalle Larsson… Continue Reading