A new high-end dealership in the south-east. Scenic destination. Comfortable lounge. Brands and products we believe in. Relaxed, friendly, straight-talking. Opening soon... We can't wait to welcome you!
Simply gorgeous: The new Planar 10 from @regaresearchuk is a stunner. We canât wait to hear it with the new Apheta 3 MC cart. For more details hit the Rega website. (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2M4ManA9J-/?igshid=c5s9lvkrcd3u
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We had a fantastic day of excellent hifi and live music from @daudi (on @naimrecs ) at the @naimaudio event hosted by our friends at @thedeptofmusic. What a beautiful setting. It doesnât look like it in the pics but it was sunny most of the day! Do go and see them if youâre in the South Downs area. đđ They have more events lined up through the coming months. (at The Department of Music) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2JH04rpxWG/?igshid=1pax7x4fi6cnr
We had a fantastic day of excellent hifi and live music from @daudi (on @naimrecs ) at the @naimaudio event hosted by our friends at @thedeptofmusic. What a beautiful setting. It doesnât look like it in the pics but it was sunny most of the day! Do go and see them if youâre in the South Downs area. đđ They have more events lined up through the coming months. (at The Department of Music) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2JHay2peeF/?igshid=907j1hbggt1a
Pop Quiz time! This is from those wonderful folks @albumdayuk via @classicalbumsundays How many can you guess? #classicalbums #audiophile #highend #vinyl #turntable #records #highperformanceaudio #hifi #speakers #instahifi #luxury #highendaudio⣠#stereo #lovemusic (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0B5w19pFns/?igshid=v4ytp9ktityv
The first reviews are coming in... #naim #supernait3 #audiophile #hifi (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzxQCLopW_p/?igshid=13fequbl4ymiy
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Today @naimaudio announced the latest instalment in their blockbuster series of integrated amps: SUPERNAIT 3 and NAIT XS3. Both enjoy significant performance upgrades and the addition of a built-in phono stage. âŁđđ ⣠We are massive fans of #SUPERNAIT already and can wait to see and hear the new release. For more info see Naim website - link in bio or bit.ly/supernait3 ⣠⣠Our only dilemma is selecting a turntable to road test that new phono input... What would you choose? đ ⣠#audiophile #highend #highperformanceaudio #hifi #amplifier #naim (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzsOgozJBt6/?igshid=n3ieg5pzzxva
When was your last gig? Ours was on Wednesday: the amazing @robertglasper blessed Camden with him presence. ⣠đđđšđźđŻđ ⣠⣠#talent #robertglasper #bluenote #jazz #legend #livemusic #audiophile #highend (at Camden Roundhouse) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzinV9EJRKg/?igshid=t9hwgmfkgfdl
We spent yesterday in training with #ClarityAlliance, hosted at @pmcspeakers HQ in beautiful Biggleswade. We loved their gallery of vintage hifi and cheeky #AimHigher poster in the gents. Thanks for having us guys! ⣠⣠#audiophile #highend #highperformanceaudio #hifi #speakers #instahifi #luxury #highendaudio⣠(at Biggleswade) https://www.instagram.com/p/By5D8QUJAKr/?igshid=ft5t8fqy76cv
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Vinyl may be one of our most âmatureâ music formats, but it doesnât mean that innovation in turntable design and manufacturing stopped decades ago. New ideas, composite materials, quality control⌠the ongoing R&D at companies like Rega, Michell and SME have brought significant sonic benefits to the classic spinning platter. Even the iconic LP12 has benefited from  Linnâs 45 years of tweaking and evolution.
If youâre thinking of upgrading to a new turntable, youâre probably also thinking about selling your old one. Luckily, those guys at Vinyl Me Please have some handy hints about how to go about it. Their guide covers everything from where to sell it, to taking the best photos and ensuring shipping costs are clear.
After all, the more you get for your old turntable, the more you can contribute to your upgrade - or to more records to play on it!
What was in the water 30 years ago?
Today, in 2019, a surprising number of artists and bands are celebrating the 30th anniversary of some of their greatest albums. Sure, 1988 and 1990 have their fair share of significant releases, but 1989 was a stonker of a year.Â
Read on to discover our favourite âBig Albumsâ from 1989.
The decedent 80s drew to a close with landmark releases across all genres. The âsecond summer of loveâ had pushed dance music and rave culture into the mainstream, whilst indie guitar upstarts suddenly found themselves playlisted on daytime Radio One. As these contrasting acts rubbed shoulders on TOTP and across NOW compilations, influences began to cross-pollinate, lighting the touch paper for Madchester and beyond.
In the studio, samplers and digital recording kit had become more affordable. Artists could realise ideas without the mortgage-scale budgets of the Fairlight pioneers earlier in the decade (Bush, Gabriel, Horn, Clarke et al).
At home, the CD format was firmly established but still in its infancy compared to its dominance in the late-90s. Cassette tapes sold more than vinyl in 1989, mainly driven by the US market. 1989 was also the year Comet Group bought up all 31 branches of the Laskys hi-fi chain â remember Laskys? You could still buy hi-fi separates in stores like Boots, but the masses mainly wanted neater âstackâ or âmidiâ systems from brands like Aiwa, Kenwood, Technics and Sony.
So, what were we playing on these systems?
If we squint our rose-tinted vision just beyond hits by Jive Bunny, Kylie & Jason and, ugh, Band Aid II, 1989 offers a plethora of genre-defining debut LPs alongside creative peaks from established artists.
Before I ruffle anyoneâs feathers, I admit this is a totally subjective piece. I have not been studying sales figures or cross-referencing reviews in Q Magazine, but many â89 albums pop up in the âTop 10â lists of Pitchfork, NME or Rolling Stone etc, and theyâre frequently referenced as key influences by artists and producers today.
Hereâs a selection of my favourites. Itâs by no means exhaustive.
Which albums were you cueing up on your Technics linear-tracking deck in 1989, and what type of TDK tape were you recording them onto?
Let us know in the comments.
1. The Cure â Disintegration
Last week the band completed a five-night run of gigs at Sydney Opera House, celebrating 30 years since the release of their landmark Disintegration album. No doubt many of its tracks will also feature when they headline Glastonbury this summer.
I was a big Cure fan as a teenager. I nipped out of school at lunchtime to buy Disintegration on the day it was released. It was a hot, sunny day and I drew the curtains to listen in the dark.
2. The Stone Roses â The Stone Roses
Before Spike Island or even Foolâs Gold, 1989 introduced us to this genre-defining eponymous Mancunian debut. Nothing quite chimes and grooves like the Rosesâ early output and its unrivalled sing-along nostalgia.
3. De La Soul â Three Feet High & Rising
Rhymes, skits and daisies. This funky and humorous collage of samples from the NY trio has been referred to as âgeniusâ, âa hip-hop masterpieceâ. It was reissued by Vinyl Me, Please as a double LP in their Essential series earlier this year.
4. Kate Bush â The Sensual World
How do you follow a career-defining work like Hounds of Love? It seems you turn inwards, re-write the closing passages of Ulysses and employ a Bulgarian male choir. You also deliver one of the most heart-breaking performances committed to tape in This Womanâs Work.
The Sensual World may not reach the heights of its predecessor (it was one of the albums Kate reworked significantly for the Directorâs Cut project), but it remains a convincing release from such an enigmatic creative talent. It earned her Brit Award nominations for both Best Album and Best Producer.
5. New Order â Technique
Ibiza, Factory, The Hacienda, ecstasy, even sheep sound effects. The stories behind this album have sold thousands of books for each member of the band. It was their first LP to reach No 1 in the UK and still sounds magnificent today.
6. Tears For Fears â The Seeds Of Love
The bandâs third studio album took almost two years and ÂŁ1million to make. Considering the hugely successful Songs From The Big Chair cost nearer ÂŁ70,000, this could have led to the end of their record contract and career! Luckily, they had the chutzpah to see it through. Seeds reached No 1 in the UK and achieved platinum status in numerous territories across the globe.
Sadly, the album took its toll on Orzabal and Smithâs relationship. It was the last one they could work on together for over a decade.
Immaculately produced, the album features many established session players (including Phil Collins on drums, who himself released But Seriously⌠in 1989), but is most noted for introducing the world to the voice of Oleta Adams.
7. Neneh Cherry â Raw Like Sushi
If you came to Raw Like Sushiexpecting nine more tracks like the huge hit Buffalo Stance, you would have been disappointed. The album stood out for its range of styles and depth of influence. When you reflect on Cherryâs debut as an album envision by a âmusician/artistâ, rather than fronted by the ârapper/singerâ Buffalo Stancesuggests, itâs no surprise that she is still recording and performing today.
8. Pixies â Doolittle
Back in the late 80s, nothing else sounded quite like The Pixies. With their second full-length, the band perfected their loud-quiet-loud pop blast, offering up a key blueprint for Nirvanaâs looming commercial breakthrough Nevermind.
9. Tom Petty â Full Moon Forever
Louder Sound describes Pettyâs â89 release asâa remarkably consistent collection of wonderfully constructed rootsy rock songs. Petty teams up with ELO guru and fellow Travelling Wilbury Jeff Lynne, who does an immaculate production job as well as co-writing the albumâs standout tracks, Free Fallinâ and I Wonât Back Down.â
10. Soul II Soul â Club Classics Vol 1
In the summer of 1989, the single Back To Life and its accompanying MTV-friendly video took Soul II Soulâs London slant on R&B/Soul around the world. The album goes deeper (Back To Life features only as an acapella) but brings underground club vibes to the mainstream, going triple-platinum in the UK and Top 20 in the US (No 1 in the R&B chart).
âA happy face, a thumping bass for a loving race.â
11. Paulâs Boutique
Sorry! I couldnât keep this list to just ten albums!
The Beastiesâ now-beloved second album was considered a flop at the time, but, in the ensuing years, has been embraced as a landmark of sample-based hip-hop.
The Best Of The Rest
It doesnât stop there. The list of landmark 1989 albums rolls and rolls.
What have we missed in the list below?
10,000 Maniacs, Blind Manâs Zoo
Elvis Costello, Spike
NWA, Straight Outta Compton
Tracy Chapman, Crossroads
Eurythmics, We Too Are One
Simply Red, A New Flame
Ian McCulloch, Candleland
Lenny Kravitz, Let Love Rule
The Beautiful South, Welcome to the Beautiful South
The Jesus and Mary Chain, Automatic
Nirvana, Bleach
The B-52s, Cosmic Thing
Queen, The Miracle
Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Motherâs Milk
Lou Reed, New York
The Cult, Sonic Temple
The The, Mind Bomb
The Wedding Present, Bizarro
Pop Will Eat Itself, This Is the DayâŚThis Is the HourâŚThis Is This!
The dust has now settled on this yearâs Munich High-End Show. If youâre a hi-fi fan and didnât make it to Germany this year, no doubt, like us, you absorbed much of the social content from the brands and exhibitors at the event.
One of our favourite pieces is an interview posted by Absolute Sounds, distributors for some of the worldâs finest brands including Wilson Audio, Audio Research and Prima Luna. Absolute Soundsâ head honcho and trouser-dazzler, Ricardo Franassocivi, interviews Stereophile writer, vlogger and vinyl veteran, Michael Fremer.
Together they discuss trends and share opinions about the current state of the hi-fi community. One particular point that struck a chord with us is Michaelâs take on the phrase âhigh endâ. He feels the term is far too snobby and puts off music lovers who might otherwise consider investing in what he prefers to call âhigh performanceâ systems.
He compares hi-fi to the wine industry, where he suggests a similar snobbery exists and puts people off sampling and learning about different wines.
Here at The Hi-Fi Project, we couldnât agree more. Weâre on a mission to show everyone how wonderful music can be across a range of different budgets. We sneer back at hi-fi snobbery. After all, audio is subjective: what sounds ârightâ to us wonât necessarily sound perfect to your ears. Our starting point is to get as close as possible to the sound of live performance - a pursuit we share with Ricardo - but we all have different tastes. Luckily the variety of hi-fi brands offer us a range of flavours. A great dealer should be able to guide you through options to arrive at your audio nirvana - and without a whiff of snobbery!Â
Have you ever been snubbed by âhigh-endâ snobbery? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Both Michael and Ricardo also share frustration at the lack of variety of music played at hi-fi shows. Why is it that the same limited playlists are exhausted in every room?! Tell us what youâd like to hear.
Watch the full interview on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/absolutesoundsltd/videos/2372404529487993/Â
We want to keep you updated! âŁJoin our email list to get the latest news as we firm up plans for the new dealership in South East England. âŁDon't worry, we'll only send one email per month, and only when we've got something worth sharing. We hate spam too! âŁLink in bio, or go here: http://bit.ly/hfpsub âŁThanks! ⣠⣠#audiophile #highend #highperformanceaudio #hifi #speakers #instahifi #luxury #highendaudio⣠#stereo #lovemusic #techie #latesttech #ilovemygadgets #innovation A new high-end dealership in the south-east. âŁâŁ âŁâŁ âŁScenic destination. Comfortable lounge. âŁâŁ Relaxed, friendly, straight-talking.⣠Opening soon. đ (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxzGZ5LJ5_H/?igshid=kddxts8dzzqb
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Our background is in radio and we cut our teeth [and fingers!] working on 1/4 inch Studer tape machines in the 90s. This Dokorder goes even further back in time! #retroaudio
We had a great day @regaresearchuk last week and were super-impressed by their obsessive quality control. Itâs no wonder #Rega turntables and electronics sound so good. #highend #hifi #speakers #hifiporn #audiophile #instahifi #luxury #highendaudio (at Southend-on-Sea) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwW0XjzDChU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6nit4wcjwms6