Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue (2LP, Case, 45RPM, 1STEP)
Sale price
€251,00
Regular price
Rarity vinyl cannot be exchanged as they are sole copies of sold-out editions.
If damaged they would be refunded after return but not exchanged.
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ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
Piano, Vocals – Patricia Barber [click here to see more vinyl featuring Patricia Barber]
Bass – Michael Arnopol
Drums, Percussion – Mark Walker
Guitar – John McLean
2 LPs, heavy-duty 3-sleeve jacket and cloth-bound slip case, multi-page booklet
Limited edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
IMPEX S1TEP (1 Step)
Heavy Press : 180g VR900-Supreme vinyl
Record color : black
Speed : 45 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : Impex
Original Label : Premonition Records
Engineered and remixed by Jim Anderson
Executive Producer – Abey Fonn, Michael Friedman, Robert Bantz
Produced by Patricia Barber
Remixed in April 2011 from original master tapes
Mastered for IMPEX 1STEP by Kevin Gray
Originally released in 1994
Reissued in December 2020
Tracks:
Side A
- What A Shame
- Mourning Grace
- The Thrill Is Gone
Side B :
- Romanesque
- Yellow Car III
- Inch Worm
Side C :
- Ode To Billie Joe
- Too Rich For My Blood
- A Taste Of Honey
Side D :
- Nardis
- Wood Is A Pleasant Thing To Think About
- Mahna De Carnaval
Awards :
TAS Super LP List! Special Merit: Informal
TONE's 2020 Product Of The Year - Recording!
Stereophile Records to Die For - 2016
Reviews :
« Songs of sickness, loss, death-acceptance, being overwhelmed and suicide have never sounded so good or been so well packaged. So, yes, we do need yet another café blue and honestly, even if you already have a copy (especially the original pressing, or the Mo-Fi, which on some songs like 'Ode to Billy Joe' sound as if Barber's voice was out of phase and almost 'canceled out' - never mind it was sourced from the original inferior mix) and love the music and the sound, you too need another copy. This one. » Michael Fremer, Analog Planet
« Bottom line, I was absolutely floored by the sound quality... this is the real deal. For audiophiles seeking out the very best when it comes to visceral involvement and musical satisfaction, the IMPEX 1-Step Café Blue is a true delight. For those adding to their One Step collection or for others looking for an opportunity to experience this pressing technology for the first time, I strongly recommend that you check this one out. » Robert S. Youman, Positive Feedback
« As good as the original and the 2011 remix sounded, this knocks it out of the park with better dynamics, not to mention more detailed texture and stunning tonal quality. Add to that the deluxe tri-fold cover, beautifully crafted liner notes and cloth bound slip case, and 5,000 owners will own an audiophile and music lover's treasure. » Hi-Fi+
« Pinning down the definitive vinyl edition can be daunting, but Impex Records has met the challenge. Sourcing Premonition Records' 2011 remix, Impex employed the costly 1Step process, which bypasses the father / mother stages. With Kevin Gray handling the 1Step mastering chores, Barber's interpretations spring from the grooves with discrete imaging, electric immediacy, and immersive ambience. A showcase for Barber's crack trio of players, Barber's distinctive voicings play unselfishly within the groove of the band. Tracks like 'What a Shame' and 'Too Rich For My Blood' shine with finely wrought transients, shudder with deep-water bass extension, expressive percussion, and full bloom piano harmonics. Cymbals flare outward into the widest expanses of the soundstage. The sheer lack of veiling or groove noise testifies to the use of Neotech's vinyl formulation, VR900 Supreme. Pressed at RTI, the 45rpm double LP is exquisitely slipcase-packaged and annotated. You've never heard Cafe Blue like this before. » Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, April 2021
« The only way to get closer to Ms. Barber is to pull up a chair at one of her performances... If youre a mega-fan, you want this one. From a sheer recording standpoint, this is the closest to the sound quality the reel to reel guys are gushing about. And collectors loving the tactile aspect will appreciate a jacket and box done to the same standard. » Jeff Dorgay, TONEAudio
« Patricia Barber, who is both a fine keyboardist and an atmospheric singer, contributes roughly half of the material to her Premonition debut. Her dark voice and the generally esoteric program takes awhile to get used to (listeners will have to be patient), but after two or three listens, this thought-provoking and rather moody set becomes more accessible. The music ranges stylewise from sophisticated pop sensitivities to the avant-garde and even touches of minimalism, while not fitting securely into any category. Barber gives a new slant to "The Thrill Is Gone," "Ode to Billy Joe," and even "A Taste of Honey," and her vocals are all quite haunting and contemporary. An added plus to this unusual music is adventurous guitarist John McLean. » AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
IMPEX S1TEP : The Impex 1STEP process relies on short, tightly-controlled runs that require a new lacquer after each 500 pressings. This unforgiving format has the lacquer skipping the regular father-mother process, going right to a single convert and then pressing. Though this dramatically increases mastering and production costs, it also assures each run is more consistent from disc to disc, with less noise, clearer details and deeper bass. Reducing production complexity to just a single "convert" disc between the lacquer and the press greatly improves groove integrity, diminishes non-fill anomalies and increases signal integrity from the master tape to your system.
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4 / 5 , Discogs : 4,7 / 5 , Michael Fremer : 10/11 Music, 10/11 Sonics , TAS : 4.5/5 Music, 5/5 Sonics , Hi-Fi+ : Recording 10/10, Music 9/10