Chalkhills Digest, Volume 18, Number 4

                Thursday, 9 February 2012

Topics:

                      Re: I-Skylark
                      Re: I-Skylark
           So Chalkhills is a pretty cool place
A Watershed Moment: XTC's Andy Partridge On English Settlement
                Guess who made the list...

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Songs that we loved now make me cry.

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:15:52 +0000
From: Jon Holden-Dye <jon@jhd-designs.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: I-Skylark
Message-ID: <4F2821C8.9050005@jhd-designs.demon.co.uk>

An alternative to (the exceptionally well-informed) homefrontradio's
suggestion -
a) the 120gm. vinyl version, on
b) a transcription turntable, into
c) a reference Phono Amplifier, and thence into
d) a Focusrite A-to-D, no sodding around, straight into FLAC.
Hey Presto, something that would impress even a wrinkled retainer such
as myself (first wounded in action, ca. 1968, The Who @ Bournemouth
Pavilion ballroom; subsequently in frequent encounters with Black
Sabbath, Chicken Shack, through Taste, Caravan, The Stranglers,
Bootsy's Rubber Band [the absolute loudest], and so,
eardrum-grindingly, onto Orbital, etc.).
Unfortunately, I have neither a), nor indeed b) - d). And, anyway, it
would be illegal.

I beg your pardon,

Jon

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:54:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Jeff Eby <jeffaeb@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: I-Skylark
Message-ID: <1327946064.88521.YahooMailNeo@web110311.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>

Aaron asked:
>>Anyone know if Andy has plans to release the new
>>Skylarking as a digital download?

>Ape only owns the vinyl rights.  The digital rights still rest with
>Virgin, and I'd suggest contacting them about a digital release.

>However, what you want to ask for is a *digital re-master with the
>polarity corrected*, otherwise you're expecting an improvement in
>sound quality with a digital release of an analogue-targetted
>re-master of a digitially-recorded album offered as a 320 kbit/s
>download designed to play on a portable music device through earbud
>headphones.

>Coupled with the fact that they'd then compress the sound to modern
>loudness levels to appeal to Teh Kidz Today, you'd end up with zero
>headroom, lessened-dynamics and constant digital clipping, resulting
>in a `Skylarking' that sounds smaller, flatter, and far less
>emotionally-exciting than you remember, but you'll probably just
>assume the problem is you and You're Just Getting Old and maybe it's
>time to buy that motorbike you always wanted back when you were in
>high school.

>Basically, the extra damage done is probably going to negate the added
>benefits of correct polarisation, so that Japanese remaster that came
>out in the 2000's is probably still your safest bet.  Why this whole
>process has to be so ridiculously complicated is beyond me, but I can
>only chalk it up to technology making our lives easier.

People often get the wrong idea about the 2000's Pony Canyon releases. As I
understand it they were NOT independent remasters, they were Japanese
releases of the Virgin remasters. All they did differently was to fix and
enhance the cover art. Which Caroline then used in their US releases-
Virgin, PC, Caroline- they're all the same remasters.

And all of those imagined faults of what a modern remaster from EMI/Virgin
would be like largely describe the existing problems with the 2000
Skylarking. The loudness is off the scale- I consider it the worst of the
batch of remasters (most of which are decent- but not Skylarking).

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 14:26:37 -0800
From: "Ben Gott" <notification+oi1edgiz@facebookmail.com>
Subject: So Chalkhills is a pretty cool place
Message-ID: <5642cc8d052d5b826e269ad569d5abfd@async.facebook.com>

So Chalkhills is a pretty cool place: I had the honor today of attending the
bar mitzvah of Ira Lieman's son down. I met Ira through Chalkhills way back
in 1996...More than 15 years, and our friendship is still going strong!

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 02:11:33 -0800
From: "Kay Brown" <notification+oi1edgiz@facebookmail.com>
Subject: A Watershed Moment: XTC's Andy Partridge On English Settlement
Message-ID: <86081b697386defbf9d2e8414481db23@www.facebook.com>

http://thequietus.com/articles/07896-xtc-andy-partridge-english-settlement

The Quietus | Features | Anniversary | A Watershed Moment: XTC's Andy
Partridge On English Settlement
'Hail to the provinces!' says Jim Keoghan while talking to Andy
Partridge of XTC, 30 years after the release of English Settlement

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 03:15:14 -0800
From: "Rob Hill" <notification+oi1edgiz@facebookmail.com>
Subject: Guess who made the list...
Message-ID: <509e133dcb385f7a50c83cc8a504e708@www.facebook.com>

Guess who made the list...

Revenge of the Nerds:  10 Great Geek Bands
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/great-geek-bands-0208-2012/

Few endeavors carry a stronger "cool" factor than being in a rock
and roll band. Occasionally, however, a group comes along that proves
that Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and other purveyors of rebellion
and sex appeal have no monopoly on the art form.

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End of Chalkhills Digest #18-4
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