Audiophile Vinyl

In the wake of the Thriller controversy, every MoFi release is undergoing added scrutiny, but I defy anyone to dismiss this edition of Miles’ 1958 masterpiece just because of the DSD256 stage in between the 15ips analogue tapes and the stunning, super-flat pressing. This is Davis with (for some) his greatest band, ie, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and ‘Philly Joe’ Jones. Mono purists will be stunned by the post-2001 mix – in proper stereo and sounding almost as good as a One-Step. The content is beyond criticism, but I am awed by the reworking of the twee pop song ‘Billy Boy’ – and I would love to know what Monk thought of the divine ‘Straight, No Chaser’. KK

Jethro Tull
The Broadsword And The Beast
Chrysalis 5054197534270 LP

If you were overwhelmed by the 8-disc 40th Anniversary box set of this album, or you 1) prefer vinyl and 2) want only the original contents rather than loads of extras, this has just the 1982 track list, remixed by Steven Wilson. A glorious 12x12in booklet has been culled from the box’s epic saga, but the reason for wanting this disc is the sound: rich and massive. Musically, it’s standard Tull, no surprises, but it stands out for being produced by ex-Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith, who rendered it more subtle than most JT releases. That has led to an amount of controversy, so the caveat is that this is more for devotees than newcomers. Me? I loved it. KK

Penny Arkade
Not The Freeze
Sundazed LP5591 (two LPs coloured vinyl; mono)

Yet another lost treasure which makes you wonder about the record labels’ and the public’s taste. This now-forgotten 1960s LA group, mentored by The Monkees’ Mike Nesmith, produced a cornucopia of all-original compositions embodying West Coast pop, psychedelic and folk-rock memes, with fans of the decade recognising hints of The Turtles, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Sopwith Camel and Moby Grape, but equally some of the influential harmony bands of which the UK produced so many, from The Searchers to The Hollies. This set in glorious mono contains their only album plus 13 demos and early versions previously on a now-rare CD. KK

Silverstein
Discovering The Waterfront
Craft Recordings CR00400 (180g vinyl)

Treating an emo/post-hardcore group to audiophile-grade pressings begs a number of questions, mainly rhetorical, eg, why are so few post-Millennials buying into sound quality? It’s because much of their preferred contemporary music simply doesn’t warrant it. This LP from 2005 consists almost entirely of a hoarse-throated, meters-not-moving wall of thrash, save for the odd bit of introspection, but who can argue with its sales of better than a half-million copies? I’m sure Craft has a reason for bestowing upon this an immaculate pressing, while the percussion and bass are something to behold, but it’s like using a Zalto wine glass for drinking Red Bull. KK