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Jesus & Mary Chain: Psychocandy
Mike Barnes  |  Jul 03, 2020
Fuzz, feedback and live shows ending in fisticuffs... this debut LP from two brothers from East Kilbride saw the pair meld their love of '60s girl groups with the sounds of the industrial movement to create uncompromising music with a melodic pop heart

The 1980s is often referred to as a classic era for pop music, but the musical landscape was changing, with suggestions that rock was becoming outdated – the derogatory term 'rockist' had recently entered the vernacular – and the happening thing now was the shiny new pop purveyed by bands such as ABC, The Associates and Depeche Mode.

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Pre/Power Amplifiers
Chord Ultima Pre 2/Ultima 2 Pre/Power Amplifier
Review and Lab: Paul Miller,  |  Jul 02, 2020
hfnoutstandingThe Chord Ultima range has grown from a single pre and power amp, as the tech becomes more affordable. The Ultima 2 models might just give the flagships a scare

Never let it be said that the Chord Electronics range isn't distinctive in its styling: all the way up from the tiny Mojo DAC [HFN Jan '16] to the flagship Ultima reference preamplifier [HFN Feb '19], the company's products look like nothing else on the market, as if to emphasise that what's going on inside them involves no shortage of proprietary technology, too.

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Hi-Res Downloads
Hi-Res Downloads, June 2020
Hi-Fi News Staff  |  Jun 30, 2020
This month we review and test releases from: London Concertante, Scottish CO/François Leleux, Budapest Fest Orch/Ivan Fischer, Conan Gray and Game Theory.
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Audiophile Vinyl
Audiophile: Vinyl, June 2020
Ken Kessler  |  Jun 29, 2020
This month we review: 7Ray With Triple Ace, Can, Iron Butterfly and Rolling Stones.
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Audiophile Digital
Audiophile: Digital, June 2020
Ken Kessler  |  Jun 29, 2020
This month, we review: Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Herbie Hancock, The Honeycombs and Mike Mcgear.
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Rock
Rock, June 2020
Mike Barnes  |  Jun 29, 2020
This month we review: Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets, Ms Amy Birks, The Lovely Eggs and Thundercat.
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Jazz
Jazz, June 2020
Steve Harris  |  Jun 29, 2020
This month we review: Byron Wallen, Brecker Brothers, Kenny Barron/Dave Holland Trio and Rob Luft .
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Classical
Classical, June 2020
Christopher Breunig  |  Jun 29, 2020
This month we review: Knecht/Beethoven, Beethoven, Schoenberg and Shostakovich.
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Investigation
Classical Spectacular
Christopher Breunig  |  Jun 26, 2020
Christopher Breunig recommends the best classical audiophile recordings

When I first heard a demonstration of stereo records, given at a local department store all those years ago, I came away thinking I'd heard mostly distracting surface noise. If this was 'high fidelity' I'd stick with my old Pye Black Box! But soon, of course, I was on the upgrade path avidly taking up recommendations in Hi-Fi News and Audio Record Review magazines, and reading Thomas Heinitz's regular columns in the now defunct Records & Recording.

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Integrated Amplifiers
Quad Vena II Play Integrated Amp/DAC
Review: Ken Kessler,  |  Jun 25, 2020
hfncommendedIt's all there in the suffix 'Play', which transforms Quad's Vena II from a comprehensive all-in-one amp/DAC solution into something with wired and wireless future-proofing

Is Editor PM simply testing me, or coaxing me? I'm not merely uninterested in streaming, Wi-Fi, et al to the point of virulent loathing, I'm actually reverting to decades-old formats for daily listening: CDs, tapes and LPs. That said, I am not unaware of DTS Play-F, having used it for many months for the wireless speakers on my kitchen counter – though with no more concern than I show a spatula or potato peeler. Yet here I am faced with Quad's update to the Vena II, its entire raison d'être being the full-on wireless experience.

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