Experience Audio #1: One Microphone Part 1
Ever since the advent of hi-fi, audiophiles and audio dealers have kept a stack of records nearby that they believe will show off their “system” and impress people. Unfortunately, if you google “audiophile recordings” you will get a list like this, or this, or this. While I accept that some of these records are exceptionally well recorded and sound great – mostly they are just popular records. I mean, much as I love “Kind of Blue” – it wouldn’t end up in my top 500 audiophile jazz records. Stereophile magazine run a regular “records to die for” series – which is, really, records that the staff enjoy listening to; a lot. So, I though that I would write a series of semi-reviews of albums that I think demonstrate the great value of a decent hifi setup. I will list the best (easily available) version and I will limit the records to ones that can be streamed from most services.
So, first up…..
ONE MICROPHONE
It was early 1989 and I was visiting a friends house, idling away time in the family’s living room, inspecting the various family photos and trophies, when I spied a cassette sitting on the mantle – by a band that I’d never heard before called “Cowboy Junkies.” Aside from identifying the most appalling name of a band to come out of Canada until New Pornographers, the tape had that intriguing acoustic-y look of similar era recordings by Del Amitri, Tanita Takaram, the Levellers and others. I slid the cassette into the family’s trusty old 3-in-1 stereo, hit play and sat on the couch. I was mesmerized. The room filled up with an extraordinary ethereal sound that bounced and reverberated off the walls. The songs were extra-ordinarily slow, bluesy, gospley, folksy, jazzy – I’m still not sure. A powerful voice, sparse instrumentation – Patsy Cline songs, Hank Williams songs – songs of love and loss. It was the sound that, at the time, so called “new age” artists (such as Enya) tried and failed miserably to find. Powerful, emotionally connected. No fuss. No showing off. Just….perfect. I remember the day well, and remember considering if I could get away with “borrowing” (i.e. nicking) the tape and getting away with it. Unfortunately, the owner showed up, glowing with delight regarding my great taste. So, I dropped £16 of precious cash on the CD and never regretted my purchase; not for a second.
The “Trinity Session” – as this, the second album by Canadian band Cowboy Junkies, is known – was recorded (mostly) during one session at the Church of the Holy Trinity in central Toronto. Michael Timmins has written a nice series of essays on the production of this recording – and it is worth reading. Click here for a great review. Suffice to say – the band was broke- they weren’t exactly truthful about their reasons for hiring the venue and had a single microphone and a two track DAT machine (16/48) to record the session. They spent hours positioning the equipment and microphone – and – clearly – the band got it exactly right.
The first time I visited Toronto was 2003 – I walked straight past the Eaton Center to see this hallowed church. It was locked. Same every time since.
Versions – the original CD is terrific. It is the only version you need to own. I have a 1988 vinyl copy on Cooking Vinyl that, sinfully, omits “Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis)” and “Working on a Building”- and is just – disappointing. An “audiophile” 2 LP (200g) version was released by Analogue Productions in 2017. The company makes loads of disclaimers about why it uses a lowly CD level source to master an audiophile records. Doesn’t matter. It sounds great. A facsimile version, presumably digitally sourced, was released by Music on Vinyl later the same year. Again, I’m sure it sounds significantly better than the original record.
Interestingly, in 2007 the band, together with Vic Chestnut, Natalie Merchant and Ryan Adams, attempted to recreate the album – filming the experience and releasing the product as “Trinity Revisited” on DVD. Needless to say, I bought the DVD the day it came out – rushed home – put it on and was nearly bored to death. I’m sure if you saw the same event live it would have been hugely enjoyable, but on video – it was just a bunch of people playing slow songs sitting in a circle. Lightning doesn’t necessarily strike twice.
Listen with: a very large glass red wine – by the fireside in partial darkness. Strangely, this album also plays well in the car.
If you enjoy this kind of recording:
1. May I recommend the amazing one microphoned debut (at this time only) album by Applewood Road – a true lo-fi audiophile delight.
2. If you like the reverberating sound of multi-harmony and limited instrumentation – Clannad “Live at Christchurch Cathedral” is worth a listen.
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