Octave Records has released Audiophile Masters Volume IX, the latest in its series of reference-quality music-sampler recordings. This collection is focused on acoustic-based performances, ranging from the solo acoustic guitar rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by Alexios Anest to the swinging jazz of the Seth Lewis Quintet and the all-out percussion workout “The Big Groove,” featuring drummers Michael Wooten and Billy Hoke.
Audiophile Masters Volume IX includes 10 tracks recorded in the familiar environs of Animal Lane and Octave Studios in high-resolution DSD audio. The selections were recorded and produced by Steven Vidaic and Paul McGowan, and mixed by Paul and Jessica Carson, who also served as executive producer. Gus Skinas did the mastering. Paul McGowan noted, “For Audiophile Masters Volume IX, we focused on acoustic music to showcase the ability of today’s best recording technology to convey every nuance of unamplified instruments and the purity of the vocalists.”
The album leads off with Alexios Anest and his captivating take on the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” showcasing his mastery of solo acoustic guitar with astonishing detail. Anest also closes Audiophile Masters Volume IX with Francisco Tárrega’s “Capricho árabe.” Kyle Donovan’s vocal-and-guitar “Jupiter” has a live-in-one-take immediacy. Vocals are up-front and personal on this album, from the pure singing of Monica Marie LaBonte’s “The Haunt” and Joe D’Esposito’s “Solitary Cottonwood,” to Tyler Thompson’s grittier “Feather in the Wind” (featuring some gorgeous marimba playing by Jonathan Sadler).
Bonnie and Taylor Sims blaze through an intense bluegrass workout on “Deal Me In.” Jazz aficionados will revel in the incisive playing and lush sonics of the Seth Lewis Quintet on two original compositions, “Cagey” and “Sweet Leaf,” which hearken back to a timeless classic jazz sound with the quintet’s instrumentation of bass, trumpet, piano, electric guitar, and drums, all captured with startling realism.
Bonnie and Taylor Sims.
The disc is made using Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and is playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. The disc also has a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. (SRP: $19 – $39, depending on format.)
