Copper

Welcome to Copper #57!

One last gasp of winter's wrath in Chicago, combined with Anne E. Johnson's mention of misheard lyrics elsewhere in this issue, led me to the title above. I hope that you're somewhere snug and warm, enjoying your discs---or downloads, streaming, or whatever.

The recent Axpona show outside Chicago was an overwhelming success---literally so overwhelming that half a dozen fast-moving reporters might've been to cover it all, but I surely couldn't, by myself. Some of my impressions can be found here; we hope to have additional coverage in Copper #58.

Dan Schwartz's marathon chat with legendary promoter/raconteur Rikki Farr continues here, covering everything from English gangsters to discovering Keith Emerson, to yet another thing Yoko screwed up.

Everyone here is here: Larry Schenbeck focuses upon musical offerings that provide simple, uncategorizable pleasure; Dan Schwartz tells us producer Bill Bottrell's thory of Mix A vs. Mix B; Richard Murison provides a different perspective on  Beethoven; Jay Jay French is back with a new series on his guitar influences, starting with Mike Bloomfield; Roy Hall  comes of age with his 21st column--- about  the wrong woman;  Anne E. Johnson brings us the well-crafted and surprisingly-upbeat pop of The Sea and Cake; and I look at things made by hand, and why we obsess over old stuff.

Copper #57 concludes with another desert island take from Charles Rodrigues, and a Twin Lakes Parting Shot from Paul McGowan--- that I may turn into a screensaver.

Woody Woodward and Industry News will both return next issue. Anne will also be back with another Something Old/Something New survey review.

Thanks for reading, and see you next issue!

Cheers, Leebs.

Welcome to Copper #56!

With the recent Montréal Audio Fest, the western hemisphere's spring show season is officially underway. Our resident Montréalais Richard Murison took a look around the show, and his report is here. Soon after you read this, Axpona will be underway in suburban Chicago, and we'll be there to bring you the sights.

Our resident LA musician, Dan Schwartz, had a lengthy conversation with concert promoter/raconteur Rikki Farr, known for being an early promoter of the Beatles and for his association with the Isle of Wight festival. The first of three installments is here. I think you'll really enjoy this.

Galen Gareis concludes his two-parter on speaker cable design, here. Thanks to Galen for all his efforts with the extensive cable series. It's a tough subject, for a tough audience!

Our regulars offer a lot of enjoyable reading this issue. Larry Schenbeck concludes his second two-parter (confusing, no?), Violin +Orchestra; Dan Schwartz tells us about the sound of microphones; Richard Murison goes from the specific to the general, with a look at Hi-Fi Shows; Roy Hall's 20th column, "Mykonos", appears in this issue. In classic Hall style, the story includes a far-away place, alcohol, deception, and nudity. I'm truly glad I was able to cajole you into writing, Roy! Anne E. Johnson brings us indie artist Michelle Zauner ; Industry News looks at debt, and a number of companies that have been killed by it; and I look at the messy topics of ergonomics and that damned past. Anne also brings us Something Old/Something New, featuring  recent recordings of the Schubert masterpiece, Winterreise.

Copper #56 concludes with a classic twisted cartoon by Charles Rodrigues, and a beautiful Parting Shot from Paul McGowan.

Woody Woodward and Jay Jay French will both return next issue.

Thanks for reading, and see you at Axpona! (BTW: PS Audio will have food and refreshments in the Journey/Creation room....)

Cheers, Leebs.

Welcome to Copper #55!

It's a little odd when holidays come in clumps of threes---but then, I'm not sure if April 1st could properly be considered a holiday. Whatever. Be safe, and enjoy yourself.

John Seetoo  contributes a brief but insightful interview with legendary jazz artist/composer Lalo Schifrin, who incidentally recorded on Audio Fidelity, many years back. Galen Gareis is back, continuing his series on cable design with the first of two parts on speaker cables . Gautam Raja takes a look at three little words that should leap off the tongue of anyone who considers themselves a scientist. Why is it so hard to say, "I don't know"? [FWIW: I don't know. ;->]

Professor Schenbeck  leads off with part 2 of his look at musical Daughters; Dan Schwartz writes about Helios--not the sun, but it may be the center of the universe for some; Richard Murison switches gears yet again, wondering if space is really empty; Jay Jay French looks back at Tower Records ; Roy Hall remembers being sexually harrassed; Anne E. Johnson brings us the Indian indie band, the F16s; Woody Woodward looks at Delta blues pioneer Charlie Patton; Industry News looks at the recent sales of Stereophile and What Hi-Fi?; and I wonder how you know when to quit, and visit the Vintage Voltage show, with plenty of pics of old hi-fi and radio gear.

Copper #55 wraps up with a classic cartoon from Charles Rodrigues that explores the sad fate of a disenchanted audiophile.  Our virtual back cover is a Parting Shot of the Austrian hill country by Paul McGowan.

Until next issue---enjoy!

Cheers, Leebs