Premonition Records announces the release of its third R2R Master Tape Series release, Patricia Barber, Companion (90762). Following Premonition’s R2R of Patricia Barber’s Café Blue and Nightclub, both of which received rave reviews from tape enthusiasts worldwide and the audiophile press, Patricia Barber – Companion, Premonition’s first ever Stereophile Magazine “Recording of the Month” seemed only appropriate. And with the same production team in place, listeners will no doubt appreciate the quality of sound delivered via the incredible medium of analog tape.
Each tape is copied directly from the digital master file created by Doug Sax to a custom-built Sony APR 5003 tape recorder, mounted on custom supports, employing special wiring and AC conditioning. Each tape is recorded, one at a time, to 1/4″ halftrack stereo, at 15ips IEC.
Patricia Barber’s Companion was a record of firsts for Barber and Premonition: first recording of Barber’s mesmerizing live show; first release under the Blue Note/ Premonition joint imprint, the only such business arrangement in Blue Note’s storied history; and first Stereophile Magazine RECORDING OF THE MONTH. Designed as a “Companion” to Barber’s previous studio recording Modern Cool, the album features several re-invented modern cool tracks, some of the best Barber pop covers on record and one ingenious new Barber original.
** It is standard practice in all recording studios to keep the tape “tail out”. This reduces “pre-echo” and it means that the tape should be placed on the right hand side of the recorder, re-wound and then played.
“In an aviary full of mynah birds, Patricia Barber flies alone. For a sensitive lug like moi, she’s the ultimate anti-diva, the failed romantic’s last hope amid the antediluvian cant of the new classicism.” – Stereophile, 4.5 stars
Sound: 10; Music: 9 – Analog Planet
4.5 Stars – Downbeat Magazine
“The coolest singer songwriter around.” – Los Angeles Times
Features:
• Master Quality Reel To Reel Tape
• 2-Reels
• Recorded and mixed by Jim Anderson
• Tape duplication by Jonathan Horwich of International Phonograph, Inc.
• Each tape copied directly from the digital master file created by Doug Sax
• Each tape recorded one at a time to 15ips IEC, 1/4″ half-track stereo
• Approx. 60 minutes of music including the bonus track, “So What”
• Packaged in ATR Magnetics Tape Care boxes for maximum protection
• Include custom color labeling and inserts
Musicians:
Patricia Barber, piano, vocals, Hammond B-3
Michael Arnopol, bass
John McLean, guitar
Eric Montzka, drums
Ruben P. Alvarez, percussion
Jason Narducy, guest vocalist on “Touch of Trash”
Selections:
Reel 1:
1. The Beat Goes On
2. Use Me
3. Like JT
4. Let It Rain
Reel 2:
1. Touch Of Trash
2. If This Isn’t Jazz
3. Black Magic Woman
4. So What