ok; i've just played the 45rpm 2-disc Lp set (i don't think there is a DTD of this recording); and then reel A, and i've just started reel B.
in my life of listening to recorded music, TP-017 is easily the most real recording i've yet heard. there is simply no evidance of what i am hearing being a recording. no, it's not real life in terms of degrees of things. but the sense of any sort of microphone, tape recorder or 'stuff' is missing. the background is dead dead quiet.....i mean quiet. the voice, the guitars, the harmonica, everything just exists in space like they would if those things were in the room. there is simply no character to identify the music as a product of something. in that way it sounds real. if i was forced to explain in what way it does not sound completely real i'd say there is a very very slight veil compared to if Little Hatch (was still alive) and playing in my room....and maybe the energy of the music is slightly less than fully real, but not much less.
i've not lived through the recording process and lived with work parts of studio recordings so maybe this is standard stuff. but evidently when it's live to 2-track of a completely acoustic, very simple recording with (i would guess) no EQ or limiting with the best gear, modern tape formulations and it's absolutely nailed then this is what you can get.
really spooky shit. what do you do for an encore? i suppose this might be the tape to try a 1/2". i cannot imagine what that might sound like. the Lp is very good, but fogetaboutit......it cannot touch this nohow noway.
Oh, and the music is wonderful. just don't drool all over the tape or your remotes.
Little Hatch is in fine form and there is simply great tunes, tuneful playing, and an emotional content which jumps out at you.
