Mobile Fidelity - MFSL 2-435 - 180 Gram Virgin Vinyl
Numbered Limited Edition - Pressed at RTI
Mastered by Kreig Wunderlich
1/4" / 15 IPS analog master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe
Miles + MoFi = Magic Positive Feedback
If the iconic Miles Davis album Kind of Blue captured an event-an abrupt musical switch from melody to modal, these three mid-period quintet albums, Sorcerer (1967), Nefertiti (1968) and Filles De Kilimanjaro (1969) represent a period of transition as the quintet moves slowly towards Miles's amplified instrument embrace. ... These three double 45rpm releases along with much of the Miles catalog are among Mobile Fidelity's best work to date. For Miles fans these are not to be missed." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 9/11 - Michael Fremer, Analogplanet.
And MoFi's other 45rpm reissues of Miles Davis albums from this point on—all of which were cut from the original master tapes (perhaps the crucial difference)—sound terrific. In the wake of head-shaking over the new Kind of Blue, I listened or re-listened to MoFi's pressings of Nefertiti, Sorcerer, Filles de Kilimanjaro, and Miles in the Sky—and, to the extent I could compare them with the original pressings, they are sonically superior. (They're far superior to other reissues by Sony and Mosaic.) - www.stereophile,com
Filled with aural magic and enchanting musical spells, Sorcerer is true to its name. The third of five albums devised by Miles Davis’ legendary second quintet—and the second record in a still-unprecedented string of eight consecutive releases within a four-year period that forever changed the face of jazz—the 1967 magnum opus mesmerizes with instrumental colors, subdued musings, and subtle details. These crucial characteristics blossom with vibrant realism on Mobile Fidelity’s definitive 45RPM pressing.
Mastered from the original master tapes and pressed on 180g 45RM vinyl at RTI, this collectable audiophile edition of Sorcerer joins the ranks of eleven other essential Davis records given supreme sonic and packaging treatment by Mobile Fidelity. Longtime listeners will immediately recognize a wealth of information and depth of tonality unavailable on prior versions. The myriad shadings, interwoven textures, and relaxed nuances that tie the post-bop set’s warm compositions together are rendered with utmost realism.
This is a reference-standard reissue. You’ll hear poetic lyricism pouring out of Wayne Shorter’s horn, the breadth and definition of the notes spreading across an enormous soundstage. Never before have drummer Tony Williams’ rim shots ricocheted with such purpose or his light percussive work mirrored that of a feather touching skin. Similarly, Herbie Hancock’s piano runs now occupy their own space, where their relationship to the central rhythms and front line becomes clearer.
Prizing inflection and nuance more so than heady solos or uptempo flights, Sorcerer mesmerizes with cerebral properties and cascades of emotional interplay. Such beauty emerges in the mellow ballad “Pee Wee,” an indelible statement of restrained authority and sophisticated expression. The swirling title track unfolds as jazz shadowplay, Hancock, Shorter, and Williams mirroring one another’s moves with guile and purpose. The opening “Prince of Darkness” showcases the ensemble’s reach and communication, every musician going in seemingly different directions yet ending up on the same page.
A lasting example of Davis’ visionary insight, Sorcerer is comprised entirely of pieces written by his band mates. Indeed, save for the closing “Nothing Like You”—a brief tribute to Davis’ eventual wife, who also graces the cover, recorded in 1962 and adorned with vocals from Bob Dorough—the album represents a further maturation and refinement of a quintet that stands as one of the finest in jazz history.
Mobile Fidelity is proud to give the record the treatment it’s long deserved.
• Numbered, Limited Edition • 45rpm Speed Edition
• Mastering by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab • Specially Plated and Pressed on 180 grams of High Definition Vinyl
• Special Static Free - Dust Free Inner Sleeve • Heavy Duty Protective Packaging
• Mastered from the Original Master Tapes • Pressed at RTI
Musicians:
Miles Davis, trumpet
Wayne Shorter, tenor saxophone
Herbie Hancock, piano
Ron Carter, double bass
Tony Williams, drums
1. Prince of Darkness
2. Pee Wee
3. Masqualero
4. The Sorcerer
5. Limbo
6. Vonetta
7. Nothing Like You
GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ is a proprietary cutting system built and designed by legendary design genius Tim De Paravicini, with consultation from one of MFSL’s founding fathers – Stan Ricker, an audio engineer responsible for many of MFSL’s most heralded past releases.
The GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ system is comprised of a Studer™ tape machine with customized reproduction electronics* and handcrafted cutting amps that drive an Ortofon cutting head on a restored Neumann VMS-70 lathe. (*It is worth noting that independent studies have confirmed that the GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ system can unveil sonic information all the way up to 122kHz!)
First and foremost, we only utilize first generation original master recordings as source material for our releases. We then play back master tapes at half speed enabling the GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ system to fully extract the master’s sonic information. Our lacquers are then plated in a specialized process that protects transients in the musical signal. (Due to this process, there may be occasional pops or ticks inherent in initial play back, but as the disc is played more, a high quality stylus will actually polish the grooves and improve the sound). We further ensure optimum sound quality by strictly limiting the number of pressings printed for each release. These limited editions, in addition to being collectors’ items, ensure that the quality of the last pressing matches the quality of the first.
As you can imagine, all these efforts involve a tremendous amount of time, technology, cost and effort. The introduction of GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ maintains Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s position as the world’s leading audiophile record label, where a passion for music with extraordinary sound quality matters most.
RTI HQ-180 Vinyl
Record Technology is a world class record pressing plant located in Camarillo, California. We have been operating since 1974, pressing for most audiophile record labels and for many quality minded independent and major record labels from around the world.