Audiophile Digital

Daryl Hall/John Oates
Abandoned Luncheonette
Acoustic Sounds/Atlantic CAPA 050 SA

Before Hall & Oates became the gold standard of post-Righteous Brothers ‘blue-eyed soul’, they mined other genres, from folk-ish acoustic rock to bluegrass to soft ballads. This 1973 release, their second studio effort, might confuse fans who arrived a couple of albums later, after they left Atlantic Records for RCA, but it did contain the first of their many signature numbers, ‘She’s Gone’. Despite this (and a subconscious desire to hear stuff like ‘Rich Girl’?), the roots of their move to more intense material are evident. This is sophisticated, sublime, smooth material, sounding silky here. The irony? Atlantic – the birthplace of post-WWII R&B – not RCA, should have been their soul/funk launch pad. KK

Sound Quality: 95%

Andy Smythe
Quiet Revolution
Dreaming Element Records DER10

British singer-songwriter Smythe is plying a trade which seems old-fashioned but which has exponents in every (rock) decade from the 1960s to the present: the eclectic singer-songwriter. This is his eighth release, which explains the seasoned feel, but there’s an anachronistic element, too. He deals with current societal issues (including AI) in a pop/rock manner which reminded me of Gerry Rafferty, XTC and Squeeze’s darker moments. His eclecticism is also evident in an instrument lineup of saxes, guitars, viola, violins, synths and more, all beautifully layered. On top of it all is an engaging voice which in some places belies the dread of the subject matter. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Van Halen
Fair Warning
Mobile Fidelity UDSACD2246

An earlier vinyl Album Choice in One Step form [HFN Feb ’26], the SACD of Van Halen’s fourth studio album is a useful tool if you want to hear the difference between SACD and vinyl. How so? Because, as it should be, the two are not mutually exclusive. Playing them side by side with levels carefully matched, there are utterly minuscule, but detectable if you concentrate, differences in textures and transparency. The LP is warmer, the SACD snappier. If you can A/B them in a hi-fi store, start with the familiar ‘So This Is Love?’, especially Alex Van Halen’s up-front drumming as much as Eddie’s fiery guitar work. Personal taste will be the tie-breaker, but either should satisfy. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Yes
Fly From Here – Return Trip
Spirit Of Unicorn/Cherry Red SOUMCD570 CD

Few are the albums which were radically re-mixed or totally re-recorded, but joining Taylor Swift’s reclaimed catalogue and Paul McCartney’s revisionist Let It Be… Naked is Trevor Horn’s 2018 tweaking of Yes’ Fly From Here, though it was only released in 2011. ‘Return Trip’ refers to one-time Yes-man Horn (he of The Buggles) adding new vocals and instrumental parts for a ‘more organic mix’ to highlight the late Chris Squire’s voice and bass playing, along with additional elements from Steve Howe and Geoff Downes. In many ways, this is a throwback to the era of Fragile, while the sound is punchy and crisp. Also out on Blu-ray with 5.1 and Dolby Atmos mixes. KK

Sound Quality: 90%