There’s something elemental and captivating about the sound of stringed instruments, and The Art of Hi-Fi Volume 04: Strings from PS Audio’s Octave Records showcases them to spellbinding effect, in stunning high-resolution Pure DSD audio. The album features a variety of both familiar and unusual instruments including acoustic guitar, violin, banjo, mandolin, cello and others, even a nyckelharpa (a keyed harp), in 10 selections that combine demonstration-quality sound with passionate performances.
Paul McGowan, Octave Records CEO noted: “the sounds of plucked, bowed and strummed stringed instruments are a fundamental part of music and human history, sounds that we respond to in an almost instinctive way. They’re also very hard to get right in a recording, from the extremely fast initial attack of a plucked string to the complex harmonic overtones of a fine violin or cello. We think listeners will be delighted by The Art of Hi-Fi Volume 04: Strings, one of our finest recordings to date.”
Every effort was made to use the world’s most resolving equipment to capture not just the full spectrum of the instruments, but also the rooms in which they were played – and the soul and musical intent of the performers. The Art of Hi-Fi Volume 04: Strings was recorded using Octave’s Pyramix-based Pure DSD 256 recording system. It was recorded, mixed and produced by Paul McGowan, with Terri McGowan and Jessica Carson assisting in the recording and production duties, and mastered by Gus Skinas.
One listen to “The Tower,” a dobro and acoustic guitar duet by Eric Wiggs and Dylan McCarthy, will reveal that this album is something special. The dobro practically jumps from the speakers – every nuance of the metal slide against the strings, and the unmistakable “twang” and resonance of the body of the instrument can be heard with startling clarity. Cole Porter’s “All of You” is played by Enion Pelta-Tiller and band in a lively swing arrangement featuring viola, guitar and acoustic bass. The viola has a surprising amount of body and presence, with the bite of the rosin of the bow against the strings clearly heard.
The incomparable cellist Zuill Bailey is captured in the Bach BVW 1007 “Suite No. 1 in G Major – Allemande,” part of the famous Bach cello suites. His magnificent tone and playing are perfectly complemented by the acoustics of Arizona’s Mesa Arts Center.
The album’s many additional highlights include the deep, rich sounds of Conner Hollingsworth’s bowed and plucked acoustic bass on “(Up a) Lazy River,” complemented by Matthew Cantor’s Gypsy-style acoustic guitar. Katie Mintle offers a dreamlike version of the Beatles’ “Let It Be,” exquisitely played on harp. “Road to Westcliffe” showcases the twin banjos of Chris Elliott and Kyle Ussery playing off each other in a lively track that will have listeners thinking twice about what a banjo can sound like. Sean McGowan’s “August” begins with cascades of dazzling acoustic guitar harmonics leading into a virtuoso fingerstyle melody. The unique sound of the nyckelharpa can be heard on Sandra Wong’s “Spelmansgladje” (“Fiddler’s Joy,”) featuring her nuanced bowing accompanied by the resonance of the instrument’s body and strings.
The Art of Hi-Fi Volume 04: Strings features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the disc is playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. It also has a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. (SRP: $19 – $39, depending on format.)
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