Since I have had two recent instances of scanning radio stations while driving around Brooklyn and landing on brilliance, I feel compelled to amend my previous complaint that all NYC radio is crap. Most of it is crap. But then one sunny afternoon, I happened upon a block of Harry Partch - Harry Effin Partch! - on a station in the low 90s. You know who can recognize Partch's Chromolodean or Spoils Of War in the first few seconds? This girl. Then, a week later, I flipped on WFMU and heard something so freakishly familiar I was momentarily disoriented. It was a song off of Hailu Mergia'sTche Belew, which I restored and remastered this summer for Awesome Tapes From Africa, and thus had listened to many, many, many times in exquisite detail. And it sounded great! Even across the airwaves into my early 2000s Volkswagen.

This does not change the fact that my two year old daughter requests "Bout That Bass" every time I put her in the car.

(Awesome Tapes From Africa) Mastering & Restoration from original vinyl

Fall 2014 - So, is it suspicious or coincidental that I've mastered albums by both Jack Ruby and The Grassy Knoll? Here's an excellent article from the Wall Street Journal about Jack Ruby's resurgence, or, as band member Randy Cohen might put it, "surgence," since this 2-CD set is their first and only formal release. Sounds like they're about to reach a wider audience. Their tracks have been licensed for a television show about the NYC music scene in the 1970s, directed by Martin Scorsese for HBO. And here's a video for The Grassy Knoll's "The Camera Is On You." Full length album coming soon!

Sean Costello In The Magic Shop was released on October 21, the culmination of a long, emotional, heartbreaking musical journey. Sean recorded the tracks here at the studio in 2005, but they were shelved. He died unexpectedly and far too young in 2008. It took producer Steve Rosenthal until this year to listen to the recordings and finally finish the album, which I mastered late this summer. I never got to meet Sean or hear him play in person, but I grew very close to his music during this project and am grateful his recordings can now be shared. Proceeds from album sales will be donated to the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research.

Another restoration project years in the making, Hailu Mergia and the Walias's Tche Belew is now available on CD, LP and, of course, cassette from Awesome Tapes From Africa. Finally, you don't have to spend $3000 to buy the original album on eBay! I saw Hailu perform with new backing band Low Mentality at Lincoln Center this summer, and they smoked! Truly a memorable performance.

Speaking of Low Mentality, check out this awesome video of their single "Reel It In", and then ask me how I helped them finish the sound for the digital version.