A Question for Simon Drake?

hey Stu! It depends...

the sonic characteristics of different genres have their own inherent challenges.

I've been working on When The Heart Dances for about two years now on the backburner. Three different cuts and five different test pressings. I've now moved pressing plant and have fingers crossed for the recent batch of TPs. This will be a double though and even without the challenges of volume (with space on the disc to work in) it's been tough.

The first Phantom Limb album took a wopping 11 cuts from three different masters - and a very long time and we still had to make a few compromises on that one!

Sometimes they nail it in one! Though it is extremely rare. The more delicate jazz is often very hard. Especially if it has a big bottom end, like the Charlie duo albums we've made.

We still keep all the old TPs! Could be worth something one day...though, of course - they are not to standard!

Thanks for the frank reply Simon. 

I've often wondered the same a Stu. Here's to more 1 shots eh?

Feel free if you need a second  opinion??  

Thanks Simon.

Another question or two for you?

How many GOOD pressing plants do you have to choose from in the uk?

Are you using ones in England?

Stu

Sadly the only decent pressing plant is the old EMI plant, in Hayes Middlesex, still going under several different guises, now part of Vinyl Factory. The majority of our catalogue is there, once you get a perfect stamper it is never worth trying to repeat the process elsewhere. However different plants have different strengths and weaknesses accross Europe, so we now take a more flexible approach to get the best of each project.

Simon,

Its good to hear the old EMI plant is still one of? if not the best?

I still remember when they had more than one there running 24/7 just pressing Pink Floyds DSOTM day in day out for years and years.

It must be quite a small factory now to what it used to be ?

Have you ever used any in Germany?

Stu.