Solar Fields – Random Friday

I'm quite disappointed with my copy of this record. Not because of the music being bad (it's a great album that I would generally recommend), but because this album as well as the other 2 I got from this label arrived in terrible condition. The vinyl is so noisy that it completely ruins the music, pops and clicks utterly kill ambient music like this. I think it's a disgrace to deliver a product in such a state, I've been trying to clean the records for a week and still can't get rid of all the noise.

This is a consistent experience I've had with all vinyl albums that I bought from this label. It's possible that I could potentially get rid of all the noise with a cleaning machine, but I don't think that the majority of consumers can easily afford something like that. I sure can't, and I think any pressing that can't be cleaned well enough by a regular person to be able to simply listen to it without clicks and pops throughout the entire album, is simply not acceptable. I really think that sidereal have to work on the quality control of their vinyl pressings, and I would NOT recommend anyone buying this unless they have a cleaning machine that can get rid of all the filth on the records.

Another fantastic Solar Fields pressing on Sidereal. I always thought this was one of the better mastered SF albums originally, so it sounds simply divine on vinyl. So tight and balanced, with plenty of low end oomph but also a soft sheen over everything from careful production and mastering. Agree with urqdan, it sounds magical.

That said I do have a couple very minor gripes - Sidereal didn't offer a gatefold jacket or poly-lined inner sleeves like previous SF releases. And the opaque vinyl is nice, but not as visually striking as their recent multi-colored vinyl. None of this takes away from the quality of the music, and the jacket design is beautiful. Just wish they had gone the extra mile like with the other SF albums.

A great album combined with a pressing that sounds phenomenal makes magic.