Though this blog often hypes vinyl versions of albums (what do you think is the origin of that word?), more often than not, record labels do not do justice to the analog format by using digital sources. Like the recent Fleet Foxes album, along comes an album recorded on analog tape that belongs on vinyl: the new Danger Mouse/Daniele Luppi record Rome (Support the Independent Ethos, buy the album on Amazon.com).
Rome has been available on CD and as a digital download since May 17 (Support the Independent Ethos, buy either format on Amazon.com). Finally, after considerable delay, it seems this Tuesday marks the release date for the vinyl version. I am confident this slab of wax will be well worth the wait, as not only was Rome recorded on analog tape, but only vintage, period instruments were used by many of the original musicians who played on the classic sixties
Ennio Morricone movie soundtracks that inspired Rome. In a brief interview with Danger Mouse, aka Brian Burton, the fabulous website Nowness, confirmed these facts, which will certainly make for a luscious listen.
Though, as of this post, it looks as if the vinyl version of Rome has sold out on Amazon ahead of its release, a rep at EMI/Capitol assures me it is on schedule to appear in stores this coming Tuesday. He suggests to check your local indie music stories (in South Florida, where I am, that would be Sweat Records in Miami-Dade and Radio-Active Records in the Broward area). He also noted Third Man Records has it for sale. Jack White, who offers guest vocals on a couple of tracks on Rome, owns the Third Man label/store/studio, and is probably music’s best known vinyl-phile. Fittingly, his label produces vinyl only recorded on analog equipment. He knows what’s up.
I leave you with a trailer for Rome where the main artists talk about the album, its inspiration and the musicians involved. It also features snippets of the album’s music and some evocative imagery of the Spaghetti Western cinema that inspired it:
