Stephen Mejias

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date

The Locked-In Rhythm Section

I loved the way the band worked together&#151how each member lifted every other, and how each member excelled during solos&#151but I was most impressed by the locked-in rhythm section, and especially Pedro Martinez on congas. His hands turned into light, racing across the conga heads, speeding away from everything else&#151the stage, the room, the cold night&#151while remaining right on time.


Cognitive Frequency

As our summer intern, Ariel">http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/060107can/">Ariel Bitran proved tireless, helping to make the 2008">http://ssl.blueearth.net/primedia/product.php?productid=75&cat=0&page=1… Stereophile Buyer's Guide our biggest, most beautiful, and most comprehensive yet. His spirit&#151youthful, enthusiastic, passionate, curious, goofy&#151was stimulating and infectious. It was great to have him around, and I've enjoyed watching as his interest in hi-fi grows.


As Special As This

I spent some time last night listening to Joanna Newsom's Ys. Tangent CDP-50, Tangent AMP-50, Totem Arro loudspeakers. I know and love the Totem speakers, but the Tangents are new to me and, with Joanna Newsom's help and harp perhaps, they sounded better&#151more capable&#151than ever before in my small living room. The sound was fleshy and fast and detailed, whereas (earlier on and with other material) it had been thin and mechanical and uninvolving. I don't know if this has to do with the electronics breaking-in&#151they've now been in the system for about 200 hours&#151or if I was just in a good mood or if Joanna Newsom was responsible. And, right now, I don't care. I'll try to figure it out later.


Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement