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More Quality LP Just Arrived - 12 Oct 2009
The star of this week is non other than Chinese songbird Teresa Teng. Teresa had released some 24 analog titles for the Japan market and many of them are now sort-after items. Collect them all if you have the deepest of pockets. Among the top of her most-wanted are featured on our LP wall this week - Teresa Teng NHK Concert (with poster) and Teresa Teng Sings Chinese (MR-3166) released in 1979. Japanese pressings are known for its exquisite packaging, quiet vinyl resulting in better sonics. If you are waiting some of these to complete your collection, please come early, such quality LPs come once in a blue moon.
Another songstress is Grace Chang - Best (EMI). Grace was a top Chinese actress and singer in Hong Kong in the 1950s. She starred in some 33 movies (black and white days) and sang many of the original soundtrack. Most of her vintage LP (78 rpm) may not have survived (courtesy of the thick and heavy stylus) but this Best-Of LP looks excellent with minimum sign of play.
At Modular Audio, we welcome you to test the software in our high-end system before purchase. If the music content doesn’t float your boat, just leave it behind - no obligation. We are committed to quality and your purchase satisfaction.
After all, your pleasure is our business!
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New LP Shipment - 5 Oct 2009
Part of the joy and fascination of this hobby is hunting down that elusive silver disc or LP. There are of course disappointments in the mix like when you had it in your hands, thinking and thinking but didn’t checkout. Not long after, you learnt it was sold and regretted you did not make up your mind at that point. That’s a story we’ve heard so many times. Nevermind, the journey to getting it (searching and waiting) is part of this game. Also as a hobbyist myself I feel that it is certainly more joyous and memorable than inheriting the whole lot from a dead uncle or neighbour.
No effort is spared this month to continue updating and refreshing our LP stock. First pressings, audiophile pressings, Direct-cut pressings, limited pressings, Japanese pressings - you name it and we stock them. Most of all, every piece is handpicked, inspected and only goes to the LP rack when it meets our strict requirements.
Over 1000 pieces of quality LP and some 200+ specially selected CDs available for your pickings. At the center of this picture, the white frame glass cabinets houses some must-have LP and CD accessories like Clearaudio cartridges, Mint LP solution, Mint Brush, Furutech connectors, fuses, CD cleaners etc.
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Some more 1st Issues of Blue Notes Records label Jazz LP - 12 Sep 2009
The early birds that grabbed some of these great looking, fantastic, authentic sounding original Blue Notes (1st issues from USA) must be singing like a bird now. We have a few more and don’t wait because such good records wouldn’t stay in our LP racks for long.
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1st Issues of Blue Notes Records & Prestige label Jazz LP - 7 Sep 2009
Ever wondered how an original Blue Notes Records label or Prestige label issued in the 50s and 60s sound like compared to the current crop of re-issues, especially 45rpm ones?
We just received a limited batch of true, deep-groove, RVG original Blue Notes and Prestige for those interested collectors and jazz fans - Sonny Rollins, Monk, Hank Mobley, Three Sounds and more. These vinyl are heavy (never thin) and 1st issues are getting rarer now especially in the highly competitive international LP market.
Although these vintage pressings may not play as quiet and some may come with light ticks here and there (for its grand age), those who saviour the nostalgic house sound of the true blue original (pun- intended) wouldn’t trade these for the less analog, tighter sounding reissues. We recommend every jazz fan to at least pick up some of these while the opportunity is here.
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Quality Used CD - 18 Aug 2009
More quality pre-owned hot fave CD just arrived. Bruce Katz Band, James Newton Howard, Pat Coil, Film and BB’s, Prime Cuts II just to name a few.
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Quality Used CD - 10 Aug 2009
Besides our handpicked quality pre-owned LP that we are known for, we have been increasing our stock of pre-owned CD/SACD too. Our stock of CD titles (some deleted) are also specially selected for best sound, music content and only near mint ones get to see light in our shelves. As these titles from Sheffield Lab, Audioquest, DMP, Linn, Telarc etc are not regular ones, they usually surface from time to time (frequency depending on rarity). So grab them when you can!
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Some Exciting New Arrival - 27 Jul 2009
METALLICA
"The Good The Bad & The Live"
The 6 1/2 Year Anniversary 12" Collection
Specially brought in for fans for Metallica. This is a hard to find Metallica box set from England on the Vertigo record label. The set contains 6 near mint 12" EP's spanning from 1984 to 1989. The box has been protected by thick plastic and there is no sign of wear. If you are a Metallica fan or call yourself one you can’t miss this.
1. "JUMP IN THE FIRE" - EP Jump In The Fire / Seek and destroy-live / Phantom Lord-live
2. "CREEPING DEATH" - EP Creeping Death / Am I Evil? / Blitzkrieg
3. "THE 6 1/2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY LIVE" - EP Harvester of Sorrow-live / One-live / Breadfan-live
4. "THE $5.98 E.P. - Helpless / The Small Hours / The Wait / Crash Course In Brain Surgery / Last Caress / Green Hell
5. "HARVESTER OF SORROW" - EP Harvester of Sorrow / Breadfan / The Prince
6. "ONE" - EP One / For Whom The Bell Tolls-live / Welcome Home (Sanitarium)-live
From garage metal to new wave of heavy metal kingpin - Iron Maiden. We’ve in store some sort-after pieces of EP (Japan and UK) from Iron Maiden and full-length LP now on our shelves. Check them out before they gone Running Free
Maiden Japan EP from Japan
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Latest LP Wall - 20 Jul 2009
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At Modular Audio we do not conceal our preference which pressings we like best - its the “old” pressings. We have found out that even later releases of the original pressings i.e. not the first issue but subsequent releases would still sound superior to the current crop of re-issues. To us, most new pressings of old recordings faulted by taking away some “live” from the recording in favour of maximizing background blackness. Some re-issues EQ the original to update the sound (to more hi-fi?) thereby making it too CD-like. LP is by nature warm sounding but in a natural, organic way. Now if all we want is more hi-fi flashes, very distinctly cut sound fields, sharp bleeding focus, why bother LP-ing?
Now back to our LP Wall. We have the LA4 Just Friends in Japan Direct-Cut, original RCA Belafonte At Carneige Hall 2lp, Rickie Lee Jones’ classic debut for Warner Bros, Blue from Joni Mitchell (US Reprise), Harry Met Sally original soundtrack, Linda Ronstadt’s Quiex pressing of “Cry Like A Rainstorm” and the Colegems label of Casino Royale featuring the hit “The Look of Love” by Dusty Springfield etc.
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New LP Shipment - 15 Jun 2009
Music is our best stress relief so here’s more good stuff to help you ease through these hard times. Here there’re some hard to find copies of Teresa Teng Japanese LP, Mari Nakamoto (Three Blind Mice), Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio (Three Blind Mice), The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (DCC), Jazz At The Pawnshop 1990 re-issue (Proprius), Joy Bryan - Joy Bryan Sings (very rare - first pressing Mod Records), Blue Mitchell and Heavy Metal music from Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.
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Columbia Legacy Mastersound Gold CD - 1 Jun 2009 (Sold)
We have two of the most famous old jazz titles of all time that even non-jazz fans would have them - Miles Davies Kind of Blue and The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s Time Out Take Five. To jazz fans, I am not surprised if you’ve bought two or more versions of them already as these timeless classics have been re-issued countless times and almost making new meaning out of the word “limited edition”.
But these two are no ordinary re-issue. They are different and certainly special.
This is a Columbia Compact Disk MASTER SOUND with 20 Bit Digital Transfer using Sony's SBM process. The CD is Special 24- Karat Gold. The CD also contains a Fold Out Poster all housed in one solid hard case long-box.
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New Shipment - 20 Apr 2009
It is a funny observation we find customer’s reaction to this LP wall at our shop front. Some think these are high-hanging fruit, pricey items and stayed away from them but some pay more attention to them than anything else. We do not deny these on the wall LP are good stuff but good stuff does not translate to unearthly expensive. In fact many of you have told us that given the value-add we’ve put into each preowned record, our pricing is very reasonable.
In addition, you can test your short-listed LP using our high-end system and if it doesn’t float your boat, just leave it behind - no obligation. For the same reason we are reluctant to carry sealed, reissued LP because testing wouldn’t be possible. For audiophiles running a business (like us), it is sometimes hard to separate the two but we are glad we have kept our principal still in tact.
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Made In Japan Cantopop - 7 Mar 2009
The article Most Expensive Chinese LP drew some curious feedback from you and we are encouraged by it. At the same time we are not exactly please because we still haven’t found a happy home for this gem. We reckon someday when this LP finds its way to Christie’s auction (Ed: LOL), you will think of this missed opportunity. This time, we have a more down-to-earth LP to share with you which happens to be another Cantopop great that was also made in Japan.
Before all the Heavenly Kings (and horses) of Hong Kong, there was Sam Hui. Widely claimed as the God of songs in Hong Kong, Sam Hui writes and sings for the common people that touch the simple hearts of millions. In the 70s, with the regional success of his brother Michael Hui’s blockbuster comedies Sam’s records found its way to Japan.
Mr. Boo referred to Michael Hui who often played the role of an underdog, sometimes gutless but street smart fellow who go against the odds.
I was lucky to get my hands on “The Private Eyes” (1976) Japanese version. Although the LP condition didn’t quite meet my minimum used vinyl condition, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Given that it’s about 30 odd years old and pressed in such limited quantity, these Japanese versions are harder to come by.
Cover Art Shootout
I much preferred the original LP cover art of these two over the Japanese’s version. The latter cover art were too comic “cartoonish” and didn’t capture the spirit and theme of the movie. I certainly couldn’t recognize Mr. Boo as Michael Hui from the cover. It appeared the art work was designed by someone who didn’t watch or understood the movie. Putting the 2 Japanese titles LP side by side (“Private Eye” and “The Contract”), you would find both of these Japanese LP cover art bear the same style and quite likely from the same art studio.
Sonic Shootout
Sound wise, although both individual pressings were from Polydor, that’s about all the commonalities. On the Japan pressing, you can expect the usual quality – quiet, glossy, flat 120g vinyl and the local pressing – vinyl thin as a saw-blade with some expected noise. The Japan copy has Sam Hui’s vocals quite distinctively projected - lighted up with good ambient around it. It also has more flesh, sweeter and a smoother mid-range compared to the local copy. However, the perceived rounder edge (only slight) did roll off a bit of trailing bite (e.g. cymbals) which may not please some rock fans. Anyway, this record is supposed to please pop fans and this rock fan (Oyster) is as happy as a clam at high water to find it. 
Now this one is not for sale until I find a near mint copy and with OBI someday.
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New LP Shipment - 22 Feb 2009
You have a top-dog analogue system? What about your software? Without very good software, you really wouldn’t know how good your system can be. Even in this toughs times, we are holding steadfast to our belief that good software investment makes a lot of sense in this hobby. Hence we will not stop searching, sniffing for the better pressings that we can lay our hands on. At Modular Audio you are assured of the best LP quality - all handpicked, all thoroughly cleaned and ready to serve.
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New LP Shipment - 6 Jan 2009
The cream of our latest shipment. Perhaps, the best we’ve done so far and we reckon it’ll be tough to better this. Here’s a run-down of some of the above The Three (white label promo); Ry Cooder Jazz; (white label promo); plum-issue of Led Zeppelin II; Bealtes (Yellow Palaphone); Pink Floyd’s DSOTM (Japan issue with giant poster and lyrics booklet). Tsuyoshi Yamamotor Trio Girl Talk in very early TBM issue; Iron Maiden (Japan issue); Sound of Music OST (rare Japan hardcover issue); Bruce Katz’s Transformation (Audioquest) and more... First Come First Serve - No Reservation.
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LP Recommendation - 26 Dec 2008
 No Quarter - Robert Plant & Jimmy Page is an one-off “reunion” gig recorded around the MTV unplugged heydays. This 1994 double-LP with 13 tracks contained the classics and also not commonly played Led Zep tracks. Never contended with just playing acoustic, the two maestros brought a full orchestra, gave the songs new twists and trading heavily on the folk, blues, and world music. Per AMG - “...No Quarter, has aged remarkably well.”
This is not a common LP and is in fact the only copy we’ve seen so far in this great shape. A handsome Christmas gift for vinylphiles or Led Zep fans.
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CD Recommendation - 9 Dec 08
 Doug MacLeod’s follow-up effort to the TAS listed “Come To Find”.. You Can’t Take My Blues Released some 2 years after “Come to Find”, this recording takes on the same theme, acoustic blues - folk style and is as fabulously recorded and enjoyable as the former. An “A-List” CD by Audiophilia.com
On your right is the original recording from DMP label of Thom Rotella Band. This recording was issued by ESA Records (Germany) some 6 years ago(?) and we recalled that the LP version went for S$150 when it was first released. This deleted CD aptly demonstrates why this is still an audiophile fave - besides just that bass solo track
 Friedemann’s Aquamarine Orchestra In Concert is an original CD from Biber and was also issued as a double-vinyl years later by a now defunct audiophile label. This orchestra plays new age music (not classical) with a blend of rock, acoustic/exotic eastern influence - excellent tracks like Bao Lan and Indian Summer come to mind. The quality of the material and high fidelity will floor you as did to the appreciative audience. Your hi-fi will thank you :-)
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LP Recommendation - 23 Nov 08
 James Taylor’s “That’s Why I’m Here” says it all for us. Warm vocal, easy listening and excellently produced - always pleasing to an audiophile without being hi-fi. James Taylor’s recordings have consistently achieved that.
From wholesome JT to the mad and dark Ozzy. Unmasking his stage-front you’ll find some good heavy metal music from this family man and also a very successful businessman. “No Rest For the Wicked” is not among Ozzy’s famous works but nonetheless enjoyable with some strong songs.
 Bob Marley’s Natty Dread is a classic and if you’ve never purchased a blues-and-jazz tinged reggae album, you will not go wrong with this one. May we add Bob Marley and the Wailers is another artist with excellent sound especially on vinyl
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No Music No Life! - 13 Sep 08
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We brought in a new shipment of over 100 quality LP this month, all handpicked and mostly in near mint condition. More importantly, we trust they would be played by you regularly because what’s a good LP always in storage? I am a fan of LP cover art and admiring all these pictures in human-friendly handy size glossy 12” sleeves beat the hell out of miniscule CD covers! Below is a small sample of pop/rock, jazz vocals and even heavy metal that you can expect from this shipment!
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We have the usual suspects as well as New-Old-Music (NOM) you may want us to introduce to you :-)
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After Slayer, Dream Theatre and soon Motley Crue it’s time for Metallica and Iron Maiden to tour Singapore... Iron <clap clap clap> Iron <clap clap clap> Iron...
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Most Expensive Chinese LP - 6 Jun 08
 This is a very rare LP of George Lam (EMS 81298) because it is the only Japan LP release of his career (so far).
Consisting of his greatest hits from his days with EMI label, this LP was touted to be worth RM4,000 (approx. exchange rate US$0.3) as published by a Chinese audiophile magazine in Malaysia.
Modular Audio was very lucky to find this rare gem while sightseeing in Japan. Our only regret is that this rare copy does not come with OBI but like most of our LP, it is as mint as it gets (perhaps no Japanese would ever play Canto-pop?).
Well, that’s not all, to top it all, the copy we have for sale is a white label promo as pictured below.
At this price, we do not expect any quick sale and this could well be a permanent fixture on our LP display wall. But if you are a George Lam die-hard or a rare vinyl collector, you may just want to bookmark this page for future buying reference. Perhaps after your purchase, you can go secure George Lam’s signature on the LP cover and this will indeed become one of the most expensive Chinese LP in any collection.
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Better Sounding LP - 25 May 08
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10 Worthy LPs - 22 Apr 08
Martin first wrote this article in Chinese for 1388.com some 8 years ago. To me, this article is as relevant to Martin as it was then and we thought it would be interesting to repost this here. So, if you would pardon my limited translation ability and occasional offbeat choice of words - here it goes...
After reading Kim’s “Audiophile Must-Have CD” and Joseph’s CD Review, I would like to learn from their examples and talk about the 10 LPs that I owned and cherished. Kim and Joseph both wrote about Esther, Jazz at the Pawnshop etc. must-have which I also owned and hence will not be repeating here. I picked these 10 LPs based on my personal preference and each piece was superbly recorded and equally top in music content – something which you can listen to tirelessly.
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John Neptune Kaizane - Bamboo When this LP was released, it was promoted with the tag “1981 All Japan Recording Champion”. I still recalled the first time I listened to this - the recording and melody gave me a fright! A dialogue from one of the movies came to my mind – “there is indeed such beautiful woman on earth” (should rightly be beautiful recording). This was utterly crazy. How a Caucasian could master the Japanese flute with such depth is amazing. After this album, John Neptune released several follow up for e.g. the recent “Bamboo Bamboo” but my all time favourite is still this piece of bamboo.
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Like Waves Against The Sand - V.A. (Saydisc) This UK Saydisc production of Chinese Classics instrumentals was first rate and so were the performers. Lately, Mr. Ma from FIM bought most of these tunes and distributed it under XRCD and it sold really well. Remembered years ago, I used a pair of Spica speakers and played a section of ”Night” (Percussion Ensemble), the strong drumming and skin impact was reproduced with such realism. If I could play this tune agian using a bigger amplifier like Passlab X1000 driving JM Lab Utopia, who knows what are the possibilities? Other great tracks in this LP include “Variation on Yang City Tune”(Kuqin Solo), the title cut (Pipa solo with ensemble) which you can listen to it over and over again.
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Mozart Concerto No. 5 - David Oistrakh / Igor Oistrakh (EMI) I bought this LP on my honeymoon in France. Back then, I saw this LP cover pictured with a pair of violin with David Oistrakh / Igor Oistrakh playing on it and knowing Mozart Concerto No. 5 isn’t too common. I bought it without thinking too much although it was with wife’s strong endorsement. Although French pressing isn’t the most sort after but they are no slough either. All is worth after experiencing this father and son team’s (David and Igor Oistrakh) technical and emotional portrayal. Also this LP will always bring back memories of my sweet honeymoon. I will never part with this.
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James Newton Howard & Friends (Sheffield Lab) Sheffield Lab made a big hit when this was released. Audiophiles adore it for its outstanding recording. Nickname “Many Hands” (in HK), James Newton Howard & Friends is considered the cream of audiophile must-have disc. Besides the recording, the music content is just as lasting. Should I be allowed only one desert island LP from Sheffield Lab, this will be my choice.
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Rimsky Korsako / Scheherazade - Kirill Kondrashin (Philips) I couldn’t keep count of the “1001 Arabian Nights” symphony because there were just too many versions. In my personal opinion, this version by Kirill Kondrashin is the best (among those I’ve heard). Besides the outstanding recording, the demanding (explosives) passages were earth-shaking and the quiet solo violin is as elegantly captured. In my opinion, I would even rate this symphony a Top 10 in Classical music.
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Georges Bizet / Carmen - Leonard Berstein (DGG) I have both the single LP version and the box set of the same. Due to my hectic workload and limited spare time, I would listen more to the single LP version. Actually, the recording of the single LP version is very commendable and I enjoyed each and every sections. Case in point is Side A track 2 choir singing section where audiophiles like to use this as a test track for pinpoint placement – “counting the heads”. The female opera vocal is especially beautifully captured, a true audiophile vocal test LP.
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Swallow Returns (Cantonese Opera) This is a top quality Cantonese opera recording with masterful singing uniquely portrayed in every character. Recording wise, like Joe Lee always say it’s just too good. If the “Leung Sing Poh” opera LP has been going at HK$2,000 per pop then this one should fetch at least HK$3,000. Reason being the sound quality is of the same grade but with the added pair - Mak and Fung singing together.
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Pink Floyd - The Wall (CBS) I bought this 2LP set after I watched the movie of the same name. Soon after, I felt in love with this group (Pink Floyd) and began collecting their back catalogue like Dark Side of the Moon; Wish You Were Here; Animals and so on. Judging by musical theme and recording alone, I like The Wall the most. Besides the classics Another Brick in the Wall Part I, II, III, this LP also contained other very good tunes like Mother; Hey You; Comfortably Numb and the “approaching helicopter” which was an audiophile’s favourite ritual test track. To pop/rock audiophiles, Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Dire Straits Love over Gold are must-have treasures.
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Dire Straits - Love Over Gold (Vertigo). The current crop of pop artists should listen and learn from this record. The opening two tracks – Telegraph Road and Private Investigation are worth the price of entry. The sweet strings of Mark Knofler and his masterful technique is as soothing it is deep. I have classified this record as this century’s best pop/rock work.
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Kenny G - Live (Arista). When I saw this LP in America (US pressing) I bought it without thinking. When I returned home and turned it on, the sound quality was far better than the CD version. I heard comments that the CD version was not up to mark and I would advise these people to listen to the LP version. You will immediately find out what recording ambient is.
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