Vanessa Fernandez Remember Me 180g 45rpm 2LP

Michael Fremer Rated 9/10 Music, 11/10 Sound!

NativeDSD Album of the Year 2024 Nominee: Vocals - Pop & Soul!

Featuring a fabulous mix of R&B classics such as "That's the Way of the World" (Earth Wind & Fire), "Lovely Day" (Bill Withers), "You're the One I Love" (Barry White), "Kiss" (Prince) with more contemporary pop material like "I Belong to You" (Lenny Kravitz), "It Runs Through Me" (Tom Misch), "Roads" (Portishead) and others, Vanessa and Tim Pierce (arranger) have delivered a supremely satisfying and ultra-rewarding album, one that is also beautifully recorded (tracked and mixed by maestro Michael C. Ross).

Many plaudits must also be directed at the magnificent group of creme de la creme LA-based session musicians who are backing Vanessa's latest effort. This is basically the same outstanding group that played on her previous album (GRV1200 I Want You): Tim Pierce (guitars), Alex Al (bass), Victor Indrizzo (drums), Jeff Babko (keyboards), Felipe Melanio (acoustic guitars), and Luis Conte (percussion). Felipe, a brilliant young guitarist from Brazil, is the one new addition and delivers some truly incredible playing - wait till you hear his solo on the samba-driven version of "It Runs Through Me"!

....the review LPs were as flat, clean and noise-free as any I've experienced....Once again, Ying Tan has given music lovers and audiophiles a gift of well-chosen, well-arranged, well-performed and exceptionally well-recorded music. The outstanding quality of the mastering and pressing allowed my Shibata-tipped Audio Technica cartridge to draw all of the dynamics, tone, timbre and individuality of each instrument, including Fernandez's voice, from the grooves. I predict that at upcoming audio shows, savvy exhibitors will reach for the vinyl edition of Remember Me to spin on their turntables.

The arrangement and playing are super hot and Fernandez is well up to the task. She is nimble, soulful and has a sends shivers falsetto...One of the most impressive aspects of this project is the A&R work, the eclectic and varied song choices, both classic and up to date...Here's an 'audiophile' release that delivers well beyond the usual audiophile 'sounds great but the music is meh' standard. Check it out!

Singer Vanessa Fernandez had one of the year's most popular albums at NativeDSD with Remember Me. It features a mix of Soul Classics from the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, Bill Withers and Barry White plus Pop songs made famous by Lenny Kravitz, Prince, and Portishead. Adding to the album are arrangements by guitarist Tim Pierce and an all-star L.A. Studio Session band featuring Jeff Babko, Alex Al, Victor Indrizzo, Luis Conte, and Felipe Melanio. A musical delight from start to finish.