Black Midi – Cavalcade

amazing sound quality and no noise at all as to be expected for blackmidi, although my copy must have been two discs stuck together as it feels a bit too heavy and it has a sharp edge.

My pressing sounds perfect. I don’t know if it makes a difference but I purchased my copy at the Rough Trade store in NYC. Maybe the label sent their best pressed copies from the UK to the Rough Trade stores?

lots of surface noise but its usually covered by blaring guitar

If this pressing is s bad as some folks have experienced then why not simply opt for the cd, for those that love physical media and own a CD player, if you don't then just buy the download?
Ever since 1985 I have always owned a record player plus a CD player. I used to own a cassette player until 2005 when I upgraded my complete system. I realised that I hardly used cassettes and really didn't like the sound quality etc.So pared in back to only the media input devices that I actually used
Just saying that with ever increasing demands being placed on so few record pressing plants today, meaning some factories not giving the batches time to cool properly etc, it might be time for us to reappraise the long neglected cd ?
As Steven Wilson said ten years ago, and I paraphrase here " certain genres are perfect for vinyl and some perfect for cd". How right he was. I've bought the new Klaus Schulze Deus Arrakis album on cd, ambient electronic music being perfect for that medium.
Perhaps it's now time to revisit those 3" silver things instead of giving them away to charity shops or stringing them up in the garden to scare birds and cats away ?
I realise this is sacrilege on Discogs as most people, including me, tend to visit for their vinyl record collection needs or prices, but I'd hate to remain in a life full.of dogma rather than practicalities.
I mean I've just bought Hellfire on vinyl !
What an amazing band, pushing the fourth wave of progressive music forward, note I don't call it " prog rock" cos it's not got the usual tropes associated with that phrase, at all. Apart from their love of concept albums, great technical performances, odd time changes, strange vocal affectations, amazing album artwork, varied instrumentation. The only things lacking so far are albums with either two side long epics, or one side with a twenty three minute song and side two with two ten minute songs.
I even detect the influence of Cardiacs as well as organ sounds not out of place on Pawn Hearts by Van Der Graaf Generator, plus a good dose of Talking Heads and mid to late 70s Zappa.
Awesome stuff.

is this pressing as bad as people say or? very temped to buy

After cleaning, I had a better experience than most with this record. Definitely some crackles and pops, but not too bad. It did however come dished, and warped. Not audible, but visually annoying .

Great album. A really interesting group with a unique sound. Will be interesting to watch as they mature. That said I hope they release a better pressing one of these days. Sound quality isn't the best on either of their albums

Regarding the sound quality, I have heard better sounding bootlegs.

As others have stated, one of the most explosive and exciting “guitar” bands to come along in a long time. My pressing oddly has none of the pops ticks and/or surface noise others are talking about about but I’ll never discredit anyone else’s experiences. I will concur however with others saying that the bottom end is muddy; the overall record sounds like there’s a thick blanket over my speakers. It’s weird because every once in a while a sound will shimmer or plink through with great clarity and it really stands out from the murk (i.e. elements of Diamond Stuff)

it seems like there are two separate pressings with the same runouts: one actually pressed at optimal for the UK/EU market, and another pressed at an anonymous US plant (but using optimal-cut and plated metal parts) for the US market. i have a US copy and it's fine but not stellar. the UK/EU pressing actually manufactured at optimal is probably more consistently solid.