Cymande – Cymande

Mine generally sounds good. I bought it used for 30 CAD so I couldn’t return it even if I wanted to. I noticed the whole package including the record itself and the jacket felt cheap. Hard to describe. I got it home and thought it might be a bootleg based on the how the vinyl is cut. Truly, shame on whoever cut this. But the mastering is nice and mine sounds good. I only have digi to compare it to but it sounds a lot nicer than that, warping isn’t horrible but it’s far from perfect. A couple tracks ticks and pops in them that I looked for but couldn’t find with my eyes. Cest la vie. It’s not perfect but it works, cuz the tunes are awesome.

Side B sounds pretty good, but side A is a horror show. My new copy came with scuffs, a nice scratch that affects every track on side A, and a big ole dimple. Not to mention rough edges. Sigh. This is what I get for not doing my homework when buying a sealed record.

Yes nice second copy worthy of the exchange hassle very good soundstage overall quality quite vinyl compared to my first album was warped noise pos

I recently purchased a copy direct from the label and spun it upon arrival. The record looked and sounded good to me. No noticeable warping, nor skips. Happy to have this at a reasonable price to enjoy.

Picked up a copy from my local shop and it was warped/dished and had dimples in the wax. Told the shop about and they opened every copy copy they had in stock to find them all dished/warped. Huge bummer.

Two copies. Both have something going on with the B4 where there is a repetitive click through most of the track. Same issues as below with some noise on the first 30 seconds or so each side. Rest of the tracks sound great, but far from a home run pressing.

My copy sounds pretty good - there's nice separation and a good soundstage. Could it be better? Perhaps, but it sounds no worse than the lossless files. Maybe a 70s pressing sounds better, but that's an expensive comparison to make.

The disc is center, although slightly warped. Side A plays perfect. There are dimple defects on the surface of Side B, which also has some crackling noise on B1. The rest of the disc plays really well though.

I wish it came in an anti-static sleeve instead of paper.

Judging by the Made in Canada tag on the jacket, and the fact that the EU version is pressed at GZ, I assume this was pressed at their partner location, Precision Record Pressings.

Overall, the sound is really lovely but QC could be better. I think this is the best value option for getting this album on vinyl. The mastering really is on-point. I might exchange it so B1 plays cleaner, but I assume it's a batch issue given some reviews here. At this price point, QC should be a top priority.

Fluance RT80
AT-VM95ML
Schiit Mani 2
Edifier R1700BT

UPDATE: I took a chance on a replacement copy, unfortunately, it is significantly worse than my first one. There is a serious dishwarp and the audible defects on Side B are still present. Even more alarming is the fact that whoever cut this disc actually removed a chunk of the vinyl where the run-in grooves are supposed to be - so dropping the needle isn't even possible.

For a $45CAD record, this is horrible quality control. It's a shame because I think the mastering is good. The pressing plant really fucked up here.

When I heard the Mr Bongo reissue of "Promised Heights" I also had high expectations on this reissue. I ordered it and compared it directly to my end 70s polish reissue and have to say: This here really sounds bad! The right side of the stereo image is totally muffled, besides the fact that the LP is a few db's lower in volume... the cover looks terrible too! So, all in all, I immediately sent the album back and stay happy with my polish press - I have no idea how the original US pressing sounds but I assume that this still sounds (way) better than my polish one...

The pressing isn’t perfect, but it’s not bad. Some minor groove distortion in spots, but the overall sound quality is good. I don’t have anything to compare it to btw, but I do know good sound and this one’s very nice

This record deserved a bit better. Cheap sleeve, dish warp. Good not great mastering but at least quiet. A few years ago this would have been a $15 reissue, at $30 I feel a bit let down but the music is magical. If you don’t have a record clamp make sure you can return it.