KPMPK1001 Reviews: [De Wolfe] DWLP 3160 - New Generation

[KPMPK1001]

Hello everyone and welcome to another KPMPK1001 Review!

For this review, I have decided to look at what I consider to be my favorite De Wolfe album. An album that was released in 1970 entitled New Generation.



The album features music by composers Musi Silvio, Hugh Cortley, and Walter Warren (aliases for Harold Geller, Barry Stoller and Meyer De Wolfe respectively) and is performed by the Lawrence Stephens Orchestra. The album is described as "Big modern orchestrals in exciting new settings." Despite the back cover saying mono, the album was recorded in stereo.

I was introduced to this album thanks to some of the albums' tracks being used by NFL Films. I remember listening to a compilation of music NFL Films had used and heard an action like track and wondered what it was. It took me a little while to find out what it was but as it turned out it was a track that came from this album. That track was Export, and this allowed me to discover this excellent album.

One thing I did notice with this album was that the Warren tracks sound significantly different from the Silvio and Cortley tracks. The Silvio and Cortley tracks sound significantly grainier than the much clearer Warren tracks which makes me think that these tracks were recorded much earlier. In addition, the Silvio and Cortley tracks sound less stereo separated than the Warren tracks. However, despite these quality differences, these tracks definitely stand out as being some of the more unique and interesting tracks that De Wolfe ever released.

Favorite Tracks: The albums two opening tracks: Fast Action and Export are some of my favorite De Wolfe tracks. Fast Action is an atmospheric track that serves as an excellent opener. Export serves as an excellent action track that feels like it came from a 70s action film. In addition, the track High Adventure, much like Fast Action, is an excellent action track that gives off an atmosphere of importance and urgency.

Overall, I love this album and definitely recommend it to anyone interested in getting into the De Wolfe library. But what do you guys think? What tracks do you like from this album?

That will do it for now! Thanks for reading this and I will see you in the next review.

[Fuzi]

Thanks for bringing this number to my attention today. I first thought you unearthed a Zappa library release:)

[KPMPK1001]

Thanks for bringing this number to my attention today. I first thought you unearthed a Zappa library release:)

You’re welcome Fuzi!

I do have to admit though that the figure on the cover does look like Zappa so I don’t blame you for making that assumption.

[Lord Thames]

Excellent review of an excellent album!

With regards to the sound quality, Barry Stoller was a bit of a pioneer in multitracking, and he had his own home studio where he made his wonderful creations (some of his early library work for FDH was recorded in his bedroom by bouncing between two tape recorders!) - I suspect a large amount of this album was recorded at his place.  He usually played all instruments himself apart from drums and brass, which would probably mean a slight degradation in sound quality as it built up.

[KPMPK1001]

Excellent review of an excellent album!

With regards to the sound quality, Barry Stoller was a bit of a pioneer in multitracking, and he had his own home studio where he made his wonderful creations (some of his early library work for FDH was recorded in his bedroom by bouncing between two tape recorders!) - I suspect a large amount of this album was recorded at his place.  He usually played all instruments himself apart from drums and brass, which would probably mean a slight degradation in sound quality as it built up.

Wow! Amazing stuff there Lord Thames!

That definitely makes sense as to why the Silvio and Cortley tracks sound different. It also pretty much confirms my theory that the Warren tracks were recorded much earlier than the other tracks.

[Lord Thames]

Yes, I've had a look and Low Danger 1-3 appear on a separate album, Percussionarius, which is a few places earlier in the DW catalogue - I think the Walter Warren tracks are probably leftovers from that album.

Are you familiar with the album Wall Of Sound by Adam Best, by the way?  It's a commercial LP on the Fontana label by Stoller under a pseudonym, which is on similar lines to this, and I think you'd like it!  Stoller reused some of the backing tracks on his de Wolfe work later too.

[KPMPK1001]

Yes, I've had a look and Low Danger 1-3 appear on a separate album, Percussionarius, which is a few places earlier in the DW catalogue - I think the Walter Warren tracks are probably leftovers from that album.

Are you familiar with the album Wall Of Sound by Adam Best, by the way?  It's a commercial LP on the Fontana label by Stoller under a pseudonym, which is on similar lines to this, and I think you'd like it!  Stoller reused some of the backing tracks on his de Wolfe work later too.

Oh wow! I definitely have to check out this album! The first track sounds like an early version of Export!

Thanks for bringing this up Lord Thames!