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The Handsome FamilyThe Handsome Family Live at Oosterpoort on 2003-05-03 (May 3, 2003)

Collection: : TheHandsomeFamily
Band/Artist: The Handsome Family
Date: May 3, 2003 (check for other copies)
Venue: Oosterpoort
Location: Groningen, Netherlands

Source: HEB4061 > Inbox/AD20 > TCD-D8
Lineage: DAT > ZA2 > Cool Edit Pro (dynamics processing) > CDWAV > FLAC16
Taped by: Michiel Oudendijk
Transferred by: Michiel Oudendijk
Keywords: Live concert

Description

So Much Wine, A Beautiful Thing, Cathedrals, Arlene, Down In The Ground, No One Fell Asleep Alone, Weightless Again, The Forgotten Lake, A Dark Eye, 24-Hour Store, Drunk By Noon, Don't Be Scared, The Bottomless Hole, When That Helicopter Comes, Peace In The Valley Again, I Know You Are There

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Reviewer: jedimastermojave - - December 1, 2005
Subject: a good recording
Dear musical traveler, you've stumbled onto something wonderful but beware. The Handsome Family plays post-modern Americana. Imagine a strange and dark strain of alt-country. With strong female and male vocals, the music is song oriented. The quirky and gothic sound features a mellow mix of acoustic & electric guitars, sometimes punctuated by weird keyboards. The Handsome Family's tunes are satisfying to the ears yet disturbing to contemplate. Imagine a cross between the Munsters and the Beverly Hillbillies. Occupying a space that exists well under the mainstream radar, they are phantoms that can only be noticed by those like yourself adventurous listeners with musical ESP.

I was ecstatic to discover the Archive's eleven Handsome Family shows but frustrated by the absence of any reviews. I've made it a project to download, listen to and review each for sound quality. Where should you start? Preferring soundboards over audience recordings, I recommend that you begin with the four excellent soundboard choices: 1) 11-24-01, 2) 11-25-01, 3) 5-8-02 and 4) 5-9-02. In terms of audience recordings, 1) 5-6-99 and 2) 5-15-04 sound as good as any audience recording.

This May 3rd, 2003 show is a good recording but not the best place to start. The recording sounds a bit muffled. It's like the dynamic range of the original performance has been equalized out of the recording's mix. With so many excellent Archive recordings, this is one to leave for the completists.

Notes

Rhythm & Blues Night

This performance was recorded from a seated audience using 'stealth' equipment. The sound is less then optimal. Furthermore, parts of the recording were processed to reduce excess crowd noise and applause (3:1 compressor > -12dB).
--- No music or stage-banter was harmed in the process ---