Earth And Fire – Reality Fills Fantasy

By the time of 1979’s Reality Fills Fantasy album, Earth and Fire were into their symphonic Abba disco period, but there is still some decent music here.

Audio quality is something I consider important, but it's not "the law" for me. I have a decent setup, but still I don't always focus on how a record sounds; I just love playing vinyl when I have the time, and if I'm busy, I just throw in a CD. Sometimes, however, a record sounds so surprisingly fantastic that you can hardly believe that you're listening to vinyl pressed in 1979. This album is such an example. From the very beginning through the very end of side 2, it's just one big audiophile trip. Tight, urgent and textured bass, smooth mid (especially the vocals) and crisp, pleasantly tingling highs. There are no mastering credits on the album or inner sleeve; the only thing we know is that the lacquer was cut at PRS Baarn, but whoever did the mastering, knew what he was doing. The entire album was recorded at the legendary Soundpush Studios, that's clear, but an additional, somewhat elusive credit in the thank you section reads "Rolf Querido Of Fokker's Technological Centre". Fokker was of course Holland's pride in the aviation industry back in the days and maybe Fokker had some unknown technology to improve the recordings and the sound of the final mixdown? It's exciting to assume something like that and it would, if it has anything to do with it, explain the fantastic sound of this album. I've tried the Music On Vinyl pressing a few times, but I gave it away. It just doesn't even come close to the outstanding fidelity of the regular 1979 release. The original pressing is readily available and won't break the bank. Just get it.