Why is the recording of Kashmir so bad?
Yes, I know they recorded it with a mobile kit in the 70's. That sets them up for failure. They were pro's at this point, everyone knew what they were doing.
The album was recorded at Headley Grange, an old estate house in England that apparently has wonderful acoustics. I'm sure it does. Other artists have recorded songs there. Fleetwood Mac's Rumors was recorded there. It's not the location's fault.
Trampled Under Foot, another song on the album, was recorded there. It's fine. Sounds like a recording from the 1970's on equipment as warm as a summer day. As it should be.
So what on earth is going on with Kashmir. It's starts off fine. They've got Robert's vocals turned way down so he can make all his Robert Plant sounds. Drums are fresh apple crisp, I can hear the cymbals for miles. Guitars are plugged in and facing forward.
But when we throw in the orchestral section you get echo's that do not mesh. They are bouncing off the halls and each other in a way that syncs wrong. Some kind of reverb effect maybe? It actually starts to sound like the brass section is playing their notes backwards. In a live setting I'm sure this was phenomenal, ethereal, mind blowing. But this recording should have been done in the studio. In the recording it becomes a mud fest.
What about the remaster! The issue is still there, but everything is turned down this time. The whole song is at like 45% battery life. I don't know what the deal is with remastered songs. Please leave the warmth in the songs.
Anyway, I only brought this up cuz I heard it on the radio today in the car and I had to make note of it. The song is great, the recording is bad.