Vanessa Fernandez – Use Me One-Step Numbered Limited Edition 180g 45rpm 2LP

Groove Note Records is proud to release Vanessa Fernandez’s album ‘Use Me’ on the high quality analogue One Step format.

This album of audiophile quality covers of soul and R&B classics from the ’70s and ’80s was done in an “unplugged” style with acoustic instruments and arrangements used on all of the tracks. Vocals are tremendously dynamic (no compression or limiting used), with superb presence and detail for all other instruments including the drum set. Resolution is of the highest order and this is an LP that rewards for both musical performance and outstanding audio quality.

This Limited Edition One Step album has been mastered and cut by Bernie Grundman from the original 30 ips 1/4 inch analogue master tapes.

Comments regarding 180g 45rpm 2LP:

“…the all-analog pedigree is evident. The sound is smooth, dynamic and big, with massive weight and presence. I listened first to the SACD, thinking that it would be hard to improve upon, but the RTI-pressed 45rpm LPs offered even greater resolution and naturalness, neither to the detriment of everything the SACD does so well. Use Me is demo material in either format, but if your analog rig is up to digging everything out of the groove, you won’t hear a better-sounding record this year or next.” – Marc Mickelson, The Audio Beat, 4/5 Music, 5/5 Sound!

“Tasty as is the back up band and are the outstanding acoustic arrangements, Ms. Fernandez steals the show with a voice that is as unlikely as her cover photo would have you thinking “funky black chick”…While the cover shot makes her look somewhat academic and perhaps reserved, trust me, there’s no governor on her voice or the rawness of the emotions she pours forth. When appropriate she dials it down to a simmer as on a great cover of Al Kooper’s BS&T classic “More Than You’ll Ever Know”. She even covers the somewhat obscure John Deacon- Freddie Mercury track “Cool Cat” from Queen’s Hot Space album…Ms. Fernandez’s performance on this slow simmer will have to convince you that she’s the real deal.” – Michael Fremer, analogplanet.com, Music 10/11, Sound 11/11

“Fernandez explodes on the scene with a captivating set of performances covering everything from Barry White to Curtis Mayfield to Al Kooper. Sounding more like she hails from Nashville or Detroit than Singapore, Fernandez easily escapes the ‘female vocalist’ genre – that dreaded music played at shows to make an audio system sound sweet without disclosing its weaknesses.”

“Recorded with a crack group of Los Angeles studio musicians at Oceanway Recording, Use Me combines a truly outstanding set of performances with some of the best sound you could hope for. Recorded analogue to 30 ips 1/4 inch tape and mastered by Bernie Grundman, Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful” as sung by Fernandez creates the illusion of having the master tape at home. Jaw-dropping sound.” – HiFi+, 10/10 Recording, 10/10 Music

“What a refreshing breath of R&B air; to hear a Singaporean singer cover Curtis Mayfield & Marvin Gaye. What a wonderful change from the usual jazz singers covering the American Songbooks… The sound quality of this album is truly reference quality …a must purchase!”

The improvements of this One Step release from Groove Note are not subtle – sure the dynamics are more striking, but it’s the voice that amazes with less sibilance and smoother delivery. If there is a more impressive sounding modern recording of the human voice, I haven’t heard it.

The album throws the spotlight on the fantastic voice of Singaporean vocalist Vanessa Fernandez. The song selection includes tunes by Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Earth Wind & Fire, Bill Withers, Al Green and others. Top musicians playing on the album include the great bassist Lee Sklar (Phil Collins, Rita Coolidge, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Lyle Lovett), acoustic guitars Tim Pierce (Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Roger Waters, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton), electric piano Jim Cox (Willie Nelson, BB King, Aaron Neville, Ringo Starr, Lyle Lovett), drums Victor Indrizzo (Macy Grey, Marianne Faithfull, Meatloaf, Emmylou Harris), percussion Rafael Padillo (Julio Iglesias, Celine Dion, Pavarotti, Gloria Estefan), and harmonica Stanley Behrens (Willie Dixon, Canned Heat, Ruth Brown). This is a great group of top LA musicians backing superlative performances by a great new singer!!!