A powerful and moving album tells the story of a romance between a human and alien, weaving synthesizers, acoustic instruments and vocals into a lush soundscape in extraordinary Pure DSD sound
Boulder, Colorado, June 21, 2023 – Octave Records artist Thom LaFond’s latest album, Lawless, tells a remarkable tale: a wildly imaginative story about a romance between a human and an alien. The album blends synthesizers, acoustic instruments and vocals into an aural landscape that is unlike anything LaFond – or anyone – has ever done, and has a pop/rock feel that finds LaFond venturing from his deep singer/songwriter roots into expanded musical and lyrical territory. The Pure DSD recording showcases the eclectic instrumentation and arrangements on Lawless in spectacular audio quality.
As LaFond describes it: “While walking through the forest at night, the human encounters a magnificent shimmering creature. The human’s immediate infatuation intrigues the visitor, and the two make a pact to love and protect each other. The toils and tribulations of an unconventional love begin to haunt the characters, as the world casts shadows on them. In a swift decision, the alien abducts the human, promising eternal life in space.”
The story takes a number of unexpected paths from there…
Lawless features Thom LaFond on vocals, synthesizers, keyboards, guitars and other instruments, with major collaboration from Chris Duffy on synths, keyboards, drum machine and percussion. Additional musicians, many of whom have recorded for Octave Records, include Katie Mintle (vocals), Emily Lutz (vocals), Forrest Kelly (drums), Michelle Pietrafitta (drums, percussion), Enion Pelter-Tiller (fadolin, an instrument like a six-string violin), Tom Amend (organ), Jay Elliott (drum synth), and Jonathan Galle (tambourine).
The album was produced by LaFond and Duffy, recorded by Jay Elliott at Octave Studios, and mastered by Gus Skinas using Octave Records’ cutting-edge Pure DSD 256 technology on the Pyramix recording system. The album conveys the songs with stunning audiophile fidelity, from the deep bass on “I Will Love You” to the expansive synthesizer layers of “Fifty-Three Portals to the Soul” and LaFond’s warm, intimate vocals throughout. The album offers interesting musical and sonic juxtapositions, such as Pelter-Tiller’s fadolin shining through the synth-heavy mix on “So Criminal,” and the unexpectedly sweet vocal harmonies and upbeat melody of the closing song, “I Thought You Died.”
Lawless features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the disc is playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. It also has a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. (SRP: $19 – $39, depending on format.)
“Lawless is a totally different musical project for Thom LaFond and Octave Records,” noted executive producer Jessica Carson. “It’s both grand and intimate in scope, and each time you listen, more sonic and emotional depth is revealed.”
If you’re a member of the media and would like Lawless for review, please contact Frank Doris at [email protected] or 631-645-5668.
About PS Audio
Founded in 1973, PS Audio has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in manufacturing innovative, high-value, leading-edge audio products. Located in Boulder, Colorado at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, PS Audio’s staff of talented designers, engineers, production and support people build each product to deliver extraordinary performance and musical satisfaction. The company’s wide range of award-winning products include the all-in-one Sprout100 integrated amplifier, audio components, power regenerators and power conditioners.
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