mike donovan ( born 6 october 1971 ) is a san francisco , california based musician best known as the guitarist and singer of sic alps ( 2004-2013 ) .

he has also released music by other san francisco musicians with his dial records and folding cassettes labels .

donovan is a veteran of several other bands .

he was a member of the ropers , the church steps with chris douglas , nam , big techno werewolves , sounds of the barbary coast and yikes .

in october 2013 he released his solo debut " wot " on drag city .

in may 2015 , donovan formed the san francisco lo-fi supergroup the peacers , releasing a self-titled debut on july 17 , 2015 .

the self-titled album was co-produced and co-performed by ty segall .

the current lineup of the peacers is mike donovan , shayde sartin , mike shoun and bo moore .

the band release their 2nd record " introducing the crimsmen " on drag city on june 16 , 2017 .

mike donovan ( musician )

mike donovan discusses analog nostalgia , living in the garage , and wot , his first post - sic alps solo album .
mike donovan ' s back — and he ' s brought former sic alps pal and garage golden child ty segall with him — on peacers . donovan ' s la . . .
[ laughs ] yeah , exactly ! but he’s really talented musician , so i hope he finds the time to do that stuff again . i wish him the best .
mike donavan’s new record wot will be released october 15 on drag city . a us tour begins october 11 .
mike donovan is a musician from san francisco . his band sic alps recently called it quits after roughly a decade , though their legacy can’t help but live on . that legacy consists of five albums and almost three times as many 7” eps of sometimes - scorching , sometimes - sweet garage rock released on such labels as woodsist , siltbreeze , and drag city . indeed , the lo - fi movement that rode its own wave through alternative music shoals of 2000 and beyond was forged by the likes of donovan , along with ty segall , thee oh sees , kelley stoltz , tim presley of white fence , and the fresh & onlys .
mike donovan , figurehead of san francisco rock band sic alps , is grinning in the kitchen of his ground - floor apartment , explaining what he likes about driving a cab for a living . along with the fact that donovan usually works only a couple 12 - hour days per week - - and can go on tour when and for however long he wants - - there ' s the informality of the job .
although not quite the first white man to touch california soil , mike donovan is a pioneer . sic alps , the band wherein he was the frontman , precipitated an avalanche of like - minded weirdos from their homeland of the bay area , including its two most famous exports , ty segall and thee oh sees . any contemporary band from northern california who makes their trade in art - damaged rock ‘n ' roll owes at least partial debt to them - - and now they are no more . donovan has gone solo .
donovan : oh , yeah . the best way to make money , honestly , is to play with my more famous friends — [ laughs ] my super generous and cool friends — that’s the best way to make cash . but yeah you can definitely can make money still touring and stuff like that , but i’ve just taken a huge break — something like , i’ve played four shows in the last couple of years . but i’m looking forward to the touring , we’re gonna tour the record in october . and we’re psyched too because we started wendy farina , we play the first four shows with her . but now our drummer is mike shoun from thee oh sees , who is their drummer from like 2008 to 2013 . that’s insane , he’s an amazing musician . and we’re going to play our first show with him on friday at golden gate park .
donovan : it’s going to be more intense , yeah [ laughs ] . if you’re in san francisco you can hear us for free on friday . but yeah , it’s really fun playing with mike , for sure . and we’re going on tour in october with elisa [ ambrogio ] from magik markers . she has a solo record out , so we’re gonna do that kind of like double headliner us tour thing with elisa .
a couple weeks ago , sic alps announced that they were no longer together . it was sad news that was softened with the announcement of mike donovan ' s solo album wot ( out october 15 via drag city ) .
new fieldhand bop
opens the new album with a bit of acoustic guitar minimalism . it ' s actually more stripped down than most of sic alps - - an impressive achievement considering that album ' s sparse nature .
donovan took two years even farther out of the limelight after releasing a one - off solo album in 2013 , but he’s back to full speed ahead with peacers , a new combo that will release their self - titled debut lp on drag city next week . conceived during a 10 - month exodus to germany , the project’s ambling , monumentally chill demeanor will undoubtedly resonate with donovan’s longtime listeners ; he continues to uncoil fragmentary psych scraps with the best of them . donovan mostly recorded the peacers album alone with ty segall , but it’s a full - fledged band now with longtime collaborator eric park . after a handful of shows with wendy farina on drums , they’ll make their first appearance with former thee oh sees drummer mike shoun at golden gate park for free this friday .
donovan : yeah , that’s always the case i think . always that kind of stuff that ends up getting into the tunes — stuff about people that you know and love and stuff .
when mike donovan and matt hartman founded sic alps in 2004 , san francisco’s storied modern - day garage - psych community was still bubbling below the radar . prolific scene fixtures like ty segall and thee oh sees were just beginning to build zealous worldwide fan bases , and the minds behind the fresh & onlys , white fence , and sonny & the sunsets hadn’t yet founded those projects . a lot had changed nine years later when donovan decided to disband sic alps , having kicked out hartman two years prior . by then , the skuzzier corners of san fran’s music community had developed a reputation as one of the world’s most fertile sonic breeding grounds , a reputation sic alps never quite benefitted from . their primordial mix of lo - fi rock and folk was one of the city’s finest exports , but donovan had to settle for the admiration of influences like pavement and the fall rather than anything resembling a sustainable career .
although wot , donovan’s solo debut , doesn’t stray far from sic alps acoustic numbers like “country medicine” - - hell , there’s even a song on it titled “sic ballad” - - it still feels like the beginning of a new era for donovan , clearly walking down the dirt road of classic troubadours and reinforcing his abilities as a great songwriter instead of just as an idiosyncratic garage rocker .
dark , dreamy , and sic : s . f . ' s sic alps are back from europe and will premiere their new lineup in their hometown friday at the verdi club . co - founder matt hartman - a vet of combos like the coachwhips , total shutdown and the aislers set - left the alps earlier this year , but co - founder mike donovan and noel harmonson , right , keep on keepin ' on . as donovan put it :
happy to be taking new steps forward ,
with tim hellman and douglas armour on bass and drums respectively . after a six - week tour , donovan says the band is getting pretty seasoned :
sounds better than ever live , i may say .
with the
breadhead
four - song 7 - inch and
battery townsley
7 - inch out this fall , sic alps is also looking forward to yet another 7 - inch ep ,
vedley ,
in january and is currently recording a new album in the studio of donovan ' s big techno werewolves brethren eric bauer - due in the spring along with , whoa , another ep .
i’m going to present you with a neil hagerty quote , by which i mean a rough paraphrase of a quote . he said something along the lines that rock and roll , in terms of guitar rock bands , peaked in the ’70s , and then after that hip - hop took over , and hip - hop was the new shocking popular music form , and then other stuff came along . he said he thinks of himself in the way you might think of a classical pianist or a jazz musician , as a practitioner of this art that has already seen its heyday , but that is still valuable for performance and consumption .
but now donovan is set to release a solo album . wot sees release on october 15 via drag city . the sound field has been cleared , the overdubs and instrumentation have been paired down , and what’s left is a man , his acoustic guitar , and his songs . not too much else . donovan talks here about transitioning to solo mode , living in a garage , and why the internet makes you seem more interesting than you actually might be .
here , donovan taps into a mode that seems to channel marc bolan ' s vibratto over mississippi john hurt ' s guitar . and he thrives in singer / songwriter mode . his melodies are simple , but undeniably catchy . he ' s even socially conscious , singing about the monetization of our planet ' s resources and overreliance on technology . but he can sell those sentiments with phrasings that sound great when he repeats them a few times . it ' s a great , warm song to introduce donovan as solo artist . r . i . p . sic alps . rise , wot .
that was on purpose .
there ' s something about disorientation that ' s always been appealing to me ,
donovan explains . he ' s
not trying to fuck with people ' s minds ,
but has always felt the urge to spoil any easygoing moments with white noise and ear - shredding feedback .
speaking on the phone with hive a few days before his 42nd birthday , donovan freely discussed the dissolution of sic alps ( including the acrimonious severance of ties with long - time member matt hartman ) , whether or not he’ll continue down the traditional singer / songwriter path , and why sexual reassignment surgery shouldn’t be such a big deal to people .
mike donovan : it was just at some point i felt like , rather it have be a continuation of the solo project , that it would be so much more fun to be in a band again and have that sort of mentality . so eric park , he’s the big reason , really . eric park plays guitar on the [ solo ] record , and we really did that record together — probably should of called it donovan / park or something like that . he’s like the best thing about that record ; i love his playing on that , it’s amazing . we really worked hard on putting that solo record together in terms of like practicing on the front end . we just went in and recorded it live , two guitars . we really put our work in on that . and so coming back from germany , i wanted to work with him . but i didn’t want to be like , “yeah , you know , you’re my dude that makes my solo records with me . ” so he’s playing bass and singing backup in the live version of peacers now . he’s been singing a lot and so it’s super nice . so he’s really kind of the main reason that that went the way it was . but also you know , i wanted to get down with other people too , be in a band .
, with whom donovan ' s sic alps had also released a few lps . the label ' s famously obtuse press release style explains that the set was inspired by the
bratish invasion ,
and puts the focus on
compressions and crushes , bone - shakes and glutinous thinks ,
as well as
a wisp of the blues .
donovan : that’s an old song . the song i think is 10 or 15 years old or something like that . so i threw in some new lyrics . it was always called “superficial , ” and it predates sic alps , i think . but yeah , just changing the title kind of changed the meaning to it . yeah , for sure .
another thing that fits with that really well : recording your band ' s woozy psych - rock on analog tape machines in your own garage or your friends ' pads or old mental hospitals , getting the best result you could on the cheap , and then putting it out . and so that ' s what donovan and sic alps have done - - until now .
mike donovan : well you know , sic alps yeah we definitely could have kept that going . you know , there’s a point that seemed like it was a good time to end it , and the solo record was already kind of in the works . it wasn’t really meant to be like , “ok , the band’s breaking up and now there’s this solo career that’s burgeoning” or something . it wasn’t planned that way , but it was kinda the way it went down i guess . as soon as that record came out we did a us tour with william keihn on drums and eric park on guitar . as soon as that tour was over i went to hannover , germany for like 10 months and just totally peaced out . so that’s kind of why…so it was kind of like a big break from both of those things . while i was there basically wrote the record there and in hannover . and my friend luke lives there and he leant me his four - track , and so i just sat in room in hannover and just worked on that .
from a stage in berlin on july 12 , the final date of a european tour in support of their quietly beautiful self - titled record , donovan announced it would be sic alps ’ final show - - putting an end to a band whose 2008 full - length u . s . ez is to this day one of the high - water marks of modern garage rock .
the result is something of a revelation . the band ' s fourth proper album still shares a lot with its predecessors - - that delirious reverb , donovan ' s scratchy , distant vocals , and distorted guitars that sound more like an implosion - in - progress than any kind of desired effect . there ' s still that listless , meandering quality to sic alps ' music .
i spoke with donovan by phone earlier this week . the interview is below , but first , get into peacers’ headspace with “laze it , ” a new teaser track we’re premiering today . it’s a gently fuzzy psych - rock tune that reminds me of tumbling waves , so it only makes sense that the accompanying visuals by jim drain were filmed at miami beach . press play and read on .
the quieter songs are even more surprising . opener
glyphs
features lush contributions from members of the real vocal string quartet . somber closer
see you on the slopes
finds donovan singing alone , accompanied only by a piano . sic alps have approached this kind of intimacy in the past , but it was always tempered with chaos , by sonics that alienated the listener while luring them in .
for its new self - titled album , the band traded their trademark informality for what could almost be called polish . donovan and co . were given a real budget by their label , drag city . they went into a proper studio ( bauer mansion in s . f . ' s chinatown ) , hired a pro to mix the songs , and even got a string quartet to flesh out a few parts .
donovan : you know , maybe . yeah , that might be the case . i was definitely there like , “i’m gonna sit down and work on something . ” and anyone who’s tried to write has had difficulty writing , it’s the oldest story in the world . in a sense i walked away from it . it definitely made me realize what i wanted to do , though — what i was good at , maybe ?
donovan : yeah basically a boring story but it was like just the whole tune of heartache and confusion , and i just didn’t really want to be around or something . so i just kind of walked around hannover trying not to look bummed out and do as much work as i could , writing and stuff . so that was kind of the reason . but also just to get away from the whole san francisco trip and everything , which is kind of a bummer in itself lately .
donovan : for sure , i’d be down to make another record , and i’m gonna play some solo shows coming up too , just by myself , which is fun to do . but yeah definitely , in august we’re going to get in the studio and record some stuff . yeah , i would say full speed ahead is the order of the day for sure . but we’re a little bit older , so we’re not going to like knock ourselves out completely . we gotta last for a while , you know ? [ laughs ]
which may be partly why donovan ' s peers in the san francisco rock scene - - pals and collaborators like ty segall and thee oh sees - - seem to be growing ever more popular , while sic alps , with its eerie , unvarnished sound , doesn ' t . the band has opened for sonic youth , yo la tengo , and pavement - - and stephen malkmus reportedly once quipped that it would be the most important band of the next decade . yet sic alps has remained more of an underground secret , sharing fans with their local colleagues and touring all over the world without quite bubbling up into the larger consciousness .
this new , surprisingly accessible album , which is seeing some of the best reviews of the band ' s career , may change that . but then , donovan doesn ' t seem to be itching to make it huge . at 41 , he ' s skinny and energetic , self - possessed and seemingly upbeat . he ' s found a way to make a living and play in a functional touring band , and he ' s already plotting the next sic alps project . ( hint : expect less cleanliness . ) and anyway , getting bigger would only require more paperwork . we all know what ron swanson would say to that .
donovan : jim drain made it . we did a thing when i was in germany , luke and i , my buddy in hannover , he has a radio show there , and we made a soundtrack for one of jim’s movies for the radio show that we did . so we worked on the soundtrack for one of jim’s movies before , and so that’s kind of how it came about . but the video itself is kind of based on that movie that we worked on with him , and it’s all filmed at miami beach on memorial day weekend . also , he’s got some weird technology where he’s figured out how to spin a camera in the real world , so there’s lot’s of spinning horizons in the video . it’s like a beach and party action , horizon spinning . appropriately enough , i guess [ laughs ] .
donovan : well i mean , a lot of my friends moved . when you see somebody from a few years ago or from the music scene here they’re always like , “whoa , dude you’re still here ! ” people are surprised that you can stick it out in the economy here , which is insane . the whole zeitgeist here , it’s like everything revolves around convenience and distraction and how to make money off those things . everything is so iphone here , the virtue that people aspire to is how to get over times 10 , 000 . it’s not how to provide a service and make a living . it’s more like how can we get over times 10 , 000 , you know , like uber or you know what i mean ? that’s the virtues that are sort of like lauded here , which is total bullshit as far as i’m concerned . those kind of values , they don’t mean anything to me . i don’t respect them . but it’s really pervasive here , so sometimes you want to get out .
donovan : it’s definitely different , you know ? just based on the sheer number of musicians , creative people in the city now . i mean , it’s really stark compared to when i moved here . i moved here like 20 years ago , nobody worked and everybody was like in clown’s school or at cca or something . seriously , that’s what it was like . and now it’s like nobody does anything . well , i think the people think they’re creative , but it’s sort of all business - based creations . but just starting to play shows again , after putting this record together and now the records coming out , i’m just getting back into what’s happening here . so like kelley stoltz and like sonny and the sunsets and a lot of people are still here making stuff . so i’m just kind of happily weaning back into that stuff . but it’s definitely a smaller thing . and you lose someone like john [ dwyer ] from thee oh sees who made so much happen , and that sort of energy is infectious . so that not being here is a big deal for sure . but definitely there are people here still doing good stuff for sure .
donovan : i don’t know if there was a particular song . i mean when i went to germany too , i had an idea to write some fiction and put something together and like working on that for the first few months . and i never tried to do anything like that before . at one point the faucet turning on moment was when i decided that i was going to write a record , ’cause i was like , “oh , i wanna try to do this . ” and i did . i wrote like 50 pages or something like that of like roald dahl - inspired short stories . that’s kinda what happened . but at some point i was like , “i shouldn’t be using the time like that , ” or i could use my time better . and as soon as i switched over to four - tracking , i was like , “it’s on . ” i had my mission . so no one’s read that stuff , you know [ laughs ] . i self - published a book of poetry from that time . i came back with some poems and put that in a zine . so that kind of represents the first month . but that was like the big moment when i switched back .
donovan : well it was a lot of me and ty . we did the record in los angeles . i came back from germany and went right to la — didn’t even go home , hadn’t been to my apartment or anything yet , and like busted out with ty basically like , “here’s the tune , ” and he would be like , “got it . ” we’d do the drums and guitar at the same time time . and he’d be like , “do you wanna put bass on that ? ” and he would put bass on it , cause he just knows my style or whatever . and so he can just knocks shit out like crazy . but to answer the question , barrett [ avner ] , who was the last person in sic alps , plays guitar on one of the songs , and eric plays guitar on one of the songs . and few other people like brigid [ dawson ] from thee oh sees sings on two songs . but a lot of the main chunk of it was ty and i . in fact we had plans to do more recording in la but we got so much done that i was kind of overwhelmed by what we had and ended up just taking it back up to san francisco where we recorded the rest of the overdubs at eric bauer’s studio , bauer mansion .
is getting ready to send more psych - styled songs our way with new project peacers .
the set was co - produced and co - performed with ty segall ,
whose rhythm sections and arrangement - commendations re - cast most of the tunes on the rec with copacetic co - ness !
it ' s hinted that the set is also slathered in reverb and
wireless hiss interference .
the first tease from the set is the lo - fi psych - folk flingin '
r . j . d . ( salam ) ,
which mixes acoustic strums and chill vocals with blue cheer guitar wailing . peace be unto you , you can stream the song beneath
window . _ taboola = window . _ taboola | | [ ] ; _ taboola . push ( { mode : ' thumbnails - c ' , container : ' taboola - interstitial - gallery - thumbnails - 3 ' , placement : ' interstitial gallery thumbnails 3 ' , target _ type : ' mix ' } ) ; _ taboola . push ( { flush : true } ) ;
it might be the nature of haruki murakami ' s writings - the luscious pop anomie he generates - but i don ' t think any of his s . f . readers anticipated the mob at green apple books at 11 : 30 p . m . oct . 24 , there to grab their preordered copy of
iq84
upon its midnight release - along with a gratis can of sapporo and a free taco from the tonayense truck outside . a spunky green apple staffer raffled off signed copies of the novel - some 20 more than the promised 10 - to the happy cries of the winners and the disappointed groans of all us , er , sore non - winners . nevertheless , ex - barkeep murakami would have probably approved of the fact that there was enough sapporo for seconds .
mayhem was on the menu saturday at starry plough ' s 10th annual murder ballads bash , as laura jean ' s laura and danny allen ( high diving horses ) , above , and john shiurba ( spezza rotto ) served up ac / dc ' s
dirty deeds done dirt cheap
and loretta lynch got the twang going for freakwater ' s
gone to stay .
a
we are the 99 percent !
chant - along lent the event a political charge , as a ghoulish audience member climbed onstage to declare ,
i ' m the zombie 1 percent ,
hoisting
why don ' t you get a job ?
signage .
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stereogum : you obviously record with sic alps under so many different lineups , it seems like you could of kept that name going and then your released a solo record and it seemed like you could of kept that name going . so why did you start recording as peacers ?
stereogum : you mentioned that you spent 10 months writing it while you were in hannover . what was the reason for that trip ? or i guess it was more than a trip .
stereogum : obviously that scene there over the last few years did get a lot of attention . that didn’t make it anymore livable in terms of just like paying the rent ?
stereogum : that , or just , so many of those bands were touring so much and i would imagine that at a certain point the tours got bigger . did it have like an impact ?
stereogum : when i think about his drumming i just imagine — maybe it’s just because of the music that thee oh sees specialize in , but like i imagine something so intense . and your record is so chill . is the live show going to be more intense ?
stereogum : you were talking a little bit about some of the values in san francisco that you don’t really get down with . the last song on the record is called “super francisco . ” does that address any of those things ?
stereogum : we’re premiering the video for “laze it . ” could you describe the concept for that ?
stereogum : you mentioned that a lot of the people from the scene you used to to run in have moved away . how do you assess the current scene in san francisco . is there still a pretty vibrant music community ?
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well , sic alps essentially just came to a point last year where it was like - - how do i put it ? like , how long a band is around is part of the whole thing . i’ve never had a band before that’s been like this , that’s lasted this long . and being the de facto leader at that point , i thought we had reached a point where , given the whole history of the band , it was just time to end it .
we had just done the she’s on top ep , which was essentially a live record of the final lineup - - of what the band had become . and i was super happy with that , and super happy with that last version of the band . and i think the end is important , so it seemed like a good time to end it . so it was kind of like , even though ending it is seen as a negative thing , it was in respects to what sic alps became , and also with respect to all other versions of the band , and all the other dudes who have been in the band .
that’s a good question . i don’t feel like it was winding down , because a lot of things happened after that for us . it was actually kind of a real busy time - - there was a bunch of stuff happening , like a bunch of singles , touring the record [ 2011’s napa asylum ] , the eps released around that time . i mean , we could have kept going forever - - or as long as i can make albums , which apparently i can still do . this record could have been released as a sic alps record just as easily .
i appreciate you asking that question , it’s just a tough question . because of the matt hartman thing , you know , he was a big part of the band . and then not having him around was like - - it’s hard to separate having him not around and having him be bummed out about not being in the band and talking trash about me .
i remember reading an interview where you said the circumstances regarding his departure were mysterious . do you feel , at this point , that they were less mysterious ?
no . i don’t think i meant that . if i said that , i was just being obtuse . they weren’t really mysterious .
yeah , because there were fans on the other side of the river . i didn’t want to alienate fans of his contributions to the band .
i guess you could say he was kicked out . there were a lot of things that , you know , after a long time , i just kind of got fed - up and told him , “i don’t think i can work with you anymore . ” but then , it’s a question of what the other person does at that point . i had never said that before , but it was a long time coming , and he could have said , “you know , let’s work this out , ” but instead he kind of went into sabotage mode or something .
but it’s cool , you know ? i wish him the best ; i don’t want to say anything bad about him . which is kind of hard not to do in a way . [ laughs ]
you said this solo record of yours could have been a sic alps record - - i was thinking the same thing . but what made you want to explore the lighter side of sic alps more in - depth than you have in the past ?
i wasn’t really intentional . to start it out , i was going to keep sic alps building , and i was going to make this solo record . i guess it was sort of intentional in a way , but what i did was i wrote to my friend eric park who i had been in a band with before called yikes ! , and was like , “hey dude , let’s start a band . ” so , i had this idea of what that band would sound like , and it was like - - because all of his bands were like providence , rhode island - type bands , from that school of really far - out music - - and i was like , “i’m thinking like this band is going to sound like it’s from another planet and it’s going to be something no one’s ever heard before . ” and when we got together , it was like , “hey , let’s check out these bob dylan covers ! ” [ laughs ] and he was like , “oh yeah , i’ve been listening to a lot of merle haggard . ” and i was kind of like , “what ? ” so , it turned out to be the opposite ; it wasn’t far - out at all , it was super , like , traditional americana .
but it wasn’t so much an idea to go on the “lighter side , ” it was more of , “let’s do something really immediate and something that we could do live in the studio . ” so , all of the guitars we played together , at the same time . there were a couple overdubs , but every song is us playing together on one track . and i had never done that before , so it was really cool because it gave me a chance to really work on something again .
sic alps was a band that had become - - i was the only person living in san francisco . so , it was like we were getting together when we could , and when i made this record , there were opportunities to work six days per week for hours . and sometimes , he’d go to work and we’d get back later that day , and we worked really hard on developing songs . so , yeah , it was kind of exploring the lighter side , but more of going back to the trenches , when you really have to work for it . and that’s what was super exciting about it .
i noticed there was a song on the album called “sic ballad . ” were there any songs that you held over from the sic alps days , or is this more like what you were saying about how this could have been a sic alps record , and you just decided to put your name on it ?
well , there’s one song called “do do ya ? ” and we tried to do that one before . and there was a recording that matt and i made of the song , but it was really a song we had trouble doing , making it work . so that carried over , but everything else was new , and not brought over from sic alps . maybe the next record will have one of the songs we were doing live [ before the band broke up ] . we’re actually doing that now . so , there’s a little carryover , yeah .
i’m going to wait to record it and take more time before i start recording . i think i could have gotten all that stuff together by now , but i’m just going to wait and take some more time on the songs .
it was the same way i’ve been writing songs , really , where it just kind of springs out and then i make something of what springs out . i just kind of record something and make sense of it later , make sense of the lyrics later . but ultimately , yeah , it was the same process .
one of the things i think is cool about that song is because it’s saying , “she’s not a she anymore , ” so you think the song’s talking about a man who has become a woman , but it’s actually talking about a woman who has become a man just by using the word “anymore . ” i think it was the idea that the last verse goes , “we can never be just what you see anymore , ” so it’s about how it doesn’t really matter what’s going on on the outside of your body , it’s about what’s happening on the inside of your body .
oh , thanks ! i remember someone telling me there’s not just two sexes , that there’s like 26 or 27 different possibilities - - there’s a variety of things we could be , in terms of gender .
maybe deep down and i didn’t realize it , but i was really focused on making the record quickly . we recorded it with phil manley from trans am just around the corner in his garage , because he lives like two blocks away from me . so , it was like , “we could record this on 8 - track really fast and not make a lot of second guesses on it . ”
with all the sic alps songs , i would put something down on acoustic guitar on one track and maybe sing over it , and it would be like , “now what are we gonna do ? ” and then , it would be like , “ah , i don’t know , we’ll have to figure out . ”
exactly ! or it would get that swaying , multi - layered sandwich effect . like how going in and out of time gets woozy and stuff . that’s all gone because the only overdubs we did [ for this record ] fortified the songs . we’d do the acoustics together , and then i’d go back and get a drumstick with a big t - shirt wrapped around it and hit the bass drum turned on its side to get the “baboom , baboom” effect , and then go back and record a tambourine . and then it was done ! it was like , “well , we could do something weird and put noise and more guitars over it , ” but we didn’t . we were just trying to make it immediate .
do you feel like eventually you’re going to get back to that ? i remember when the self - titled sic alps record came out , you talked about how you still wanted to record “strange music . ” has that desire intensified now that you’ve recorded your acoustic blues album ?
yeah . even more so . the next record - - actually , we recorded a lot of the next record here at my house . barrett [ avner ] from sic alps came up in a week and we recorded five or six songs , and three or four of those songs are probably going to end up on the next record . i think it’s going to be a combination of a really raw sound and being sort of minimal . i kind of want to take the essence of an acoustic or stripped - down record , but have that old sound . we recorded it on the same machine we recorded a lot of the sic alps stuff on . hopefully , it’ll be something between a sparse approach , having some grit , and having guys who can really make a song stand up straight , like total shredders .
with the bay area’s rock scene being as fruitful as it’s been , do you ever put any thought into being a pioneer of that scene , or having a hand in why it’s been so revered ? because to people who listen to a lot of the stuff that comes out of the bay area - - like ty segall and thee oh sees - - sic alps were a very important band . do you ever think about that ?
oh , totally ! i’m really happy to have been involved with all that stuff . i’m happy with the role we actually played , whether or not we got a lot of recognition for it . i think it’s appropriate , i don’t think we’re making music that’s super destined for popularity . being around those guys , like ty and thee oh sees , it was a mutual influence . and it’s a very special thing to me . i love hearing the mutual influence we have on each other .
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yeah , there’s a captain sensible song called “wot , ” spelled the same way .
not too much . i made it with my friend eric park . i played in a band with him before called yikes . although i knew it was going to be a solo record under my name or whatever , we definitely made the record together . so it has the feeling of a project .
we recorded the guitars at the same time , two acoustic guitars playing at the same time and then overdubbed . we kind of knew what they would be . it was just going to be a bass drum and a tambourine so we just rolled it back and did ‘em real fast . different from sic alps where it was more “let’s do a guide track with the acoustic and then sing it , and we can do anything we want now . ” the idea was to do it real fast , and we did it real fast .
it was right around the corner from where i live , with phil manley , from trans am and the fucking champs . we did it in his garage on an 8 track and he had his own little home studio . i think he recorded maybe one other project there .
i read somewhere that kelly stoltz recently recorded something that was actually in a garage and people were taking about how it was a literal garage rock record . so all the garage rock people are starting to actually go back to the garage .
) it’s true . i’m standing in a garage right now . can’t escape it .
that was kind of the idea , that we would be able to play it just the two of us , but then we picked up william keihn . you might know his record covers . he did a lot of covers for thee oh sees and ty segall and stuff . he did the
too . we got him playing drums . he’s using mallets and a stripped down kit . he’s got a wood box and a set of bongos and a bass drum . we did a few shows and we said , let’s try it with a snare . and as soon as you give a drummer a snare drum , it’s a rock and roll band .
at least he doesn’t have any cymbals . that’s when you really get into trouble .
) totally . there’s one now . we just did a week with my friend chris hanson’s band , and then a week with ty segall . it was cool to get out there with those guys . now we’re about a week away from doing a us tour .
i moved here 18 years ago . i grew up in chicago and came out here on halloween , ’96 . that went by really fast—it doesn’t seem like it should be 18 years . san francisco has changed a lot . even though it was dot - com when i got here , now it’s like dot - com with legs . for real , it’s so horrible right now . (
i noticed your landline number when i tried to text you earlier and i was pretty impressed right off the bat , so i was wondering how deep it went .
i do have a cell phone that i use when i am on tour . i bought if for my ex - girlfriend basically because i was totally incommunicado . it’s the worst . i go to other places or other countries and people seem to have some control . just like a year ago it became ok to walk in the crosswalk looking down at your iphone . like , no problem . i don’t know if it’s like that in brooklyn .
oh yeah , it is . i’m not going to say i’ve never done that but i do realize sometimes when i’m doing it—i am about to get killed .
the other thing is that all music delivery now is digital . i think cassettes are cool and that there are people who are into them , but so much of the way people listen to music now is little compressed mp3 files . itunes and apple and silicon valley is a part of that .
oh , absolutely . i was talking to my friend about it . the technology is so pervasive now that people don’t want to admit , or reject any of it , like “oh , well i’m on pandora , so i can’t really say it . ” like , “no dude , you can say it . ” i feel like technology has gotten so enmeshed in everyone’s life that they are not willing to talk about it . everyone’s got their own way of dealing with it , but no one is willing to be like , “steve jobs is a demon . ” it’s ok to say that . it’s like pandora and spotify , they ruined it . for a little bit of convenience .
i think the thing the technology does—there’s a good and a bad to it—you can definitely find out about a lot of things very quickly and easily . but there’s something about when you discover something and it’s not just served to you . basically it’s hard - won information . it’s sort of like , you find your thing .
for example , blogs will have a new post everyday of some really varied cultural high point , you know what i mean ? so people are sort of shallow cultural polymaths . it’s like , “check out what i’m into , i’m into this and this and this , ” and they post all this stuff . it’s like , “well , what are you really into ? ” i sound like an old guy , i know i do , but are you really into a million things ? when all of those things are singular in their own way ? but that’s the way it is , you know ? all of it is accessible now , so it’s not like you have to be an expert or anything like that to find out about anything . and in a way that’s cool .
girls ep and it sounds really good . i like the ty segall album ,
that’s pretty awesome . that’s a really good way of looking at it . i always go back to the old stuff too , and in terms of rock and roll , something was in the air . you can’t make records that sound like that anymore , you know what i mean ? and the people who try end up failing . my friends make really good records that sound like the ’60s , ty segall and thee oh sees , and stuff like that . that stuff is amazing . but it’s different too—it’s nice to put a twist on it .
there was something in the air back then . when you think about those guys and what they were coming out of and what they were rebelling against , it’s a slingshot from world war
that kind of thing can only happen one time . or one time in a century , maybe .
reflecting on a lost , post - apocalyptic , maximalist masterpiece of a concept album .
the black figure has always been a subject of entertainment in popular culture , as well as an image to sell things . in some ways , that’s how people relate to us—because they’ve seen us on television .


intel ireland 's parent company – the giant u.s. based intel microprocessor business – is a public company trading on the nasdaq exchange .

intel decided in 1989 to build its european manufacturing operations in leixlip , county kildare , and formed intel ireland to be the holding company on september 29 , 1989 .

the manufacturing plant manufactured its first chip in 1993 .

to base its european operations in ireland , intel received over ire £ 87m in grants from ida ireland .

intel ireland also operates a research facility ( intel shannon ) in shannon , county clare which employs approximately 250 people .

since 1989 , intel has invested $ 12.5 billion , turning 360 acres of the collinstown industrial park into the most advanced industrial campus in europe .

intel ireland has approximately 4,100 employees working at its leixlip campus as of 2016 , and as it has been a major contributor to the performance of the irish economy .

construction of the fab 24 manufacturing plant in the 2000s signified its continuing commitment to developing its irish operations .

the intel ireland campus at leixlip is intel 's largest manufacturing plant outside of the united states and consisted of two semi-conductor wafer fabrication facilities : fab 10 ireland fab operations ( ifo ) , and also the fab 24 manufacturing plant which includes fab 24-2 .

ifo was a 200 mm wafer facility whilst fab 24 processes 300 mm wafers using 65 nanometer and 90 nanometer process technologies .

ifo ceased operations and fab 10 is now classed as fab 24 , along with fab 14 .

the leixlip facility now only produces 300 mm wafers using 14 nm technology .

in april 2005 , the operation announced that the one-billionth microchip had been manufactured by the leixlip-based operation .

by august 2010 , intel fab operations ( ifo ) had become the first intel plant to ship 2 billion die .

it is also notable as the only intel facility to achieve the iso 14001 safety standard for its management of the local environment intel ireland has been located in county kildare since 1989 .

the company has invested over $ 7 billion transforming the 360 – acre former stud farm into a manufacturing centre .

this site was chosen as it was ideal for the further expansion of the plant .

intel ireland

the intel ireland campus located at collinstown industrial park , leixlip , county kildare , is one of intel ' s largest manufacturing facilities .
intel ireland has been granted planning permission for its revised expansion plans at its plant in leixlip , co kildare .
another 40 staff will be cut in the company ' s office in leixlip , ireland .
corporate responsibility at intel ireland reflects our deep respect for people and for the communities around us at both a local and national level .
intel ireland employees are deeply involved in a number of activities and programs with local communities and are committed to making positive contributions to them .
intel ireland incorporates environmental performance goals throughout our operations , seeking continuous improvement in energy efficiency , emissions reductions , resource conservation , and other areas .
congratulations john boland of @ tcddublin who received the intel outstanding researcher award from @ intel ‘s cto mike mayberry . well done john from all of us @ intel _ irl urltoken
intel ireland ' s leixlip campus , located in county kildare , began operations in 1989 . since then , intel has invested over $ 12 . 5 billion in turning the 360 - acre former stud farm into the most technologically advanced industrial location in europe .
this planning permission now ensures that intel ireland can bid for the tender which if successful will create 3 , 000 construction jobs and in excess of 850 full time jobs once developed
, commented allan shine , ceo of the chamber .
learn what lakecia gunter does to help intel labs deliver cutting - edge technology .
watch the intel stock program explained in plain english , including definitions of key terms .
watch the intel stock program explained in plain english , including definitions of key . . .
rté . ie is the website of raidió teilifís éireann , ireland ' s national public service broadcaster . rté is not responsible for the content of external internet sites . images courtesy of urltoken and getty images
follow the computer chip making process using intel ' s 22 nm technology with 3 - d transistors .
our team that focuses on silicon nanoelectronics research collaborates extensively with research institutes such as the crann nanoscience research centre in trinity college dublin and the tyndall national research institute in cork . the team also collaborates with universities , other companies from across ireland and europe , and more than 50 phd students ( co - funded by intel ) .
intel communications europe , located in shannon , hosts both the shannon development center and the shannon business center .
follow the computer chip making process using intel ' s 22 nm technology with 3 - d . . .
we offer a wide range of benefits to make intel the place where employees want to do their best work .
intel currently employs about 4 , 500 people at the leixlip plant , one of the biggest manufacturing sites in the country .
grow your network of opportunities . connect with us on linkedin , facebook , twitter , our jobs @ intel blog , or weibo .
built by intel , nokia and kt , take a look at how a recent 5g pilot program deterred wild pigs from destroying valuable crops .
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polar bears are difficult to track in the white snow . intel drones equipped with thermal sensors are giving arctic researchers a solution to this problem .
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there is no
typical
intel employee . we come from all places , backgrounds , and perspectives . we share a passion for the future .
also located at the campus is the innovation open lab —ireland . the lab is home to a research team who facilitate and engage in open research and innovation opportunities in europe that can ultimately lead to value - driven technology solutions . the lab is ultimately leading to value - driven technology solutions . the lab is focused on energy and sustainability , and dependable cloud and services research . the lab is a member and network leader of intel labs europe , which has the goal of expanding the scope of intel’s european r & d activities by coordinating innovation activity and future investment against an innovation agenda focused on enabling a digital europe .
there’s more inside than your resume reveals . our hiring process and tips applet has information on steps in the hiring process and getting a job at intel .
the layoffs were probably inevitable , since during june , intel discontinued three of its iot product lines – the joule , edison and galileo compute modules and boards .
in addition to our many benefits and programs , employees get a bunch of other perks ! here ' s some cool stuff that makes intel in leixlip a great place to work .
the fabs at the leixlip campus produce 300 mm wafers on multiple process technologies , and our combined facilities constitutes one of intel ' s most technologically advanced , high - volume manufacturing plants in the world .
the iot division turned in us $ 721 million in q1 revenue this year , up 11 percent year - on - year , but overall that ' s less than 5 percent of intel ' s sales .
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the quark iot solutions group , also based at the leixlip campus , is home to the quark system on chip ( soc ) products and is involved in the design of the successful intel® galileo development board . a mixture of hardware and software engineers , the team is at the cutting edge of the emerging internet of things ( iot ) and wearable markets .
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take a look at the overall winner of our 50th anniversary cake contest . congratulations to leixlip employee ann tilson who made this incredible cake ! urltoken
we are proud to walk in the pride march in dublin today . wishing a happy
our 3d printing expert @ kmulholl visited the idea academy @ ditofficial createlab to talk about the many applications of 3d printing in design and engineering . urltoken
finishes today ! congratulations to all the students who sat their exams this year . for all female students who plan to start undergraduate stem related degrees in the autumn , why not check our
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see how the best part of something happening is right before when anything can happen .
we ' re a global corporation , and we have incredible opportunities everywhere . step inside our world and find out where we do what we do to improve how people work , live , and play .
our semiconductor wafer fabrication facility produces the latest generation silicon microprocessors that power platforms and technology advancements that are essential to the way we learn , live , and work today .
the combined capabilities in both advanced manufacturing and design are key enablers for numerous r & d initiatives .
there are a number of educational initiatives , including promoting science and math in primary schools with our women in technology scholarships .
our employees have numerous opportunities to get involved with the local community . each year , we have designated site charities that benefit from events such as our charity cycle , fun run , and cake sales . employees also have the opportunity to take some time out to help local charities in the area .
create a candidate profile featuring your best traits and skills . our candidate help desk has tools and faqs to guide your journey .
have a question ? our faqs can help with specific questions . if you need additional assistance , we ' ll help you find the answer .
whether you ' re a college graduate , experienced professional , or a military veteran looking to transition , we have positions in business and technical disciplines all over the world .
the executive search team is looking for trailblazers who want to support world - changing initiatives , thrive intellectually , and make a difference .
check our recruiting calendar to find an event near you . or , see if there’s an upcoming virtual event you’d like to attend .
here are some special recognitions and awards we ' ve been honored to receive .
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the expansion will enable the irish arm of multi - national company to bid for an estimated €4 billion new chip manufacturing plant .
the project - if it goes ahead - would result in about 850 new full time jobs for the leixlip plant . it would also generate 3 , 000 construction jobs while it was being built .
county kildare chamber today welcomed the decision by kildare county council to grant permission for the planned expansion .
an $ 18m supercomputer to simulate brains of mice in the land of swiss cheese . how apt , hpe
hardware rumours , goat - spanking search engines and plenty of azure . it ' s last week in redmond
microsoft might not support windows xp any more , but gandcrab v4 . 1 ransomware does
cops suspect detroit fuel station was hacked before 10 drivers made off with 2 . 3k ' free ' litres
git365 . git for teams . quatermass and the git pit . github simply won ' t do now microsoft has it
imagine a patent on organizing computer files being used against online shopping sites . oh , it ' s still happening
ai bots suck at marking written essays , not too shabby at old atari games , and more . . .
those three boards were once the flagships for chipzilla ' s pitch to the wearable and maker markets .
the silicon valley business journal says 100 of the layoffs will be in santa clara .
news of the california layoffs landed via the state ' s worker adjustment and retraining notice ( warn ) system , while the irish layoffs were reported by the times . the irish facility , known as the quark group , handled the galileo , while joule and edison were emitted out of santa clara .
this paper explores plaster - the seven major ai challenges - in the context of nvidia’s dl solutions .
to support existing power systems customers , and to address the needs of new customers seeking to expand their cloudhosting capabilities , ibm has announced two new families of cloud - ready power8 - based servers .
the 3 key challenges : managing overwhelming amounts of data , leveraging new complex tools / technologies , and developing the necessary skills and infrastructure .
the register - independent news and views for the tech community . part of situation publishing


meze headphones ( also referred to as meze or meze audio , srl ) is an audio company based in baia mare , romania , founded by antonio meze .

its product range consists of high-end headphones and earphones .

meze audio 's brand defining trait is that each speaker enclosure cup is hand-crafted from wood , a departure from the standard plastics and polymers commonly used , .

each model is shipped with a standard audio-jack , therefore compatible with a large variety of devices .

types of woods used for construction are ebony and beech .

industrial designer antonio meze founded meze headphones in baia mare , romania in 2009 .

its name later changed to meze audio .

foxnews introduced the brand to the us public on the fox & friends first tv show .

meze headphones are currently being sold worldwide and reviewed by numerous publications .

meze headphones

meze 99 classics walnut gold wood headphones | meze audio - design . comfort . sound . true audio .
meze 11 neo in ear headphones have excellent build quality to match their superior sound .
visit the headphones buying guide at urltoken to find the right headphones for you , and browse our wide selection of headphones today .
we love meze ' s wooden headphones for their warm sound , handcrafted vintage design , and gorgeous looks .
meze believes that time is the powerful catalyst that destroys all that is overly flashy and superfluous . by overcoming a feat of creating consistently well designed headphones , meze stays true to its philosophy of delivering beautifully classic headphones .
meze ' s 99 classics headphones are on the latter end of that spectrum , providing an unusual , gorgeous design that far outpaces most headphones on the market .
meze ' s 99 classics headphones are on the latter end of that spectrum , providing an unusual , gorgeous design that far outpaces most headphones on the market .
excellent audio performance with articulate highs and ideal bass response . the meze 99 classics are handsomely designed headphones that deliver an exciting audio experience .
meze’s 11 neo headphones are a follow - up to the romanian - based company’s highly successful 99 classics over - the - ear headphone . i’ve tried meze’s previous offerings and i’ve become a big fan . when meze reached out and offered me an advanced copy of their new 11 neo , i was certainly excited .
so after some lengthy organizing and conducting my inventory , i realized i currently own 50 headphones . its such a great sounding headphones .
copyright © 2009 - 2018 meze audio - design . comfort . sound . true audio .
there ' s not much more i can ask from a pair of headphones .
of all the headphones i tried in this price range , these are unreal .
the meze headphones are probably the most beautiful headphones we ' ve ever seen . and what makes these truly remarkable is that the book reads as well as the cover looks ! the headphones are painstakingly crafted to produce natural sound across a surprising wide soundstage for an enveloping music listening experience every single time you place them onto your ears .
meze ' s 11 neo headphones just brought audiophile sound to the entry - level in - ear - headphone market . it ' s crazy how good these $ 59 iems sound .
these headphones are pretty good . i tested these along with my old . . .
these lovely headphones arrived on time . they are extremely well made and look good .
every time when i switch to these headphones they blow you away and there . . .
the meze 11 neo come with a variety of tips including the superb , noise - isolating comply tips .
top class headphones . i consider myself as an audiophile and these killers are as good looking as they are good sounding . never been so satisfied with headphones , even with more expensive ones
high - end audio company developing premium audiophile headphones and earphones , renowned for timeless . . .
, there is no wall & you can hear the music as tho it is coming from a distance like you ' re sat in a concert hall . keep up the amazing work meze i recommend you ' re headphones
the meze 99 classics delivers perfect natural sound even to the pickiest of audio lovers . the walnut wood earcups , soft earpads , and the spring steel headband will make the 99 classics an heirloom rather than just a pair of headphones
incredible headphones . a lot has been made of their current pad iterations , and it is mostly overblown .
excellent audio performance with articulate highs and ideal bass response . they are a handsomely designed headphones .
the meze 99 classics delivers perfect natural sound even to the pickiest of audio lovers . the walnut and maple earcups , soft earpads , and the spring steel headband will make the 99 classics an heirloom rather than just a pair of headphones
these headphones are pretty good . i tested these along with my old parrot zik and oppo pm - 3 .
the meze 99 classics promises to deliver perfect natural sound even to the pickiest of audio lovers . the walnut wood earcups , soft earpads , and the spring steel headband will make the 99 classics an heirloom rather than just a pair of headphones .
the latest in the classics series , the meze 99 classics promises to deliver perfect natural sound even to the pickiest of audio lovers .
after a month with the meze 99 classics i have to say that i find very little to fault here . they sound fantastic ,
it is worth mentioning that all the wood that we use in our headphones is strictly harvested from sources with certificate of origin . that is , mature trees that have reached the end of their life cycle . this way , we are helping the environment and we ' re giving the old trees a chance to shine one more time in the shape of meze headphones .
unlike most of today’s headphone designs , meze’s designers have , with the 99 neo and the 99 classics , created a unique double headband on the headphones that feel as comfy as a winter cap . they embrace every head shape lightly , evenly and comfortably .
we also make parts easily replaceable . all of these to ensure that a feeling of trust will accompany your every interaction with a meze .
as headphones that are billed as
audiophile
quality , the price isn ' t exorbitant , either ( though they aren ' t cheap ) . the 88 classics i reviewed go for $ 270 directly from meze . they have two smaller editions , including one that folds up for portability , and that use smaller drivers but similar ear cups . you can find them all on the meze website .
meze headphones and wood have become synonymous . both the 99 classics and the 12 classics take cues from historical relationship between wood and sound . “a wooden pair doesn’t just look and feel right , but it ages right” . word . or should we say “wood” .
sound , and stylish too . can ' t beat them for the price . been a meze customer for years now and i ' ve never been disappoint
hifi headphones is a trading name of k & s technology limited , a company registered in england and wales . company number : 5631601
the meze 99 classics are some weird beasts - in a weirdly good way . it is not easy to express why or how they ' re so special .
with the 11 neo we continue our pursuit of timeless designs , aiming for an object that remains stylish after its contemporaries wear out . the meze 11 neo is both practical , go everywhere and , on closer look , subtle , complex , precise . above all , we made sure that the sound signature is a real meze .
so , when i was offered a pair of meze headphones for review , i accepted with curiosity . i ' ve had a very solid paid of grado headphones for a number of years , and have been quite happy with them . however , they are on - ear phones , which means they don ' t block out a lot of ambient sound , which doesn ' t lend to as much of a complete , all - encompassing musical experience .
everything about these headphones is high quality : the rosewood cups ( which lend a slightly more mellow sound ) , the tangle - less . . .
meze is a romanian boutique headphone brand that understands that music is not just a pastime but a way of life . meze designed their headphones so that they could transpose you into their world . the real wood design was specifically created to offer warmth ; sound that you can enjoy no matter where you are and what you ' re doing . their mission is fairly simple : to raise the bars in terms of audio quality and design . and allow yourself to experience music like never before , comfortably and with style .
that i was looking for . they come quite close to a pair of akgs that i used to own in terms of detail . no more muddy sounding headphones
buy used and save : buy a used
meze 99 classics walnut silver headphones ( silver . . .
and save 16 % off the $ 309 . 00 list price . buy with confidence as the condition of this item and its timely delivery are guaranteed under the
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shop for the best on - ear and over - ear headphones available . choose from the most useful features , including wireless for watching tv , noise - cancelling for airplane travel or built - in microphone for mobile phones . find the perfect headphones for sports , hi - fi audio experience or even models designed for children .
buying a pair of meze 12 classics was the best decision ! i can ' t leave the house without them . they ' re super comfy and great for any music genre . : d
these headphones are amazing for all types of music , the highs are clean & accurate without being too imposing ( female vocals are heavenly ) , the mids are evenly balanced , & the low end is smooth & warm oh so warm ! there are certain genres i need to control the low end a bit but i never have to reduce it by more than - 5db i like music to sound natural but i can treat myself to some extra bass when i want . also the
soundstage
the drivers in these are absolutely spot on ! for the
soundstage
to be so effective . most headphones sound like there is a wall between you & the music that is playing but with these headphones , there is no wall & you can hear the music as tho it is coming from a distance like you ' re sat in a concert hall . keep up the amazing work meze i recommend you ' re headphones to all my friends . i ' m driving these headphones with the aune x1s dac / amp unit .
these are absolutely horrible headphones . audio lacks detail , clarity and separation and everything is drowning in excessive amount of bass ( i partially attribute that to being . . .
for those who are interested , a comparison with some much more expensive oppo pm - 2 headphones ( £700 ) . both tested on an oppo ha - 1 headphone amp .
designed with the express purpose of being so good and convenient , the 99 classics will stay with you forever , becoming the only headphones you ' ll ever need .
long live vinyl :
the 99 classics are an attractive proposition , being both stylish and offering excellent sound quality .
thank you , john , for checking out our headphones .
we build high - end headphones , so we obsess about sound quality . every aspect counts . the engineering , choice of materials , the precision of craftsmanship , the reliability are all equally important .
i may have a duff pair , and these headphones have had rave reviews in the hifi press , but i found them truly appalling , with the sound a deadful , far too bass heavy , mess .
i love my meze maple 99 classics and maple 12 classic buds . i listen to a wide variety of music from 50 ' s & 60 ' s , old country , pop , rock , and thrash metal . the sound balance is fantastic across eve
after a year of ownership , i can truly say you get your money ' s worth from these headphones . the only reason i rated 4 stars is that the ear pads flattened enough to feel the . . .
meze designed the 11 neo for the audiophile on - the - go who wants superior sound without spending an arm and a leg . the 11 neo are only $ 59 . they are ultra - light , come with a beautifully - crafted round carrying case , and include the superb
the headsets are great , really , they are . but you have to know what you ' re getting into . wearing these in the summer season outside is not recommended as you will sweat your ears off listening to high quality music . best used indoor with an amp . great pair from meze .
they actually make me think of a smaller and closed version of sennheiser hd800 . yes , i liked them that much . now don ' t expect the same level of performance , but meze 99 classics surely reminds me of them in some ways and they have a less harsh treble and better bass extension .
great quality headphones . the drivers in these headphones are extremely efficient . no distortion at extremely high volumes and very efficient with an equalizer . sound : emphasis in the mid bass and crystal clear vocals . if you are looking for sub bass its there . . but its not a bass heavy headphone . however its extremely fun to listen to and i must say that if you have an amp / dac that ' s when these gems really shine ! ! i also just ordered some brainwavz pads to play a bit . what it ' s really cool about these headphones is that you can play with them to change the sound and adjust it to your taste . after all the reviews i watched i came to the conclusion that each person simply hears music differently . and that you should always try the heapdphones yourself to see if they truly have the sound you are looking for . for me it was a score for sure ! ! overall im more than happy with my classics . multumesc echipei meze pentru un produs deosebit . astept mai multe produse in aceasta categorie si in acelasi price range ! !
so after some lengthy organizing and conducting my inventory , i realized i currently own 50 headphones . funny thing is every time i reach out to listen to music , i end up with the 99 classics in my hand . it is such a great sounding headphone .
to test the headphones , i listened to two albums . the first was koyaanisqatsi , the groundbreaking minimalist soundtrack from the film of the same title , by composer phillip glass . my goal here was to see how well the mezes could portray the rolling arpeggios and choral flourishes . to my ears , they do a wonderful job . the sound that comes from these headphones is pure enough that you can be transported by the music . i could easily close my eyes and recall images from the film in my head , floating on the music .
the meze 12 classics are conceived to hide the high - end audio tech beneath a sense of style . a walnut wood and aluminium body is designed as if it coevolved ; as if nature and time kept sculpting and optimising every aspect . the presence of wood enhances that message : the slight variation needed for individuality .
meze phones are fantastic really . i got a pair of 12 classics and they are so good that yo forget where you are while listening to them . of course with a good source , flac and everything else , a phone like the lg v20 for example , or something with a dac , etc . they really are that good .
designed with the express purpose of being so good and convenient , the 99 classics will stay with you forever , becoming the only headphones you ' ll ever need . designed with just the right sound balance , the cans deliver crystal clear , un - altered sound . the audiophile in me is highly impressed !
just like fingerprints , wood grain is as unique , thus making each pair of meze headphone a one of a kind . you will love how they feel in your hands . sturdy built and precise assembly . the ear cups are made with a satin finished wood grain . put them on , sit back , and enjoy your favorite sound of plucked strings , upbeat grooves or thumping beats while still looking classy
only received today , but already got a few hours under my belt . build quality is fantastic . looks ( walnut and silver version ) are stunning . comfortable to wear . sound stage is impressive for a closed back headphone . will continue to use my beyerdynamic t51i ' s for my daily commute , but the mezes will be used for all other occasions . great job meze 5 * ' s .
i can’t think of another pair of in - ear - monitors at this price point that perform so well . but let me be clear , this isn’t just a case of “these things are good for a $ 59 iem . ” oh , no no . these are just great iems period . how meze is offering them for only $ 59 , i don’t know . for that reason , we’re awarding these our poor audiophile editor’s pick .
so , when it came up on the promoten ' s album , i expected some reaction . but i have to admit to you , marge , i got something in my eye . the combination of a spot - on cover of a beloved song with headphones that provide warm , powerful bass and clear , concise mids and highs not only sent chills down my spine , they altered my state . i welled up . i was moved .
the 11 neo are compatible with ios , android , and windows . they comes with an integrated remote and microphone . the microphone sits on the right cord . it’s handy to note this because even after some close inspection , you’ll be confused as to which earphone is left and which is right . you have to look very closely at the base of each earbud to make out which is which . it’s not prominently done and it blends in with the color of the cable . i don’t know quite why meze makes it so difficult to decipher which side is which in their cables . just note that the right earbud is the one with the inline remote and you’ll be just fine .
of an audio junkie . not an audiophile , mind you ; i don ' t believe for a second i can tell the difference between an ogg vorbis and a lossless flac . but i can tell when the bass is muddy and the highs are clipped . and i believe that when great music is delivered through great hardware , emotions can be magnified and experienced like an earthquake .
the first thing you should know is that they are visual works of art . the ear cups are handcrafted from ebony wood . they look gorgeous , and the idea is that the wood helps add a warm , natural resonance to the sound . the cups are comfortably padded , and after extended wearing , still felt light and good . the overall construction of the headgear is lightweight polycarbonite , and the system for resting it on your head is different than any i ' ve ever seen , but works really well to cushion the ( albiet already light ) weight against the crown of my head .
the second album i listened to was something new . a night of queen by the protomen . recorded in 2010 , this is a live concert where the masters of video - game rock opera instead presented an entire set list of queen covers with a loving devotion and uncanny accuracy .
i ' ll pause here , and admit i must be becoming an old softy in my middle age . one of my favorite songs in the world is one vision , off queen ' s often overlooked ( though not by geeks ) soundtrack for the film highlander . the song has one of the awesomest opening licks on all of rock . the song will physically send chills down my spine every time i listen to it .
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. . . or let them influence the audio quality or design of our products . we develop our own aesthetic language thus creating timeless design .
style must always be a by - product of high functionality and ergonomics . as classics have to outlive seasonal fashions , we design with long product life in mind .
the sound signature is tuned for long listening sessions same as the ergonomics : clarity without harshness , freshness without fatigue .
we know a headphone is ready when it makes you forget about the outside world and takes you for a dive into the universe of your own feelings .
a fresh take on the design of the 99 series , the neo has a slightly different signature and the same audio quality . the 99 neo features coal black textured earcups and cast zinc alloy hardware – creating a subtle yet cutting edge look for the contemporary audiophile .
find out more about what we ' re doing , where we ' re going and more .
the choice of wood is an inherently difficult one . the rich colors of walnut require the use of air drying , a long and expensive procedure . the process of shaping just a single pair of earcups takes up to 8 hours . the whole process of sanding , lacquering , and finishing lasts 45 days . the wooden components are carefully inspected and no flaws are permitted to reach the final assembly .
we aimed for perfection in every component we designed . cnc carved wood ear cups , cast zinc alloy hardware with electroplated coating , stamped manganese spring steel headband , memory foam and soft pu leather are the materials your hands and eyes will get to enjoy . no plastic here for you to see .
• case : hard eva carrying pouch • cable : 1 . 2m thread kevlar ofc with mic and remote • cable : 3m thread ofc • adapter : 6 . 3mm gold - plated jack • airplane jack adapter • cable pouch • weight : 260g
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black walnut high - quality model that spun out by the co - star of the housing and bio dina diaphragm which adopted a solid machined out material , a glossy and natural sound . , the headphone cable , adopting the pure copper premium cable exhibit excellent conductivity by special processing representation to clear the entire band .
comfort : i have a fairly large head and it fits well . it is soft on the ears .
music i tried : 1960 stravinsky columbia recording of
le sacre du printemps
/ beach boys . . .
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these are a great surprise to me , they are packaged beautifully with great cables ( quality and choice of lengths ) , they look incredible and sound amazing even straight out of the box and hopefully they will get even better ( only used for about 20 hours so far ) . they are so comfortable to wear as well and fit my head perfectly with very soft pads and are super light . if i had to describe the sound i ' d say they were very well balanced and have a lot of detail in the highs and just the right amount of bass for me ( they are not bass heavy but its definitely there ) . they are also incredibly easy to drive , i ' m using a headphone amp because i have one but you don ' t need one for these . . . . . for a relatively unknown brand its a great achievement and i ' d say you ' d find it hard to find a better pair for the price ! there are plenty of reviews on youtube if you ' d like a more in depth review . very happy !
sounds very dull with a rolled off treble . this is with a fiio x7ii and questyle qp1r daps .
i bought these to replace the sonically fine but constructionally flaccid focal spirit professionals .
i just happened to get one with quite large woodgrains which did not look as good as the fine woodgrains seen in the picture .
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. the comply replacement tips are made of memory foam and are among the most comfortable noise - blocking tips we’ve ever used . i’m not aware of any other iem at this price - point that offers a pair of comply tips at the point of purchase .
the shape of the 11 neo’s barrels is very smartly designed . it’s inverse - curved barrel makes it feel natural to hold as you place the earbud in your ear . the similarly recessed butt of the barrel makes pushing the earbud into your ear easy and natural . you’re not fighting with the design to get a grip or a good fit .
the 3 . 5mm tip is long and thin . you’ll need to be careful so that you don’t snap it if you’re in the habit of putting your digital audio player in your back pocket . on the flip side , the tip fits through thick cases—such as mobile batter booster packs—with ease .
i performed all my critical listening on an astell & kern a70 hi - res audio player and tested mobile functionality on an iphone 6s . i’ll cut to the chase : these guys perform way beyond their $ 59 price - point . right from the start , the neo 11 stroke you with their smooth and natural the overall sound . in fact , i consistently noted how balanced these sounded . the top end sounded a bit rolled off , yet airy . the midrange was clean but exhibited perhaps only the tightest hint of warmth and occasional thickness , but was very well done . if i had to render any observation about the sound it would be that the dynamics were a tiny bit reserved from what i’ve heard with more expensive iems . but let me be clear , when i say tiny bit , it’s a tiny bit .
pointing out some specific tracks and artists , sax on the dsd version of john coltrane’s “blue train” danced with a silky texture . the 11 neo rendered pink floyd’s “breathe” from the dsd version of
with a light , airy , open presentation . as much as you can get with an iem , vocals and instruments were firmly placed in space and time . this came across beautifully on “time” with the clocks striking with precision in their appointed place in space and… time . the 11 neo didn’t just render the sounds , it recreated the space , giving notes a place to decay naturally .
using the silicone tips , the bottom end was taut , but some may find that it doesn’t have enough punch for their particular taste .
if you feel that way , just use the comply replacement tips . you’ll notice an immediate elevation in the bass response . remember that with in - ear - monitors , bass response is directly related to the quality of the seal you can get with the ear tips . there’s nothing better than the comply tips . they seal great , feel comfortable , and seal out a ridiculous amount of ambient noise . ( a word to the wise : when you put on the comply tips , make sure you don’t pull down on the memory foam but push on the plastic inner tube or you’ll risk ripping the comply tip off its inner casing ) .
using the comply tips comes at a slight penalty , however . even though you get a better seal and lower noise floor , the comply tips add a slight bit of congestion to the upper bass and lower midrange . it ends up bleeding into some vocals . for example , with adele’s “i miss you” there was just a tiny hint of that , taking away the ultimate purity and soundstage separation of her voice . the same was true on the 24 - bit hi - res version of the beatles “here comes the sun” where bass and percussions were more forward and vocals were more relaxed into the soundstage . if you want more noise isolation or deeper bass , i think it’s a tradeoff most will gladly take .
there is definately a great deal to learn about this topic . i like all of the points you’ve made .
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op . total sonic balance . it ' s like listening to new songs again as i can pick out and hear subtleties
that i did not before in my song library . they are also great for listening to my instructio
nal dvd ' s and audio books for clarity . very pleased with these for sound quality . furthermor
e , the thing that draws me to them the most is the hand made wooden shells , and nuts & bolts assembly . there is something special about something that is hand - made and beautiful wood grains .
m oh so warm ! there are certain genres i need to control the low end a bit but i never have to reduce it by more than - 5db i like music to sound natural but i can treat myself to some extra bass when i want . also the
soundstag
g . it can playback poor files with such a feedback . endless potential .
and it ' s a minor one . . . due to not having a g
ke i said this is a minor issues . overall i am very happy with them .
g these , consider no more just get them . at this price point with the sound you can’t go wrong .
very great quality sound . i recently purchased the 99 classics in walnut gold and its worth the price .
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