Budd, Harold: Avalon Sutra LP

Remastered from the original DAT master by Harold Budd's right hand man in the studio for 30 years, award winning Sound Engineer Bradford Ellis, this new edition of Avalon Sutra has all the dynamic range, as well as a few minor digital artifacts, of the original DAT master.

At the time of release in 2005 Avalon Sutra was reported to be California-born American minimalist composer and pianist Harold Budd’s last recorded work. Avalon Sutra (released as a 2 disc set) is a suite of short, heartbreaking ambient pieces, featuring Budd’s delicate piano improvisations, lush string arrangements and warm electronic drones. The second disc (As Long As I Can Hold My Breath) features a startling coda by LA based electronic composer Akira Rabelais, sending Budd’s arrangements into Feldmanesque eternities of sound.

Best known for his collaborations with Brian Eno, contributing his stunning piano work to key recordings such as 1980’s Ambient 2: Plateau of Mirror, Budd has produced a series of remarkable minimalist compositions and recordings, including Pavilion of Dreams, The Pearl and The Room, which have earned him worldwide respect.

On Avalon Sutra, Budd created brief, snapshot like compositions, made all the more fragile and impermanent by his glistening piano work, Avalon Sutra has a bittersweet, autumnal quality – the composer’s trademark “loveliness” deepened and perturbed by the brevity of these pieces. If “ambient” music characteristically works to sustain a mood of intimacy, warmth, meditative ecstasy, such moods, which are certainly present in Budd’s work, are never allowed to last too long on Avalon Sutra. There’s a cumulative sadness and beauty to the way that these mood pieces linger briefly, stop and transform into something new. Budd’s gorgeous, angular string arrangements amplify this feeling.

Avalon Sutra was expected to bring to a conclusion 30 years of sustained musical activity. Asked why, Budd said only that he felt that he had said what he has to say. With characteristic humility, he concluded, “I don’t mind disappearing!”

Fortunately, Budd was soon inspired to record again and has since been in the most prolific phase of his remarkable 40 year career.

When we began the job to reissue Avalon Sutra in 2013 on 2xCD, we found that while it was well mastered, the original premaster DAT tape revealed a bit more dynamic range. We also found that due to age, the original DAT premaster had digital artifacts (ticks). It was therefore decided by Harold, Harold's long-time engineer Brad Ellis, and Darla, that Brad should de-tick the original premaster recording in preparation for reissue. It was also decided that some very minor ticks be left in as they are virtually inaudible unless one did close listening with headphones. Harold approved.

Since then, a few fans have recognized the minor ticks in the 2013 Remaster and have stated a preference for the 2005 master version. Some have even said the 2013 Remaster sounds too aggressive to their ears, ie too hot and compressed, when in fact the 2005 master is compressed a bit and the 2013 Remaster has no compression. You just hear the full range of high to low in the 2013 Remaster. It's basically a transfer of the DAT premaster, de-clicked.

I understand the preference for the 2005 master. It is subjective, however, it also reinforces the importance of familiarity in how we experience music. The 2005 edition was mastered to a familiar standard. The difference between the 2005 master and the 2013 remaster is subtle. Enjoy!

- Mr. Darla (September, 2023)