What else can I expect?

[E-Stat]

I relate this story about a "Beach Boys" cut on a "Best of" tape...

I can relate to that phenomena. I remember a similar situation with a cassette based Walkman and in particular a guitar solo piece by Michael Hedges from Aerial Boundaries. There is a faint string harmonic struck that appears in the background twice. The first time more subtle than the last. I was first aware of that listening to headphones and later I anticipated it's arrival elsewhere. Ironically, it remains relatively louder on the Walkman since the tape is compressed.

You hear "rhythms and melodies"?

Jim, I don't know how to describe this any better. On very familiar material that I've heard a bazillion times (including with a Diskman), I continue to hear more vividly underlying rhythms when I hear certain systems other than my own. With them, it is so easy to pick apart the patterns of any one instrument amidst all the other "action". Unlike the "Walkman-memory" phenomena, I am unable to reproduce what I'm referring to with my stuff.

My point is, yes, there can be things "buried" in the mix...perhaps they would be noticed in their absence...but as rhythmic and harmonic counterpoint, should they be noticed, however, as a separate entities? Which presentation is "right"?

Again, I find this to be a matter of degrees. I'm sure Gus Holst would like for everyone to hear all the nuance and counterpoint found in the Mercury movement of The Planets. between the strings, winds, and harp. Not to mention the harmonic richness of the woodwinds and the resin-y character of strings.

rw