Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab releases a dazzling audiophile vinyl of Donald Fagen’s 1993 futuristic solo album!
Donald Fagen – Kamakiriad – Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UD1S 2-054 [8/7/2026] UltraDisc One-Step 180-gram 45 r.p.m. numbered limited edition 2-LP Box Set *****:
(Donald Fagen – keyboards, arrangements; complete credits listed below)
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker met at college and eventually formed Steely Dan in 1970, While musically influenced by rock and r & b, the band expanded to other genres, including soul, jazz and even country. Albums like Can’t Buy A Thrill, Countdown To Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, The Royal Scam, Aja and Gaucho created a hybrid musical tapestry with sardonic commentary. The duo was noted for using a revolving cadre of studio musicians. In 1982, Fagen released his first solo album, The Nightfly to positive critical reviews. Steely Dan broke up soon afterward, but Becker and Fagen reunited a decade later on his second solo work, Kamakiriad.
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has released a numbered limited edition edition 180-gram 45 r.p.m. double vinyl of Kamakiriad, utilizing the vaunted UltraDisc One-Step technology. All of the multi-tracked luxurious music surrounds a quirky, futuristic 8-song concept album of a traveler in a custom eco-friendly steam-powered car (with satellite computer) setting out on unknown adventures. Side One kicks off with “Trans-Island Skyway” employing a tight funky groove that glides along in a soulful way. There are jazzy chords, muscular bass lines and a steady flow with Fagen offering falsetto on the chorus. Unique details like hydroponic vegetables in the back seat add to the thematic imagery. “Countermoon” is polished but has low-keyed horn accents and a jangling guitar as the “driver” encounters melancholic disappointment over a moon cycle forcing people to fall out of love. On “Springtime”, a more complex arrangement has succinctly interwoven reeds and brass with “in the pocket’ bass and drums. This jazz shuffle is countered by pensive reflections at a brain-scanning roadside attraction (Laughing Pines). Closer to vintage Steely Dan, “Snowbound” (co-written by producer Becker) is a breezy jazz statement with great B3 shading, guitar notation and polished background vocals framing a hedonistic journey through a frozen city.
A certain highlight is the all-out science fiction number, “Tomorrow’s Girls”. References to triple suns and aliens disguised as women are rendered with crisp, muscular horns, relaxed transition bridge and a hypnotic rock ’n’ soul coda with female name-checking. There is plenty of r & b swagger on the escapist “Florida Room” with blended horns, including a tenor saxophone solo. A lot of Kamakiriad has swirling hook-driven aesthetics. “On The Dunes” infuses late night saxophone, piano, synthesizer and wave-like cymbals into a warm airy resonance. The lyrics are darkly cynical, equating lost love to homicide. The swinging finale (“Teahouse On The Tracks”) begins with percussive riffs in lockstep. It ends on a positive note (“…If it feels right, just drive for the light…”) as the wanderer meets people from his past. A final chorus repeat is a nice touch.
This MFSL UltraDisc One-Step (PCM digital master-analog console-lathe) vinyl has an expansive sound mix (Krieg Wunderlich). The low end has more sonic punch (especially on the bass), and all of the instrumentation is captured with meticulous detail (percussion, guitar, vocals). Overall, the significantly layered sound is less cluttered with discernible separation and dynamic volume range. The Fidelity Record Pressing is pristine with a quiet ambiance that never interferes with the actual listening impressions. All of the packaging features are stellar, among them a sturdy slip-case box, full-sized insert with the original album cover artwork (including album notes), and slip-case album sleeves.
Highest recommendation!
—Robbie Gerson
Donald Fagen – Kamakiriad
TrackList:
Side One: Trans-Island Skyway; Countermoon
Side Two: Springtime; Snowbound
Side Three: Tomorrow’s Girls; Florida Room
Side Four: On The Dunes; Teahouse On The Tracks
Performing Artists:
Donald Fagen – keyboards, arrangements, vocals;
Walter Becker – lead guitars, bass;
Paul Griffin – Hammond B3;
Georg Wadenius – guitar;
Chris Parker – drums;
Bashiri Johnson – percussion;
Lou Marini – alto saxophone, flute, clarinet;
Ronnie Cuber, Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophones;
Cornelius Bumphus – tenor saxophone;
David Tolani – flute, tenor saxophone
Birch Johnson – trombone; Jim Pugh – trombone;
Randy Brecker, Alan Rubin – trumpet, flugelhorn;
Backing Vocals – Amy Helm; Mindy Joslyn; Catherine Russell; Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
