Pokémon Gym

Clocking in at around twenty-five minutes per side, this double LP set went through some production hell at the pressing plant trying to make this decision come to fruition. While it is an incredible feat that they managed to squeeze so much music into this double LP set, it isn’t without its faults. There are a few moments where this record got pretty noisy for me. There was occasional crackling throughout this release, with some thumping on a couple passages, along with some groove distortion with there being so much music pressed here. Those who are sensitive to occasional crackling might be reaching for their Escape Ropes with this release; especially with how quiet the album tends to be, the issues stick out. While it isn't necessarily the worst pressing I have heard, I know I personally ran into some issues being able to fully immerse myself in the wonderful music Trevor and this awesome team of musicians arranged because of some of the issues present here. I know that it was a bold decision to try and press such lengthy discs here, but I think ultimately the pressing quality falls a little behind Materia Collective’s track record because of it. It may have been less of an issue if not non-existent if this album were pressed across three discs instead of two. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s enough Repel that could help you avoid these encounters and might be something you have to deal with if you purchase this album. Not all is bad here though... The mastering for this record was carried out by Jett Galindo, and is definitely incredible, as her work always is. The open airiness of the noise floor allows plenty of room for the music here to breathe, and accentuates Trevor’s dynamics so well in these arrangements. It is quite nice, and honestly goes a long way in helping to alleviate some of those pressing issues.

Hall of Fame

Overall, I would say while this is an incredible release and gorgeous dedication to the wonderful Pokémon music we have all grown up loving, the release falls slightly short of what it could be due to some pressing issues that may or may not be related to the length decision here. I still think that this album is incredible and is highly worth a listen, but be aware of some of the issues that may arise with your copy if you choose to snag one. I have heard that the black pressing currently available alleviates some of these issues due to it being a heavier weight pressing.