THE MIST

If you listen to this production through earphones, you can discern left, right, up, down, forward, and back. If you listen through speakers, you can’t discern much of anything. This is the plus and minus of binaural recording. With earphones, the technology can greatly amplify the visceral experience of suspense, adventure, and erotic narrative by placing the listener in the center of the action. Counterculture audio dramatist Tom Lopez expertly employs the technology in this recently reissued 1986 version of Stephen King’s horror story. His cast does a beautiful job, due in no small part to Lopez’s precise editing, expert mix of sound and music, and keen pacing. Lopez demands acute concentration from his listeners. If there’s a flaw, it’s that the volume of the voices sometimes is so low as to be barely discernable. This is second in quality only to Lopez’s production of Dinotopia. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 08]