I have the "Illusionary Seas" double LP 45rpm, and it is clean and smooth and quiet, remarkably so really. Maybe the previous one had some noise, don't know as I don't have it, or maybe she was being facetious. But the larger point about new releases being variable in quality is well-taken. Cien Fuego has been very good, OTO, and I think Trost, also very good, just to mention a few. Bought a Sonore LP and another one on Trost and they were severely scuffed/scratched from the heavy stock inner sleeves. I know a lot of stores don't even do returns on new vinyl anymore because there isn't any point to being liable for manufacturing defects or mishandling in the pressing plant/at the distributor. So I was out $40+. Never bought a Cien Fuego release as I have all that stuff on FMP vinyl. Then again, I've had bad luck with CDs from Clean Feed and Not Two in particular - digital clicks, phantom skipping, all kinds of crap (in multiple CD players) - so the format doesn't really matter. Most of these labels put out too much stuff without paying attention to quality control. Never had an issue with Clean Feed CDs (knock on wood) however the only Not Two CD i have (that i can think of) has a ton of digital clicks on it (Jim Hobbs' The Story of Mankind) I've had more trouble with "clicks",etc. on No Business CDs.