Earthless - Rhythms From a Cosmic Sky

On vinyl. Two 20 minute psychedelic rock jams. 

Having a vinyl evening

Today's nightcap ....

Cheers,

EJ

Love this album Graham, ever since Colin at WYSAH played it to dem the XX2!

Good to see you are still enjoying your vinyl.

had this morning some special moments with this one:

Both from this evening.....

Both on Vinyl

Originally Posted by Haim Ronen:

Kuma, Jeremy Denk (who just won the MacArthur Ginius Foundation award of $625,000) is going to performs the variation in Symphony Hall on October 13. Are you going?

Haim,

Looks like I am going to miss that one ( like I missed Perahia last year! ) cuz I'm gonna be in Denver on that weekend. Are you going to Schiff's Paritas?

I might go to Tetzlaff/Vogt's in November.

btw, Mark Andre-Hamelin is playing Medner program but only at Carnegie. I was tempted to go but all good seats are gone, so screw it.

Now you ARE going to Uchida's Schumann next year right?

Kuma,

I am still undecided about Andras Schiff but I am definitely will see Uchida next year.

Is the Denver trip has to do with a Hi Fi show or is it going to be strictly mountain hiking?

Have a good time,

Haim

Sonatas for Piano and Violin
Sonata in F major, K. 377 [19:39] Sonata in C major, K. 303 [9:50] Sonata in E minor, K. 304 [15:50] Sonata in A major, K. 526 [24:40]

Mitsuko Uchida, piano
Mark Steinberg, violin
Recorded Snape Maltings Concert Hall, June-July 200

On vinyl. This turned out very well.

Have to wait until January for the release in the US.  How do you like it? 

Pat

Think it will be an 80's theme night; New Order and Yaz up next. 

joerand,

Yes I have always been a fan of Badfinger and yes I am a huge fan of breaking bad. After the final episode I could not wait to play this. "Baby Blue" has been looping in my head since last Sunday evening.

Larry

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Evgeny Mravinsky (Conductor), Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: vinyl

Robert Schumann:  Mitsuko Uchida (Piano) 

Waldszenen, Op. 82

Gesänge der Frühe, Op. 133

After the first listen, I have a long way to go before I digest this new Mitsuko Uchida recording.  First perception outright regards the recorded sound which sounds congested to me.  Admittedly though, I never know if it is my system or the recording as I think my system often varies between stellar, raise the hair on the back of the neck type to the more typical underwhelming, choked, strained troubles and characteristics.

I think Uchida is a remarkable pianist, however, some of this disc leaves me a little cold or at least wanting more.  Schumann calls for a multi-personality approach, I think and yet it seems Uchida wants to approach him here mostly from a considered, reflective approach.  Where this approach aligns with the character of the piece it works splendidly.  

Of course, I've always been fascinated with Schumann's created fictional characters Florestan and Eusebius.  It is no surprise that my own Florestan comes out in public and my own Eusebius stays home, content to avoid the noise outside.  Florestan is more the extrovert, the passionate, the harder, masculine character; on the other hand, Eusebius is the introvert, the dreamer, the softer, more feminine character.  Not right or wrong, I personally just like more contrast between the two in Schumann's music where called for.

I think Gesänge der Frühe does work rather well (although I don't profess if I really understand this piece yet?)  The Piano Sonata in G minor works very well too with one reservation - the Scherzo.  Marked Sehr rasch und markiert even an english speaker can guess at what these words are portraying.  I found Uchida too careful here and simply not playful enough.

Again, the Waldszenen works in the more profound, dreamier chapters.  For instance, Vogel als Prophet (Langsam, sehr zart) is just played perfectly - slow and very tenderly, however, Jaglied (Rasch, kräftig) is lacking in imagination / passion, for me.  This is a hunting song.  In my opinion, it could use some fantasy or maybe a looser rein on the literalism.  Overall,  this shouldn't be seen as a criticism but simply a statement of opinion in how I see it.  Overall, a great and interesting viewpoint as presented by Mitsuko Uchida.

Joy Division -

Personally I don't like as it is sounds like she is trying to be a cross between Kathleen Edwards, Lucy Kaplansky and Nanci Griffths and hasn't gotten the right material or the voice to carry it off. 

Nowhere near as good as her earlier albums.