What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.IX)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2013
With 2013 upon us, it's time to start a fresh thread. I've gone back to an earlier thread title because often the "why" is the most interesting part of the post.
Anyway, links:
Volume VIII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/12970396056050819
Volume VII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...6878604287751/page/1
Volume VI: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878604097229
Volume V: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605140495
Volume IV: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605795042
Volume III: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607309474
Volume II: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606245043
Volume I: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607464290
Original 1973 vinyl. Best female voice ever? Maybe - certainly the most heartbreaking:
On CD:-
Ben Harper - Burn To Shine
Mullova, taped live in 1992 in Suntory Hall. I've actually enjoyed this more than I remember. Mullova is in full-on romantic mode and demands attention. In those days, her sound was quite characteristic ("blue steel!") - I guess you love it or you don't (I do). In the heat of the moment, she isn't always ideally steady but it hardly matters given the energy and commitment on display. I am less enthusiastic about Abbado and the Berliners, who show poor timing every time Brahms amasses his forces and generally respond to Mullova with the grace of an overweight ballet dancer.
The sound quality is pretty good for a live recording, with a quiet audience until they erupt in applause before the last notes have died down. All in all, a fascinating curiosa. I wouldn't recommend this as a first or only performance but it is a pleasure to revisit ocassionally.
Cheers,
EJ
Her best album in my view
The Cairo Gang "The Corner Man"
I've just played this through and it just amazes me. I don't have a classical background, but of all the Organ music I've heard this recording, material and interpretation is moving and connects with all the things that I subconsciosly appreciate and crave but intellectually don't understand at all - excellent! 
The recording flows with ease and has oodles of natural acoustics - no horrible close-miked horrors I've heard. Not too expensive either!
DB.
196/24 on gold plated USB stick, simply astounding.
Elgar's cello concerto put me in a melancholy mood.
and one thing led to another
Time for dessert...
To give the system a workout. Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go) is a song that just can't be listened to impassively.
Alanis Morissette "Feast On Scraps"
8 unreleased songs from "Under Rug Swept" sessions
Originally Posted by fatcat: Elgar's cello concerto put me in a melancholy mood.
fatcat,
Is that a good pressing?
Because... well, it's DSOTM. who needs an excuse?
Because... well, it's DSOTM. who needs an excuse?
...and there's that elusive kick-drum in On the Run to track down 
On Vinyl.
The Psychodelic Prog Rock comes back...
The Star ist the Album, not a Song.
I shall compensate with a Bob Dylan track, covered by a chap called Jimi...
There are LOTs of Kim Wilde re-issues, but this one is superb in capturing her early vibrant music - full of life! I have many versions of the albums - unfortunately they all sound different - but this one betters the original songs from the original 'Select' CD I have.
Not 'remastered' but decently rendered onto CD - some of the early songs are a bit raw, and that is here too, unadulterated. No compression - powerful full tuneful bass and excellent synth sound complement Kims vibrant 'force of nature' singing on this album. Probably for Kim fans only...but perhaps not.
The copy I have - the 'Gold Collection' seems a bit expensive now, but there is another version of the Gold Collection with different cover and identical track listing a lot less expensive - but can't vouch for quality.
DB.
On USB, first 'spin'
Cheers,
EJ