What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. X)

Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2013

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Tony2011

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

Originally Posted by Tony2011:

and one of the coolest music videos ever!

Yerp, it's ok. Needs more giant robots saving Tokyo though:

... and small ones too!

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Rob T

On the Original Black inspired by Tony

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Tony2011

Sadly no more but what a great band they were!

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Bert Schurink

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Char Wallah

Pixies "Complete B Sides" on cd.

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Don Atkinson

I can't quite remember when "when i'm sixty four" was in the future !

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Don Atkinson

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

Originally Posted by Don Atkinson:

Oooooopps, don't know what went wrong

You bought a Phil Collins record.

Do you like Huey Lewis & The News?

Yes, but I don't have any of their albums

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Sorren

Saw this on the forums over and over again so decided to listen on Spotify and loved it. She's got a great voice and the simple arrangements just complement it.Anyway long story short, downloaded it from the Goldfrapp store as WAV, had to add my own tags with dbPowerAmp.

Streaming 24bit, 96kHz WAV

Goldfrapp

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Florestan

Ludwig van Beethoven: Angela Hewitt (Piano)

Sonata for Piano no 28 in A major, Op. 101

Sonata for Piano no 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 no 3

Sonata for Piano no 11 in B flat major, Op. 22

Here we have Volume 4 of Angela Hewitt's ongoing series of the Beethoven Piano Sonatas. She seems to be taking her time as Volume I first appeared in 2006 although we got the two discs of the Cello Sonatas thrown in too over this time.

Angela Hewitt, if anything, can be categorized as a fiercely independent individual who does things her own way. First thing one always notices lately is her fondness for Fazioli pianos. Second thing is that her style with Beethoven is not one of foreboding tension or the sense that one should shake their fist to the heavens in defiance.

What you get is an extremely tight and controlled view with an excellent focus on control and articulation. There is a very copious amount of contrasts and rises / falls, however, she rarely pushes the upper end. Her clarity and voicing is also superb. I guess all her experience with Bach pays dividends for her interpretations of other composers too.

I often find that in long pieces like sonatas a composer springs up with a fabulous section that comes out of no where and is maybe 30sec long and then it disappears. The Op. 22 sonata in b-flat major is a nice example for me of this. At 26'-40" over four movements, as recorded here, my dream section is in the rondo. Easier to demonstrate but from around bar 72 through bar 103 you have this transition suddenly to the dominant minor (f minor) and then to the tonic minor (b-flat minor). Remember, all of this sonata and this movement is centred around b-flat major.

What is interesting for me is the left hand bass riff. It is either staccato thirds or octaves with an upward momentum. It is just such an ingenious section. Hewitt judges this fairly well and the voicing and accuracy is quit something to hear but I think of many other interpretations where the you feel more momentum and build up to a climax each time. Even if others are rougher and not as accurate sometimes the result is more satisfying? This is an example of how different people judge Beethoven - some a little rougher / edgier to others, like Hewitt who are more polished around the edges.

Her Presto con fuoco in the E-flat major sonata is also quite impressive where she does raise the energy level to the highest on the disc, I think.

Overall, I really like this disc as it makes a nice contrast to many others. The cover art continues on with another illustration from Caio Fonseca. Seems to follow the UFO landing pad / atonal golf green theme (oops, sorry - couldn't resist). I guess we all see things differently and uniquely (I hope, at least).

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Haim Ronen

Brahms Cello Sonatas.

Doug, it is always a pleasure to read your musical insights. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Chief Chirpa

Originally Posted by Sorren:

Saw this on the forums over and over again...

Yes, so have I. You should take a listen to their debut, Felt Mountain.

I've a feeling many of the people who've posted it here over the years - who possibly like me have been sat on their hands as the Tales Of Us posts stack up - would agree with me when I say Felt Mountain is Goldfrapp's best album, by a mile.

From the above, I must have heard 'Deer Stop' at least a hundred times, and it still makes me think (in a good way) 'What the f... is going on with this song?' every time.

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by matt podniesinski

On vinyl.

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by matt podniesinski

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by bishopla

Travel Guide

Ralph Towner | Format: Audio CD

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by bishopla

Steely Dan ‎– Countdown To Ecstasy

Label: MCA Records ‎– MVCZ-10073

Format: CD, Album

Country: Japan

Released: 03 May 2000

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Rob T

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

Originally Posted by Sorren:

Saw this on the forums over and over again...

Yes, so have I. You should take a listen to their debut, Felt Mountain.

From the above, I must have heard 'Deer Stop' at least a hundred times, and it still makes me think (in a good way) 'What the f... is going on with this song?' every time.

+1 By far their best Album, Tales of us is not a bad album, far from if but not quite in the same league.

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by kuma

A great cover but this Munch/BSO set isn't quite sensual as what the cover suggests.

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Bert Schurink

The 3rd one of the 63 :-)

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by kuma

Bert,

Did you get to this one yet?

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Steve J

After talking with Julian H about this LP last night I thought I'd give it a spin. Original Half Speed Master Vertigo vinyl.

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Stevee_S

Originally Posted by Rob T:

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

Originally Posted by Sorren:

Saw this on the forums over and over again...

Yes, so have I. You should take a listen to their debut, Felt Mountain.

From the above, I must have heard 'Deer Stop' at least a hundred times, and it still makes me think (in a good way) 'What the f... is going on with this song?' every time.

+1 By far their best Album, Tales of us is not a bad album, far from if but not quite in the same league.

+1 Felt Mountain from 2000 is my favourite album of theirs too. I don't think that you will be disappointed in trying it out Sorren.

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Sorren

Originally Posted by Rob T:

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

Originally Posted by Sorren:

Saw this on the forums over and over again...

Yes, so have I. You should take a listen to their debut, Felt Mountain.

From the above, I must have heard 'Deer Stop' at least a hundred times, and it still makes me think (in a good way) 'What the f... is going on with this song?' every time.

+1 By far their best Album, Tales of us is not a bad album, far from if but not quite in the same league.

Hi Rob and Chief Chirpa

Thanks I'll have a listen. I just hadn't come into contact with them before. This forum is definitely introducing me to a lot of great new music.

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Sorren

Originally Posted by Stevee_S:

Originally Posted by Rob T:

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

Originally Posted by Sorren:

Saw this on the forums over and over again...

Yes, so have I. You should take a listen to their debut, Felt Mountain.

From the above, I must have heard 'Deer Stop' at least a hundred times, and it still makes me think (in a good way) 'What the f... is going on with this song?' every time.

+1 By far their best Album, Tales of us is not a bad album, far from if but not quite in the same league.

+1 Felt Mountain from 2000 is my favourite album of theirs too. I don't think that you will be disappointed in trying it out Sorren.

Hi Stevee_S

Yes there definitely seems to be a consensus on this one. It's next on my Spotify to listen list. Wish I could s

Spotify through the Qute. But that's another thread

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Stevee_S

Originally Posted by Sorren:

Originally Posted by Stevee_S:

Originally Posted by Rob T:

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

Originally Posted by Sorren:

Saw this on the forums over and over again...

Yes, so have I. You should take a listen to their debut, Felt Mountain.
I've a feeling many of the people who've posted it here over the years - who possibly like me have been sat on their hands as the Tales Of Us posts stack up - would agree with me when I say Felt Mountain is Goldfrapp's best album, by a mile.

From the above, I must have heard 'Deer Stop' at least a hundred times, and it still makes me think (in a good way) 'What the f... is going on with this song?' every time.

+1 By far their best Album, Tales of us is not a bad album, far from if but not quite in the same league.

+1 Felt Mountain from 2000 is my favourite album of theirs too. I don't think that you will be disappointed in trying it out Sorren.

Hi Stevee_S

Yes there definitely seems to be a consensus on this one. It's next on my Spotify to listen list. Wish I could s
Spotify through the Qute. But that's another thread

Good, I hope you will enjoy it, although not everyone gets on with it.

Yes the lack of Spotify is very frustrating I have to get it via Sonos in another system.

Posted on: 09 January 2014 by Bert Schurink

Originally Posted by kuma:

Bert,

Did you get to this one yet?

Hi Kuma,

I din't yet get to this one so far, I just put it on a minute ago. The set as a total is a real treat.