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

Yep, there's definitely something in the air...

No chance Tony. Was listening to vinyl yesterday and this morning before the family arrived for lunch. After lunch I was a bit pooped and the streaming option was most welcome. 

Go! is the tenth studio album by jazz musician Dexter Gordon

Another great reissue from "Music Matters"

Hee, hee! Didn't think so. Have a good week and easy on the red stuff!

Tony

Ozric Tentacles  - Oakum -  c.d. 

bit of a curiosity disc, but this version of the track itself has great guitars, rhythm and synths, and is so much like a cool, fresh breeze, its bringing me out in goosebumps.

Orb - POMME FRITZ  -  on Island Label c.d. from 1994.

very mellow sounding with some truly astonishing noises going on within the mix, kind of like polymorphous perverse cartoons, from out of the id. I always laugh listening to this, so it must be quite therapeutic.

Arrau passed away before he could complete his second Beethoven cycle for Philips, and the individual discs didn't stay in the catalogue for long. This situation is not reflective of their quality: these are careful, pondered readings, typical of Arrau's late studio work - and with the deepest, fullest and most glorious piano sound imaginable. That sound alone justified hunting down these discs.

EJ

EJS,

Coincidentally my initials are also EJS.

I was trying to buy this collection but could't find a site that delivers to my country.

Good to see your post.

Today I would look for a service in the US and Europe to send things I buy offshore to the country where I live.

I hope I can have this collection and share with you impressions.

Regards. Erich

Kenny Drew's Undercurrent again.

Undercurrent is an album by American pianist Kenny Drew recorded in 1960 and released on the Blue Note label

Me too! Received four more Music Matters reissues in the post yesterday.

A long time ago, I purchased their 45 which was excellent I thought but I could not deal with flipping record every tune.

Joe harley was correct in saying that these new 33 rpms are even better than their 45s. And next year they are planing to bring out 20+ more titles in 33. Apparently they have invested serious $$ in front end cutting equipment as well as rewriring with the top of the line Audio Quest cables. No wonder the noise floor is scary low and dynamic shading much improved. 

It is a weird thing to hear a 33 rpm recording giving an impression of slower running speed than 45! :0 

(The 33 is more timing coherent due to increased micro dynamics)

You bet I will be keen to pick up more of my favourite titles as I know good reissues like these are hard to come by.

OOps!
Correction:
It is a weird thing to hear a 45 rpm

recording giving an impression of slower running speed than 33! :0

Kuma,

Interesting thoughts on merits of 45 versus 33 rpm. I have very limited experience comparing the two, but found noticably reduced pitch variation in keyboards at 45 vs 33 rpm. This would be comparing 7" 45s  to 12" LPs. Still, like you said, I'll compromise some pitch variation on a LP as opposed to constant swapping of 45s.

Joe,

I have not noticed any pitch variation or instability on either of Music Matter 33/45 pressings. 

The Undercurrent 45s, however, appears to be sounding a bit laid back over all giving an illusion of sounding slower. 

Piano however, still sounds muted and not as brilliant as horns or drums ( I was told that that's how Van Gelder mic'd the piano. Consequently all the Van Gelder recording piano is set back and veiled. Now THIS explains poor piano in Lush Life both on DCC CD and Analogue Production's recent reissue LP! ) but it's a bit clearer on the 33 rpm.

You'd think that the 3rd tune on the Side B 'Ballade' (Drew's piano intro is just gorgeous! ) on the Undercurrent would have been compromised compared to a spacious one tune per side arrangement of the 45 but in this particular comparison, the 33's groove squeezed tune can still retain a better clarity and dynamics due to other improvements made in the mastering signal chain. 

All things equal, ultimately 45s would sound better but who wants to get up every damn tune! ( I very much doubt Music Matters will yet again reissue this in *improved 45s*. :/

I wish they would redo Bill Evans' 'New Jazz Conception'.

You'll find no argument with me on that statement. Great Live band too.

My favourite is Court and Spark.

The demos from this album and the trax that weren't put on it should be released one day as they would make a fairly good album.

...and even The Beatles had some good songs.

...and even Elvis Presley had some success.

And so on...

I don't split Blue, Court and Spark, The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Hejira. All brilliant.

My first exposure to JM was Hissing of Summer Lawns on TOGWT back in 1975 when it was just released.

tbh Court & Spark, Blue, and Ladies of the Canyon are, IMHO, the best.

Thing about Joni is it's what I would call 'listening' music not background music and I don't often get a chance to sit down and listen to music. I always seem to be doing something else at the same time :-(

David Gilmour's self titled first solo album from 1978, recorded between Animals and The Wall.

Ooops!

After the happy "discovery" of Appliance yesterday on Spotify. Now listening to their album Six Modular Pieces, It's sounding very promising.

"The Exeter-based electronic trio release the follow-up to 1999's critically acclaimed debut Manual. This time around, there is greater use of samplers, squeaks and beeps, as they create ambient fairytale soundscapes anchored by revolving drone guitar and shimmering melody. The stand-out track is the intriguingly-titled "Derailleur, King Of The Mountain", a mini-symphony complete with dripping cave water. Less arresting are James Brooks' passionless vocals. Determinedly deadpan, they render a dreamy track like "Kinski In Helsinki" ordinary. Appliance are strongest when they keep to the reverberating loops and gleaming melodies, as in "Ex4", the ethereal opener, and "Slow Roller", which sounds like Joy Division meets Moby. --Lucy O'Brien"

James Taylor

"Covers"    (2008)