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

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Haken ~ The Mountain (2013)

A very good band with very much their own style of prog' rock, some echoes of 70s can be heard but these guys do it their own way. At times it's a heady mix of complexity, subtlety and power that all works very well. Their best album to date.

Brilliant musically and in terms of fidelity.

FLAC stream via Deezer Elite.

G

A strong album in my opinion. He has also created some more difficult albums...., this one is good accessible...

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Soen ~ Tellurian (2014)

One of my favourite prog' "finds" last year, a so called Supergroup including members from Opeth, Testament and Willowtree. A really super album and well worth a listen on Spotify or wherever...

Sounds good, feels a bit like a couple of different styles are mixed in one album

I've probably said it before but the version of Hotel California on this album is truly sublime.

A five star review in today's Guardian, and absolutely wonderful.

One of my favourite albums. Which version were you playing?

   On original vinyl, received today.

The pianist from the Voces Intimae trio, Riccardo Cecchetti, here plays a magnificent fortepiano in works by CPE Bach.

Cheers,

EJ

Emotional switch back to one of the best concerts I have been to, Coldplay Open Air in Munich, great sound, great atmosphere, great weather.......everything was so fine then....

therefore fix you....

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Within Temptation ~ The Unforgiving (2011)

The great voice of Sharon den Adel fronts this (sometimes symphonic) gothic rock / metal band. 

Hires issue of this famous recording of Lucia. There is no date mentioned in the booklet (which otherwise quite efficiently provides cast details, synopsis and full text, omitting the essay that shipped with the CD version) but I think it's the same one that was used for Decca's 2009 reissue, and which, for a change, was a significant upgrade over the overly bright and constricted original CD master. Compared to the 2009 redbook edition, this high-res edition adds definition and depth, and generally sounds better than I've ever heard it. It's not all good - old tape edits are more audible than before (I'm nitpicking, but they are audible both on Audeze cans and via the B&Ws in an otherwise quiet house), and of course, it takes more than additional bits to improve Sutherland's articulation. 

The interpretation remains unsurpassed. Bonynge was on fire, Sutherland reigns supreme (vocalising rather than singing the role of Lucia although she is better here than in her earlier recording), and the supporting cast of Pavarotti, Milnes and Ghiaurov all in their prime has never been equalled before or since. Certainly one of the top 5 best opera recordings of all time, in a release that does it justice.

Cheers,

EJ

2 x LP - Naim Label 2015 / limited edition 034/1000 : )

Pylo - Crying On Land
Neil Cowley Trio - La Porte 
Sabina - Toujours 

Kairos 4Tet - Home To Your Feet. Marc O'Reilly
Huey And The New Yorkers - Dirty Bird
Get The Blessing - OC DC
Sons Of Kemet - Going Home

Grigori - Sinas
Trichotomy - Strom
Stuart McCallum - What Is Beauty

Empirical - Simple Things 
Barb Jungr - Lay Lady Lay
Marc Ford - Call Me Faithful

~ <  > ~

French piano quartets helping ignore the heavy rainstorm outside.

Monobody - Monobody

https://nakedallyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/monobody

Heard for the first time tonight, very inventive

"Monobody are a newly formed instrumental 5-piece from the US who mix superb musicianship, imaginative composition and groove driven melodies to create a sound that features elements of jazz, pop, math and progressive rock.

from the time in which these guys played still as a more traditional trio. But nevertheless very enjoyable.

Alexandre Tharaud's recording back in 2001. 

Stronger subjective editorialisation going on than Meyer. Opening Allemande is given a slightly syncopated rhythm and subtle rubato are quite obvious. As Meyer’s the piano tone gives friendlier mellower disposition Tharaud chose specifically a modern Steinway which produce bigger projection, subtleties and dynamics over more up close and personal vintage instrument. Rounded off melody compared to harpsichord but the harmonic richness and wider palette and textures give this Baroque tune a modern outlook.

Altho at times his fingering and decorations are a bit heavy in that I feel I am missing the fluidity and transparency of Richter or Sokolov. ALso at times he sounds trying a bit hard and 'mechanism' of playing showing. You could tell he really thought about it and practiced a lot. I would have preferred more natural impromptu approach. Altho the last modern reading Double variations get sort of interesting but do not have a kind of focus and dynamic expressions I look for. Very good but he doesn't to all out and they are a tad restrained.

He would be playing some of these Rameau tunes Sunday at the Orchestra Hall. It has been over 15 years now since he recorded these pieces so I am curious to see how he plays them out.