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

..and as the former album is short, I had to select another one from Coldplay, a decent while not great recording...

I saw a review of this yesterday which was not so favorable...the reviewer was referring to the much more energetic playing of Horowitz on these pieces. While I understand where the reviewer is coming from, and while I love Horowitz's playing, I also appreciate the more controlled playing on this album a lot....especially at breakfast...

Candidate disc of the year for me!

EJ

On CD:-

On CD:-

Steven Wilson - Hand Cannot Erase

On CD:-

Death Cab For Cutie "Kintsugi"

first release without guitarist/keyboardist/producer Chris Walla

"Glass Piano" includes Glass evergreens as Mad Rush and Metamorphosis, the type of easy-on-the-ear repetitive melodic minimalist fare which became his trade mark. The music actually gains a bit of charm when played on piano, on this evidence, but there just isn't much of it to go around. Production and performance wise, this is OK but nothing special, wholly in line with the contents.

Having said that, it's a fun listen when you're in the mood.

EJ

Do post your views when you've seen her, Bert. I'd be interested.

Mike 

When I fancy a bit of Supertramp I usually go for COTC, Breakfast in America or Even In The Quietest Moments, and in that order.  So tonight I thought I'd give this run out.  I should do so more often as it's a good album.  

Have a look at my separate post.

And I thought another Supertramp album should follow...

So I had a more intensive listen to the new Melody Gardot. It's very difficult to compare this album with her earlier material as it's completely different. For people who loved Me and my only thrill it might be a big step. Vocally still very mature - even in some ways better, with less audiophile tricks as she had in the My one and ...especially in a song like Baby I am a fool...

So while vocally very mature, the sound signature is very different. The base is now more soul, funk, pop type with a dark type of undertone. More varied also - less in one style as before, while it doesn't sound like a mess.

Conclusion so far less catchy on first run but a high quality album which will be appreciated after a couple of runs more. I personally will stI'll have the My one and only thrill as her favorite, but that shouldn't keep you away from trying and buying the album, especially when you are more into the soul type of feel.

Thanks, Bert. I'll probably give this album a listen. She's almost sure to sing some stuff from it when I see her concert in Nov so it would be good to become familiar with it.

Mike

Dragondeer "Don't That Feel Good"

ep

Yes you are right - it's more difficult to appreciate a concert when the music is totally new. I might want to post a couple of reviews of the North Sea Jazz Festival which i will visit in July, this will most probably one of the concerts I can write about.

Dragonwyck "Dragonwyck"

Have had a short dip into this after hearing it earlier this weak via Qobuz streaming. This is for me like able modern classical music which doesn't require an intellectual approach to appreciate the music. I will give it some more considerations in the coming days. This is by the way where Qobuz sublime is great less than 10 euros for an album on 24/192

This is a recent acquisition, and it's very, very good, and worthy of the excellent reviews. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMdVepyGfn0

I never thought I would like Szell doing Tchaikovsky but this was a buck record, so what do I got to lose?

From the first moment on, there's something really captivating about the way the music is played. Suave and grown up yet reminds me of an exquisitely carved out granite statue. Szell gives a nice lyrical winds accents right next to solid heavy beats of march. Enhanced micro dynamics due to clearly laid out individual instrument. Szell gives enough variations between the movements, the story is more interesting to listen to. Lovely dialog between the instruments in Andante. Much more nimble and highly textured. One of the longest Andante, but I much prefer his rendition over others. Szell usually has this insects like cold blooded textures kind of creeps me out sometimes but not here. it's full of emotions and sincerity. ( he's faking it pretty good ! )

This Odyssey reissue, as usual, is poor sounding. I need to get the original Epic pressing.

Aaron Neville's debut record. Released in 1967. This is a poor reissue of it.

Curious to see what he sounded like when he was in his 20s.

Strictly for the die hards.

This is a much better compilation from the 90s. I reckon they've been all digitised but it's a nice clean up job and probably they put on high res. files.