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

Great album

Streaming CD | FLAC rip

(1973)

His first solo album and much underrated.

At least visually, a unique and certainly very interesting act, Kev.  I did enjoy them. Mad  Swedes!

180g Vinyl reissue think it's better than my original uk 1st press 

Not underrated by everybody, I'd say his first three albums are just as good a Sabbaths and Zeppelins first three albums.

The Goats - No Goats No Glory.

Not as good as their first album, but still an excellent album, although there's not a lot better than their first album, full stop.

For those who don't like hip hop there is an alternative.

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

(1975)

For you Fatcat, and very fine it is too.

On vinyl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7zwCtOkWxw

Lupu always promising a lot but never delivers the goods for me.

Rudolf Serkin/Beethoven Piano Sonata No21 & 30 1951 recording

Unlike his later work, note delivery is quite firm and strong. Shows a tremendous command of instrument via varying textures and colours and never loses composure even in a busy passages. 

Serkin’s soft passages are quite powerful even tho undecorated and simple it exposses intimate inner thoughts.

A mellow sounding  evening of music. 

Explosions In The Sky - Prince Avalanche, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

(2013)

CD

Not their typical sound, but I really like it.  Actually, kind of refreshing to see them break from the usual.  I have not seen the movie. 

Jose Gonzalez - Vestiges & Claws

(2015)

CD

Now: 

Timber Timbre - Hot Dreams

(2014)

CD

Ernst Von Dohnányi Beethoven Piano Sonata No.30 1960 recording.

This is his last recording a few days before his passing.

Even-keeled and well balanced but reasonably expressive rendition. 

No theatrics of any kind as the tunes do not call for it. Andante is not so hurried. The variations are played with a casual attitude. A bit more structured and cleanly organised. Very mature set. Surprisingly there are a few missed notes. 

Haim,

Listen to the No.30 sonata!

This is where Chopin *stole* some riffs later. 

Kuma, I will leave No. 30 for tomorrow. "Stole" is a term for lawyers. Perhaps "borrowed'' or "inspired by" would be more forgiving.. Good night.

Vienna Teng - waking hour

(2002)

CD

Haven't listened to this in a long time.  Title seemed appropriate. 

Streaming | FLAC Download

(May 2015)

Something pleasant and easy to enjoy at this time of the day.

On contrary, Stravinsky said that a mediocre composer borrows but a good composer would steal it and  make it as his own.   And perhaps that's what Chopin did when he was writing the Barcarolle. He must have heard subconsciously that cascading melody line off this Sonata.

Now young Pollini's No.30. Now he makes it more like a *proper* Beethoven piece. But the slow movement sounds a bit laboured over but the music flows nicely. This record made me understand this *odd* score a bit more. 

Glenn Gould's Beethoven Sonata No.30. 1956 recording

He zips through it under 13 min!

But in some way a lot more *human* than Pollini.

Youthful and dashing Gould adds drama and excitement. The overall presentaion is not so hard and more lyrical and natural. It has more natural tonal balance with body. 3rd movement is more conversational and epilogue like ( more like stammering ) inspite its fast tempo. A lot going on in the micro detail to keep interests. Gould nails it with a sense of humour and manic intensity. I am struggling with the lack of a defined structure but he comes alive with *Bach-ish* 3rd movement.

This is a 80s German/Holland reissue of Columbia US mono but a whole lot better sounding than original. A nice remaster job.

The Beatles. The Beatles (1968). On remastered CD from 2009. Inspired by the Beatles SHM CD topic. I find greater clarity in the mix and some hidden nuances come to fore compared to the vinyl and original CD. Still my overall impression is that the 2009 version is a bit bass-laden.