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

"When rock stars do too much cocaine, they tend to do ridiculous things, like drive cars into motel swimming pools, or hire hit men to snuff out their bassist, or make Be Here Now. David Bowie, on the other hand, produced Station to Station, an album he allegedly doesn't remember making, but which, ironically, stands as his most immaculately constructed album, and the most important tactical transition in a career built upon aesthetic reinvention."

A great album, but his Thin White Duke persona of the time was the ridiculous cocaine effect which he couldn't escape.

Passionate plahing....

looks like he's on a promise….

On CD:-

Great modern classical music from Bandcamp

Streaming | Bandcamp FLAC Download

(2015)

Part 3 of his [17 minute] EP trilogy. This guy deserves to go on and become a star. Great sounding guitar led instrumental progressive rock music that manages to fuse some djent, jazz and metal into the mix.

Streaming | Bandcamp FLAC Download

(2013)

Rush, Caress of Steel, mixed, naive and wonderful!  24 bbit flac via Audirvana/Hugo

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

(2010)

I have been enjoying this for about 18 months, it's almost permanently in both Naim and Sonos playlists at home and very often spinning in the car. It's such a shame that they never went on to make more of these hard hitting rock albums led by powerful female vocals.

"Personally, I loved the music of Evanescence...great songs, heavy guitars, crunching bass and a vocal that would soar to the very heavens and boy, was it a disappointment when the whole venture unravelled and Amy Lee split to go solo. What was more astounding was that the remaining members of the band managed to find another vocalist of the qualities of Amy, but also that they were astute enough not to continue to ride the Evanescence bandwagon - hence, the new band name; We Are The Fallen.

That said, this IS Evanescence in all but name, as 'Tear The World Down' ably continues where 'The Open Door' left off....great songs, heavy guitars, crunching bass and the vocals of Carly Smithson that can soar to the very heavens" - An Amazonian

A Century of Russian Colours:  Rachmaninov, Kabalevsky, Auerbach

Camille Thomas (cello), Beatrice Berrut (piano) 

For myself, this album is a treat.  So many highlights for me, both familiar and unfamiliar.  First off, the sound is wonderfully realistic - not perfect but very close.  A little forward and present but then this is similar to being in the same room or sitting at the piano or playing cello.  

At a later date I would love to go in to more detail track by track.  Overall, a brilliant concept by these two musicians to frame Rachmaninoff, Kabalevsky, and Auerbach over one century.  More on that later.

Just due to lack of time I'll only comment on the Auerbach as there is one particular track that I'd like to highlight.  I always think about music (when I'm not around the stereo or at the piano too).  A while back I had posted my thoughts on an album called Spheres by Daniel Hope.  I recall being so heavily affected by the two Auerbach tracks (from the 24 Preludes for Violin and Piano, Op. 46).  Now here we have seven tracks from 24 Preludes for Cello and Piano, Op. 47. 

For me there is something very magical about the 12th prelude (Adagio) which is so very similar to the two mentioned from Op. 46 on Spheres.

Lera Auerbach is probably in a like her or not category for many.  I like most of her works but to be more specific about her sound world - it moves between (mainly) modernism and (with at times a hint of) romanticism.  I am naturally attracted though to the ones that have that hint of romanticism with a tiny bit of modernism (weird chords-atonal) but held together tonally overall.  Most of all it is the dreamy nature of the music - magical, mystical but with a clear underlying melancholy, sadness, and even pessimism.  It clearly is not of this world (at least it doesn't even register in the minds of the masses).  This is the attraction for me.

So for me, I'll listen more extensively to the whole album after I listen to the 12 prelude of Auerbach a couple of hundred times.  This is what I do with any music that sticks with me and affects me for life.  Trust me, the Rachmaninov Cello Sonata went through the same rigorous obsessive listening sessions many years ago and every work that I have on my list of music I couldn't live without.

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

(2006)

   Top stuff

This is the latest of Rachel Podger's wonderful recordings of Vivaldi's violin concertos, with sound quality to die for. Highly recommended.

An older version with Lindberg and the Purcell Quartet released on Harmonia Mundi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCY8EkQhlzs

On vinyl.

It's a hot and humid day not particularly suited for Brahms symphonies but I am revisiting young Abbado's Brahms. These are wonderful Italian pressings. 

Stefano Battaglia piano
Giovanni Maier double bass
Michele Rabbia percussion
Dominique Pifarély violin

Not the easiest music but quite satisfying. Even Adrian, Mr. ECM himself, was challenged by this music.

Before on the balcony

Rewind 3.

Classics reworked into down tempo acid jazz.

On CD.

It's been years since I've listened to the Water Music.

This is a better fit for the hot summer day. It was played for the first time 17 July 1717 for King George I.

This beautiful Decca 1950 recording Van Beinum with London Philharmonic is 

unpretentious and  big boned rather than finely etched. A warm bottom end bloom giving sweet but stately disposition. A classic old school reading with full of gusto, confidently played as they would do outdoor.