What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XI)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2014
On the cusp of 2015, we start a new thread...
Anyway, links:
Volume X: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-be-interested-vol-x
Volume IX: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...16#22826037054683416
Volume VIII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/12970396056050819
Volume VII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...6878604287751/page/1
Volume VI: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878604097229
Volume V: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605140495
Volume IV: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605795042
Volume III: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607309474
Volume II: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606245043
Volume I: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607464290
On CD:-
Still think this is his best solo album.
Streaming | FLAC
(1964)
This Deluxe, expanded, remastered 2011 release contains both mono and stereo versions of most of the tracks on this their debut album. I always kick myself for overlooking just how good their music was at that time and how influential they were in the sixties. This album featuring their music from over fifty years ago speaks volumes.
First band I ever saw live in the 60's
Of all my Tori Amos albums this is probably the one I play the most.
This is the only Tori Amos album I have and I think it is simply wonderful
.
Bellybutton by Jellyfish (1990)
While getting the album art to post here I noticed that a Deluxe 2 CD expanded version of the album (it's 25th anniversary) was released in January this year it includes live tracks and a second CD of demo tracks and a full colour booklet. The booklet shows rare photos and memorabilia features an essay from noted music writer Ken Sharp (author of books on KISS, Eric Carmen and John Lennon & Yoko Ono, among others), utilizing recent interviews with the band’s Andy Sturmer, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., and the album’s producers. Sturmer and Manning also chime in with track by track commentary on the original album tracks
I pulled out my Promo vinyl copy. Whilst I do not much care for American youth band, I very much enjoy this type of keyboard led 90s power pop sound along with Ben Folds Five.
I've got Ominivore limited edition coloured vinyl for Split Milk which sounds great.
Streaming | FLAC
(2003)
I never enjoyed much of TD's music after '81 but here over twenty years later and with more of a solo effort than a regular TD line up, Edgar Froese returns to form.
"A return to the minimalistic concept of the classic 70's and early 80's for TD. After the very expansive and "classical" "Inferno","Mota Atma" is starkly minimalistic, with nary a melody to be found. But this is not about melodies ,it's about atmosphere and ambiance, very much in the vein of albums like "Phaedra", "Rubycon" and album tracks like "Remote Viewing", only updated to the 21st century. All the trademarks of classic TD are here, swirling synthscapes coupled with infectious sequencer (or sequencer like) bubbling rhythm tracks.
I wouldn't hesitate to call this album, alongside "Inferno", TD's best since the early 80's. A very successful "modernising" of the classic TD sound and one that shows how much the Froese/Froese team has grown since it's first tentative steps in the early 90's." - Amazonian Comment
Streaming | FLAC
(1970)
Time for some good auld early English prog' 
Great album. Apart from the great music the sound on the Pablo albums is invariably top notch on vinyl.
Kempff/Leitner's Mozart Piano Concerto No.27 1962 recording
Orchestra sounds more prominent and has a tendency of overwhelming a piano at times but this is a thoughtful performance. ( probably due to a poor mono fold down )
His Larghetto wins me over. There is so much more drama here. The final movement sounding a bit sluggish but Kempff's intimate but dazzling cadenza keeps the tune together.
This album looks like it should belong in one of those *bad LP* cover collection.
1972 recording of Buchbinder's Mozart Piano Concerto No.27 is a low energy dull affair.
All three movement sound the same with no contrast among them and sound too fussy especially Allegro for my taste.
Have you heard Clifford Curzon's Mozart piano concertos Kuma? One of my favourites
Streaming | FLAC
(1971)
I could hardly say no to more Yes. So more Yes it is.
To be followed by John Holloway's baroque violin performing the same pieces on ECM.
Gazpacho, Night on CD. Giving the system a work out. I now have 5 of their albums and like every one off them. Cheers Stevee_s.
Great album. Apart from the great music the sound on the Pablo albums is invariably top notch on vinyl.
Redbook sound is excellent as well.
Gazpacho, Night on CD. Giving the system a work out. I now have 5 of their albums and like every one off them. Cheers Stevee_s.
Hi Simon, I'm really pleased that you are enjoying them. You obviously have great taste in music 
. I'm sure that you will find them growing on you even more, as additional listening increases your familiarity with them. Enjoy!
(1989)
Not a (big) commercial success apparently, its easy to underestimate what a very good album this is with some great well written and well crafted songs, Its always worth giving this a stream and it fits nicely on this sunny afternoon.
Streaming | FLAC
(1999)
I don't believe she needs any introduction and I am just in the mood to listen to her delicious voice and some bluegrass.
Original Vinyl
Sloppy conducting, by a conductor who didn't manage to get his singers to start and stop on time and make them sing together as opposed to next to each other is an increasing distraction on this recording. Damrau is the star - she doesn't really approach this from a belcanto perspective and has a few awkward moments, but is quite mesmerizing throughout and especially in her mad scene. I like the basses more than I did on first listen; Calleja has a gorgeous voice, but sounds subdued and falls considerably short of this best - compare him to Di Stefano on Callas' first recording: where Di Stefano rousingly ends the opera giving his all, Calleja smoothly sings his way forward until he stops, with a minimum of fuss and energy. Whether he, the conductor or the production are to be blamed, the overall result is hard to recommend.
EJ
Damrau on her own, on a much more enjoyable CD. In a way, she is consistent with the Lucia in her approach in that she sings with an overt emotion that would have been alien in Donizetti's time, but accept that, and she is very good. Noseda is another conductor who lets her do her thing without interfering, but on a recital such as this, that is fine with me.
EJ
A bit of Schubert...
Funny thing of this music is that it sounds as if it's part of two periods of music....
Great album. Apart from the great music the sound on the Pablo albums is invariably top notch on vinyl.
Norman Granz was pretty instrumental in making sure the sound was good.
FYI - did you know that the "Pablo" label was named so for Picasso? He was a friend of Granz.