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

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by hungryhalibut

This is just great, a new release by the wonderful Takacs string quartet.

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by MDS

CD two from Pulse and the splendid live version of DSOTM

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by Slim68

So far tonight;

The Lumineers on CD. My Wife's CD was laying around so thought I'd give it a try and quite liked it. Will need to play it again soon,

Then on to Marc Ford, Holy Ghost on CD. Such a well played album, wonderfully recorded and involving.

Ray Lamontagne, Till the Sun turns Black on CD. So very good, Gets better every time.

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by Erich

Linn Records

CKD 435 The Proud Bassoon
Peter Whelan
Studio Master (24/192)

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by bishopla

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by Florestan

Beethoven & Schumann: Liudmila Georgievskaya (piano)

Ludwig van Beethoven: Fifteen Variations & Fugue in E-flat Major, Op. 35 "Eroica Variations"

Robert Schumann: Symphonic Etudes Op. 13

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by DrMark

Another used store venture today - brought in some books and with the store credit I received for those and $5.71 I got:

That's a win in my book...

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by osprey

iRadio - a soothing way to start Saturday morning.

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by joerand

The Best Of The Boomtown Rats. On Mercury CD from 2005. The sole Rats album I own, earlier tracks have a raw punk vibe with garage band sound. Later tracks evolve into a more refined sound reminiscent of contemporaries Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello and I like the music. This particular compilation is mastered for loudness and I wouldn't recommend it for SQ.

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by joerand

Originally Posted by DrMark:

Another used store venture today - brought in some books and with the store credit I received for those and $5.71 I got:

Sounds like you might be shopping at Half Price Books? Can be a great source for used LPs/CDs. Hit or miss, but when you find those hits, well worth the digging. Fun, if you've got the time.

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by kuma

1975 Chopin Piano Competition : 19 year old Krystian Zimerman the youngest ever to win the 1st prize.

This is a live recording of the event where Zimerman covers many of Chopin pieces. He also won Best Performance for Mazurka and Polonaise.

Particularly on Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise, astonishing amount of technical and interpretive skills at the live competition recording. Zimerman at just 19 showing tremendous confidence and brilliant creativity. There is a melody line previously I did not notice is more apparent giving easier to follow structure and crispness in otherwise mellow sweet prologue. Back half is tad strident and abrupt but very youthful and playful. Clarity and precision but he adds a layer of individuality and elegance. Plenty of *canons* with ultra focused dramatic accents give the tune a dignity and meaning and exciting finale. Comparatively more hard-nosed and incissive than Wunder and double take on Pollini. What’s missing is a bit of sweetness and translucency but he makes up enough with his ever moving and lively expressiveness.

He's looking like a perfect piano nerd.

Here's the moment he won the competition and the rest is history...

Posted on: 25 September 2015 by joerand

Beck. Odelay. On CD from 1996. The more I listen to Beck, the higher esteem I gain for him as an artist. Diversity, creativity, and unpretentious with where his musical musings led him. He can deliver psychedelia, funk, or hip hop with equal command and foremost with a groove.

Posted on: 26 September 2015 by joerand

Doors. L.A. Woman (1971). On HDCD from 1999. One of the all-time great rock albums with a blues bend.

Posted on: 26 September 2015 by osprey

Enough of piano music this morning – this is next (thanks for the inspiration Randy)

"You'd better sit down. 'Mutations' sees Beck replacing the spinning turntable with the acid-rock lightwheel, the concrete streets with the long and winding road, retreating further from glaring expectation into the complex little universe between those fluffy sideburns."

- NME

Posted on: 26 September 2015 by joerand

Originally Posted by osprey:

Enough of piano music this morning – this is next (thanks for the inspiration Randy)