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

Great music

$1.99 two-vinyl set from Goodwill.

Streaming | Deezer Elite

(1993)

Mainly Elizabethan compositions recorded between 1960 and '63.

This 1960 album was Julian Bream's first lute recording for RCA, and a stunning one it was too. For the first time the wonderful compositions of the Elizabethan and Jacobean times, long forgotten, were revived in performances brimming with vitality, musicality and élan, reducing to triviality the belly-achings of purists whimpering about inauthentic technique.

And it's clear from their own comments that many of the best modern lutenists (such as Nigel North and Paul O'Dette) might not even have been playing, were it not for the massive inspiration of Bream. - Paul Magnusson an Amazonian

Played this a lot recently. Great sound from the band with some fine instrumental flourishes. And that voice, that voice!! Soaring over your head and the band like a big voicy thing...

Streaming | WAV

(23rd October 2015)

Arrived today as promised on release day via a pre-order a couple of months ago, just on and first listen...

Last night I got sidetracked by the 'greatest opera recordings' thread and ended up listening to Karajan's Die Valkure on vinyl. Today I've been following that with Levine's recording of the same work through the NDS. I really enjoy the lighter weight of both these recordings (compared to Solti, for example), but Levine is currently my preferred choice.

Streaming | WAV

(2003)

One of the many good bands playing good music I discovered thanks to this forum.

Streaming | Deezer Elite

(2008)

Giving this one a try. 

This Years Model - Elvis Costello vinyl.

2 x LP : )

One can never have too much of Tracey Thorn....

Only got into Siouxsie lately, it sometimes amazes me the bands I missed while buying REO Speedwagon LPs!

SJB

The recent Calexico listening fest prompted me to listen to Vingt à Trente Mille Jours by Francoiz Breut. I can't find any credits for Joey Burns or John Convertino on the CD cover, but I'd  be surprised if the weren't involved on a few tracks. An excellent album.

Riccardo Cecchetti, pianost of the Voces Intimae trio, here plays an unruly beast of a fortepiano, where cabinet resonances contribute as much to the music as the keys themselves. Cechetti plays with a lot of rubato (but does so without impeding the flow of the music), dynamic range and use of the piano's technical possibilities (the muffler pedal (left pedal  was a lot more effective on early instruments). The music is excellent - CPE Bach looking forward rather than staying in dad's comfy shadow. Excellent up close recording.

Cheers,

EJ

Some great vinyl finds today; this from The Island!

There's either original blood splatter on the sleeve, or haggis juice.

Sviatoslav Richter : Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1; Nos. 1,4,5,6,8

  1962 Live Recording from Italy

Unlike usual cold detached Richter, this set is somewhat emotionally *sad*. He offers a cleansing effect for a mind yet never let the tunes to become an academic exercise. His No.5 is breathtaking whilst No.8 has a calm hypnotic effect. 

Glenn Gould: Bach Well Tempered Clavier Book II No.9 & no.14 Fugues  1967 recording

It shows a remarkable insight and expressive performance from 20 something Gould. Surprisingly fresh rendition and does not sound stuffy old Bach.

Still struggling to evaluate these fugues but the No.9 has a child like simplicity and directness whilst Gould adds a lot of drama via manipulated rubato.  

Sviatoslav Richter: Bach The Well-Tempered Klavier Book II 1972 Recording

 Holographic and serene. Laid back and almost in an altered state. Opposite of Gould where a lot of life in the tunes, Richter’s is already up in heaven. 

No.10 Prelude is like an intricate lace patterns. Those finely articulated tremolo is impressive. Chilling Fugue. In contrast to Gould’s No.14 Fugue, Richter’s rendition is filled with a feeling of loneliness. Technically he’s just flawless. Whilst one could argue for harpsichord’s clarity and pin point precision, a modern piano pulls out much more assuring humanistic aspect of the tunes.

Joao Carlos Martins: Bach WTC  1964 recording

I think that the piano player's personal life was much more interesting than this dull performance. 

Wish the performance matched this wonderful Connoiseur Society Recording's sonic quality.

Jascha Heifetz playing Korngold violin concerto from recent boxset. Next up, some Joe Cuba to bring in some sunshine