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

PJ Harvey. Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. On CD from 2000. Thanks to forum recommendations for turning me on to this gem

Coldplay during workout, I rather like this album, while a lot don't

Another one life, quality of recording ok..

Pleasant, but a bit busy for breakfast...

Reiner/CSO: Strauss 'Ein Heldenleben'  1954 Recording Mono

Natural sounding mono. Hard to believe it’s the Orchestra Hall without a hint of brightness or distortion. 

I guess this was a *high fidelity* 65 years ago with a single microphone hanging 16 ft. above Reiner's head. This is the original mono pressing but apparently they were experimenting with two microphones for *future research*.  A few years later they came out with a *stereo* reel to reel tape but not on vinyl. A stereo version was not made till 1958 and this became the CSO's first stereo commercial recording. This mint mono sounds plenty good. I am curious how the stereo version sounds.

First time listen. The Hero’s theme has a similar riff used in Alpine Symphony. Aspirational and 'bigger than life'. Playful Hero’s Companion portrayed by an impressive CSO 1st violin, John Weicher. 9He's got so much more heart and personality than current CSO concert master Robert Chen.) Orchestration style is out of date a bit but typical Reiner classy and all buttoned up all 'round. These tone poems are like puzzles.  Intricately put together with many different pieces and Reiner does a good job organising what’s what and keeping them together avoiding a massive confusion. A beautiful finale with once again the solo violin and this time a single English horn play a delicate sustained note leads to the dramatic ending chords.

UMO

On vinyl. 

Streaming | Deezer Elite

(2015)

Interesting and very well sounding bass solo...

This

Followed by this

On vinyl

Tony2011 posted:

 

You have been playing some good and interesting albums today Tony 

Stevee_S posted:

Tony2011 posted:

 

You have been playing some good and interesting albums today Tony 

Just revisiting some old favourites, Steve. 

Streaming | Deezer Elite

This Marillion album is very different sounding to anything they had done before. It's worth a listen. It's a remixed version of their original 1998 album.

Vangelis -Spiral

Talking Heads - Naked

A new (to me) Hilliard Ensemble album. Lovely. 

WAV

(2011)

Regrettably, it took me until this year to "discover" Alison Krauss. Whether solo or with the added instruments and voices of Union Station she is just great to listen to, possessing a wonderful voice.

Try New Favorite - it's my, err, favourite. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Try New Favorite - it's my, err, favourite. 

Thanks Nigel, I've got it, it's excellent. After I "discovered" her I took a trip along the Amazon and bought most of her/their back catalogue from there. I think their double CD Live at the Louisville Palace is stunning both for the music and the for the sound quality.  

Holographic on the NDAC/XPS...!

G

On CD:-

Playing this again tonight - rediscovering its simple pleasures. CD Rip

One of my favourite Purple albums.

WAV

(1999)

Excellent from start to finish.