What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2016
2016 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread (and links to previous years) can be found here;
Vinyl
k90tour2 posted:
Haskil and Fricsay play superbly together. Phrasing and touch of each are perfectly matched. This is from a CD set of Fricsay recordings (DG). I'm not playing much digital for main listening. This was to be background music while I work. Not getting much work done.
Nobody who loves music could do much work with these genius performances playing in earshot!
I use this exact recording to convert non-believers to classical music.
ATB from George
Nelsons/BSO: Sibelius Symphony No.2 2014 recording
This is 2015 Grammy winning Andris Nelsons' first recording with BSO. It is recorded live but most all of audience noise has been edited out excet for the applaud at the end.
Nelsons definitely got his own idea and freshens up this 100+ year old famous score.
I might not agree with his broad tempo (particularly the final segment where he streches out too long imho ) but Nelsons’ reading is plenty human which is a good sign of a capable conductor.
I will probably explore more of his catalogue with BSO hopefully in a better fidelity. This is BSO's house label and the sound could be a lot better than what's presented here.
The Black Crowes. Shake Your Money Maker. On CD from 1990. My first listen to the band's first album. Nothing bashful here. Hard-hitting, rock-solid debut.
Robert Plant. lullaby and ... THE CEASELESS ROAR. On CD from 2014. I've got Plant's first three solo albums on vinyl and these were in my view very good and consistent with the LZ sound. I have not kept up with him. His latest album is an impressively creative and artistic departure, and I love what he's done here musically. Unfortunately, the sound suffers from a heavy 'lack of air' quality that now has me thinking I should have sprung for the vinyl. Comments from LP owners welcome.
Dutoit/Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal : Stravinsky Le Sacre du Printemps 1984 recording
Lively direction by Dutoit but somewhat missing the smell of the Earth feeling too genteel and smooth. Enchanting intro with lovely wind instruments mingling with others. The big let down is when the rhythmic build up starts, there is none.
Feet should be stomping kicking dirt. Instead the whole thing feels like a butterfly dance. There are plenty of drum whacks and blaring brass section yet somehow missing the primitive bits that the scores need.
joerand posted:
Robert Plant. lullaby and ... THE CEASELESS ROAR. On CD from 2014. I've got Plant's first three solo albums on vinyl and these were in my view very good and consistent with the LZ sound. I have not kept up with him. His latest album is an impressively creative and artistic departure, and I love what he's done here musically. Unfortunately, the sound suffers from a heavy 'lack of air' quality that now has me thinking I should have sprung for the vinyl. Comments from LP owners welcome.
I bought the vinyl with CD included and haven't really listened to the CD after the couple of spins right after the purchase. However, I might prefer the vinyl only because my TT setup is superior to the CD player I have available. Still good record anyway.
This one gets better and better
Underneath the tragedy and adversity, To Pimp a Butterfly is a celebration of the audacity to wake up each morning to try to be better, knowing it could all end in a second, for no reason at all.
- Pitchfork
Streaming | WAV
(1964)
Just the fifty two years old and sounding fine on this Mono CD, absolutely years since I have played this, silly me!
Streaming | WAV
(1963)
My first thought was, how nice to hear this... immediately followed by, they really separated the channels on this stereo recording!! Instruments left, vocals right and hardly ever the twain shall meet.
Florestan posted:Schubert / Beethoven: Sokolov
Franz Schubert: Impromptus D 899 | Three Piano Pieces D 946
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major op. 106
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Johannes Brams: Intermezzo in B-flat minor op. 117. no. 2
A real treat and delight to listen to this album. It seems to me Sokolov, like Brendel, is an intellectual giant in his playing. There is such a calm confidence with such assurance that you always sense the direction they are going is just so right.
The older I get the more my leaning goes in this direction as well. So many of the younger generation tend to just be unidimensional with speed / technique as there only calling card. Maybe, as a listener only this is a draw as it may be exciting. You could even say that the playing is absent of all mannerisms (whatever that means) simply because there is an inverse relationship between speed and musicality. The faster you play the less chance you have of taking the time to inject beauty and meaning in to the notes. Therefore, a listener receives less as does a player but it is the latter that is the real tragedy, in my opinion. Think about the difference between a harpsichord and a pianoforte. I believe this is why the pianoforte is standing the test of time.
I have recently been toying around with the set of Schubert's first four Impromptus D 899, the D 946 pieces and the Moments musicaux on the piano. Hearing Sokolov here was all I needed to motivate me enough to focus more completely on these perfect gems. And it isn't because Sokolov might impress and leave your jaw drop to the floor. For me, it is just for the opposite reasons. It is because the masses may be underwhelmed by his often slower tempos and ultra focused, intellectual approach.
His vision / soul can be clearly seen on the cover photo. It is a man and his piano with the music connecting them. Everything else be damned.
A relationship with music is the most beautiful and perfect thing I can imagine now. It will never rob or steal from you or hurt, manipulate, use, slander, maline you and on and on with the list of sins that man is capable of. With music, it is the perfect symbiosis. The more you put in to it the more you will receive back (in the long run) with only an undeserved list of virtues like honesty to be enjoyed for life.
I share your review, it's a well concepted gem...
JamieWednesday posted:
It's not fresh. It's not new. It's always emotional though. I'm so glad they did this. I noticed when I went on to Amazon for the pic it's now just six quid. Six quid! Should be distributed to the masses.
Haven't "the masses" got enough to worry about without having this kind of lachrymose dreck inflicted upon them? 
Late-night Ducal sessions from the end of the 1950s on CD. Relaxed yet majestic. And swings like a bastard.
Streaming | WAV
(1967)
The last Beatles this morning before getting out to tidy the garden in the late winter sunshine.
Dipping into bits of this
It was on a deal and cost about 2/3 what it is at the mo' (still pretty good value at normal price though!)
Very much enjoyed live piece at Carnegie Hall
On vinyl. A brand new purchase:
Kevin-W posted:Late-night Ducal sessions from the end of the 1950s on CD. Relaxed yet majestic. And swings like a bastard.
I have two copies of the MFSL sacd of this Kevin and the sq is majestic. One of the top 5 sounding discs I own.
Many thanks to Haim for highlighting this - it's a terrific album.
Mr Kevin Webster of this parish introduced me to this fabulous album and i'm very grateful. It is a brilliant mixture of Jazz, soul and blues from the early 70's with a kick ass band and a singer [Lydia Pense] who can give both Janis Joplin and Etta James a run for their money.. Thanks K for the HU.
Vinyl.
