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;
Sandford Townsend Band- Smoke from a Distant Fire the copy I have has the original album cover.
These will be my listening today in the car and at the office. All out in June sometime.
The last album is from Max Jury. I think he has huge potential. Video of current single below.
Warren Zevon. Mr. Bad Example. On CD from 1991. A recent addition that I've only had a few listens to but it's growing on me. The title track is quintessential Zevon ... "I'm very well acquainted with the seven deadly sins. I keep a busy schedule trying to fit them in."
Had never heard this album before but was very familiar with the music on the album, through live recordings. I have to say it was a revelation. The version on this album are finer, more balanced than the live versions....so happy that I have this album now..
Still remember how I once visited a yes concert with my ex wife and where she only could complain. All these long guys in front, and they don't play the number I like - owner of a lonely heart -. I think the poppy side of yes was less great by the way, while I still appreciate this number...
Bert Schurink posted:Had never heard this album before but was very familiar with the music on the album, through live recordings. I have to say it was a revelation. The version on this album are finer, more balanced than the live versions....so happy that I have this album now..
Bert Schurink posted:I think the poppy side of yes was less great by the way, while I still appreciate this number...
Album-wise, quite a juxtaposition between the two. Fragile is musically great for its time but the SQ on any format I've heard is compromised - poor recording, poor mix or whatever, the sound is inescapably flat despite the performance. 90125 ticks all the boxes for me. Great music, progressive for its time, and the fast, taught sonics on my original LP are superb.
ewemon posted:
Sandford Townsend Band- Smoke from a Distant Fire the copy I have has the original album cover.
And this is the later version cover.
It's their best album.
Hank Mobley: Soul Station MM33 vs. MM45
Now this comparo gets a bit interesting. Whilst I can't deny that 45 pressings posse greater air, colours and dynamics ( immediacy), MM33 has a certain groove and snap to it in that the opening tittle 'Remember' or upbeat 'This I Dig of You' and 'Dig Dis' give me finger snappin' happy feeling.
Except that when Blakey's drum solo kicks in at the tail end of 'This I Dig of You' . Only then I understood where the extra dynamics/details worth the extra cost. impact of rim shots, decays of cymbals, kicks on the bass drums take on much truer colours and I can hear all sorts of little tricks and subtleties of his art. There is simply less *lags* between one beat to the next compared to the 33s.
That said, I prefer tunes on the Side B particularly 'If I Should Lose You' , even tho the richer colours of the 45, I found the 33 better focused and easier to follow along.
I noticed a colour shift in cover art and I see they cleaned up the typography as you can see the 45 version has a fuzzy edge around the type. ( probably they used the scan of the original cover ) Nice to see they are striving for a perfection even on packaging albeit they could not hit the same fonts as the original.
I also noticed that they used different shots inside gatefold. Below is the 45s inside photos.
...and these are the MM33 inside gatefold photos.
A CD boot of their 1993 Reading Festival performance. Taken from the BBC Transcripion Services pre-FM mix. No reason other than I was there and I remember it was a very emotional night for everyone.
Their finest album. On original 1989 UK pressing, bought on the day of release:
UK first pressing. Perhaps my favourite NY album?
On vinyl, their new album (from last month). Spiffingly good:
Streaming | WAV | Download from Bandcamp
Berlin electronic duo Fanger & Schönwälder is joined by Cosmic Hoffmann on this five-track EP, the title track of which was recorded live at the E-Live Festival on 27th October 2012. Some lovely soaring psychedelic guitar riffs blending superbly with the electronic Berlin School layers.
"A legend on the German music scene, Klaus Cosmic Hoffmann's guitar and electronic work is well known to all fans of German electronic music, and here, joined with two of its finest contemporary performers, the mix of new and old blood is sublime." - Blurb from James Turner DPRP.net (Dutch Progressive Rock Page)
On CD:-
Prefab Sprout - Protest Songs
Streaming | WAV | Download from Bandcamp
(2016)
I've been very much enjoying Black Hill and been playing their four albums alot since finding them last week. Beautiful layered guitars, instrumental ambient post-rock.
Various Positions from this wonderful CD Box Set.
The sq is fantastic, the reproduction paper sleeves and original labels are a nice touch all in all a class act both the music and the box... £14.50 new on Amazon.
Mogwai - Atomic
Quad 33 posted:Various Positions from this wonderful CD Box Set.
The sq is fantastic, the reproduction paper sleeves and original labels are a nice touch all in all a class act both the music and the box... £14.50 new on Amazon.
+1 I agree it's a very good box set all round. I got mine new from the same place early last year at the same price, good value and SQ as you say. Interestingly there is only one used box for sale at the moment and thats £36!
The Acorn - "No Ghost"
