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

Not played this Mary Black in a while. It seems to have more 'bounce' than her other albums.

After another Neil Young album onto a 24 bit version of Paul Simon - Live In New York City. Sounds really good and for me Simon has written some great songs over the years, many of which seem as fresh now as when I first heard them. The original Paul Simons Greatest Hits was one of the LPs I used to take to demos when first setting off on my hifi adventure. Think I must have heard Kodachrome on more systems than any other song.

A2+|Transcoded DSD

Red Giant  by Barrows 

Heavy instrumental rock based around the theme of a dying star, downloaded from Bandcamp a couple of years ago. Gustav Holst its not but it is good punchy psychedelic rock. 

Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits on original vinyl.  I actually think that the latest 24 bit versions are much better SQ than this version but this was one of the very first albums I ever repeatedly listened to on vinyl after being exposed to I am a rock during a lesson in school and there is something very special for me in playing it on vinyl.

why? Well, it sorta follows on from the Floyd. Chronologically at least...

steve

Wav Katatonia Dead End Kings prog with a small slice of metal, great stuff.

Starting this evening with a blast from Joe...........................surely one of the best live blues rock acts around, and certainly one of hardest working bands in show business, they seem to tour non stop.

This could well turn into a "Joe - Live" evening here.................and why not?

Nice chilled start to music, no mixer will be shared with this...just keeping it neat!!!

Final session of JB live, signing off afterwards for the total experience via blueRay.....................you can't get too much Bonamassa. 

Down-NOLA

Bert Schurink posted:

Erich posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Had this one earlier this afternoon. Another concept album of this progressive rock / art rock band from Germany. I am still amazed that they didn't have the fame of some off the other bands in the genre, there music and lyrics and concepts are definitely on a high level. This album, not their best effort is another fine testimony of their good music....

 

Sylvan-Home

If you are interested or intrigued by my test have an initial listen into their best album Posthumous Silence in full. It's one of the best progressive rock albums ever.....

Sylvan-Posthumous Silence

Streaming Qobuz 16/44.1/MBP/A2+

I am interested Erich, how did you like it ?

I have to recognize that this is not my preferred type of music. Also this band was absolutely new for me, I had never heard about them before.  The album is very good, I'm willing to explore more music from them.  Thanks for posting

Danzig-Danzig

Tutti: Orchestral Arrangements for Piano Four Hands - Anna and Dmitri Shelest (piano)

I now have three or four cd's with Anna Shelest and will say from the top that my only reservation with them all is in my view that the recording quality (not terrible) could be bettered to match her excellent playing / interpretations.  This is just my little quible.  It is actually better than OK but just a little bright / forward for me.  When one cannot find anything else wrong then the last thing is always that the recorded sound could be better (even if it is just by an infinitesimal amount.

Other than this, I don't think you can get better than this as far as pianists go.  I'm probably a little strange being in the minority in that I actually would rather listen to a piano transcription of orchestral music than the orchestral 'original' version.  Well this isn't quite true as most great composers probably started any work on a score at the piano so I would argue that they could have saved themselves lots of time by my estimation and just stuck to the piano versions where everything is already there.  Why not then let others do symphonic transcriptions of the wonderful original piano versions to satisfy everyone :-) 

But I digress.  This album is a case in point.  Splendid album that is just amazing.   This husband and wife team are just spot on and play as one.  I know all this music in the original form but honestly, hearing this today inspired me so much more than I expected.  Yes, at times there is a lot going on and you have to wonder if the piano will fall apart at any moment but the performance is so electric and sparkles that I cannot imagine anyone not being effected in a good way.  These composers were the rock stars of there time and listening to these arrangements, I think you can not disagree with how powerful and influential these guys were.  Just amazing.

Last album, and Bacardi, of the night.  Rush, of course, and Caress of Steel because I can.  2015 version 24 bit Flac via Audirvana/Hugo 

Last one for the night, a solo cello:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGWrI_1A-0

Erich posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Erich posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Had this one earlier this afternoon. Another concept album of this progressive rock / art rock band from Germany. I am still amazed that they didn't have the fame of some off the other bands in the genre, there music and lyrics and concepts are definitely on a high level. This album, not their best effort is another fine testimony of their good music....

 

Sylvan-Home

If you are interested or intrigued by my test have an initial listen into their best album Posthumous Silence in full. It's one of the best progressive rock albums ever.....

Sylvan-Posthumous Silence

Streaming Qobuz 16/44.1/MBP/A2+

I am interested Erich, how did you like it ?

I have to recognize that this is not my preferred type of music. Also this band was absolutely new for me, I had never heard about them before.  The album is very good, I'm willing to explore more music from them.  Thanks for posting

Then give a try to Artificial Paradise. The title track is a jewel.....

There hasn't been anything like this before, or anything like it since. Honestly sets a whole different standard. Seeing it performed live in 1978 was more like a religious experience than a Rock and Roll concert. The pinnacle of a live performance!

A2+|Tidal

(2009)

A bit of dance electro to go along with this warm sunny morning. 

badlands posted:

There hasn't been anything like this before, or anything like it since. Honestly sets a whole different standard. Seeing it performed live in 1978 was more like a religious experience than a Rock and Roll concert. The pinnacle of a live performance!

+1. Probably the most impassioned studio album I can think of. Gets lots of plays on my notebook PC while I'm travelling. Played it just last night while I was in Chicago knowing Bruce would be in concert at the Untied Center only hours later and a few miles away from where I was staying. Wonder if anyone here made it to his Chicago show?

Black - Blind Faith 

I have had this CD unopened since its release but only now have I listened to it.

Big mistake. This is very fine album of sophisticated pop, mixed with hints of jazz, soul and country. The overall melancholy feel is heightened by knowledge that the singer-songwriter died earlier this year.

I doubt this release made any impact on the charts or that many folk are even aware of its existence. That's a pity as it is a fine memorial to a man who seemed to be much underrated.

steve

Steely Dan - Gaucho

Such a great record and great on Vinyl.

A2+|Transcoded DSD

(2012)

Why? Because its a wonderful recording with excellent SQ, one of Ludwig Van's finest and I very much like what de Vriend  and the NSO bring to the party.