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;
Recommended for lovers of an acoustic bass
Wildflower by The Avalanches on double vinyl (and quad gatefold). bought last week. Their second album, released last month. Like the first, it's almost entirely made up of samples. It's not perhaps as good as that remarkable debut LP of 15 years ago, but it's still a beguiling, clever, dazzling and joyous journey through countless musical worlds.
Originally recommended by Ewemon I believe, many moons ago. Great album.
If the Alpha label had done nothing more than return Gustav Leonhardt to the studio, it would still be one of the best contemporary classical record companies. That everything else about its releases -- the sound, the liner notes, even the reproductions on the covers -- is as good or better than what any other classical company manages is only icing on the cake. Leonhardt has been one of the finest harpsichordists in the world for more than 40 years, and his recordings of the repertoire from Frescobaldi to Bach have been the standards against which all other recordings have been judged. But Leonhardt had made no recordings for most of the last decade, and listeners began to wonder if he ever would again. Now, with his fourth release for Alpha, listeners can finally relax, confident in the knowledge that Leonhardt has indeed returned.
This 2005 disc of keyboard music by Byrd finds Leonhardt at the top of his form. As always, his technique is secure, and nothing in Byrd's virtuoso writing is beyond him. And, as always, his musicianship is assured, and nothing in Byrd's sensitive music is beyond him. Leonhardt's Pavanes are stately yet soulful, his Galliards are exciting yet playful, his character pieces are amusing yet graceful, and his closing Fantasia is controlled yet colorful. If one could have a complaint about this disc, it is that at 52 minutes, it might seem too short. But so full of delight and wonder are Leonhardt's performances that only a curmudgeon would dare criticize them. (ALLMUSIC)
Tidal.
Great late late BB!
Gives your system a real test of controlled tuneful driving bass.
G
CD rip. Last one for a while as I can't put off some serious grass mowing any longer 
A+ | Transcoded DSD
Just had an hour or so with the first half of this fun hard rock gig in Barcelona, downloaded from bandcamp a couple of years ago.
Great combination of Walter Becker & RLJ. Nice recording too.
G
GraemeH posted:
Great combination of Walter Becker & RLJ. Nice recording too.
G
It's a truly great record. Poignant lyrics, wonderful melodies, great musicianship and very well recorded. One of my favourite RLJ albums. (Her latest is also a bit of a return to form.)
She called out the A-team...
- Rickie Lee Jones - synthesizer, guitar, vocals; all instruments on ""Rodeo Girl"
- John Robinson - drums on tracks: 1, 3, 5, 9
- Peter Erskine - drums on tracks: 7, 11
- Buzz Feiten - guitar on tracks: 1, 3, 5, 9
- Dean Parks - guitar on tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 7, 10, 11
- Greg Phillinganes - keyboards on tracks 1, 3, 5
- Neil Stubenhaus - bass on tracks: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11
- Sal Bernardi - guitar, bg on track 7
- Jim Keltner - drum machine effects on track 6
- Bob Sheppard - sax on tracks 5, 8
- Rob Wasserman - bass on track 8
- Paulinho da Costa - percussion on track 8
- William "Smitty" Smith - organ on track 1
- Michael Omartian - piano on track 1
- Ed Alton - bass on track 2
- Michael Fisher - percussion on track 2
- Gary B.B. Coleman - vibraphone on track 2
- Bob Zimmitti - percussion on tracks 3, 5
- Chris Dickie - drum programming on track 4
- Walter Becker - bass on track 7
- Marty Krystall - English horn, clarinet on track 7; tenor saxophone on track 9
- Vince Mendoza - trumpet on track 7
- Greg Mathieson - Hammond B3 organ on track 9
- Michael Boddicker - synthesizer on track 10
- Pascal Nabet-Meyer - synthesizer, piano on track 7, percussion programming on track 11
- Randy Brecker - trumpet on track 11
- Vonda Shepard - backing vocals
- Chris Smith - harmonica
GraemeH posted:
Great combination of Walter Becker & RLJ. Nice recording too.
G
Great record.
A+ | Tidal
(9th September)
Unfortunately ZZ Top's album Preliminator was not available on Tidal as I had thought so playing this new release instead.
12"
A classic that never disappoints - CD rip.
Now this, and LOUD !
Scott's new one, bought last week on vinyl. A strident soundtrack, mostly driven by stabbing strings. No vocals.
15th & 17th Century Spanish Variations
Atrium Musicae de Madrid - Gregorio Paniagua, dir.
Vinyl. Because it's been a while since there's been any 'Frappage in these parts:
On vinyl...
This still sounds excellent...
On vinyl...