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

Haley Heynderickx

Stopped listening to blues albums temporarily and put this on. Lovely late night listening album.

Folk music for those who want a genre.

Be back on the blues later.

Pollini's latest is a follow up to his 20-yr old recording of Book I. As before, he doesn't paint Debussy with a broad brush, but works the canvas with a chisel and fountain pen. But Pollini sounds like he's finally embraced the fact that he isn't his younger self anymore - he rarely pushes and sounds relaxed, and where his old vigor is needed, he still has the chops. More importantly, Pollini achieves levels of shading that make this a great record, and one of the most accessible recordings of Debussy's second set of preludes. Pollini is still be one of the greats, if he's in the mood.

The recording is what I'm almost about to call the new DG house quality: full, resonant, warm, with a great sounding bass register. Whether it resembles his Steinway-Fabbrini in the flesh, I'm not sure - I recall it being somewhat leaner - but it's an improvement compared to his early discs for DG.

Cheers,

EJ

Ended yesterday with some serious rock. 

First run, seems to have the good ECM qualities...

Angela Hewitt - Bach: the keyboard concertos - 1

Australian Chamber Orchestra

• Keyboard concerto No 1
• Keyboard concerto No 7
• Brandenburg concerto No 5
• Triple Concerto

This is a superb execution of Bach’s keyboard concertos. Of course, Angela Hewitt’s playing is excellent. But what really stands out is the integration between Angela Hewitt and the orchestra. They really play as one. The sound balance between the piano and the orchestra is also very good. A nice detail is that even though Angela Hewitt plays the piano, a harpsichord in the role as continuo.

Musically very interesting...

Lee Morgan - Expoobident.

A lesser known album by Lee Morgan, but a good one. With Eddie Higgins on piano.

ALANP posted:

dave marshall posted:

ALANP posted:

dave marshall posted:

 Prince - The Truth.

 Finally managed to capture this hard to find CD today, now ripped and playing via my now obsolete NDS. 

 His Purpleness goes acoustic, and, IHMO, this is up there with his best.

Hi Dave

Agree with your assessment of this little known album, did you aquire it seperately or as I did hidden away as part of the four disc "Crystal Ball" set which I was lucky to pick up whilst in America?

Regards

Alan   

Hi Alan,

I'd been listening to this via Tidal, and was completely wowed by it, but the price the CD is fetching is totally over the top, whether the "Crystal Ball" set, or even just this, "The Truth" CD.

I was a very happy bunny earlier this week to be able to find "The Truth" over on Fleabay, from a seller who specialises in Prince rarities at much more sensible prices, and have now jumped in on a further six hard to find albums from him. 

Nice one Dave  sounds interesting ,I look forward to your "reviews" once you've had time to digest them.I appreciate Prince and have around 20 albums but was blown away by "The Truth" as it seems quite unique in his discography .Looking at your posts over the years I am sure you enjoy it like me when he straps on an electric and lets it rip .I feel in general he did not get the praise his guitar playing deserved.Anyway enjoy!

Alan   

I quite agree with you regarding The Purple One's guitar playing prowess.

He's never mentioned in any lists of guitar greats, which I've always found strange ........... it seems that his abilities on guitar were somehow obscured by his talents as a songwriter, singer and showman.

Yes, I do enjoy it when he lets rip, but, curiously enough, I find "The Truth" album, though acoustic, just as dynamic as some of his wilder moments elsewhere.

I'm expecting these further six albums during the week, and will comment on them once I've had a good listen. 

Kathleen Battle well before sunrise:

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/211387776229798816/

My Bloody Valentine MBV 

Nice afternoon noises

  Gary Numan - Savage (Songs from a Broken World)

  Wee bit out of my usual comfort zone, but after seeing them live on last night's Beeb 4 Old Grey Whistle Test extravaganza, I was

  completely blown away by the sheer power of the music.

  It's just plopped through the letterbox, now ripped and playing, via my now obsolete NDS.

  Stunning album, .................... needs to played, ..................... erm, ..................... LOUD!

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976) - CD - Hejira marks the start of her journey toward a jazz style. 

My journey to Oxfam on Thursday was also rewarding: this one, 3 Pink Floyd, 1 Genesis (... and then there were three ( 1977 remastered 2007), The Doobie Brothers - Excitement, and Louis Armstrong - 49 Original Recording (£0.99).

This is showing potential with the demo 252 - probably a fuller sound than the 282 at the moment. I think I am going to like Hejira a lot when the 252 burns-in more in a week or so.  It was supposed to have been fairly run in but the first owner jumped ship from 252, NDX, 330DR to full 500 series + NDS. He has left it running continuously while on an extended skiing holiday! ....and then there were three.... shows the 252 up most at the moment - nothing musical yet, but give it time.

The Naim journey is a long one like a pilgrimage - a test of faith. I’m doing my own to Santiago de Compostela to raise funds for the local NHS who cured my Prostate Cancer with 11th hour surgery last September. Watch Stephen Fry’s video about his recent experience accessible on his site and via the BBC. He can thank Flu for getting him to his GP who suggested a few more tests.

I hope the 552 is purring nicely at the Bristol Show!!!!

Phil

1982 - Dutch pressing...

Eliane Elias - Everything I love

Apart from her singing on three tracks, this is a good jazz album.

By Wayne Burrows and Paul Isherwood: a new purchase on CD. Electronica, exotic atmospheres and some Link Wray guitar. Excellent.

Clive B posted:

ted_p posted:

Steve Hillage

Green

This is the first time in my life that I listen to a Steve Hillage album, halfway through the album and I like what I am hearing, classic seventies prog rock.

Edward

It is indeed a very fine album. Play it again - it gets under your skin! For your next venture I'd possibly recommend Live Herald. It may be live, but the SQ is excellent. If you're more keen on studio albums, I really like Fish Rising and Motivation Radio. 

Hi Clive B

Thank you for your recommendations.     

I am in Glasgow, will pop into HMV and Fopp  to see if they have a copy of "Live Herald". 

I have added  "Fish Rising and Motivation Radio" to my list of must buy albums.

Edward

Back to that Japanese CD box. Here's the group's definitive statement - a sprawling collection of almost every kind of Zepmusic imaginable. As with all the other CDs in this sert, it sounds stunning:

Filipe posted:

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976) - CD - Hejira marks the start of her journey toward a jazz style. 

My journey to Oxfam on Thursday was also rewarding: this one, 3 Pink Floyd, 1 Genesis (... and then there were three ( 1977 remastered 2007), The Doobie Brothers - Excitement, and Louis Armstrong - 49 Original Recording (£0.99).

This is showing potential with the demo 252 - probably a fuller sound than the 282 at the moment. I think I am going to like Hejira a lot when the 252 burns-in more in a week or so. 

Phil

Sounds like you have a good Oxfam, or maybe it's because fewer people are buying stuff there currently. But Hejira sounds beautiful on any replay equipment. It's my favourite Joni studio album. Enjoy!

Maestro - Blue Note trip

Tabby cat posted:

lola20124 posted:

Pink Floyd - The final cut

Nice pic Lola20124

Out of interest are you useing a Technics ?

I use a Technics  SL1210  with stock arm and a Linn K9 on mine and just love its ease of set up - start up times - its so nicely engineered and robustI also use a LP12 which is all most the opposite of the Techie.As you have to treat it like a baby in terms of set up.Have had both decks over 25 years and have to say the Linn has been back to my dealer for a few services...oil - springs inspection etc.When it went a bit off soundwise,but the Technics has always been so consistant sound wise.The pitch stability is superb and it the bass is very taught compared to the LP12.

Both great Decks.....Love them... both Legendary decks

 

Thank You. Yes it is a technics sl1210 mk2 the one with the thick rubber mat. Never heard an linn K9 but i read somewhere that it is a higher spec at95, love those. Now playing Donna summer - wanderer on a reloop with a at95 shibata.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGvNWy62fa4

Clifford Jordan - Live at Ethell's

Good jazz from Clifford Jordan. Live recording from 1987.

Clive B posted:

Filipe posted:

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976) - CD - Hejira marks the start of her journey toward a jazz style. 

My journey to Oxfam on Thursday was also rewarding: this one, 3 Pink Floyd, 1 Genesis (... and then there were three ( 1977 remastered 2007), The Doobie Brothers - Excitement, and Louis Armstrong - 49 Original Recording (£0.99).

This is showing potential with the demo 252 - probably a fuller sound than the 282 at the moment. I think I am going to like Hejira a lot when the 252 burns-in more in a week or so. 

Phil

Sounds like you have a good Oxfam, or maybe it's because fewer people are buying stuff there currently. But Hejira sounds beautiful on any replay equipment. It's my favourite Joni studio album. Enjoy!

Clive, I pop in most weeks when visiting my son’s family. Best to be the early bird! This shop tends to charge a bit more, but they come from good homes! And after all the money is going to charity.

Phil

Earlier this afternoon...