What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIV)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2017
On the eve of a new year, it's time for a new thread.
Last year's thread can be found here:
New recordings of the Arvo Pärt symphonies. The older ones are new to me, and totally different to Symphony no. 4, which I already know well. It’s fascinating to hear them one after the other to experience the change of style.
Khung Wha Chung - Beethoven Violin Concerto - From double CD of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Sibelius Violin Concertos
Just amazed at how beautiful this work is sounding. There is detail and emotion. The four together worth the Bruch and the Berg are my favourites.
Phil
APC-Eat The Elephant
Loud before work. Now waiting on a new Tool album this year too. 
Van Morrison - Roll With The Punches.
Van gets back to his R 'n B roots with this one, ably assisted by Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Jeff Beck and Paul Jones, among others.
There may be some repetition of recent posts from me over the next few days , as I'm still gobsmacked at the uplift in SQ on my NDS,
following the recent 4.6 firmware update, which means I'm re-visiting favourite albums with an entirely fresh ear. 
spurrier sucks posted:APC-Eat The Elephant
Loud before work. Now waiting on a new Tool album this year too.
What do you think about this one, Spurrier' ?
Playing on Compact Disc - A must have in any collection
Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson just nice easy listening well recorded.
Now Playing..........
Vanessa Rubin - Pastiche
Streaming on NAS.......... Starting Friday Morning with Vanessa's sweet voice and accompanying orchestra providing some nice swing to get me moving........
Sade: Lovers Live - Sony Music Distribution Japan CD Rip
The Amazing - Ambulance
Checking out this, for me, unknown band. Sounds rather good!
For a set of contemplative rock that brings to mind words like "reverie" and "tapestry," look no further than Ambulance, the Amazing's fourth LP and follow-up to Picture You. It picks up where that album left off, perhaps slightly more introverted in demeanor, but with equally elegant guitar work by their three guitarists. That, along with Christoffer Gunrup's intimate murmur, and tasteful keyboard and drum reinforcement, seems to transport it to a state of suspended twilight. The album's eight tracks were captured live in one room at Stockholm's Buller & Bäng studio with minimal rehearsing. Per usual for the Amazing, who make a habit of not publishing lyrics and refusing to discuss meaning or process, little else was revealed about the work other than that the players relied heavily on improvisation. This is the impression of the title track, which floats over a repeated drum rhythm. Electric guitars and a shimmering blend of vocal effects, piano, and string tones offer little to add to a clear perception of structure before the song fades to a close. However, the album avoids getting lost in a haze of sameness. "Blair Drager" has a distinct groove and eerier guitar effects. The guitar twang on "Floating" accompanies a sweeter melody as well as chord progressions with palpable motion. "Moments Like These" brings acoustic guitar picking to a folkier entry, and "Through City Lights" is almost sparse in comparison to the rest. Still, the Amazing have found a balance to their sound that not only sets them apart, but also presides over the album, even given these variations. The whole work hits like a long-forgotten memory. Fans of Picture You, or of wistful atmosphere in general, will want to dig deep into Ambulance, and, to its credit, will find the room to do so.
Last couple of hours in the office - What better than Rocking out with some DC - Playing on Compact Disc - 1995
Dhafer Youssef - Diwan of beauty and odd
Nice jazz with African influences. Dhafer Youssef is a Tunisian composer, singer and oud player.
Now Playing........
Steven Wilson - Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Streaming from TIDAL........ With mentions of the past couple of days, I placed this in the queue and taking out for spin....... Sounding mighty fine!
Someone posted this the other day and I commented that I really only like the opening song with Johnny Cash, but I thought I’d give it a spin anyway. I was wrong and now I’m not sure why I had mixed feelings about it previously - it’s all good!
Riversea, Out Of An Ancient World.
This is a new band to me and I am enjoying this album quite a bit. Smooth vocals, well written songs and lyrics, this is a Neo-Prog band worth checking out. Released in 2012 with a follow up due soon.
How to follow Bob Dylan? More Bob Dylan, of course. This one is perfect for hot sunny spring days.
Brad Mehldau trio - Anything goes
(Released today)
A Perfect Circle - The Elephant In The Room
My first listen to this and just a couple of tracks in it has all the hallmarks of being another fine APC album, M.J. Keenan's voice sounding as sweet and captivating as ever, just a shame that we have had to wait fourteen years for it!
Tabby cat posted:Last couple of hours in the office - What better than Rocking out with some DC - Playing on Compact Disc - 1995
I would have enjoyed working in your office Ian 
After a very busy week at work this will do rather nicely.
A great album, which for me, contains the most perfect pop song - Drive.
The Cars - Heartbeat City
