what was the last cd you bought?

First Iyer after reading an article about him in the Chicago Tribune. I chose and older solo recording to get the essence of the unfamiliar artist.

Released today.

Looking forward to hear how my favourite fiddle player plays Bartok.

Their music has passed me by so I thought I would start here to catch up.

Came today: Jon Hassell, "City Works of Fiction [Expanded Version]" - a 3-CD set at the ludicrous price of £11. Looking forward to hearing it - being that I've lost the ability to play vinyl

Streaming | FLAC rip

Top album Steve. " Keep the Streets Empty for Me"   is one of my  favourite tracks. Enjoy it!

I agree Tony. I have enjoyed it a lot on Spotify and Qobuz over the past 6 months and was missing it (once I dropped the service) so just had to get the CD back home to rip. 

Alt-J's sophmore effort might not be the equal to their brilliant debut, but I still think it's a wonderful listen. Such a unique sound!

The Head and The Heart - indie folk/rock band from Seattle. Saw them live last Saturday, and immediately ordered both of their CDs.  Beautiful music!

Hook, great news on the Alt-J, it has been ordered. I groaned slightly at the Pitchfork review but then they also hated the first one. Fools!

How is the second Head and the Heart album?

My purchases this week two crackers, both exactly what you want from the respective artists.

Leonard Cohen: Popular Songs

Tweedy: Sukierae

All SHM SACD's 

Hi Bruce -

Let's Be Still is more of the same:  good, honest folk/rock with fine playing, high energy and beautiful harmonies. Was really impressed by their live performance. Real stage presence without one bit of pretense or preciousness. This was outdoors with about 15,000 people -- would love to see them perform in a small theater with great acoustics!

ATB.

Hook

PS - I like Wilco a lot, so thanks for the Tweedy reminder!

Thanks for the Alt-J info Hook. I love 'Wave', so shall check out the new long-player.

Any thoughts on the recording quality compared to 'Wave'?

John.

Like most double albums Tweedy could be edited down to one disc I think; but it is still great

Hi John -

To my ears, it's similar to An Awsome Wave -- the sound quality is high, and the album was thoughtfully produced.

Of course, as before, they do intermix a lot of different sounds and techniques -- finger-picked electric guitar, strange sounding synths, and lots of different percussion -- and they also use a lot of distortion effects.  So it's really not until you hear some of the more acoustic parts, or the a capella vocals, that you can tell that overall, it was really well-recorded.

Also, I think it is a classic example of a "grower" album.  I think the later songs of the album are the strongest, and it's like the whole album builds up towards them.  The opening songs are interesting, but took me a couple of listens to appreciate. 

Also, just FYI, as with their first album, there's a hidden song. When I ripped Let's Be Still, the last song, Leaving Nara, was only 3 minutes long. But the last track ripped as 16 minutes long. IIRC, the hidden song starts at the 12 minute mark, so there's about a 9 minute gap that can be skipped.

ATB.

Hook

I have the new Alt-J long-player 'This is All Yours'. Thanks for your thoughts on it Hook.

It continues to spread the marmite - delightfully and innovatively for me. A worthy successor to 'Wave' as the legendary difficult second album.

And praise be! - the recording quality is not terrible, scoring an '8' on the dynamic range database.

John.

+1 to everything said above. Wave is an awesome album and  very innovative when released. I have played  TIAY a few times but have not enjoyed as much but I'm sure it will grow on me. The boys are certainly very creative. 

Dando shaft - Dando shaft and Aphex Twin - syro - both great in their own way, Aphex twin sounds absolutely amazing on the naim system....

From 2006 Lugano Festival

Today, bought from a UK-based, UK taxpaying online outlet which was three quid cheaper than a certain tax-avoiding outlet named after a large South American river...

As a little treat to myself, I decided to buy some early 18th century small ensemble music, and chanced upon this hybrid SACD at HMV "Bond Street". I've heard very good things about this Couperin disc, so I'm looking forward to it.

Kevin!

Lovely music, and I am sure that you will be drawn into its expressive world.

I have the old DHM recording of the Colegium Aureum playing it, from the mid-1970s. On LP that was a BASF release, of which I had several at one time!

I still get a kick out of it after completely knowing what comes next!

ATB from George

Cheers George

I adore French music, and French Baroque especially. I know a few of these pieces, and like them very much. The reviews of this disc when it came out nine or so years ago were ecstatic, so I am looking forward to giving it a spin.