What are you listening to? (Vol VII)

Black Dub, they will play London on Aug 1st.

Josh T Pearson, on Spotify

My Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (RSD ten-inch) just arrived, but it will stay virgin.     

On CD:-

Country meets big band!!

Arrived today!

Edit: first impression is that Hamelin has made quite a formidable recording of the great b-minor sonata. The music calls for a kaleidoscope of colours and ebb and flow of intensity, within a huge, single tension arch and superimposed on an (initially barely recognisable) four-movement sonata form. Hamelin rivals Zimerman in his management of the ebb and flow - his quiet passages are wonderfully done (compare with the recent Grimaud and it's apparent why her approach isn't as successful), the loud passages are huge without loss of control. Two elements which I feel add personality to this reading: some mildly excessive rubato which I don't mind but does attract attention to itself - here he yields to Pogorelich' mastery - and a feeling that Hamelin often consciously scales back and restrains himself. There usually is a payoff when he does let rip but in the sonata, the music arch provides limited room for such release. Minor quips - I love the music and I feel that Hamelin on the whole does it full justice.

The above are just impressions, I will definitely return to this disc often. As for Hamelin, he's joined the ranks of the greats in my book.

Cheers,

EJ

More vinyl from Ben's

Doug, Haim, do you have this young man on your radar screens? Every record I've heard of him is very good, this one no exception. Recorded sound is also fantastic. 

EJ

Somehow this one comes out a bit too far on the easy-listening side the scale.

Disc 2 - Piano Sonata in A minor & Piano Sonata in D major.

Cheers

Flettster

Cheers

Flettster

On 180gm vinyl:-

The above is a promo copy with a great warning label:

Do not trade for ass, gas or grass.