naimcd044
Posted by: Sloop John B on 03 May 2006
As Fred is of this parish, I thought his CD deserved more than a mention on the "what are you listening to" thread.
This is a hugely enjoyable album. I've listened to it about 6 times today and each listening brings more from it (as it should with good albums)
On first listening this morning I thought "well that's a pleasant album", nice lounge piano jazz. Then I turned up the volume, this is a CD that really needs and excels after 9 o'clock on the dial.
Fred may be a nice guy and there is plenty of joy here, but also wistfullness and menace among many moods.
Anytime Valentine starts as if it's to be a slow love song only to change temp very quickly into a tune that soars, ebbs then soars again. It has a great "bite" and propulsion.
Track 2 Poetspeak is one of 2 beautiful tunes on this album, Love comes quietly being the other. The bass playing on these really adds to their beauty, sometimes I feel bass solo's sound like they are playing a totally different tune to the piano, not so here.
"Tell me your story" and "Yes I said Yes I will yes" are 2 other up tempo numbers that benefit from the volume. Yes being particularly joyous without being twee. No maybes here.
Old Folks apparently is a standard and it certainly swings along nicely. Dreamhouse that last track would be another big favourite, wonderful, with a hint of menace (to my ears)
The Listening Well is about the only tune that doesn't float my boat too much, I find the beat hard to follow in it and I'm a rhythm man, although it does with interesting drama.
All in all, I'm very impressed with this album and glad I bought it. I know most of the forum probably has this since it came out, but if you don't I would strongly recommend it. Give it a few listens and turn up that volume.
And of course being a Naim CD the sound is pretty damn near perfect.
SJB
This is a hugely enjoyable album. I've listened to it about 6 times today and each listening brings more from it (as it should with good albums)
On first listening this morning I thought "well that's a pleasant album", nice lounge piano jazz. Then I turned up the volume, this is a CD that really needs and excels after 9 o'clock on the dial.
Fred may be a nice guy and there is plenty of joy here, but also wistfullness and menace among many moods.
Anytime Valentine starts as if it's to be a slow love song only to change temp very quickly into a tune that soars, ebbs then soars again. It has a great "bite" and propulsion.
Track 2 Poetspeak is one of 2 beautiful tunes on this album, Love comes quietly being the other. The bass playing on these really adds to their beauty, sometimes I feel bass solo's sound like they are playing a totally different tune to the piano, not so here.
"Tell me your story" and "Yes I said Yes I will yes" are 2 other up tempo numbers that benefit from the volume. Yes being particularly joyous without being twee. No maybes here.
Old Folks apparently is a standard and it certainly swings along nicely. Dreamhouse that last track would be another big favourite, wonderful, with a hint of menace (to my ears)
The Listening Well is about the only tune that doesn't float my boat too much, I find the beat hard to follow in it and I'm a rhythm man, although it does with interesting drama.
All in all, I'm very impressed with this album and glad I bought it. I know most of the forum probably has this since it came out, but if you don't I would strongly recommend it. Give it a few listens and turn up that volume.
And of course being a Naim CD the sound is pretty damn near perfect.
SJB
John,
You wil probably enjoy this as well. Different vibe but really grows on you.
Regards
Nic
You wil probably enjoy this as well. Different vibe but really grows on you.
Regards
Nic
John, thanks so much for the very kind words and glowing review. You are obviously a very astute and wise listener with exquisite taste, and folks here would do well to follow your sage advice.
A few thoughts ... I always recommend plenty of volume as well as full attention; it makes all the difference in the world. And if anyone is fortunate enough to own a Naim system, with proper volume and focus, these recordings will put you right in front of the band.
Good point about bass solos (brings to mind the old, un-PC joke about tourists in Africa nervously asking their host about the meaning of the menacing constant sound of distant drums, about which they're reassured "drums good" as long as they continue ... "Why, what happens if the drums stop?" "Bass solo."). Happily, the bassist on Dreamhouse is Kelly Sill, whose friendship and musical camaraderie I've enjoyed for more than 30 years. Given that, it's really saying something that I think his solo on Poetspeak in particular is probably the finest solo I've heard him take, and lucky me to have it on one of my albums.
And speaking of menace, yes, there's plenty of it in the stew of my music ... always a balance of light and dark, bitter and sweet. Wouldn't have it any other way.
The Listening Well quite intentionally avoids a regular propulsive beat for the most part; rather, it's an introspective rubato tone poem, almost entirely improvised.
Finally, Dreamhouse just wouldn't be the album it is without the stellar contribution of my wife, Sarah Allen, on drums ... eight months' pregnant at the time in sweltering un-air conditioned 95 degree heat, no less.
Thanks again for the tribute; I'm grateful.
All the best,
Fred