What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2017
2017 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread can be found here;
ted_p posted:Fish
13th Star - Tidal HiFi
Next
Vigil in Wilderness of Mirrors - Tidal HiFi
Simon thank you for your recommendations,on first listen "13th star" very good album, that will grow on me with more plays, "A Feast of Consequences" is the better album on first listen. Now listen to "Vigil in Wilderness of Mirrors", Will be buying more albums from fish in the next few days.
Edward
This is what I love about this thread, so much music to discover and like you I have Tidal to try it on, It's a Win Win. Let us know what you think of "Vigil"
UIK first press from 1987. Has the Sylv ever written a more lovely song than "Let The Happiness in"?
Having an evening of vinyl, with these LPs so far
This is certainly growing on me
Another of my favoured Mark Black albums.
This is a terrific album from a really interesting trio.
I made a point of going down to the basement to retreive an album which I haven't listened to for at least five years:
Cyril, Gone through Years, Tidal.
Melodic Prog Rock with hints of Big Big train. Very enjoyable it is too.
Not often my son and I agree on modern music but we both love this. Great rhythm and full of atmosphere. Black Beatles by Rae Sremmund
Cesar Franck: Bertrand Chamayou (piano) | Olivier Latry (harmonium) | Stephane Deneve / Royal Scottish National Orchestra
On the shelf anyway, Faure and Franck always seem to get mixed up. Of course, both start with "F" and both are French. As of late, both Franck and Faure have been on my have to listen to list. On this day, this is the disc that starts the next section from where Faure left off. So this seemed enough reason as any to choose it.
The Prelude, Choral and Fugue is one of those pieces of music that needs no explaining. It is just a perfectly conceived work. Give me this work along with the Prelude, Fugue & Variations, the Violin (Cello) Sonata, and the Piano Quintett in f-minor and I can easily believe this world is a better place than it really is (at least temporarily). The sound world in this music immediately takes me back into a world that doesn't exist (at least today).
It is nice to have the orchestral works on this disc as this is not so usual. To end is a treat, with the Prelude, Fugue and variations in a version that combines piano and harmonium which just seems so typically French. This is music that I will have to remember if I am ever lucky enough to travel through France and walk around or sitting on a bench somewhere just merely contemplating things.
Felix Mendelssohn: Bertrand Chamayou (piano)
Just as with the Franck, Chamayou has chosen a really nice program here with Mendelssohn. Leaning a little more to the virtuosic side there is a lot of energy here and Chamayou in his youthfulness delivers.
It is nice to just listen and receive the intended affect but then there is a side of me that is curious as to just how any of this is possible. When I worked on Mendelssohn's d-minor Piano Trio this was my first exposure to what Mendelssohn is really all about. In two words, simply light and fast. The effect can feel like Chipmunks on steroids in the wrong hands. With Chamayou's solid dexterity everything is believable though with unwavering conviction.
If I compare Chamayou to Javier Perianes you will hear some differences in approach but this may be mainly due to a different recorded sound (Naive vs Harmonia Mundi) and in choice of pieces. Perianes tending more to the Songs without Words so in general you have a softer, dreamier approach overall.
A very impressive recording.
1985 - really?
Vinyl
CD
On vinyl and sounding great!! 
On vinyl, on the Naim label...great cover version of Rock n Roll Suicide!!
Van Halen. Eponymous debut (1978). On remastered HDCD from 2000. Quite accomplished for a debut album. Back in the day I found Eddie's tapping and fast fingering a bit overly flamboyant, possibly distracting. In retrospect, I've come to appreciate his style and the signature sound his artistry provided to the band through time and lead singer changes.
My morning ritual piano at breakfast before going to work, I have selected an excellent one for this morning...
(1991)
A perfect antidote to this morning's weather.
This is a lovely CD full of different moods /songs in both french and english underpinned by some brilliant electronic mood music..
This 1972 soul funk album from Mr Hayes... Why because its brilliant.
Double vinyl..
A+ | Transcoded DSD
(1989)
Its been going around in the car for a little while, so "getting it out" for an uninterrupted play.