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;
On vinyl...
On vinyl...
Continuing in the Canterbury vein, Hatfield and the North first album. Finally starting to appreciate this after a number of tries over what must be in excess of 25 years!
A + | Transcoded DSD
(2016)
Yello's latest, a pair whose music always makes me smile. 
on original CD. It's a miracle!
Vinyl
Why? Time for a little visit to the past, as it's a New Year...
steve
I don't play this much as it's not my usual taste in music but when I do I'm always impressed.
CD.
1969 - Vinyl - UK second pressing...
Following on from the Feelgoods, and Daltrey / Wilko ............some more old skool R 'n B.
I know, I know, I keep posting this one, but it's awfully good, innit.
Wonderful recording of The Nutcracker, excellent sound quality, a bit fast in places but play loud and hold on tight!
The latest addition to my Diana Krall album collection. As with the others, the reproduction quality is excellent.
1973 - Double vinyl - UK first pressing...
Lilya Zilberstein - Ravel/Debussy
4D CD
Motorhead - Motorhead.
Staying with the old skool rock ' roll .................. quite LOUD!
After a detour via John Martyn, it's onto this album to finish off my evenings listening.
Melody Gardot - My One And Only Thrill
Otis Taylor - White African.
I know I've posted this several times before, but if there's a more atmospheric modern blues album out there, I've yet to find it.
Any fans of John Lee Hooker can't fail to love this.......... it's out there on Tidal ...................so PLEASE ................ have a listen.
Off to the music room now, so, nighty night. 
Stephen Bishop-Kopvacevich - Greig / Schuman Piano Concertos.
CD
LP1, on vinyl...
Chopin: Late Works (opp. 59-64) - Maurizio Pollini (piano)
So here is the latest recording of Maurizio Pollini. He was the winner of the 6th International Chopin Piano Competition (1960) and highly exalted around the world ever since. So why am I so flummoxed about this recording? I do not want to be disappointed but it seems my relationship with Pollini is already in divisive separation phase and headed for a bitter divorce. Keep in mind that this is only my opinion and I certainly do not want to tick off the many Pollini fans around. I have virtually every recording of his and am trying to reconcile our differences by honestly continuing to keep trying and giving him 2nd and 3rd and 4th chances.
I would like to think that I have a fairly large amount of latitude that I extend to every performer. Often, one can have a very good performance ruined simply by a poor recording. While the recording here is not something to write home about I will say that this is not the problem here. The problem is musical ideology.
And just like in the real world when you have a politician who pontificates his ideology on the hoi polloi (instead of just doing his job of listening to and protecting the interests of the people) it gets troublesome. This is how I am seeing Pollini now. The bottom line is that I have not heard (or care to remember) anyone who plays Chopin so mechanically and lifelessly. Sure it is a valid view but basically one that is the polar opposite to how I believe music should communicate meaning and some degree of emotion to explain the context. You won't find anything remotely close to that here which is simply clock in - play the notes - clock out.
Perhaps I am being a little bit too harsh here? I would love to hear the other side from any supporters to help me understand what I am missing here?
Now, fast forward to the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition (2015) and Seon-Jin Cho where you have a certain softness and idealism of reaching for beauty. The outcome is vastly different. You can sense a certain love for this music and a relationship between the composer and the interpreter. I simply do not understand Pollini's coldness or indifference to the music?
