What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIII)

Pale Sketcher. Demixed.  Ghostly international 2010

RA...." For fans of heavy music, Justin K. Broadrick is a household name. After stints in seminal UK grindcore band Napalm Death, industrial/metal outfit Godflesh, and dark dub duo Techno Animal (with Kevin Martin of The Bug / King Midas Sound), Broadrick re-emerged in 2002 as the leader of Jesu, a shoegaze-like metal project. Broadrick’s newest–and, to many purists, most controversial—venture is Pale Sketcher , in which the artist replaces guitars with synthesizers and drums with machines, but maintains his penchant for bleakly beautiful sounds ".

Now Playing.....

Michel Petrucciani, Steve Gadd, & Anthony Jackson - Trio in Tokyo

Michel Petrucciani (piano), Steve Gadd (drums), & Anthony Jackson (bass guitar)

A mention/recommendation from JEROEN20 regarding this jazz album and its availabilty on TIDAL was an easy decision to take it out for a spin. On the third track and enjoying this live recording quite a bit, very nice!

To go with a sunset and 30 degrees C:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0whroGzImg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0KvwcaJLLk

Car music this week:

https://video.search.yahoo.com...011&action=click

Franz Schubert (1797-1828):  Krystian Zimerman (piano)

Piano Sonatas D 959 & D 960

I have to spend more time with this album as my first listen left me with mixed feelings.  At times it seems perfect - technically, musically, spiritually.  But at other times it seems to lose me when the tempos start racing (to justify ones technical superiority?).  Other times where musical perfection takes over the true heart and soul of Schubert where the hurt and pain should triumph.  

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897):  Nelson Freire (piano)

Piano Sonata No. 3 in f minor op. 5 | Intermezzos op. 76 nos. 3 & 4, op. 116, no. 4, op. 117, no. 2, op. 118, no. 2 | Capriccio in d minor op. 116, no. 1 | Ballade in g minor op. 118, no. 3 | Klavierstuecke op. 119 | Waltz in A flat major op. 39, no. 15

Here is a pianist of par excellence.  I find so much wisdom in his playing.  In his gentle way he leads you in way that is so convincing that you cannot question it.  And in such excellent playing you would never get the feeling that he is showing you how skilled he is or has a need to do so like so many - only humbleness comes through which earns my greatest respect.  Recording quality is very good here and one can marvel at the tour de force of the piano sonata followed by his velvety touch in the intimate and graceful pieces that follow over and over.  Very nice indeed.

Now Playing......

Michael McDonald - The Last Day

Checking out another album released last year by Michael, enjoying the opening track.

Now Playing.......

Toni Amos - Night of Hunters 

Trying something a bit different this evening......

From the Tidal notes:  Tori Amos has attempted conceptual recordings as far back as Boys for Pele in 1996. It worked beautifully there, and on Scarlet's Walk, less so on The Beekeeper and American Doll Posse. Night of Hunters was created because of a commission by Deutsche Grammophon, to create a 21st century song cycle that took into account classical works from the last 400 years. She built it around 14 songs from variations on Bach, Debussy, Granados, Alkan, Satie, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Mussorgsky, and Gregorian chant. Its themes reflect the journey of a woman who finds herself in distress as a relationship dies, and must find inner strength to transcend her circumstances. Amos joined her voice and Bosendorfer piano with reeds, winds, and strings, arranged by John Philip Shenale. While her narrative can be frustratingly complex and her lyrics obscure, the work ultimately succeeds because she restrains herself from all excesses and employs her finest vocal and playing skills; the latter are, at this juncture, formidable. Shenale's arrangements take Amos' rhythmic playing into account in his charts; he complements them and never over-orchestrates. On "The Shattering Sea," based on an Alkan's "Madwoman on the Sea-Shore," strings by the Apollon Musagete Quartet pulse just behind her piano, creating drama underscored by reeds and winds. When she pronounces emphatically, "That is not my blood on the on the bedroom floor," the tension becomes unbearable. In "Snowblind" (based on a song by Granados), her character refuses to accept blame for the end of the relationship. Amos creates a mythical guide/Muse as balance: the fine vocals of her 11-year-old daughter Natasha as Anabelle the Fox make their initial appearance. "Battle of Tree," based on Satie's "Gnossienne No. 1," will demand attention from the listener who will be seduced by the interplay between voice, strings, reeds, and winds. "Cactus Practice," despite its ridiculous title, is one of the more beautiful pieces here; it's another vocal duet with Natasha, based on a Chopin nocturne. Likewise, their duet in "Job's Coffin," inspired by Mendelssohn's "Nautical Twilight." "Seven Sisters," the instrumental pairing of her piano and Andreas Ottensamer's clarinet -- inspired by a Bach prelude -- precedes "Carry," the most powerful (and accessible) cut. It's also the closer and is based on a prelude by Debussy. Night of Hunters is not a pop record and therefore claims a different place in her oeuvre. It contains the power and dynamics and splendor of her very best material, but because it is a work of classical crossover, any expectation of pop hooks or singalong choruses will be met with disappointment; consequently, its sophistication, elegance, and poetry will reward anyone who takes the proper time to absorb it. ~ Thom Jurek

Helene Grimaud - Reflectiions

Haim Ronen posted:

Car music this week:

https://video.search.yahoo.com...011&action=click

I'll have a listen. When Stefano B. stops being a monstrously gifted child at the piano and begins to play music, he's extraordinary.

Bert Schurink posted:

The last one before my operation....., will take a couple of days before you hear back from me...

 

All the best Bert, hope all goes well and wishing you a swift recovery.

Great album choice also!

Chunky posted:

nickpeacock posted:

seakayaker posted:

Now playing.....

John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts

Taking a lead from DAYJAY who mentioned this album, something new to me so I thought I would take it out for a spin......

.....interesting opening track, looking forward to the rest of the album. From the credits on Tidal he has a lot of backup vocalists & musicians.

Genius album IMHO. See him live in concert if you ever have the chance.

I've struggled with Pale Green Ghosts. I really like his album before this, Queen of Denmark. I'll have to give PGG another go.

PGG was my intro to John Grant. I then worked backwards to Queen of Denmark, which has some lovely tunes albeit without the angular slabs of electronica which make PGG so great IMHO.

London Grammar - If You Wait

Prompted by a letter from a friend.

Still a very enjoyable album.

Michel Petrucciani - Power of three

Very nice jazz by Michel Petrucciani, Jim Hall and Wayne Shorter.

From allmusic.com:

This is an all-star summit that works quite well. Pianist Michel Petrucciani, a major jazz musician who had already led 11 record dates by this time (despite still being only 23), teams up with guitarist Jim Hall at the 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival for two lyrical duets: the altered blues "Careful," in which they comp exquisitely behind each other's solos, and "In a Sentimental Mood." Petrucciani and Hall are joined by Wayne Shorter on soprano and tenor for "Limbo," "Morning Blues," and the calypso "Bimini," and these songs feature some of Shorter's finest jazz playing of the era. Highly recommended. [A video/DVD was also released.]

Berlioz: Grande Messe des Morts, Op. 5 (Requiem): LSO/Sir Colin Davis—a 24/96 download sounding absolutely stunning played through my Uniti Nova.

This was recorded from live performances given as part of the City of London Festival in June 2012, played in St Paul's Cathedral. It was the last performance Sir Colin (a Berlioz interpreter par excellence) was to give of that work for he died later that year, aged 85. I was in the audience for one of the two performances and it was an unforgettably intense emotional experience—all the feelings and memories of which flood back to me as I listen to this wonderful recording.

Stephen

Enigma variations, Sir Neville Marriner

Why? Its a real treat on the black stuff & my system plays it very well.

Mighty Mo Rodgers - Blues Is My Wailin' Wall

...and now Altered Five Blues Band - Charmed & Dangerous

If you like you Blues with some edge, give these a go.

Thanks Ewe for unearthing these two belters.

(2014)

Midnight Choir

Checking out this unknown band for me. They sound a bit like the Jayhawks.

(1st September)

I have enjoyed Mogwai since the day they kicked off with Young Team twenty years ago. Their new one is a solid album but has yet to grab me in the way their earlier albums always did. More spins required, obviously. 

nigelb posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

The last one before my operation....., will take a couple of days before you hear back from me...

 

Swift recovery Bert.

All the best.

N

Thanks all for the kind wishes. However I am back home again without the operation. There was a long operation and 3 emergency cases, which had priority I will be forced to challenge my nerves a second time on coming Friday...