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;
Rota | Desyatnikov: Polina Osetinskaya (piano)
Polina Osetinskaya is really one of the Godsend discoveries for me this year. Her album called "Lullabies" and then an album of Tchaikovsky sealed the deal for me. You see listening to someone play, for me, is similar to listening or overhearing someone speak (especially if they don't know you are listening to them). You can get a real impression of them rather quick then. What I hear with Polina is a real focus on the true meaning of the music that one would pursue if you were alone in a room and only playing for yourself and your own values. This is why we connect so well. I am not a fan of race horse playing or anything that resembles a spectacle and appeals essentially to the boorish masses who only simply want to be entertained.
What I am learning is that in her own account of things she started out as a Russian "Wunderkind" led around by her manager Father. I would say maybe a child Yuja Wang or girl version of Lang Lang (ie. virtuosic yet entirely more musical than these two examples)? Then she cut ties with Dad and pursued music seriously on her own. She studied with the likes of Marina Wolf and Vera Gornostayeva.
This album is really an album that consists largely of movie music. What attracts me most is the Suite from Federico Fellini's Casanova film. A set of seven pieces it really inspires my visual side. I would go as far to say that it reminds me of music such as Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition which prod the imagination.
(1992)
Good stuff while doing the rather long winded preparations for and then the stirring of a mushroom risotto, it's usually worth the effort though. 
Uk first press vinyl. I was talking to a friend earler about my disastrous encounter with Mr Reed about the time this album was released. At least I can laugh about it now...
Happy Listener posted:Smooth jazz vocals from Stacey with great backing - it's not orchestral in the full sense. On vinyl (2 x LPs), with excellent repro.
Bizarrely, a well-known on-line site has the vinyl listed at ~£38 but 'Other Sellers' have it at ~£15 (the single CD is only £8). I'm convinced there is only one version of the vinyl issuance. I reported this disparity a week or so back but nothing's changed.
At ~£15, I think this is a steal - of course YMMV.
The "Deluxe" version was available for download from Qobuz at £10:79 in 24-bit/44.1 kHz for subscibers when I bought it exactly a month ago. Now at £11:99 or £18:99 for non-subscribers.
The Deluxe version has 14 tracks, the latter two (Le Soleil Noir and The Ice Hotel) as "bonus" tracks and a total running time of about 1hr 18 mins.
Enough of the facts, it's really rather good!
Happy listening,
Vlad
Mine is the Japanese 'LP replica' CD version.
I was prompted to play some Zep during my visit this afternoon to stock up on wine at Majestic in Redhill. Curiously a Zep compilation was playing in the store, and even more curiously the young lady who served me clearly knew the band when I mentioned who was playing.
Gordon Lightfoot
Massey Hall Moments: All Live
Edward
More Zep had to follow. Why this one? Because Black Dog was the first song I noticed they were playing in the wine store.
Miranda Cuckson (violin), Blair McMillen (piano) - "Bartok, Schnittke, Lutpslawski" on ECM New Series
An album so brilliantly complete in every way. Nothing need added or taken away.
G
GraemeH posted:
An album so brilliantly complete in every way. Nothing need added or taken away.
G
Save for reproduction quality, Graeme? I've always found Stones albums a bit lacking in that department. I heard somewhere that none of the band were too bothered with that side of things.
Tidal. Anne Bisson - Blue Mind
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): The Piano Trios - Oliver Schnyder Trio
This music (and all classical music) still sends shivers down my spine but this is where chamber music started for me about 17 or 18 years ago now. These piano trios were the very first works we worked on as a new trio. Intimidating then, I still stand before them totally humbled.
An excellent and very enjoyable recording here.
MDS posted:GraemeH posted:
An album so brilliantly complete in every way. Nothing need added or taken away.
G
Save for reproduction quality, Graeme? I've always found Stones albums a bit lacking in that department. I heard somewhere that none of the band were too bothered with that side of things.
Maybe,then, they were too “stoned” to give a shit, Mike and the people listening to it were probably on the same wavelength.
PS. “can’t you hear me knocking” always gets in the mood and SQ is the last thing on my mind although, these days, I rather listen to the original pressing than the horrid digital and streaming equivalent.
A very fine sounding boot of The Pink Floyd as John Peel used to call them. These sets were just prior to them releasing Meddle and while they were refining the album.
4 hours of rock 'n' roll
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Mono version.
Deja vu ?
Al Stewart - Time Passages
MFSL Vinyl
Released 1978
Steely Dan - Aja
200 gram vinyl - Japan
They got a name for the winners in the world
I want a name when I lose
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide
Call me Deacon Blues