Will Ackerman 'Retrospective'
Way back in the late Jurassic period I used to buy LP's (and I'm one of the few who keep buying CD's, so I suppose I'm still a dinosaur).
Anyway, one day I bought a sampler album called 'An Invitation to Windham Hill' from a new label who were aiming to make high-quality recordings of primarily acoustic music. Label founder Will Ackerman was one of the artists featured there and in a fit of nostalgia I have got hold of a collection from his early output.
Timeless, gorgeous music. Mainly guitar-based with a lovely flowing precision to the playing. Not quite folk, not quite jazz but delicate and entrancing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIi3y7B ... pp=desktop
Windham Hill got a lot of stick for their 'New Age' stance but, 30 years on, the music stands up for itself.
Your last listen
- Fretless
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Re: Your last listen
Upstairs:
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Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
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Re: Your last listen
Kronos Quartet 'Pieces of Africa'
Reading through an article by Steve Guttenberg a while ago, I saw that this album from the highbrow Kronos Quartet was one of his favourite system-testing discs. A distant memory surfaced that I had once picked the CD up in a sale but never actually got around to playing it, a brief search didn't unearth it so I gave up looking. Well, during a thorough sort-out of the total mess that my Classical CD collection has turned into (mostly now in boxes in the attic) I have found it and so it is time to have a proper listen.
The premise of the project was that The Kronos Quartet, mainly known for their adventurous interpretations of contemporary compositions, were commissioned to make a record of pieces written by modern African composers. Something comparable to what Paul Simon did with 'Graceland'.
Well this album is a very pleasant surprise and not just for the production quality (which is excellent, if you're interested). The music is joyous and vibrant. The Kronos strings dance through ethnic-based melodies and are occasionally joined by tribal drummers and African singers, The juxtaposition (long word of the week) of their precision playing and the sun-drenched atmosphere creates something very special here. There is also an underlying magic and mystery that hints at the power of the continent.
Perfect hot summer listening:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=O ... 3WFfegbTRE
And a must for Steve Reich fans.
Reading through an article by Steve Guttenberg a while ago, I saw that this album from the highbrow Kronos Quartet was one of his favourite system-testing discs. A distant memory surfaced that I had once picked the CD up in a sale but never actually got around to playing it, a brief search didn't unearth it so I gave up looking. Well, during a thorough sort-out of the total mess that my Classical CD collection has turned into (mostly now in boxes in the attic) I have found it and so it is time to have a proper listen.
The premise of the project was that The Kronos Quartet, mainly known for their adventurous interpretations of contemporary compositions, were commissioned to make a record of pieces written by modern African composers. Something comparable to what Paul Simon did with 'Graceland'.
Well this album is a very pleasant surprise and not just for the production quality (which is excellent, if you're interested). The music is joyous and vibrant. The Kronos strings dance through ethnic-based melodies and are occasionally joined by tribal drummers and African singers, The juxtaposition (long word of the week) of their precision playing and the sun-drenched atmosphere creates something very special here. There is also an underlying magic and mystery that hints at the power of the continent.
Perfect hot summer listening:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=O ... 3WFfegbTRE
And a must for Steve Reich fans.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- CN211276
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Re: Your last listen
The Beatles - Revolver
The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup
The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
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Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
- Fretless
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Re: Your last listen
"The Beatles and the Stones
Made it good to be alone"
Made it good to be alone"
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
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Re: Your last listen
"We never got it off with that revolution stuff".
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
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Re: Your last listen
What a drag,
Too many snags.
Too many snags.
Somebody’s telling me the latest scandals.
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
- Fretless
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Re: Your last listen
Strange how a Britpop anthem from The House of Love suddenly mutates into a Bowie-written hit for Mott the Hoople.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
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Re: Your last listen
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- karatestu (Sun Aug 09, 2020 2:27 pm)
Somebody’s telling me the latest scandals.
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
- SteveTheShadow
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Re: Your last listen
Entropy
- These users thanked the author SteveTheShadow for the post:
- Fretless (Sun Aug 09, 2020 12:45 pm)
Somebody’s telling me the latest scandals.
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
Somebody’s stepping on my plastic sandals. Joe Jackson (1979)
- CN211276
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Re: Your last listen
Uriah Heep - Living the dream
Deep Purple - Whoosh!
The Scorpions - Return to forever
Slash - Slash
Deep Purple - Whoosh!
The Scorpions - Return to forever
Slash - Slash
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc