CD suggestion of the day [Archive] - Audio & Video Forums

Demetrio

03-19-2009, 12:32 PM

Hey, folks, I have just got an idea (not any original idea, must admit): since we have already a topic about good DVDs & BDs, how about creating this place specifically for us to share suggestions of CDs we think are worth recommending to everybody else?

Any genre, so that we can make this topic the most eclectic possible.

Let’s also try, whenever it’s possible, to give some description of the disc we are recommending, all right? From my part I will try to do my best, in spite of my poor English.

I will start the game suggesting this very beautiful CD, one of my current favorites:

PROJECT LO – Black Canvas

http://www.guitarnine.com/image/blackcanvasmini.jpg

Tracklist:

1. Black Canvas I
2. Mercy Street
3. Rajah
4. Your Mind
5. Tolerance - Acceptance – Transformation
6. Perfection
7. Retribution
8. D.I.E.
9. Black Canvas II

Project Lo is, in fact, a group/project joined by some musicians from LoLoRecords. The project is leaded by guitarist/keyboardist Bon Lozaga (ex-Gong, Gongzilla) and also joined by Brand X bassist Percy Jones, keyboardist J.Hatch, violinist Caryn Lin, vocalist Happy Rhodes, among others.

The music is calm and haunting at the same time, with very beautiful symphonic passages provided by violinist Caryn Lin, and also great performances of Percy Jones in the bass and Happy Rhodes with her haunting vocals, especially in their wonderful rendition of "Mercy Street", by Peter Gabriel (track 2).

Important to mention: this is also one of the best recorded cd’s I have listened to lately.

Details on this link:

http://www.lolorecords.com/project_lo.html

So, anybody else want to play? ;-)

Demetrio.

3-LockBox

03-19-2009, 03:02 PM

Linky no worky

If mellow is what is grabbing you lately, then you may like what I picked up not too long ago...

Mark Hollis' self-titled solo CD from '98. You may remember that Hollis is formerly of Talk Talk. This CD is very intimately recorded and sounds gorgeous. Very jazz oriented, yet atmospheric and moody. http://www.myspace.com/markhollisuk the second track is from the CD I mentioned.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre100/e142/e14231ylzsd.jpg

Auricauricle

03-19-2009, 03:23 PM

Whether you are a prog head or just love good music, there is no denying this is one of the most astonishing albums ever made. There are moments of extreme craziness and interludes of over-the-edge genius throughout this collection, and Collins, Pert, Goodsall, Jones and Lumley deliver the rundown with infectious glee. These are canny musicians who know their craft, and if you are in the mood for something different, you will like this one very much!

Demetrio

03-20-2009, 12:24 PM

Here's a true musical gem I want to suggest today:

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/OP-OP.jpg

Group: OCTOBER PROJECT
Title: October Project
Year: 1993
Genre: Art-Rock

Tracklist:

1. Bury My Lovely
2. Ariel
3. Where You Are
4. A Lonely Voice
5. Eyes of Mercy
6. Return to Me
7. Wall of Silence
8. Take Me As I Am
9. Now I Lay Me Down
10. Always
11. Paths of Desire
12. Be My Hero

One of the best things which happened in the music scene in the 90’s (that’s what I do think about this wonderful band), OCTOBER PROJECT released only two albums, by Sony/Epic Records (October Project, from 1993, and Falling Farther In, from 1995), before getting dumped by their record company in ‘96, when they simply broke up. Some of the band members formed a short-lived band called November Project, which released an EP of songs entitled A Thousand Days (1999), but they soon reverted back to their former name, releasing a self-produced CD entitled Different Eyes, in 2003.

The debut, self-titled release of the group, though, is the true musical gem I want to talk about here. This is simply one of the most beautiful albums I had the chance to listen to in all my life. It is mesmerizing, it is magical, it is mystical. Kind of vocal dominated symphonic rock, featuring a lush combination of keyboards, strings, percussion and guitars with emotive, gorgeous female vocals.

The lush instrumentation and the rich, pristine vocal harmonies provided by lead vocalist Mary Fahl, with her powerful, deep, mysterious voice, combined with backing vocalist Marina Belica’s sweet voice, are indeed the trademark of the music of October Project. You can dream, you can even cry, you can get totally mesmerized by listening to this wonderful stuff.

I find it hard to categorize or compare October Project's beautiful music, but I would say they sound to me like a mix of Renaissance (akin to their beautiful orchestral textures) with folk-rock à la Clannad, Capercaillie and Steeleye Span, and also some tinge of quiet music in the vein of Enya and Loreena McKennitt.

Demetrio.

Hyfi

03-20-2009, 12:52 PM

Hyfi

03-20-2009, 12:53 PM

Auricauricle

03-20-2009, 02:38 PM

With titles like Now I Lay Me Down and Bury My Lovely, it's gotta be good!

nobody

03-20-2009, 03:28 PM

<img src="http://www.dannybharvey.com/images/new_cd.gif">
<b>13 Cats</b>

The one and only rockabilly super-group, featuring former member of the Stray Cats, Slim Jim Phantom, Danny B. Harvey of the Swing Cats, Tim Wormen of the Polecats and Smutty Smith of The Rockats. So yeah, that basically tells you exactly what it sounds like. Good **** if this sorta thing is your bag. But c'mon, how can you not like a song called Teddy Boy Kung Fu Weapon?

unleasHell

03-22-2009, 09:07 AM

Recently discovered a band from Russia called VESPERO. Bought two of their CD's Rito (2007) & Foam (2008) from Synphonic, their newest release FOAM is actually released on a US label.

I can't stop listening to them both, they are a mix of Psychedelic, Prog and Space rock. Perhaps a blend of Korai Orom and Ole Lukkoye...

Great long songs with minimal cosmic female vocals, awesome percussion, cool guitars, synth's, some ethnic instruments as well.

The DPRP guys review them, but remember they only give 9's and 10's to prog-metal stuff, but they give them a couple some-what decent reviews..
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/v.html

Anyway here is another review:
http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=173084

and they have samples up on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/vesperomusic

Oh and they have a bunch of Videos on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0bk3AglPKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE4_K-8ZyeA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCNrhLnDd-o&feature=related

Demetrio

03-23-2009, 11:11 AM

Today's suggestion:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61lP5QL95HL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Huns & Dr. Beeker – The Middle of Somewhere

Tracklist:

1. A Day Like This
2. Cereal Girl
3. The Dew Drop Inn
4. Ponies
5. You Are the Best
6. Rosie
7. Cry Me a River
8. Second and Main
9. Company Man
10. How Lucky
11. Keeper of the Flame
12. Ghost Town
13. Lucy

HUNS & DR. BEEKER is an American duo from Burlington, WI, joined by Jon Hunsbusher (aka Huns) and Eric Erickson (aka Dr. Beeker).

The Middle of Somewhere, their unique release I know, is one of the most beautiful albums I have listened to in my life. It’s a wonderful combination of acoustic-driven compositions with gorgeous vocal harmonies and lush arrangements.

I came to know this stuff very casually, when I was navigating through internet pages about Chernobyl nuclear accident and suddenly found these two videos and the beautiful song played with them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbfsDAD-Hhk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lleQPaALSLo

I was totally blown away by that song and it touched me so deeply that I wanted to get the disc with it at that same moment. The song title is “Ghost Town”, a haunting tribute to the victims of that terrible nuclear disaster, as you’ll see on the videos above.

Samples of this great album available at these links:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/hunsbeeker

http://www.hunsanddrbeeker.com/music/?id=2

http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-of-Somewhere/dp/B0016LUE1W

Cheers,
Demetrio.

Dave_G

03-23-2009, 11:15 AM

Galahad - Sleepers. Heaven on cd. At least to me!

Dave

Auricauricle

03-23-2009, 11:27 AM

Demetrio

03-27-2009, 08:22 AM

My today’s suggestion:

http://i34.tinypic.com/fvfrbl.jpg

Group: NOSOUND
Title: Sol29
Year: 2005
Genre: Dream Prog

Tracklist:

1. In the White Air (6:57)
2. Wearing Lies on Your Lips (4:20)
3. The Child's Game (2:46)
4. The Moment She Knew (9:38)
5. Waves of Time (2:07)
6. Overloaded (6:13)
7. The Broken Parts (6:24)
8. Idle End (9:43)
9. Hope for the Future (5:57)
10. Sol29 (10:02)

Italian band leaded by multiinstrumentalist and composer Giancarlo Erra, also a former member of Porcupine Tree tribute band Redshift.

It is not a surprise, so, that Porcupine Tree is the main influence in the music of NOSOUND. Very specially the slow, more ambient sound of the early days of Porcupine Tree, of albums such as The Sky Moves Sideways and Up the Downstair. Their music also reminds a lot, of course, the sound of No-Man (another Steven Wilson side project, where he usually explores his more trippy / dream prog vein), featuring also some obvious influences of Pink Floyd, Bark Psychosis and Sigur Rós.

Sol29, released in 2005, was their debut complete album, and it is a great release from start to end. My favorite track in the album is “The Moment She Knew” (track 4), a 10-minute totally instrumental piece where the musical talent of Giancarlo Erra on the guitar (à la David Gilmour) really shines.

You can check a promo videoclip of this album at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y__lfperjSY

And a great performance of the song The Moment She Knew live here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzkdZZgyl8&feature=related

Cheers,
Demetrio.

Auricauricle

03-27-2009, 11:02 AM

...try this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOmSXROtzHs

Finch Platte

03-27-2009, 11:45 AM

Auricauricle

03-27-2009, 12:52 PM

Good call, Finchie! Here ya go....

http://www.last.fm/music/Brand+X/Moroccan+Roll

Demetrio

03-31-2009, 03:25 AM

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/751/b000exzhag02lzzzzzzz2jr.jpg

Group: PURE REASON REVOLUTION
Title: The Dark Third
Year: 2006
Genre: Progressive Rock

Line-up/Musicians:

Chloe Alper – Vocals, bass guitar
Andrew Courtney – Drums, percussion
Jon Courtney – Vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, programming
James Dobson – Vocals, keyboards, bass guitar, violin, programming
Gregory Jong – Guitars, vocals, keyboards
Jamie Willcox – Guitars, vocals

Tracklist:

1. Aeropause – 5:04
2. Goshen's Remains – 5:45
3. Apprentice of the Universe – 4:16
4. The Bright Ambassadors of Morning – 11:56
5. Nimos & Tambos – 3:44
6. Voices in Winter / In the Realms of the Divine – 6:35
7. Bullitts Dominae – 5:23
8. Arrival / The Intention Craft – 8:53
9. He Tried to Show Them Magic / Ambassadors Return – 13:14

PURE REASON REVOLUTION is a new progressive band from London. They released some EP's (Apprentice of the Universe, in 2004, and The Bright Ambassadors of Morning and The Intention Craft, in 2005) and a mini-album (Cautionary Tales for the Brave, also in 2005) before releasing their debut full length album, The Dark Third, in 2006.

I find the music of PRR very fresh and new, not sounding like any other band specifically, although we can find some sparse elements of Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Timothy Pure, Dredg, Yes e The Beach Boys in their music. Most notably Pink Floyd, as you can infer by the title of the track "The Bright Ambassadors of Morning" (with it’s clear reminiscences to Floyd’s Echoes suite), but fact is that the band manages very well to blend together the old and the new, making this album very modern sounding overall, even appearing to draw some interesting influences from the Indie scene as well (Dredg, Secret Machines, Arcade Fire, etc).

The album opens with "Aeropause", a spacey, trippy instrumental piece in the best Pink Floyd tradition, with Gilmour-inspired guitar work. The whole album flows very nicely and there are absolutely no fillers here, no bad tracks at all, making the experience of listening to this album very enjoyable and refreshing.

The vocals are shared by female and male vocalists, with some wonderful, gorgeous interplay between them. If you also enjoy pristine vocal harmonies, then you’ll also love this album, given that they are in abundance all over this awesome recording.

MySpace of the band:

http://www.myspace.com/purereasonrevolution

Demetrio.

3-LockBox

03-31-2009, 05:37 AM

I find the music of PRR very fresh and new, not sounding like any other band specifically, although we can find some sparse elements of Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Timothy Pure, Dredg, Yes e The Beach Boys in their music. Most notably Pink Floyd, as you can infer by the title of the track "The Bright Ambassadors of Morning" (with it’s clear reminiscences to Floyd’s Echoes suite), but fact is that the band manages very well to blend together the old and the new, making this album very modern sounding overall, even appearing to draw some interesting influences from the Indie scene as well (Dredg, Secret Machines, Arcade Fire, etc).

Well, if you liked that one, wait until you hear the new one!!!

http://www.alltunes.com/covers/p/pure_reason_revolution/amor_vincit_omnia/cover.jpg
Because all of those influences you just mentioned, especially Pink Floyd and Beach Boys, are non-existent on the new album, Amor Vincit Omnia, which couldn't be more different from Dark Third.

Instead, this is an album more akin to acts like '80s Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, New Order, Tom Tom Club, maybe even Human League to a degree. Yep, they've gone dance ambient on us. I actually like it though. This album wouldn't sound out of place if had been released back in 1985. But I can't imagine a release like this is going to endear them to their original fanbase...imagine if Porcupine Tree followed up their Inabsentia or Deadwing albums with On The Sunday Of Life. Like I said, I like it well enough, but I am remiss that there won't be a real follow-up to The Dark Third.

Demetrio

03-31-2009, 06:02 AM

Hi, 3LB,

Thanks for sharing your impressions about the new Pure Reason Revolution release. Must confess I was really expecting something in the same vein of the brilliant The Dark Third, but no problem at all, I will check it out anyway. ;-)

Cheers,
Demetrio.

Auricauricle

03-31-2009, 06:32 AM

Yeah, thanks, 3! Love stuff like this....Where's my Crystal Method: Vegas CD?

BarryL

03-31-2009, 08:21 AM

Any genre, so that we can make this topic the most eclectic possible.

Here's one I pulled out recently that I haven't listened to in years. B-Tribe's Spiritual Spiritual. It's kind of ambient spanish classical guitar music. This album, unlike the other four, is extremely ambient with only one vocal track. If you like Blade Runner, you'll like this. The third track, La Guitarra, is really a spanish classical guitar version of King Crimson's Epitaph.

Don't know how to upload the album cover.

Demetrio

03-31-2009, 09:30 AM

Hey, Barry, I love that B-TRIBE recording! Definitely one of my all-time favorites in the genre!!

Favorite tracks: "Sketches Of St. Antoni", "Matador de Sa Pena", "Sunset in St. Carlos" & "The Sun".

Cheers,
Demetrio.

Monkey Bones

03-31-2009, 11:19 AM

Hey, nice thread Demetrio with some cool choices coming up. One I'm listening to right now from last year that has turned into one of my most played recent favorites is the band with the silly name Dodos, and the intentionally misspelled album title, Visiter, no wonder this one got kind of overshadowed last year by the emergence of a bunch of other silly named bands. Anyway, I'll admit that I didn't give this one much of a chance last year, not sure why, maybe it just starts out kind of low key, maybe just in a strange mood, who knows? But I do know that it really started to click around the beginning of this year, because it is some very good and eclectic pop music, sometimes very melodic and accessible, other times noisy and adventurous, all the time with a nice sense of song craft, and nothing ever seems to unfold completely so you want to keep coming back. Like so many of the modern bands I like, a very healthy dose of the Kinks, sometimes pushing it toward the sound of that catchy Strokes' debut, but oftentimes more sophisticated, which moves it toward that Richard Davies sound some of us around here love. Fun CD, and nice to see that it actually wound up very high on many best of 2008 lists. Engineered by John Askew, who in his other job as the band Tracker, made a very cool little record a few years ago that I also love called Polk.

But here's one dear to my heart for the ambient crowd, from sometime in the mid 90s, Stalker by Robert Rich and B. Lustmord. Stark and beautiful, but also very dark and desolate. Amazing texture to the landscape. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the mid 90s Robert Rich CDs, they are all great. Seven Veils has that cool middle eastern sound, a little like Vas and Dead Can Dance, maybe Cul de Sac (another hot instrumental guitar and synth band that has made some very cool records with the Eno influence, though with some real appreciation and love for John Fahey too, couple of us often mention Crashes to Light around here), Stalker has the night and the fear, and Fissures with Alio Die is outstanding for its beauty, with both dark and calming passages.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41W8F9ZDC1L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Demetrio

03-31-2009, 02:41 PM

Hey, guys, it is so nice to make part of a music forum like this, where big part of the members seem to have quite similar music tastes.

Let’s take the example of the two latest recommendations in this thread: B-Tribe and Robert Rich. I’m a huge fan of this stuff myself too. And must say I don’t have the “Stalker” cd above mentioned yet, so it has gone to my wish list right now.

From Robert Rich I have these:

- Numena / Geometry
- Rainforest
- Gaudi
- Propagation
- Seven Veils
- Fissures (with Alio Die)
- Yearning (with Lisa Moskow)
- Strata (with Steve Roach)
- Soma (with Steve Roach)

My personal favorite from the list: “Seven Veils”.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000009QK7.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I love this album. It's soooo ethereal, so mesmerizing...

Kind regards,
Demetrio.

BarryL

04-01-2009, 10:44 AM

Never heard of him. Thanks for the post.

Demetrio

04-01-2009, 12:40 PM

My today's suggestion:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000I3JO.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Group: THE BLUE NILE
Title: Hats
Year: 1989
Genre: Alt-Pop Rock

Tracklist:

1. Over the Hillside
2. The Downtown Lights
3. Let's Go Out Tonight
4. Headlights on the Parade
5. From a Late Night Train
6. Seven A.M.
7. Saturday Night

Led by charismatic vocalist and songwriter Paul Buchanan, THE BLUE NILE has only four albums released to date, despite their longtime career: A Walk Across the Rooftops (1983), Hats (1989), Peace at Last (1996) and High (2004). All them, though, are excellent releases IMO, being this Hats my personal favorite.

This is slow, introspective, mellow rock music at the best. Paul Buchanan's highly emotive, soulful voice, combined with lush arrangements of keyboards, bass, drums and sparse solos of trumpet, plunges you immediately into the mood and, as you can easily infer from the titles of the seven tracks from Hats, the mood of this album is nighttime city life, evoking themes such as melancholy, loneliness, disillusion and hope of love. It sounds like a cinematic urban soundtrack, evoking immediately in your mind romantic landscapes of crowded streets in the night, of empty bars, of lonely lovers, of trains passing by, of coloured neon lights shining all around.

As you may infer from the above description, this is sort of a perfect album to listen to when you want to be alone, maybe watching the city life outside in a raining night, by the window. Just turn your lights off and relax, this is great music to be immersed in.

When I first listened to Hats I was also amazed by the great technical quality of the recording itself. Looking at the technical information of the recording I just discovered why: this album was recorded at Linn Records, a part of Linn Products (a Glasgow-based industry of hi-fi audio & home theater equipments), which makes it recommended for the more exigent listeners as well.

Favorite tracks: "The Downtown Lights", "Headlights on the Parade" and "Let's Go Out Tonight".

Demetrio.

3-LockBox

04-01-2009, 06:42 PM

May as well try something completely different from what's been discussed so far:

Andrew Bird: Noble Beast (2009)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drl900/l913/l91361qsghf.jpg

This guy has long been a favorite around here, though I didn't care for the albums he put out after the wonderfully quirky Swimming Hour (2001). This guy is a classically trained violinist who plays it in a folky-jazzy style, and is one of the more intelligent and agile lyricists working today. He's also a great vocalist who at times reminds me of David Byrne with his delivery and tone, but has a much broader range. The music is layered and rich without sounding too slick or over produced and can range from quiet and introspective to rollicking and quirky. Some of his stuff even reminds me of solo Adrian Belew musically speaking (Bird is a much better writer though). Armchair Apochrypha from 2007 is pretty good, but this year's Noble Beast is prolly my fave besides Swimming Hour.

noddin0ff

04-02-2009, 03:29 AM

I'll try an odd recommendation out for size.

The Tin Hat Trio: Memory is an Elephant (1999)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YJGYDTY3L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

I pull this one out when I don't want Rock, don't want Classical, don't want Jazz, not sure what I want, but want it fun and interesting.

A guitar, violin, accordian trio... with some other instruments tossed in; I think I heard a toy piano. Several things come to mind when I listen. Klezmer, Tom Waits, and Indie Movie soundtracks, picnics, and Astor Piazzolla--although, it's really none of those. It's tow tapping, mysterious, joyful, playful, sometimes brooding, and I can't think of anything else quite similar. This is their debut, and I've never picked up any others by them. I should look into that. I think I picked this one up solely based on the album name. It made me laugh, and this album always makes me smile.

click here for a high-res mp3 of track #3 Big Top. (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=dd85338fe38850eb56281cf79a87967dd1b811f9 ee5aa243) (~10Mb, 320kbps vbr)

jasn

04-02-2009, 05:45 AM

Exhumed from the back of the back of the rack to segue from the new Decemberist's release, this has aged much better than I'd have guessed [sniff!]:

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s5846.jpg (http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/jethro_tull/a_passion_play/)

Demetrio

04-02-2009, 06:07 AM

Hey, folks, seems like some greaaat suggestions all over here!!!

Thanks
Demetrio.

Demetrio

04-02-2009, 06:18 AM

And let me give you all my today's suggestion as well:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61fm436HSsL._SS500_.jpg

Group: FLEET FOXES
Title: Fleet Foxes
Year: 2008
Genre: Folk/Indie Rock

Tracklist:

1. Sun It Rises
2. White Winter Hymnal
3. Ragged Wood
4. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
5. Quiet Houses
6. He Doesn't Know Why
7. Heard Them Stirring
8. Your Protector
9. Meadowlarks
10. Blue Ridge Mountains
11. Oliver James

This is the self-titled debut full-length album from the Seattle-based quintet FLEET FOXES, released in 2008, after the edition of two EP’s – "Fleet Foxes" in 2006 and "Sun Giant" in early 2008.

I find it hard to categorize this stuff (Indie or folk rock?). The group describe their owm music as "baroque harmonic pop jams", which doesn’t explain that much to me. What I can say is that the music sounds very fresh to me, featuring that sort of amazing ethereal sound I enjoy so much, with a strong folksy atmosphere, a nice pastoral feel and pristine, breezy vocal harmonies, all that combined with rich, lush arrangements.

The vocal timbre of the main vocalist Robin Pecknold reminds Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips and Sufjan Stevens a lot, but the vocals here are shared almost all the time with other members of the band, in gorgeous vocal harmonies throughout, making this album to sound more in the vein of Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys).

Favorite tracks: "He Doesn't Know Why" and "Your Protector".

Demetrio.

ForeverAutumn

04-02-2009, 09:48 AM

BarryL

04-02-2009, 09:54 AM

Nice choice. I love this album!

In fact, it's spinning right now! Nice lush pop music. Very simple melodies, mostly accoustic sound, but catchy and breezy. Not much in terms of minor chords here.

Great summer backyard deck music.

ForeverAutumn

04-02-2009, 11:18 AM

In fact, it's spinning right now! Nice lush pop music. Very simple melodies, mostly accoustic sound, but catchy and breezy. Not much in terms of minor chords here.

Great summer backyard deck music.

I have to be honest and say that I'm a little surprised that you like this. Maybe you're cooler than I gave you credit for. :p Okay, so if you like this I'll have to play some Augie March for you. Same kind of feel IMO.

Have you listened to the Muse disks yet?

3-LockBox

04-02-2009, 08:27 PM

Ya know FA, I have one Muse disc, Black Holes & Revelations, but I've wondered what the rest of their catalog sounds like.

And as far as that Fleet Foxes disc goes, I'd sayI liked it, but I like the live stuff I've seen on YouTube much better (far less reverb).

Demetrio

04-03-2009, 04:34 AM

Ya know FA, I have one Muse disc, Black Holes & Revelations, but I've wondered what the rest of their catalog sounds like.
Hi, 3LB,

I have "Black Holes & Revelations" too, and also like it a lot. Encouraged by that sort of nice "prog feel" throughout this album, I then ordered another Muse cd, "Absolution", in the expectation that it would sound alike. Must say I was somewhat disappointed with Absolution though. I didn't find in this album anything that could remind me that awesome prog feel of Black Holes & Revelations.

Demetrio.

3-LockBox

04-03-2009, 05:39 AM

Yeah, Black Holes & Revelations seems to be the one disc that everybody steers anyone to with regards to Muse. I have read over at PE that there should be a new album by the end of the year.

ForeverAutumn

04-03-2009, 06:15 AM

Hi, 3LB,

I have "Black Holes & Revelations" too, and also like it a lot. Encouraged by that sort of nice "prog feel" throughout this album, I then ordered another Muse cd, "Absolution", in the expectation that it would sound alike. Must say I was somewhat disappointed with Absolution though. I didn't find in this album anything that could remind me that awesome prog feel of Black Holes & Revelations.

Demetrio.

Absolution was my first Muse disk and I really dig it. But I agree that Black Holes is a better disk. Showbiz is also quite good but more like Absolution, so if you don't like that one then don't waste your time on Showbiz. I didn't like their live disk much at all. Great track list but ****ty and inconsistant sound quality.

Demetrio

04-03-2009, 03:23 PM

Hey, proggers, my today's suggestion:

http://cover6.cduniverse.com/CDBABY/Large/93/837101408493.jpg

Group: SINGULARITY
Title: Of All the Mysteries
Year: 2007
Genre: Progressive Rock

Musicians:

John Green – Vocals, keyboards
Jamie McGregor – Drums, vocals
Scott Cleland – Electric & acoustic guitars, cello, vocals
Jonathan Patch – Bass, acoustic guitar, flute, vocals

Tracklist:

1. Mongrel – 3:12
2. Smile – 14:50
3. XOT – 6:48
4. Patchquilt – 3:55
5. Kaleidoscope – 3:22
6. Islands – 20:27

Of All the Mysteries, released in 2007, is the third release from Colorado's progressive band SINGULARITY – the other two previous were Color of Space, in 1999 (which is said to be very Rush influenced), and Between Sunlight and Shadow, in 2002 (that is said to remind Porcupine Tree a lot).

In this recording, though, the echoes of Rush and Porcupine Tree are much less evident (one would even say almost nonexistent). Instead, in Of All the Mysteries what we hear is a very nice mix of symphonic prog influences reminiscent of other contemporary prog bands such as Anglagard, Anekdoten, Phideaux and Spock's Beard (and yes, some sparse reminiscences of Porcupine Tree too). The absolute highlight in the album is "Islands" (track 6), a wonderful, 20-minute suite with even some Camel atmosphere and Latimer-inspired guitar work.

All in all, one of the best progressive albums I have listened to lately, definitely worth recommending to everybody else who is also into prog.

The audio quality of this recording is also top-notch, definitely one of the best sounding albums in the genre I know.

Samples available at these links:

http://www.myspace.com/singularityprogrock

http://cdbaby.com/cd/singularitymusic2

Demetrio.

3-LockBox

04-03-2009, 04:51 PM

Really. I have the first Singularity disc, Color Of Space- very Rush-like; they even quote titles of Rush tunes in a couple of songs. Very well done though. The second disc though was a disappointment to me. The lead singer from the first album left the band and they didn't have a viable replacement. Between Sunlight And Shadow, the second album, had its moments, but without decent vocals, and decent writing I'm afraid, this album sounded very ameturish, something I term, college prog.

But I have to admit, I am intrigued that they persist. I will agree with you on one account, these discs are superbly produced for what they are, and the sound quality is stellar.

Auricauricle

04-03-2009, 08:55 PM

One of my favorite groups of all time: Renaissance. Renaissance is one of those rare groups that never seemed to "get it right for the radio". It is rare that even one of this ensemble's most beautiful and compelling songs make it to the airwaves. College stations and the like might take the risk, but tracks of some length were not, and still aren't, the sort of things most folks like. For fans of prog and music of deft and sure craft, Renaissance was a band apart. Amazing, virtuoso instrumentation and a female lead vocalist, Annie Haslam, with a voice that rivalled many a opera diva, Renaissance was surely one of the best.

This is the album, Prologue, which features many hits that remain favorites of Renaisance fans everywhere. With songs like Share Some Love and Ashes are Burning, this album shows that all that is on the radio is not the best that's out there....

Demetrio

04-08-2009, 06:56 AM

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/BLS-BLS.jpg

Group: BOZZIO LEVIN STEVENS
Title: Black Light Syndrome
Year: 1997
Genre: Progressive Rock / Fusion

Tracklist:

1. The Sun Road — 14:37
2. Dark Corners — 8:31
3. Duende — 7:25
4. Black Light Syndrome — 8:45
5. Falling in Circles — 9:07
6. Book of Hours — 9:38
7. Chaos/Control — 8:49

This is a project/supergroup joined by three of the most distinguished and skilled musicians from Magna Carta label: drummer/percussionist Terry Bozzio, bassist/stick player Tony Levin (very known for his extraordinary work with King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Liquid Tension Experiment, etc.) and guitarist Steve Stevens. They released only two albums to date: Black Light Syndrome, in 1997, and Situation Dangerous, in 2000.

The music is instrumental rock-fusion with huge time changes, incredible variations and nice progressive elements throughout, ranging from furious, heavy passages at some moments to jazzy and slower passages at others, even featuring some classical and flamenco echoes throughout the album too (provided by incredible guitarist Steve Stevens).

These guys are true virtuoses in their respective instruments and the magic between them is absolutely incredible in this recording, allowing them to deliver here some of the best instrumental music pieces you will ever find in any genre.

"Black Light Syndrome" is not only one of the best instrumental progressive albums ever released IMO, it is also definitely one of the best sounding recordings you'll ever hear in the genre, featuring crystal clear details, excellent stereo image and huge dynamics throughout. Listen, for example, to "Duende" (track 3) through a good, hi-fi stereo system, and you will be amazingly surprised at how detailed the music will sound in front of you.

Demetrio.

Troy

04-08-2009, 08:25 AM

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/images/BLS-BLS.jpg

Probably the best recording and performance of Terry Bozzio, one of the best rock drummers on the planet. Wanna hear what all the fuss is about with TB? This album is a true drum clinic.

The other thing worth noting is that this whole performance was improvised in the studio. Amazing!

Great album, 5 stars.

nobody

04-08-2009, 08:41 AM

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_beGLfk9dTyA/SaFx8n9B4xI/AAAAAAAAC3o/Ttrd8Bzz0_w/S220/Milk_Kan-Milk_Kan.jpg
Milk Kan

I guess these guys are being called anti-folk, whatever that means. Sounds pretty folky to me. Catchy, mostly acoustic numbers. Touches of country and an occasional ska rhythm, folky and at times rockin'. I'm enjoying this quite a bit. One of the more instantly likable things I've heard so far this year.

3-LockBox

04-08-2009, 10:41 AM

http://www.progressiveears.com/asp/images/reviews/4472.jpg

This a group I come across on a MySpace crawl last year. Turns out, its my favorite prog album from last year (though admittedly, last year was a poor year for prog).

Here's their MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/kingfishersky

Here's a review I posted over at PE:

Kingfisher Sky: Hallway Of Dreams is the debut of yet another beauty and the beast style goth/prog rock band. I first came across this band during a MySpace crawl, and pretty much clicked on it because their picture. And it wasn’t more than a month later I got the opportunity to review this album. Lucky me. This is one of the stronger debuts of any band or any genre I’ve heard in a long while.

I use the term ‘beauty and the beast’ because I think it aptly describes this latest wave of goth rock bands that feature lead female vocals in front of a metal band. Of course, female leads are not a new concept in the world of rock, not even the world of progressive rock. But these B&B bands don’t just feature just any competent female lead, but usually a female of impeccable vocal prowess, sometimes even operatic background. Kind of like a Wagnerian fantasy or something. I won’t rattle off a list of B&B bands in this review, assuming people interested will already know a few. But to be fair, most people new to Kingfisher Sky might find it noteworthy that one of the founding members, Ivar de Graaf, is a former member of Within Temptation (one of those B&B bands), and the similarity is obvious.

As I alluded to before, there seems to have been a recent glut of female-led metal acts, usually of the symphonic metal or goth varieties. But where a lot of B&B bands feature the juxtaposition of operatic vocals and blistering metal, Kingfisher Sky takes a more subtle approach. Their approach to metal is more akin to mythic progressive metal and not so much a typical goth or metal band. The production is very similar to that of Steven Wilson, who produced not only Porcupine Tree, but also Opeth’s Damnation album. It’s a mix of ethereal and heavier passages, without being over the top in either direction. Attention to detail is prevalent as well, with nods to Scandinavian folk and more modern, female-led rock fare, perhaps a touch of Tori Amos or Kate Bush, but the style mostly conjures comparisons to other bands of fantasy based material, such as Renaissance with Annie Haslam, albeit with metal leanings.

And they have the good sense to focus on the female singer in this case, where other bands seems to have the female lead singing in full operatic throttle to keep up with the metal onslaught. Fans of more bombastic approaches (Nightwish comes to mind) might find this album to be a tad light, but I find it very refreshing. Besides, it would be a shame not to feature a stunning vocal talent like Judith Rijnveld, whose pristine voice sounds like she has had extensive vocal training, but eschews the vocal acrobatics that some of her contemporaries indulge in at times. Songs like “Balance of Power” and “November” showcase this balancing act of pastoral, organic passages with more dramatic, metallic ones. She can belt a tune with the best of them, but the tell tale evidence of her ability comes through on the albums more sedate material, like the folksy “Big Fish”, which sounds like a song that could come from a Fairport Convention album. Here, Judith recalls the likes of Sandy Denny or Judy Collins.

The writing and performances is top notch as well. As a fan of progressive rock, I appreciate the style and approach of “Hallway of Dreams”, more so than the forced heaviness of say, Nightwish or the overt pop of Evanescence. I hope they stay the course with their next outing, which I hope is emanate, and given the reception that this CD has been given by others who have heard it, I have no doubt there will be a follow-up. Of course, given the quality of this debut, that will be a tall order. I recommend this album to anyone who likes this beauty and the beast style hard rock, or just fans of good melodic metal in general.

Auricauricle

04-08-2009, 12:37 PM

While I like to think that my taste in music is fairly eclectic (oh, not that word again!), there are a few composers and musicians who just tickle me to the core. Among them is a group I have mentioned in many, previous posts: Tangerine Dream. For those of you who have no familiarity with the group, the CD presented here is perhaps one of my favorites. It is the soundtrack to the Michael Mann film, Thief, which starred James Caan as a high-tech and highly-intelligent professional yegg. He has a crack team and a beautiful girlfriend, and the heists they pull are spectacular. With sparks flying everywhere and a buzzing but soaring score by TD, this soundtrack is not only cerebrally, but viscerally very engaging.

OzzieAudiophile

04-15-2009, 10:56 AM

Hi there folks. Nice selection of CDs.

I was going through my collection and simply chilled back on my couch whilst flicking
through the tracks of this one. I'm most certain this one would serve as a fresh option for
you to try.

Buddha-Bar IV

Track listing

Buddha-Bar IV CD DISC 1:

1. La Fille de Pekin - (with Frederick Rousseau)
2. Tibet (A Passage to...) - (with Tibet Project)
3. Opium - (with Jade Or)
4. Moonrise - (with Nitin Sawhney)
5. Window of My Dreams, A - (with Nash Didan)
6. Amatevi - (with Agricantus)
7. Tiempo - (with Manuel Franjo)
8. Historia de un Amor - (with Guadalupe Pineda Con Los Tres Ases)
9. Distant Lands - (with Armen Chakmakian)
10. Desert Dancer - (Zeb's Slow Camel Ride remix, with Nickodemus)
11. Monsoon - (with FLAM)
12. Rahda Ramana - (with Tulku)
13. Tora to Thimithikes - (with Natassa Theodoridou)
14. Una Musica Brutal - (with GoTan Project)

Buddha-Bar IV Songs DISC 2:

1. Karma - (Extended mix, with Outsized)
2. Party People - (with Time Passing)
3. Mundian to Bach Ke - (with Panjabi MC)
4. Comme Toi - (with Ishtar)
5. Dancing With the Muse - (with Chris Spheeris)
6. Irish Coffee - (with Carlos Campos)
7. Novel Sound, The - (with Llorca)
8. Loco - (with Loving Paris)
9. Percussion's Rhythm - (Dimitri From Paris Re-Edit, with Roland Louis)
10. Louxor in Vegas - (with Dan Lacksman's Alliance)
11. Agoraki Mou - (with Angie Samiou)
12. Aktar Wahed - (with Amr Diab)
13. Yo Vivire - (with Celia Cruz) :: I Will Survive - (with Celia Cruz)
14. Nocturne in Paris - (with Usual Masters)

Ok on the first CD the first two tracks can simply take you to a place of tranquility and
serenity. I'd highly recommend lie on a couch at night, away from distractions, set
yourself about 10 mins or so to breathe in these two tracks. I'd listen to the tracks
a couple of times at least, so you can anticipate the next part, and the next time listen
to the background instruments instead of the leading. If your system is as excellent
as you feel it is, the many instrumental melodies contained in these tracks should reach
out and grab you.

Stay away from any light in the room, close your eyes and listen. I'd recommend
go to one of the CD shopping sites to listen to the small samples of these tracks they
usually include, and find out if you can tolerate this type of music. If you cannot stand
anything less than 160 BPM, or must be vocal, heavy-metal, or hard rock only, then
this CD is definately not for you.

It's more of an international CD, as this series normally is. IMHO the series has evolved
over the years, and the mixer you'll notice will change every 1 to 2 CDs, it's up to 10 now.
I don't like the 10th of the series, I won't buy it. However I have at least half of them and
this one is one of my very favourites.

You will notice that most of this series contains some tracks that you won't find on any
other CD. I like these kind of compilations.

This series has a mixture of tracks to cater for various cultures and nationalities, but
brings them all together (as many compilations do).

The tracks are recorded/mixed well.

The 4th track on the first CD is performed by Nitin Sawhney, if you're unfamiliar with
him, he's a Indian-British musician, producer and composer who's composed over 40
albums. He is more recognised by the British and Asian cultures. This track cannot be
missed, you should give this one a try too. This is one of such tracks which evolves as
you get further into it. It's quite uplifting.

CD 1 is labelled as - Dinner CD 2 is Drink. Hmmm it feels like that way.

I could go on about other tracks, but I won't, the rest should a journey you should take
on your own, and you may develop different favourites to mine.

If you're stuck to a few specific genres in your collection, seriously give this CD a go
as many non traditional "rock/top 40" artists instruments/tunes. The tracks blend the
melodies and instruments together well. I will be honest, I don't listen to all of these tracks
regularly, but the ones that I do, I play and again often.

OzzieAudiophile

04-15-2009, 12:11 PM

Hello, sorry my bad if I am burning the candle at both ends by recommending two
albums on the same day.

I cannot believe no one has previously recommended this one... :eek6:

Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
20th Anniversary Edition

Most of you who are from generation-X or are baby-boomers, you would be familiar with
this album or you would of lived in a cave.

For those who are generation-Y, a bit of a heads up, Mark Knopfler is simply one of the
most inspirational artists back then, today, and for many years to come. He is mostly
well known in the band Dire Straits, but he has gone solo 20 or so years later. The guitar
performance by him has set a standard for aspiring performers. If you don't believe this
is the case, go and have a listen to the Dire Straits albums, mainly this one. You will
also find that most of the albums out there which list "Best guitar tracks of all time"
include Dire Straits track - Sultans of Swing. This album hit number 1 in the charts in
no less than 10 countries. Check the album's success and accolades if you like, this
album also obtained 5x, 9x, 10x platinum in multiple countries.

Anyway enough of the history lesson... onto why this should be in your collection...

Mark Knopfler remixed this album into 5.1 Surround sound himself, and after comparing
all three layers on my PS3, the SACD layer recordings are on a much higher level.
Is SACD worth it ? so very much so, you simply have no concept of understanding
what you're missing out on, this album has been redone extremelly well. If you are
unable to experience the SACD layer of this album, find friend who has a SACD player,
and listen.

Most of these tracks start off captivating you Strait away. Walk of Life is one of the most
well known tracks for this album, if you want to test out how spectacular your setup really
is, crank this one up, listen to the first 30 seconds carefully, breathe in the music
as if you're breathing a new wine through your nose before you taste it for the first time.

Money for Nothing is another well known track of this album, the drums and guitar can
really grab you, especially if you close your eyes and really turn up the volume. Notice
the Sting sings the lyrics (I want my MTV), and 1:12 into the track the drums alternate
from left to right, back, forth :7:

oooo I simply have to listen to the SACD multichannel
version - alas I have only 2 speakers :cryin: oh BTW, I can guarantee that the drums
1:12 into the track will utilise your 5.1 setup on the SACD multichannel layer. I'm playing
this track on my headphones now, and I know which parts come through the main
fronts (some of the drum bit), but the guitar following it comes through the fronts.

WOW !! I simply cannot believe how many other instruments alternate, fade from left to
right and back again on the SACD multichannel layer, well one disc to take to your
local surround sound hifi store for sure.

This is one of the tracks which has over a three minute finish/fade at the end, which is
:thumbsup:

Now the titled track - Brothers in Arms, it starts from your left speaker, fades by into the
right, and you hear the sound of thunder. If you really crank up the volume, the thunder
sounds sensationally real. My mum rushed from the living room then on her way out to the
back she shouted, "oh no I better take in the washing" :lol: to top it off it was in
the middle of summer :cool:

I would gladly listen to the 5th track - Why Worry again, again etc... especially from
4:15 into the track onto the end. However I would recommend listening it from the start
if you have not heard this track before. If you have heard this track before and you like it,
you can heighten the listening experience by listening to this at night, with the lights
off from 4:15 onwards, particularly if you need a track in unwind to. For some reason
I tend to enjoy listening to this track slightly more during a warm summers evening.

If you don't have the 20th Anniversary Edition, and you're a Dire Straits fan, you really
want to get this trust me. If you have a SACD player (PS3 will do for me for now), and
a multichannel setup, you will feel you've gone Strait to heaven and are sitting on cloud-9,
which coincidently happens to be the number of tracks on this album.

Pat D

04-21-2009, 06:53 PM

I have lately been enjoying the 6 Hungarian Rhapsodies by Liszt that were orchestrated by Franz Doppler, with Arthur F-a-gen (the program won't let me give the name properly!) conducting the Weimar Staatskapelle on Naxos 8.570230. Both the performances and the sound are excellent.

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.570230

Auricauricle

04-22-2009, 06:07 AM

Ozzie: Like you I am a Knopfler fan. His work on Dire Straits was deft and subtle, not a mean thing to consider, especially when one notes the preponderance of guitarrists who are admired more for their incessant noodling. His solo work is quite good, too. His recent Sailing to Philadelphia is very enjoyable and nicely recorded....

I like Brothers in Arms alot, and think it is a great Dire Straits album, for sure. I bought it when it came out, and at first I wasn't so sure. Having cut my teeth on the debut, Making Movies and Communique, I thought the sound of the album was too refined. Glad I hung on to it.

Curious thing. When I bought the album, I bought a version that looks as though someone had painted a turquoise dobro onto the disc. This version is a bit rarer than the usual version of the disc--I think!--which has no such markings. The recording is very fine, and while not up to SACD specs, performs well enough to qualify as a real keeper.

So, the question I'd like to ask everyone is: Is there a difference between these two versions? I have not bought the standard issue to compare......

3-LockBox

04-22-2009, 06:57 AM

Ozzie: Like you I am a Knopfler fan. His work on Dire Straits was deft and subtle, not a mean thing to consider, especially when one notes the preponderance of guitarrists who are admired more for their incessant noodling. Knopfler is a picker. So is Lindsey Buckingham. You may like Lindsay's last offering, which is a streamlined effort compared to his early days.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31xAircuwsL._SL500_AA240_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B001CB6RPS/sr=1-1/qid=1240412099/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music&qid=1240412099&sr=1-1)

My fave Buckingham solo is still Out Of The Cradle, a steller recording also I might add.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31V1S04AW1L._SL500_AA240_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000002LL9/sr=1-4/qid=1240412099/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music&qid=1240412099&sr=1-4)

Auricauricle

04-22-2009, 08:29 AM

I couldn't agree more, 3! I still get a chill when I think about his solo, Big Love, on the FM tour album, The Dance.

OzzieAudiophile

04-24-2009, 08:51 AM

Auricauricle : Well if you get the 20th Anniversary edition it does have all three layers.
I compared all three layers on my PS3, as it permits you to access any track using either
CD layer, SACD 2channel, or SACD multichannel.

There is a very clear distinctive difference between the CD and SACD-2ch versions (on the
same disc). I could try the original CD I purchased years ago and compare it with the
CD layer of the new disc, just have to find it :P

OzzieAudiophile

04-24-2009, 09:00 AM

Hello all.

Being a fan of Oldfield's Tubular Bells that put him on the map decades ago, Music of
the Spheres is a refreshing change for him. For those who haven't had the chance to
sample it, you may do so on his official website.

He has moved into the orchestra theme for this album, and has included the very beautiful
Hayley Westenra. He has also included one of the most spectacular gifted pianists in this
generation - Lang Lang.

I implore you, if you are a fan of anything orchestral, classical, opera, or even a refreshing
new style to explore to widen your repetoir, give this album a go.

Hayley Westenra and Lang Lang have both worked with Andrea Bocelli, and I need not
say more if you know Bocelli.

This album really makes your system sing as it's a wonderfully produced and recorded
CD.

OzzieAudiophile

04-24-2009, 10:16 AM

Hello again.

I have been one of the many blessed folks to had the privilege to go to a Sarah Brightman
concert when she came to Western Australia. Absolutely incredible, it would be most
difficult to top off a better performance. 99.9% of other bands I have seen put nowhere
near as much time in preparation, and work towards perfection from every song, wardrobe,
choreography, and even as far as singing each note.

Well I keep emphasising the need to have a really nice hifi/stereo/sound system set up,
however a performance by a great Sarah Brightman recording will demonstrate to you just
how well she can actually sing. Her voice is rather high pitched, perhaps not the ideal
pitch for everyone, but... for those who do adore her performance, this album will take
you to new heights.

The song that really stands out for me is "Attesa". She was born to sing this song.
I could play this song 1000 times, if it wasn't for the fact that somebody who is not
me would eventually complain, I would play it 1000 times in a row if possible.

OzzieAudiophile

04-26-2009, 09:39 AM

Well anyone who likes Sarah Brightman's style of music, opera, soprano, contempory
classical... you will want to give the following CD a try.

I'd recommend have a read on her biography. A bit of a history lesson, I stumbled on
Shapplin many years ago upon her first album Carmine Meo. I fell in love with her voice
straight away. Etterna includes a video interview of her, she is incredibly beautiful, another
born in France, however sings in Italian, but similarly to Andrea Bocelli, millions of
people listen to them, do not understand Italian, however their voices reach them in
so many ways that English-singers simply cannot. This CD does come with English
translation in the CD booklet.

Now with my vast improvement to my hifi with a new power Amp, it brings out even
more of this fine singer Shapplin. You should see her sing La Notte Etterna, it's
absolutely incredible, in the video that comes with the CD you can see how much effort
and energy into the song. This is one of the very few songs you will hear in this lifetime
that the last 5 seconds of the song (at least IMO) are the best, she just hits those notes...
just sensational.

However right now I'm just getting into her other songs, Celtica will grab you, if
you have a romantic bone in your body, or a mysterious side of you. 2:59 into this song,
close your eyes, and take a very deep breath. Thirty seconds of serenity.

A track I started to highly appreciate and breathe in is Leonora. Her voice is incredibly
strong, not subtle, the backing vocals belong, they compliment hers.

There are several lines in this song which sound absolutely powerful, especially on
a very well setup of speakers and amps. I can listen to her voice 1000 times a night...

Listen to her, you will do so as well.

Track listing :

01. Un Sospir di Voi - (Italian)
02. Aedeus - (Italian)
03. Da Me Non Venni - (Italian)
04. La Notte Etterna - (Italian)
05. Leonora - (Italian)
06. Celtica - (Italian)
07. La Silente Riva - (Italian)
08. Spesso Sprofondo - (Italian)
09. Mai Piu Serena - (Italian)
10. Nell Aria Bruna - (Italian)
11. Finale
12. La Notte Etterna - (Italian, remix version)

OzzieAudiophile

04-28-2009, 08:49 AM

A mixed boxed set makes an excellent gift for anyone because they get to listen to a
vast variety. The drawback is that they might like or dislike a specific artist because
that song on the boxed set was favorable or not on the boxed set, oh well catch-22.

Upbringing makes a contributing factor, I was practically breast-fed country music. Today
I'm not a huge country music fan, as I've not kept up to date on that genre, but at the same
time I do not hate it.

I try to stay away from top-40 music, and the radio because I refuse to be a sheep and
buy a CD just because this or that DJ plays it 10 times a day. It's a form of conditioning
to coax some listeners to buy a CD by listening to it enough times, when they normally
would not buy it because it did not impress them the first time.

90% of the music I buy are on CD and are from the US because Australia do not stock
them, and are also at least double the price. No I won't wait 4 to 6 weeks for an
import, where I could get it in 2 from the US.

It's not really being bad to Australia by not buying "Australian" because Australia doesn't
have it anyway. Most the music I enjoy is international as well. Even the rarer
Sarah Brightman, Dire Straits CDs for example don't exist in Australia either. It's fine
if you're into chart-music.

If I had to recommend how one should approach exploring new music, and genres,
approach it with reckless abandon. By that I mean go and listen to a lot of new random
music. Just because it's not played on the radio, or not a top 40 charter doesn't mean
you will not like it. There are websites which store 30 to 45 second samples of tracks
on albums, so at least you can sample it. Saves you going down to your local CD shop,
save petrol or shoe wear/tear.

There is merit of course in some people who would "recommend" a specific artist. To go
by number of sales is a good indicator. However it doesn't mean just because x-million
love it, you won't either. The artist, or CD may simply not be for you, in time one develops
their own tastes in music. It's usually from an influence from a friend, relative, DJ or
on the radio.

I have found the more new music I find and enjoy, the more new music I want to find.
There's too many remixers out there, too many imitators and not enough innovators.

For example, the Bachs, the Mozarts, the Beethovens, why have so many CDs of their
music have been released ? why do so many commercials on tv exist with their music ?
They have become immortal with the impact they made with their work, they were ahead
of their time. There is a small proportion of artists/composers/singers/bands which
fit into this category. We pass them on from generation to generation. They will survive
the test of time more so than many people's CD collection.

You can understand why so much of their work is also available on SA-CD.

It's a good thing to be exposed to as many forms of music as possible. Eventually you
will also develop a tolerance to genres you'd normally hate, as there are some decent
works of "arguably" most of them. However that's a matter of perspective.

I enjoy listening to Andrea Bocelli, Emma Shapplin, and my Italian is quite poor, so's
most others. So why do many non Italian-speaking people go see Bocelli ? because
they enjoy his performances, his voice, how he can hold his notes etc. It goes to show
that to understand the lyrics of the song is not necessarily required to enjoy it.

I do have a theory that many people do enjoy foreign music, because it is so different to
them. Similarly a part attraction to why people love to travel overseas. The people, the
culture, the language is all difference. There's an element of exotic curiousity that exists
with music from other countries. Music has served well in bringing people from many
cultures, points of view, values of life, religions, ages, countries, all together.

It makes more sense to go out there and listen to as much as you can. The worst thing
you can do is find out more artists, genres that you don't like. The more people you
also meet, you will notice many differences in their music collecitons, it's another good
way of sampling new worlds. It's something I'd like to share with others as I have over
1000 CDs.