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MAHLER: Des Knaben Wunderhorn; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen* Lucia Popp, soprano; Bernd Weikl, baritone; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Tennstedt; *Thomas Allen, baritone; English Chamber Orchestra/Jeffrey Tate. EMI Red Line 7243 5 69862 2 0.  TT: 70.08 This issue is now quite venerable—the EMI Classics labels, including the low-priced Red Line, disappeared after the company's 2013 acquisition by Warner... Read More »

Our good audio brother John Marks, he who shepherds his site, The Tannhauser Gate, sends along another smoke signal about a fine recording of a nowadays-obscure composer, Louise Farrenc. I have not yet found a single recommendation of John's that wasn't very worthwhile.  To borrow and adapt John's phrasing, "pause and listen." Amen! Dr. David... Read More »

The Thelonious Monk Quartet, Monk's Dream. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UD1S 2-011, Columbia 19075930421, Limited Edition, SuperVinyl, Box Set (2019, Sept.), # P001 of 6000. Originally released on Columbia – CS 8765 (1963, March). Ratings Global Appreciation: 9.9 Music: A+ (10) Recording: 9.6 Remastering + Lacquer Cutting: 10 Pressing: 9.8 Packaging: Deluxe Category: jazz, mostly cool with... Read More »

Here's the latest from our good audio friend and brother who writes and edits at The Tannhauser Gate, John Marks. He draws our attention to a very promising stereo/multichannel SACD from BIS. I have found John's recommendations to be trustworthy always, and have thus already ordered mine from Amazon. You can do the same! David... Read More »

WOLF-FERRARI: Piano Trios: No. 1 in D, Op. 5; No. 2 in F-sharp, Op. 7. Trio Archè. Brilliant Classics 95624.  TT: 70.15 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948) is best remembered for his operas—I quattro rusteghi, Le donne curiose, Il segreto di Susanna—which are still performed from time to time, mostly in Italy. (A famous Barcelona performance of his Sly,... Read More »

Blue Note Tone Poet Series Donald Byrd, Chant. Blue Note Stereo LT-991 Stanley Turrentine With Shirley Scott, Hustlin'. Blue Note Stereo 84162 Blue Note 80 Series Lonnie Smith, Think! Blue Note 80 Stereo 7753113 Bobbi Humphrey, Blacks and Blues. Blue Note 80 Stereo 7752697 Grant Green, Alive. Blue Note 80 Stereo 84360 Donald Byrd, Ethiopian Knights.... Read More »

Yarlung Records is always full of surprises, and Lifeline: Music of the Underground Railroad is no exception. Bob Attiyeh, award winning President of the label, brought it to my attention, explaining its unique and extraordinary meaning. Bob’s tastes are broader and generally superior to mine, and his recommendations always pan out. His hands-on recording techniques, minimalist... Read More »

Have you ever wondered which CDs to use when assessing your system? Or maybe you'd like to impress your friends? If so, this text is for you. It covers 10 best sounding COMPACT DISCS and some information about what to expect from them. It was a coincident—if there is such a thing - ask mathematicians... Read More »

GONG, Love From The Planet Gong. 12 CD 1 DVD Audio box set. The Virgin Years 1973-75. UNIVERSAL MUSIC 675 890-1. At last, after years of waiting for the Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy (translation: Flying Teapot, Angels Egg, and You albums) to be released in superior sound quality, Universal Music has gone one better and combined those albums... Read More »

Herein the latest from dear audio friend and brother John Marks, he who writes and edits The Tannhauser Gate blogging site. Sacred choral music from Tchaikovsky...a true delight for spirit and soul! Enjoy! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor This YouTube music video has been viewed more than 5 million times (and there have... Read More »

Legrand Jazz, Michel Legrand. IMPEX Records. I'm very much falling in love with 45 RPM LPs. I'm also very much falling in love with IMPEX Records and their recent series of vinyl releases. Merge this format and this label together and you have a real winner: Legrand Jazz. This is a pressing that could possibly... Read More »

If you frequent Positive-Feedback, you may have noticed my lengthy interview with Ketil Vestrum Einarsen, who was recently described by Jacob Holm-Lupo as "prog's mad scientist." Well, he is back with a new project called +Ingelrii+, which includes long-time collaborator Gaute Storsve on guitar, bass, and percussion. Trond Gjellum plays drums. In addition to his... Read More »

Monteverdi, L'incoronazione di Poppea. Les Ars Florissants, Willam Christie. Harmonia Mundi 8902622.24 3 CD's, 1 DVD. This new release of Monteverdi's last opera, considered by students of the composer's work to be his best, is an extraordinary musical enterprise, especially if you take into consideration Jan Lauwers' somewhat off the wall stage production provided on... Read More »

RAFF: Ode au printemps, Op. 76*; Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 185; Caprice on Themes from König Alfred, Op. 65, No. 2. Tra Nguyen, piano; *Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra/Kerry Stratton. Grand Piano GP 771. TT: 67.06 Downloads: amazon.co.uk (mp3); classicalarchives.com (mp3); prestomusic.com (mp3, FLAC); qobuz.com (mp3, "Hi-Res") If you like Romantic music, it's worth exploring the... Read More »

Masayuki Takayanagi and Abe Kaoru, Kaitai Teki Kokan.  Premiere: 1970 | Sound Creators Inc. SCi - 10101. Reissue: 2018 | Craftman Records CMRS-0013. Format: UHQCD, mini-LP.  craftmanrecords.com As it seems, every music genre and each trend within it and, on the other hand, every national discography have their "rarities"—rare and special, often simply "cult" albums. "A cult....... Read More »

Abey Fonn and the entire team at IMPEX Records continue to impress and delight. Though we have only just passed the halfway point for the year 2019, these new vinyl releases entitled Another Time, Another Place from Jennifer Warnes and Lo Que Nice Mi Cantar from Trio Palabras are already strong contenders for my favorite albums... Read More »

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissue MFSL 2-479 (Sept. 2017). Originally released on Atlantic – SD-8227 (Aug. 1969). Category: soul, southern soul, R&B, blues, black gospel and spiritual roots, churchy. Format: Vinyl (2x180 gram LPs at 45 rpm). Rating Global Appreciation: 9.6 Music: A+ (9.5) Recording: 9.3 Remastering + Lacquer Cutting: 9.7 Pressing: 10 Packaging: above... Read More »

SAINT-SAËNS: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor; LALO: Cello Concerto in D minor; MILHAUD: Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 136; OFFENBACH: Les larmes de Jacqueline; MASSENET: Thaïs: Méditation. Hee-Young Lim, cello; London Symphony Orchestra/Scott Yoo. Sony Classical S80425C.  TT: 75.40 The Korean cellist Hee-Young Lim has a lot to offer. Her tone is dark and full-bodied,... Read More »

Every once in while an artist comes along who rocks my musical apple cart, challenges my perceptions, and reignites my excitement about a given genre. Listening to the Yuko Mabuchi Trio (Live) Vol. 1 and 2 release had this effect on me. I love it when this happens, and I love sharing these newfound gems... Read More »