HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

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.

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.

The Beatles - Revolver
The Rolling Stones - Goats Head Soup

"The Beatles and the Stones
Made it good to be alone"

Fretless wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 10:44 am "The Beatles and the Stones
Made it good to be alone"

"We never got it off with that revolution stuff".

What a drag,
Too many snags.

Strange how a Britpop anthem from The House of Love suddenly mutates into a Bowie-written hit for Mott the Hoople.

Fretless wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:55 am Strange how a Britpop anthem from The House of Love suddenly mutates into a Bowie-written hit for Mott the Hoople.

Entropy

Uriah Heep - Living the dream
Deep Purple - Whoosh!
The Scorpions - Return to forever
Slash - Slash