Your last listen

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Fretless
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Re: Your last listen

Unread post by Fretless »

I'm not a big admirer of Jon Anderson. Purely my own personal taste here.

I'll give 'Tormato' a fresh listen, perhaps it has aged well.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Your last listen

Unread post by Fretless »

Yes are a band who do tend to polarise the opinions of their fans, partly because of the various line-up changes and variance in styles over the last 50+ (!) years. This, however, does also mean that you can repeatedly come back to their music and every time find something new to appreciate.

I seem to be in a mood for their 'rockier' output from the later years where Trevor Rabin and Billy Sherwood played a major role in the writing and production process. 'Open Your Eyes' is an album I long regarded as shallow and uninteresting - now I see it as a masterpiece. 'Talk' is also a powerful release that sank without trace and new LP 'The Quest' gets better on repeated listens.

'Tales from Topographic Oceans' is one I still find difficult to like, and I had a quick listen to 'Tormato' again - it has its moments but does sound to me like a band that is going through the motions in search of a new direction (there are bits that are precursors to 'Drama').

It is also the move back to vinyl that has changed things a lot for me. Despite the decades of exclusively CD/Digital playback, there is a lot I have missed from albums that I really like. The long struggle to build up my streaming network players to the best that is (financially) achievable yielded excellent results but was blown out of the water when I resurrected my forgotten turntable and found a vintage high-end cartridge to put in it. The emotive impact and resolution that an LP offers is driving me to rediscover a lot of records that I had previously overlooked, having only been exposed to them on CD.

Looks like my listening habits have shifted to using the digital players (multiple, around the house) more for convenience / background purposes and 'serious' listening is more and more reliant on vinyl. Resulting in me desperately trying to get hold of LP copies of the things I want/need/long to hear (again).

Terminal music-addict, there's no hope for me...

:character-beavisbutthead:
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CN211276 (Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:15 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Your last listen

Unread post by CN211276 »

It took me a while to get into Yes. I bought Close to the edge on second hand vinyl and it left me a bit cold. I came round after taping the rest of their albums from a friend, with the exception of Topographic Oceans which he had skipped. Going for the one was my favourite followed by Relayer. I think the quality of their albums is quite consistent, but I have not come round to Topographic Oceans. Think it was a case of Anderson and Howe being over ambitious, pissing off Wakeman in the process. An album I rate is Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford, Howe.

Vinyl and digital have their pros and cons. To these ears upsampling combines the benefits of both without the cons. The convenience is also a big factor, having more or less anything I want to listen to at my finger tips and controlled by a phone where ever I am.
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Fretless (Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:37 pm)
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, Farnells cat 8 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

Unread post by Fretless »

Every so often I hace a look around to see if there is news about the American band Midlake, who recorded several wonderful albums in the early 2000's. After a 6-year breakup and 9 years since 'Antiphon' there is a new release on the way:
'For the Sake of Bethel Woods'.

Preceeded by the intriguing single 'Meanwhile...'

Can't wait. :dance:

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Andy-831 (Thu Jan 20, 2022 1:30 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Your last listen

Unread post by CN211276 »

Rick Wakeman - The six wives of Henry viii
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, Farnells cat 8 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

Unread post by slinger »

Patrick Campbell-Lyons - Me And My Friend

Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X

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Re: Your last listen

Unread post by CN211276 »

McDonald & Giles - Mcdonald & Giles
Syd Barrett - The madcap laughs
The Gathering - Nighttime Birds
King Crimson - Discipline
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, Farnells cat 8 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

Unread post by Fretless »

Hey I've got 'Nighttime Birds' on as well!

:music-rockout:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Your last listen

Unread post by Fretless »

The Gathering 'How to Measure a Planet?' (1998)

Image

Where 'Nighttime Birds' and 'Mandylion' were both the obvious products of a metal band, the next record 'How to Measure a Planet' is a very different beast indeed. Opening with a sound akin to Elbow (of which singer Anneke van Giersbergen was a big fan) and moving into territory you would compare to 'Kid A'-era Radiohead.
The mood is murky and introspective with only the occasional blast of grunge-powerchord riffing.
Not that this is a bad album, quite the opposite as it is an addictive late-night-lights-out trip through an intensely psychedelic universe.

Stunning (if you're in the mood).

:music-headbanger:

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CN211276 (Thu Jan 20, 2022 11:07 am)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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CN211276
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Re: Your last listen

Unread post by CN211276 »

The Ultimate Bee Gees
Rick Wakeman - Journey to the centre of the eartn
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, Farnells cat 8 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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