...this blog captures in order the albums as I pull these gems off the shelf and groove to them .....

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Spoons - Arias & Symphonies 30th Anniversary (2012)

Spoons - Arias & Symphonies  30th Anniversary (2012)

  My pal Jo Jo also is a huge fan of this album too and clearly this is one of the defining albums of my highschool days.   Arias and Symphonies was an album I loved when I was 15 and I love it now some 30 years on....my god where has time gone ?

   Every Canadian will remember Nova Heart and title track Arias & Symphonies which dominated the air waves in the 80's!
  So here we are again some 30 years later with the 30th Anniversary edition with some live tracks and a special version of Nova Heart (where are my roller skates?).
  Sandy Horne (bass and vocals)........SANDY !!!!!!   and the great voice of Gord Deppe, Derrick Ross (drums) and Rob Preuss (keys) who later would go on to play with Honeymoon Suite !

    I have a pristine vinyl copy of this album and have been spinning that for years so I was glad for a recent remastered version as well.   I will never tire of this album and think it is a bit of pop genius !
There are 6 live tracks as well on this CD recorded back in 1982 at Barrymore's in Ottawa
  

Storm Corrosion (2012)

Storm Corrosion (2012)

  Storm Corrosion is the collaboration of Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson and Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt.    Steve worked with Opeth on a few albums and even had them support PT a tour or so ago so It was no surprise that these 2 hooked up finally.
  
  The end result though is something of surprise to all of us out here in Progland.   Instead of an album that is PT meets OPETH we get a very chilled out spacey album that really never gets too heavy or proggy.  Instead we are brought on a musical journey into the dark nebula of a storm corrosion !
  Both Steve and Mikael play a lot of the instruments and of course wrote all the  music.  This was an album that I will admit did take me a few listens before I really got into it.  The last song "Ljudet Innan (10:20) is a stellar number and is a song that is stuck in my head........

The Who - Who's Next (1971)

The Who - Who's Next, MCA Records

  On Nov 23 I went and saw the WHO in concert here in Toronto which was excellent.  Roger Daltrey's voice is just no longer able to hit the high registers which is sosad....but this is called getting older!
 
  So in memory of the WHO and the way they were, I thought I'd review my favourite album with "Who's Next".
   On Who's Next everything clicked for the band with 2 huge songs coming off this album Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled Again which became fan favorites for a life time.  But more than the hits this album was really the Who through and through.
 And to think that this album was released on the heels of their famous rock opera TOMMY.
    The Mods had grown up and managed to record one of the true defining albums of the 70's!    This is a true classic album and an essential piece of rock and roll history.    

Anathema - Weather Systems (2012)

Anathema - Weather Systems (2012)   5.1 Mix
  
  Anathema have made a wonderful transformation from metal to symphonic prog over their past few albums.  2010's "We're Here Because We're Here" got a lot of attention thanks to the contribution of Steve Wilson and is another excellent album.   Weather System is  another excellent album all the way thru and I think even more adventurous than "Were Here".
   
   The sure have embraced the symphonic and stringed aspects of their music and I think this album might just be the break thru for Anathema.  Vincent Cavanaugh has a beautiful voice and on songs like "untouchable part 2" when he combines harmony with Lee Douglas you clearly are carried off into another dimension.
   The 5.1 Mix is excellent too !   I love this album !      

John Zorn - Mycale (2010)

John Zorn - Mycale  (Masada Book Two Angles) (2010)

  John Zorn has been recently reinterpreting the Masada songbook thru different lenses.    Mycale is a record that stands out as unique even amongst the vast catalog of John Zorn.
  This time Zorn presents 11 tracks based on the Book of Angels in a capella form, arranged and performed by four female singers  (Ayelet Rose Gottlieb, Basya Schechter (leader of the superb Pharaoh's Daughter), SofĂ­a Rei Koutsovitis and Malika Zarra)  

   The Masada songbook is a series of jazz /world music interpretation using "Jewish scales" and performed by musicians hand picked by Zorn himself !
Mycale is a beautiful album and offers some of the most captivating vocals and harmonies all sung is a Capella style.  These ladies create some huge moods and atmosphere and is so far away from anything I have ever heard before.
John Zorn is a musical explorer who does not conform to any genre or style....and that Is aht I find so intriguing about this New York based musician.  
   I want to pick up more in this series and highly recommend any of these to you !
This one is a winner and is an ULTIMATE HEADPHONE EXPERIENCE album !  

Discipline - To Shatter All Accord (2011)

Discipline - To Shatter All Accord (2011)
  
    Discipline have been a band that I have followed since "Push and Profit" made me take notice of this US prog band.    I suspect that for many this album (and band) will have all the elements that make Progressive rock pretentious and less than desirable!
    yup.....
 But......I think this album is just great.....Genesis meets Rush with some Van Der Graaf Generator and Devil Doll tossed in for good measure.
  
    Lead singer Matt Parmenter once again delivers his highly sinister and punchy vocals while Jon Preston Bouda (guitars), Mathew Kennedy (Bass) and Paul Dzendzel (skins) deliver a solid and highly progressive and dark musical world.    "To Shatter All Accord" is a lyric from the imaginative 20 epic track Rogue which is made up of 10 sub parts and stands out as the creative watermark on this album for me.
 
   All five songs on this album are excellent and I highly recommend DISCIPLINE to fans of progressive rock .   

Mahogany Frog - Senna (2012)

Mahogany Frog - Senna (2012)

   Canada's Mahogany Frog are simply Senna'sational again with the release of Senna.   This is the 4th album released by these Winnipeg based space cadets.
  As with the earlier Mahog Frog album these are deep and dark interplanetary travels into instrumental heaven. 
  "Houndstooth Part 1" opens the album up with a total ode to Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and then starts to unfold into the BEST Mahog tune yet as it runs into "Houndstooth part 2". This is another pick for me as to the BEST ALBUMS OF 2012! 
 I thought it was going to be hard to beat "DO5" but I think Senna is an even stronger album !
  For those who don't know much about Mahogany Frog they are a 4 piece band that create a wall of progressively inclined instrumental music without sounding repetitive or "recycled".
   Fans of Tame Impala, Godspeed, Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, Dredj, Dungen will I am sure love this bands music too.
   Senna would make the perfect Holiday gift giving treasure for the music lover in your life !!!

    
  

Jimmy Smith - The Cat (1964)

Jimmy Smith - The Cat (1964)

  The Cat is one of my favourite Jimmy Smith albums!  Organ and Big Band totally funking and grooving their way out !
  Jimmy Smith had made a transition from Blue Note to Verve in the early 60's and by the release of this album was well entrenched in the world of Verve Records !  

   This is a fun album that you will totally get into !   Smith and Lalo Schifrin take these arrangements into the sublime.
  Hard to peg this album down but it is really a fusion of soul, jazz, blues and Big Band.
  In addition to the Big Band, Smith is joined by Kenny Burrell on the guitar, George Duvivier (bass) and Grady Tate on the drums who does a fantastic job !
   James Bond meets Jimmy Smith     
  

Rush - Permanent Waves (1980)

Rush - Permanent Waves (1980), 2007 Mobile Fidelity Recordings

  Ok so who doesn't have at least one Rush album in their house?  Well my childhood was full of Rush music and Permanent Waves was a staple!   Next to Moving Pictures this is my favourite Rush album and era for these Canadian rockers!

    Album was produced by Terry Brown and skillfully remastered by MOFI by Shawn Britton using their GAIN 2 system technology from the original masters so the sounds is pretty awesome and way better than the remaster CD version.  
  Who can forget songs like Spirit Of Radio or Entre Nous of Freewill......this music is timeless.
  Everytime I hear RUSH I get that certain High School days melancholy feeling as these albums were part of me back then.....and still today !
   Lets hear from all of you out there.....what is your favourite RUSH album ?????
 
 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Life On Earth - Look !! (2007)

Look!! There Is Life On Earth!, 2007

  Life on Earth is the side project of multi-instrumentalist Mattias Gustavsson from Dungen (one of my modern fav psych bands).   This is a concept album of sorts with all the music on this album written to celebrate the wonderful phenomenon of life on planet EARTH.
  Mattias teams up with a couple of the Dungen dudes and a handful of other space cadets to produce a superb album of Psych-folk!
   Sitars.......groovy rhythms and highly folk-psychy......The vocals are even sung in English this time too!
  Sell Your Soul To Me is one of the great tracks from this album and definitely transcends life on Earth !    I would highly recommend this album to all Psych Alumni's and fans of music who dont mind having their mind expanded.............you among the sculptures ! 


Aldo Tagliapietra - Nella Pietra E Nel Vento (2012)

Aldo Tagliapietra - Nella Pietra E Nel Vento (2012)

  Fans of Italian prog rock will immediately recognize the name Aldo Tagliapiertra......for the rest of you .......you need to buy this album.....its truely magica !!! (the others know what I am talking about)

   As usual Aldo surrounds his work with the finest of musicians.....a great guitarist, keyboardist and drummer all compliments Aldo.
 Musically this isnt far off Le Orme really with a slightly more pop tinge and perhaps 1 step removed from the prog rock of Il Fiume or Le Elementi (which are great albums too)
  All songs were written by Aldo and performed with his voice in the forefront.  This album is very progressive and highly captivating all the way thru.  
  Fittingly the album art is that of the "bricklayer" from Paul Whitehead who also was responsible for the great early Genesis covers back in the day.   This is an excellent album that fans of good music will adore.  Why not try something NEW and grab Aldo's new album....... 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Drive-By Truckers - A Blessing And A Curse (2006)

Drive-By Truckers - A Blessing and a Curse (2006)

   Seventh album released by the Truckers leaving a watermark on me as one of their best.  This album was really a step away from the rock operas and concept albums and more just a collection of fine songs that are less connected.    The album showcases still all the deep South goodness we associate with the Truckers.......the triple guitar and song writing threat of Patterson, Mike and Jason with the bass of Shonna and drumming of Brad.

     I got my chance to see this band live a few years back and they sure didnt dissapoint me !  

Patterson Hood - Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance (2012)

Patterson Hood - Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance (2012)

  The last time we heard from the solo side of Patterson Hood was in 2009 with the stunning "Murdering Oscar" album which was one of my fav's!
  
 And now in 2012 Patterson returns with another excellent solo album taking a softer, more pastel and less "Southern Rock" album than it's predecessor.   In fact this album is the furthest he has strayed really from the Southern Rock" sounds of the Drive-By Truckers.  Musically and stylistically this albums plays like the softer side of the DBT's.  What is noticeably missing is the heavy crunchy guitar work that usually is associated with Patterson Hood but is not present on this album !  Instead we get softer rhythm sections and in place of heavy guitar is banjo and piano.   Lyrically though this is 100% DBT's and 100% Patterson Hood......and even the art and characters really feel like the DBT's stuff.
    "Heat Lightning" is really an autobiographical music novel that Patterson started to write as a book but eventually became an album.  I really like this album and appreciate the new musical approach Patterson Hood took with this album......  
  

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Dungen (1999)

Dungen - Dungen 1999
Dungen's first album was originally only released on vinyl and thanks to the demand for this band they finally released it again.   Essentially this is 3 epic space tracks and is kind of where it all started I guess.   Although the core is very much Dungen you can definitely hear a stronger psychedelic influence here with the sitar on "midsommarbongen" and the warped out keyboards on "Lilla vannen" with its deep bass throbs.
  Lead vocalist and band leader Gustav Ejstes is still of course the main component in Dungen who wrote, arranged and even produced this debut album.
  There are pieces of Pink Floyd...especially piper-era

Very interstellar ........but totally absorbing!


Monday, November 5, 2012

Gabor Szabo - Dream (1968)

Gabor Szabo - Dreams, 1969 remastered

I have been under the spell of this unique guitarist for a few years back now and continue to find gems in his back catalogue.  "Dreams" was one of the first Szabo albums I picked up and remains one of my favourite of the lot.

  For those who don't know much about Gabor Szabo I can assure you that he was one of the most original and intriguing guitarists to emerge in the 1960s with his unique mix of  Hungarian folk, pop, psych and jazz forms.   Right from the opening number ‘Galatea’s Guitar’, it is pretty obvious that this album is like nothing you may have heard before.  I am actually quite surprised that this album (and Raga for that matter) are really considered Jazz.   If Szabo released "Dreams" in 2012 he likely would have been on the ECM label.   Through the 7 vignettes Szabo and his cast of musicians take us on a wonderful voyage into Dreamland.  I love the combo of Szabo's guitar and Gary McFarland’s fine string arrangements with their Eastern raga-like influences.  No question that ‘Dreams’ is one of Gabor Szabo’s finest albums.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Faith No More - Angel Dust (1992)

 Faith No More - Angel Dust (1992) MOFI RBCD

  Landmark 1992 Alternative Rock Breakthru Album that 20+ years later still has me reeling in ! 
      
   Angel Dust was the fourth studio album by American rock band Faith No More and was THE album that really hooked me on these guys.   Sadly It was the swan song album featuring guitarist "Big" Jim Martin and yet only the second to feature the versatile vocals of Mike Patton.   This was also THE album of 1992 for me and an album that I still very much love to this day!
   
      I guess "Angel Dust" was their semi-progressive rock album and kind of their "The Wall" of Alt rock.    No question this album was UBER- influential in the world of Rock "and" "or" Roll !     I can't tell you the number of times I see "Angel Dust" cited as the album that helped bands and artists see their potential. 
   I would say that FNM push the boundaries for me on the whole hard acid rock GOTH scene....there is JUST something extra special with this band and especially ANGEL DUST!    
 
   The MOFI (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) 'Ultradisc' CD release was carefully mastered from the original master tapes and sounds better than the first day I heard this album.   If you are a fan of this band and Angel Dust then I would highly recommend you snag this CD release as it has the BEST sound you could ever imagine!

  The tune "RV" is like just tooooo funny.......holy red-neck !
 

     Rock just never sounded better than with a little Angel Dust on the Hi Fi !

John Coltrane - Fearless Leader (1957 - 1958)

John Coltrane - Fearless Leader (1957 - 1958)

 This 6-CD boxed set focuses on Coltrane's Prestige Records era when he had kicked the drugs and alcohol demons.  This lovely box set is mostly quartet jazz style recorded from  (1957-1958).   Prestige brought legendary Rudy Van Gelder's recordings to light her with superb 24-BIT REMASTERING from the Original Analog Master Tapes.   

  On this 6 CD set you will hear from noted sidemen like  RED GARLAND, PAUL CHAMBERS, DONALD BYRD, JIMMY COBB, FREDDIE HUBBARD and ART TAYLOR

NRBQ - Tiddly Winks (1980)

NRBQ - Tiddly Winks 1980

  Tiddlywinks was the 5th studio album released from the "world's greatest bar band" or so as they are oft' referred to!  As with so many of the NRBQ albums this one is a gem of stylistically innovative pop songs.   Most of the tunes as usual were written by Terry Adams and  Joey Spampinato.   This album contains my favourite NRBQ songs with Adam's power pop "Me and the Boys" (which was also later recorded by Bonnie Ratt) and the jazzy reinterpretation of "Music Goes Round and Around" which always makes my toes tap and my face smile.
  Tiddlywinks was also the second album released on Rounder after they had been dropped by Mercury Records in 1978.  
   A fantastic  

Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information (1974)

Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information (1974)
  
  Shuggie Otis sadly should have been huge but sadly remains unknown to most.   In his lifetime Shuggie played with the likes of Frank Zappa and Al Kooper before going solo to do his own thing.
  Inspiration Information is somewhere in the funk-soul-psychedelic camp with some just amazing songs.  Shuggie played a lot of instruments on this album....bass, guitar, organ, and of course vocals.
   Side one of the album is more the song based side while side 2 is more the instrumental psychedelic bits.  This was his third album and was 3 years in the making.....a labor of love.  Around the release of this album the Rolling Stones who were in need of a guitarist asked Shuggie to join them but according to the liner notes on this album he declined.  Shuggie was doing his own thing and is all he wanted.
  This remastered version is well done and the sound quality is excellent.
  Hunt this album down you wont be sorry !


Friday, November 2, 2012

Ivan Fischer with Budapest Festival Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 1

Ivan Fischer with Budapest Festival Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 1

  Ivan Fischer is one of the bright spots today in classical music and has been making a lot of noise with his interpretation of Gustav Mahler's symphonies.
   Mahler music can really only be appreciated if you spend some active time listening to it, but then it will hit you.    His symphonies are simply magical.......
  Symphony #1 is the second symphony i discovered after falling totally for his masterpiece the resurrection.  Fischer teams up with the Budapest Festival Orchestra to deliver a beautifully powerful symphony that will change your life.   This was all carefully edited and mastered by Jared Sacks and Hein Dekker at Channel Classics.  The sound is simply stunning and fans of huge symphonic orchestra will love to get into this beauty.

Sonny Rollins - Way Out West SACD (1957)

Sonny Rollins - Way Out West SACD

I will admit that I was shocked to see that there are THREE version of "Way Out West" on SACD.....Analogue Productions, Japan SHM and this one on Fantasy (Hong Kong). Gee there are about 5 million albums I'd love on SACD and yet there are 3 separate versions of this one alone.......kinda crazy....
Anywho.......let me just say that I am big fan of Sonny Rollins and think that "Way Out West" is one of his great albums! I was a bit unsure if I should really own another version of this but with all the great reviews I decided to give it a try...and I am soooooo glad I did.

I can not compare this version to the Japan or APO SACD releases but can say that I think this one is very good. The quality of the mix is actually quite amazing with great instrument separation and superb clear sound. This recording is warmer and smoother than the RBCD Remaster on Impulse I own and some of Rollins' sax feels like he is right in your living room playing beside you!

On "come, gone" at the end there is some wild sax stereo panning going on (the 2 channel mix) and right at the end it is almost like Sonny turns and faces you as the listener.....it was almost like he had his back turned and then at the end shifted around......never heard anything quite like that before and dont recall that on the RBCD.

I love the distinct drumming with such clarity in the left speaker while Rollings cherps away on the far right...while the bass is mid-left channel. This is really a fun recording and the great depth and stereo effects makes this SACD a real winner.

The recording engineer was Roy DuNann who I think did a great job on the SACD mastering.

Billy Joel - The Nylon Curtain (1982) MOFI SACD

Billy Joel - The Nylon Curtain MOFI SACD

  ....well we're living here in Allentown!  The Nylon Curtain was released in 1982 and was another wonderful pop album from an artist that was on quite a roll.
 On this album Joel fused Beatles influences like the songs "Laura" , "a room of our own" and "Scandanavian Skies" while maintaining standard art pop songs like Pressure"
  The song "pressure" was a tune that I couldn't stop playing when this album first came out.
  But perhaps the high point really on the album is "goodnight Saigon" which still holds up as just one of Billy Joel's finest and most emotive moments!
  The SACD was carefully mastered by Rob LoVerde at Mobile Fidelity Sound Inc and I must say this is just sonic perfection!!!!!!

Billy Joel - Glass Houses (1980) MOFI SACD

Billy Joel - Glass Houses MOFI SACD

In 1980 I bought "Glass Houses" on cassette..........yup cassette! And played it over and over again until the chromium dioxide wore off the reels. It wasn't until recently that I repurchased this album on SACD thanks to the folks at MOFI. This was Joel's 7th album and was part of the soundtrack to my life!
"Glass Houses" was remastered by Rob LoVerde at Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs who IMHO did an excellent job in representing this pop-treasure in 2012 with great warmth and clarity. Mr. LoVerde also was responsible for so many of the great MOFI releases.....including the great first Foreigner album (sorry but this album is my fav rock album and he did a great job on that one too)

The song "all for Leyna" is worth the price for this album alone! IMHO the best Joel track ever!

I can not compare this SACD to earlier rebook or other Billy Joel SACD releases ......sorry but I can only share my opinion that this one sure sounds nice and clear and rich at higher volumes.

Brendan Perry - Ark (2011)

Brendan Perry - Ark  (2011)

  Brendan Perry is of course the male voice from Dead Can Dance who along with Lisa Gerrard have released some of the most interesting and creative soundscapes of the past 20 years.   Ark is the second solo album released by Perry and this album continues his quest into sound while exploring slightly more accessible forms.   
   I think Brendan has one of the richest and best voice EVER and this album just reminds me again just so amazing it is.   
 

Glenn Gould - Goldberg Variations (J.S. Bach)

Glenn Gould - Goldberg Variations (J.S. Bach)

  Well I grew up in a household that adored classical music and the piano was often the entertainment of many family gatherings.  My uncle was a concert pianist and would play Bach, Chopin, Mahler...you name it.....
   Because of this I got to know and appreciate the work of Canadian Glenn Gould and understand his interpretations.  As far as I know Gould recorded Bach's Goldberg variations twice in his lifetime with this recording representing the second. Sony music and Gould himself were involved int he recording and mastering and the Goldberg Variations are re-presented here some 20 years later in 20 bit format for you to enjoy.
  This is music you MUST hear and a series of vignettes that you will never forget by the master himself !

Bob Thompson - On The Rocks! (1959)

Bob Thompson - On The Rocks!

   Why not pour yourself a space age cocktail, pull out the 8TRACK and lay back on the shag carpet and dream away to the ultimate bachelor pad album !

  This may be my personal favourite of all Space Age Pop albums ever !  Wow......huge spacious sound, with clever instrumentation not unlike the Enoch Light Persuasive Percussion albums, with great vocal harmonies and a very dated 50's and 60's sound.  This album sounds very dated !   and that is part of the magic for me !
Another very cool part of this album (and the other early Victor albums) is that Bob Thompson blended well known songs along with his own songs on these recordings. 

  

Martin Simpson & Wu Man - Music For The Motherless Child (1996)

Martin Simpson & Wu Man - Music For The Motherless Child  Water Lily Acoustics 1996

    I have picked up a number of the Water Lily label CD's and SACD's since my pal Jeff Ferguson first played the Ry Cooder/U.M. Bhatt's "A Meeting By The River" also on Water Lily Records which I adored.
  On "Music For The Motherless Child" guitarist Martin Simpson teams up with Wu Man to produce an album that deserves your full attention.  This is a wild combination with the picture perfect acoustic guitar of Martin Simpson juxtaposed with the ancient 4 stringed Chinese Lute played by Wu Man .
  Once again like all the Water Lily recordings every little bit of attention sonically to detail is present .....everything from the customer built microphones to the mastering process...even the placement of musician and instruments has been carefully arranged into what they refer to as "The classic Blumlein arrangement".  This album was recorded in a vacant old church which adds to the ambient sonics.
  The first song "One More Day" is a breathtaking was to open the album up.  The album is not loud or rushed in any way and is a very meditative album.
  Huge album and one that I recommend to all lovers of music.........who arent rushed and will take the time to appreciate something other than their regular haunts ! 

Kenny Dorham - Quiet Kenny (1959) XRCD

Kenny Dorham - Quiet Kenny (1959) XRCD

  Smooth.......very smooth relaxed jazz full of soul !   Quiet Kenny is one of the best Sunday morning jazz albums you can play!   This album is very bluesy with a bit of swing in it and carries a highly reflective almost nostalgic feeling throughout.  Kenny is joined by Tom Flannagan (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Art Taylor on the drums.

 

The Who - My Generation SACD

The Who - My Generation SACD

  Ok so who hasn't heard the Who's "My Generation"?   This is a pure classic rock album that shows a very young band just starting out and every nuisance is captured here in lovely 96kbts SACD format.  And like the 2 CD deluxe edition there are a ton of extra songs including the single "I can't explain" and Jimmy Page's contributed "Bald Headed Woman".
  Classic rock never sound so good !

Kourosh Yaghmaei - Back From The Brink (1973 - 1979)

Kourosh Yaghmaei - Back From The Brink (1973 - 1979)

 Kourosh Yaghmaei was the godfather of Iranian psychedelic folk-rock and thanks to him for protecting these recordings during a crazy time when the Islamic fundamentalists took control of Iran.  Art like this was not supposed to survive!

Ray Charles - Genuis + Soul = Jazz (1961)

Ray Charles - Genuis + Soul = Jazz (1961) Dunhill Records

  Here is some more sweet Ray Charles sounds!  This time Ray is teamed up with Quincy Jones and his orchestra band and puts most of his focus on the organ vs his vocals.  The end result is a side of Ray that you dont always hear .....his soul and expressions are transferred thru the organ! Ray does sing on 2 tracks and makes a few chirps during others but really this is a mostly instrumental album.
   I picked up Steve Hoffman's mastered version on Dunhill as it offers the best sound this album has ever seen on conventional Redbook CD!

Lara St. John - Vivalsi - The 4 Seasons SACD

Lara St. John - Vivaldi The Four Seasons SACD

  I have always loved Vivaldi's masterpiece the Four Seasons and have heard it from a ton of different artists, conductors and orchestras and must say there is something extra special here.   Lara is a Canadian born violinist who really has a her own interpretation of the Fours Seasons