La Voie Triomphale – The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces (2012) [Blu-ray Audio / BDMV / 14.2 GB / 2L-086]

Album title: La Voie Triomphale
Performer: The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces / Ole Kristian Ruud, conductor
Genre: Classical
Label: 2L (Lindberg Lyd)
Location: Jar Church, Norway
Release date: November 2012
Recording date: November 2011
Original source: Mastering in DXD (352.8kHz/24bit)
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Duration: 01:21:14
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 950 kbps / 1080i / 29,970 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio#1: DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 192 kHz / 12227 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio#2: LPCM 2.0 / 192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit

The years before, during and after the French Revolution were a turning-point for wind ensembles throughout the world. They developed from being small ensembles, with each instrument represented in pairs, to being something much larger. At the same time, the repertoire moved rapidly from the chamber music for wind instruments of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven to much larger works of almost orchestral dimensions by a new generation of composers.

The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces has on this recording chosen music by composers who all made significant contributions to the evolvement of the wind orchestra and to the literature for wind orchestra that we know today. The music is an exquisite selection of French drama, romance and epic tone poems composed at times of considerable political turbulence. It could be precisely this political backdrop, combined with the wind orchestra’s hitherto unexplored potential, that goes some way towards explaining why composers like Berlioz, Bozza, Saint-Saëns, Tomasi, Dukas and Milhaud chose to write large-scale works for the wind orchestra – works that are still considered an important part of the standard wind ensemble repertoire today, a repertoire the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces performs with the elegance, virtuosity and energy the music demands; The Triumphal Way!

2l.no

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2 min read

Ola Gjeilo – PIANO IMPROVISATIONS (2012) [Blu-ray Audio / BDMV / 12.9 GB / 2L-082]

Artist: Ola Gjeilo
Title: PIANO IMPROVISATIONS – Evocative, lyrical music for 1, 2 & 3 pianos
Genre: modern classical, instrumental, piano improvisations
Label: 2L (Lindberg Lyd)
Release date: May 2012
Recording date: August 2011
Location: Sofienberg Church, Norway
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Original source: DXD (352.8kHz/24bit)
Duration: 01:09:02
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 3000 kbps / 1080i / 29,970 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio#1: DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 192 kHz / 11691 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio#2: LPCM 2.0 / 192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit

While my first piano album on the 2L record label, Stone Rose (2007), was all pre-composed or outlined, I wanted this 2012 sequel to be completely spontaneous.

Although many of the pieces on this album are free improvisations recorded in one take, the first three tracks are fantasies around three of my own choral works; Ubi Caritas, Tota Pulchra Es and Prelude. Recordings of the original choral versions can be found on Phoenix Chorale’s 2012 album, Northern Lights (Chandos Records).

Producer Morten Lindberg suggested recording a few tracks where I would play layers of two or three pianos, which I thought was a great way to really exploit the surround sound potential on a solo album. We moved the piano between each take, eventually constituting a triangle, and the listener is sitting in the middle in a surround system setup.

As a pianist, improvisation is where my heart is. With this recording I wanted to express and share my passion for that art form.

– Ola Gjeilo, 2012

2l.no

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2 min read

Jørgen Larsen – Thomas D.A. Tellefsen complete piano works (2012) [Blu-ray Audio / BDMV / 24.3 GB / 2L-080]

Album title: Thomas D.A. Tellefsen (1823-1874) – complete piano works
Performer: Jørgen Larsen
Genre: Classical, piano
Label: 2L, Lindberg Lyd
Location: Ringve Museum, Norway
Release date: April 2012
Recording date: May 2010 and February 2011
Original source: Mastering in DXD (352.8kHz/24bit)
Quality: Blu-ray Audio
Duration: 03:18:36
Video: MPEG-4 AVC 950 kbps / 1080i / 29,970 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio#1: DTS-HD MA 5.1 / 96 kHz / 5660 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Audio#2: LPCM 2.0 / 192 kHz / 9216 kbps / 24-bit

The story of Thomas Dyke Acland Tellefsen (1823-1874) has a special place in the history of 19th century Norwegian music. In his own lifetime he earned an international reputation as a composer, piano virtuoso and teacher, enjoying a close relationship to Chopin both as a pupil and a friend. The connection to Chopin is reflected in several ways in Tellefsen’s music, both in terms of choice of style and genre and by the fact that the majority of his works are for solo piano.

2l.no

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1 min read

Bob Dylan – Love And Theft (2001) [SACD 2003] [SACD / Columbia – CH 90340]

Bob Dylan - Love And Theft (2001) [SACD 2003]

Title: Bob Dylan – Love And Theft (2001) [SACD 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

“Love And Theft” (generally referred to as Love and Theft) is the thirty-first studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 11, 2001 by Columbia Records. It featured backing by his touring band of the time, with keyboardist Augie Meyers added for the sessions. It peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified with a gold album by the RIAA.A limited edition release included two bonus tracks on a separate disc recorded in the early 1960s, and two years later, on September 16, 2003, this album was one of fifteen Dylan titles reissued and remastered for SACD hybrid playback.

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1 min read

Bob Dylan – Oh Mercy (1989) [SACD 2003] [SACD / Columbia – CH 90316]

Bob Dylan - Oh Mercy (1989) [SACD 2003]

Title: Bob Dylan – Oh Mercy (1989) [SACD 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Oh Mercy is the twenty-sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 18, 1989 by Columbia Records. Produced by Daniel Lanois, it was hailed by critics as a triumph for Dylan, after a string of poorly-reviewed albums. Oh Mercy gave Dylan his best chart showing in years, reaching #30 on the Billboard charts in the United States and #6 in the UK.

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1 min read

Bob Dylan – Infidels (1983) [SACD 2003] [SACD / Columbia – CH 90317]

Bob Dylan - Infidels (1983) [SACD 2003]

Title: Bob Dylan – Infidels (1983) [SACD 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Infidels, Bob Dylan’s 22nd studio album, released in October 1983 by Columbia Records, marks his return to secular music after three evangelical gospel albums following his conversion to Christianity. Co-produced by Dylan and Mark Knopfler, the album shifts focus to personal themes of love and loss, alongside commentary on environmental and geopolitical issues, while retaining subtle religious imagery. Critics, including Christopher Connelly of Rolling Stone, praised it as Dylan’s strongest work since Blood on the Tracks, revitalizing his career with its poetic lyrics and melodic strength. The album features standout performances, backed by a band including Knopfler on guitar and Sly Dunbar on drums. It reached #20 in the U.S., earning gold certification, and #9 in the UK, reflecting strong commercial success. However, fans and critics lamented the exclusion of tracks like “Blind Willie McTell,” a career highlight later released on The Bootleg Series Volume III in 1991. The SACD reissue enhances the album’s crisp production, highlighting its nuanced sound. Infidels is essential for Dylan fans, blending introspective songwriting with social commentary. It stands as a pivotal moment in his career, balancing personal and political themes. The album’s critical acclaim and lasting impact make it a cornerstone of his 1980s output.

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2 min read

Bob Dylan – Slow Train Coming (1979) [SACD 2003] [SACD / Columbia – CH 90322]

Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming (1979) [SACD 2003]

Title: Bob Dylan – Slow Train Coming (1979) [SACD 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Slow Train Coming is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 20, 1979 by Columbia Records. It was the artist’s first effort since becoming a born-again Christian, and all of the songs either express his strong personal faith, or stress the importance of Christian teachings and philosophy. The evangelical nature of the record alienated many of Dylan’s existing fans; at the same time, many Christians were drawn into his fan base. Slow Train Coming was listed at #16 in the 2001 book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was generally well-reviewed in the secular press, and the single “Gotta Serve Somebody” became his first hit in three years, winning Dylan the Grammy for best rock vocal performance by a male in 1980. The album peaked at #2 on the charts in the UK and went platinum in the US, where it reached #3.

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1 min read

Bob Dylan – Street-Legal (1978) [SACD 2003] [SACD / Columbia – CH 90338]

Bob Dylan - Street-Legal (1978) [SACD 2003]

Title: Bob Dylan – Street-Legal (1978) [SACD 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Street-Legal is the eighteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on June 15, 1978 by Columbia Records. The album was a serious musical departure for Dylan, who uses a large pop-rock band—complete with female backing vocalists—for the first time.
Following the twin successes of Blood on the Tracks and Desire, Street-Legal was another gold record for Dylan, but it peaked at only #11 on the US Billboard charts, making it his first studio album to miss the US Top 10 since 1964. However, it became his best-selling studio album in the UK, reaching #2 on the charts (his highest position in eight years) and achieving platinum status with 300,000 copies sold (the only other Dylan album to do this was The Essential Bob Dylan). The original 1978 LP credits mastering to Stan Kalina at CBS Recording Studios NY; the album was produced by Don DeVito. In 1999, Street-Legal received a special remixing and remastering job from DeVito. The newer version boasted richer sound, correcting numerous issues with the original production. The new mix was also used in a 2003 SACD reissue of Street-Legal. However the original 1978 mix was reinstated for The Complete Album Collection Vol. 1.

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2 min read

Bob Dylan – Desire (1976) [SACD 2003] [SACD / Columbia – CH 90318]

Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks (1975) [SACD 2003]

Title: Bob Dylan – Desire (1976) [SACD 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Desire, Bob Dylan’s seventeenth studio album, released on January 5, 1976, by Columbia Records, is a collaborative masterpiece featuring musicians from the Rolling Thunder Revue, later documented in The Bootleg Series Vol. 5. Co-written largely with Jacques Levy, the album’s lengthy story-songs include backing vocals by Emmylou Harris and Ronee Blakley. Notable tracks like the 11-minute “Joey,” criticized for glorifying gangster Joey Gallo, and “Hurricane,” a passionate defense of boxer Rubin Carter’s wrongful murder conviction, sparked controversy. Following the acclaimed Blood on the Tracks, Desire topped the Billboard Pop Albums chart for five weeks, reached #3 in the UK, and earned double-platinum status in the U.S. It was named NME’s Album of the Year and ranked #174 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list. The album blends folk, rock, and narrative-driven lyrics, showcasing Dylan’s storytelling prowess. The SACD reissue enhances its rich, communal sound, making it essential for Dylan fans and folk-rock enthusiasts. Desire remains a high point in Dylan’s catalog for its bold narratives and collaborative energy.

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1 min read

Bob Dylan – Blood On The Tracks (1975) [SACD 2003] [SACD / Columbia – CH 90323]

Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks (1975) [SACD 2003]

Title: Bob Dylan – Blood On The Tracks (1975) [SACD 2003]
Genre: Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan’s fifteenth studio album, released on January 20, 1975, by Columbia Records, marked his return to Columbia after two albums with Asylum. Recorded initially in New York in September 1974, Dylan re-recorded half the tracks in Minneapolis in December, resulting in a final album with five tracks from each city. The album, produced by Dylan himself, is a pinnacle of confessional songwriting, with tracks like “Tangled Up in Blue” (#31 on Billboard Hot 100) reflecting personal turmoil, possibly tied to his estrangement from his wife Sara, though Dylan denies autobiographical intent. Initially met with mixed reviews, it’s now hailed as one of Dylan’s greatest works, ranked #16 on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums list (2003) and #5 on Pitchfork’s top 100 albums of the 1970s (2004). The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the UK Albums Chart, earning double-platinum status in the U.S. Its raw, emotional songs, blending folk and rock, capture love’s complexities with unparalleled honesty. The SACD reissue enhances its intimate sound, making it essential for Dylan fans and singer-songwriter enthusiasts. Blood on the Tracks remains a landmark in his catalog, celebrated for its lyrical depth and enduring impact.

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2 min read