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SACD

Andrea Bocelli – Andrea (2004) [Special Edition] [SACD / Philips Classics – 9867972 ]

adminMay 21, 2025 131 Views

Title: Andrea Bocelli – Andrea (2004) [Special Edition]
Genre: Classical, Vocal
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Andrea (2004), Andrea Bocelli’s tenth studio album and fifth pop release, topped the Dutch Albums Top 100, charted for 33 weeks, and earned gold certification. As the world’s leading crossover artist, Bocelli balances classical and pop audiences with skillful artistry. The album reflects a more hands-on approach by Bocelli in its conception and production. “Sin Tu Amor” blends his voice with the Gipsy Kings’ Iberian folk-pop, creating a rich fusion. “Where Love Goes,” a duet with 11-year-old Holly Stell from The Lazarus Child, exudes liturgical grace. “Tu Ci Sei” echoes the romanticism of “Con Te Partirò,” maintaining Bocelli’s signature style. The single “Dell’Amore Non Si Sa,” arranged by Mauro Malavasi (Romanza, Sogno), is a dramatic showcase of Bocelli’s vocal power. The SACD format enhances the album’s lush orchestrations and Bocelli’s emotive delivery. Bocelli’s taste and vocal prowess elevate the crossover genre, redeeming its reputation. Andrea expands his international appeal, solidifying his status as a global musical icon.

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2 min read

SACD

Anatole Fistoulari, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra – Ballet Music From The Opera (1960) [APO 2017] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CAPC 2400 SA]

adminMay 21, 2025 149 Views

Title: Anatole Fistoulari, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra – Ballet Music From The Opera (1960) [APO 2017]
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Anatole Fistoulari was always a specialist in the interpretation of ballet music. He was also, a noted conductor of Tchaikovsky and the Russian School, as well as romantic and impressionistic French music. This album, originally released in 1960, features selections from William Tell, Khovantchina, Aida, and Samson and Delilah, performed by the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra conducted by Fistoulari. Recorded by renowned Decca audio master Kenneth Wilkinson, it shares most of that disc’s electrifying sound. Very lively midrange with superbly coherent staging, top rank clarity and deep, powerful and well-defined bass.

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1 min read

SACD

Anastasia Lyutova & The Band – Some Like It Jazz (2019) [Japan] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-344]

adminMay 21, 2025 188 Views

Title: Anastasia Lyutova & The Band – Some Like It Jazz (2019) [Japan]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Young Russian jazz vocalist Anastasia Lyutova and her band of wonderful musicians including Sergey Baulin (tenor sax), Alexey Podymkin (piano), Vladimir Koltsov-Krutov (double bass) and Alexey Bekker (drums), perfom a set of jazz standards.

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1 min read

SACD

Ana Caram – Rio After Dark (1989) [Reissue 2002] [SACD / Chesky Records – SACD241]

adminMay 21, 2025 173 Views

Title: Ana Caram – Rio After Dark (1989) [Reissue 2002]
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ana Caram, a São Paulo-born composer, vocalist, and guitarist, is known for her delicate, vibrato-less soprano and versatile delivery, excelling in both melodic ballads and lively sambas. Her debut U.S. album, Rio After Dark (1989, Chesky Records), evokes the timeless sound of 1962 bossa nova, as if untouched since “Desafinado.” A protégé of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Caram skillfully applies bossa nova styling to contemporary songs like Djavan’s works and Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” Her slightly off-pitch vocals, typical of seductive Brazilian singers, add charm, complemented by her João Gilberto-inspired guitar rhythms. Caram contributes original tracks like “Renovação” and “Rainbow,” rooted in classic bossa nova. Jobim guests on piano and vocals for “Meditation” and “Anos Dourados,” with his groans captured in Chesky’s meticulous recording. Paquito D’Rivera’s clarinet shines on “O Que Vier Eu Traço,” and his alto sax, echoing Stan Getz, elevates “La Cumbia.” Steve Sacks’ alto flute and subtle percussion by Carlos Alberto de Oliveira and Café enhance the album’s spare, low-key texture. The SACD’s high-fidelity production appeals to purist bossa nova fans, offering a pristine listening experience. Rio After Dark showcases Caram’s artistry, blending tradition with fresh interpretations, making it a standout in the genre.

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2 min read

SACD

Ana Caram – Hollywood Rio (2004) [SACD / Chesky Records – SACD284]

adminMay 21, 2025 159 Views

Title: Ana Caram – Hollywood Rio (2004)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

A superior Brazilian jazz singer, Ana Caram takes a slight detour on this SACD, stretching her repertoire while mostly still performing in a style influenced by bossa nova. One does not get to hear such songs as “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You,” “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Smile,” and “As Time Goes By” in a bossa nova setting that often. Also unusual is that Michel Freidenson plays all of the instruments other than the reeds (which are performed by Lawrence Feldman), and most of his electronic instruments sound real enough not to be an issue. The focus throughout is on Caram’s lovely voice and she excels on this material, showing that it really is not what you sing but how you sing it. Recommended.

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1 min read

SACD

Ana Caram – Blue Bossa (2001) [SACD / Chesky Records – SACD226]

adminMay 21, 2025 204 Views

Title: Ana Caram – Blue Bossa (2001)
Genre: Jazz, Bossa Nova
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ana Caram is an excellent singer and guitarist of Brazilian music, but this set lacks any real surprises. She only plays guitar on one song, sticking to singing while being backed by a rhythm section and the saxophones of Paulo Levi. The selections all date from the 1960s (other than her original “Pura Luz”) and Caram is mostly cast in the role of Astrud Gilberto, performing Jobim tunes (including “Desafinado,” “Corcovado,” and “Triste”) and other tunes from the era, including “Blue Bossa,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and Baden Powell’s “So Por Amor.” The results are pleasant but very predictable, with no real chances being taken nor any fresh light shone on the veteran warhorses.

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1 min read

SACD

Anonymous 4 – The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bing (2005) [SACD / Harmonia Mundi – HMU 807327]

adminMay 21, 2025 133 Views

Title: Anonymous 4 – The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bing (2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Anonymous 4’s The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen (2005, Harmonia Mundi) is their final SACD, marking the end of their 18-year career in 2004. Focusing on 12th-century mystic Hildegard of Bingen, the album explores the Pentecostal theme of the “Fiery Spirit” through her emotional chants, including the hymn O ignee spiritus and key antiphons. The program contextualizes Hildegard’s works with hymns and sequences her convent sisters sang daily, enhancing historical authenticity. Unlike their earlier 11,000 Virgins (1997), this collection sets Hildegard’s text-only visions to medieval recitation tones, a novel approach for recorded psalm tones. Anonymous 4’s four female voices—Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, Johanna Maria Rose, and Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek—deliver pure, resonant performances, though some critique the vibrato-heavy style compared to earlier recordings. The SACD’s high-resolution stereo and surround sound, captured in a resonant church acoustic, amplify the ethereal quality of the monophonic chants. The 64-minute album, with 17 tracks, balances Hildegard’s soaring melodies and the grounding liturgical framework. Detailed liner notes by Susan Hellauer provide scholarly insight into the selections and context. This release, a fitting capstone to Anonymous 4’s legacy, appeals to early music enthusiasts and those drawn to Hildegard’s mystical vision. It stands out for its innovative integration of vision texts and liturgical settings, cementing the group’s impact on medieval music revival.

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2 min read

SACD

Amsterdam Sinfonietta Soloists – Schubert: String Quintet (2015) [SACD / Channel Classics – CCSSA36215]

adminMay 21, 2025 146 Views

Title: Amsterdam Sinfonietta Soloists – Schubert: String Quintet (2015)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Schubert’s String Quintet, a chamber music masterpiece, is presented in an unconventional arrangement on this SACD by the Amsterdam Sinfonietta. Typically scored for two violins, viola, and two cellos, inspired by Boccherini and Onslow, this version replaces the second cello with a double bass, played by Rick Stotijn. The adaptation, commissioned from Marijn van Prooijen, draws on Onslow’s practice of writing alternative bass parts after hearing virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti. Stotijn uses a small double bass tuned in fourths with a top C string, adding gravitas while maintaining the original pitch, notably in the first movement’s cello duet. The Amsterdam Sinfonietta delivers a stellar performance, with apt tempi and reactive interplay, though the finale’s violin filigree slightly falters. The arrangement evokes Schubert’s Trout Quintet in its lighter moments. The SACD’s sound quality enhances the ensemble’s brilliance, recorded in vivid detail. Compared to traditional recordings by the Belcea or Pavel Haas Quartets, this version stands out for its novel bass timbre. The liner notes justify the arrangement by citing Schubert’s potential awareness of Dragonetti’s influence. Listeners must decide if they want this unique, compelling take on Schubert’s swansong, which rivals standard versions in execution but diverges in texture.

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2 min read

SACD

America – Hearts (1975) [Audio Fidelity 2016] [SACD / Audio Fidelity – AFZ5 231]

adminMay 20, 2025 252 Views

Title: America – Hearts (1975) [Audio Fidelity 2016]
Genre: Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Hearts (1975), the fifth studio album by American folk rock trio America, was released by Warner Bros. Records. Produced by George Martin, famed for his work with The Beatles, it reached number 4 on the Billboard album chart. The album earned gold certification from the RIAA, reflecting strong U.S. sales. It spawned three hit singles: “Sister Golden Hair,” which topped the Billboard singles chart and hit number 5 on adult contemporary. “Daisy Jane” peaked at 20 on the Billboard singles chart and number 4 on adult contemporary. “Woman Tonight,” with its funky vibe, reached 44 on the singles chart and 41 on adult contemporary. Other tracks like “Old Virginia,” “Bell Tree,” and “Midnight” gained airplay on FM album-oriented stations. The album blends America’s signature acoustic-driven folk-pop with polished production. Its success solidified the band’s mid-’70s commercial peak. Available on SACD, Hearts offers enhanced audio clarity for fans and collectors.

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1 min read

SACD

America – Homecoming (1972) [Audio Fidelity 2015] [SACD / Audio Fidelity – AFZ5 204]

adminMay 20, 2025 145 Views

Title: America – Homecoming (1972) [Audio Fidelity 2015]
Genre: Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Homecoming (1972) is America’s finest album, refining the folk-pop style of their debut with tighter, more direct songs. It features fewer extended instrumental solos, focusing on concise songwriting. The sound is clear and bright, with acoustic guitar at the core, enhanced by electric guitar and keyboards. Performances are confident and passionately committed, among the band’s best on record. Lyrics remain occasionally trite or cryptic but often evoke a compelling wanderlust and love for nature, especially in “Moon Song,” “Ventura Highway,” and “Cornwall Blank.” Sophisticated chord progressions add subtle, surprising depth. New stylistic touches include the country-flavored “Don’t Cross the River,” the hard-rocking “California Revisited,” and the funky “Head & Heart.” Hits like “Ventura Highway,” “Only in Your Heart,” and “Don’t Cross the River” shine, but every track stands out. The vibrant arrangements and evocative themes make Homecoming highly rewarding. This album, available on SACD for enhanced audio clarity, solidifies America’s early-’70s peak.

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