SACD – Page 28 – hradl.com – High Resolution Audio Download

SACD

America – America (1971) [Audio Fidelity 2013] [SACD / Audio Fidelity – AFZ 167]

adminMay 20, 2025 198 Views

Title: America – America (1971) [Audio Fidelity 2013]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

America’s self-titled debut album (1972) is a folk-pop classic, influencing artists like the Eagles and Dan Fogelberg. It draws heavily from Crosby, Stills & Nash, evident in its rich vocal harmonies and strummed acoustic guitar arrangements. Tracks like “Sandman” and “Children” echo CS&N’s chordal singing, while “Riverside” recalls their dynamic guitar work. America’s acoustic guitar interplay is more intricate than their influences, though occasional sloppy execution or tuning issues appear. The album features extended instrumental sections, including intros (“Donkey Jaw”), interludes (“Here”), and closings (“Clarice”). Its inventive chord progressions enhance the songs without overshadowing them. Lyrics can be trite or cryptic, but the music compensates, except for the weak “Pigeon Song.” The intimate, covered sound quality adds a ghostly aura. Hits include “A Horse with No Name,” “I Need You,” and “Sandman,” alongside gems like “Three Roses” and “Rainy Day.” Despite minor flaws, this highly recommended album remains a cornerstone of folk-pop.

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SACD

America – Struttin’ Our Stuff (2004) [SACD / Inak – inak 5507 SACD]

adminMay 20, 2025 164 Views

Title: America – Struttin’ Our Stuff (2004)
Genre: Rock, Folk
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The German Ohne Filter TV series features various music acts, including a 1999 concert by the pop/rock band America. America, originally a trio with Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek, became a duo after Peek’s departure in 1976. At their 1970s peak, they produced hits with producer George Martin, marking the era with their acoustic sound. Peek left for Christian music, and the duo had a 1982 comeback with “You Can Do Magic.” By 1999, Bunnell and Beckley performed as a duo for Ohne Filter. The concert is now released on SACD as Struttin’ Our Stuff by Inakustik. The hybrid multi-channel SACD includes two additional tracks compared to the DVD-Video version. America’s performance captures their enduring appeal despite a faded comeback. The SACD enhances the audio experience of this iconic band. The Ohne Filter series continues to showcase diverse musical talents.

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SACD

Ambra – Honour & Glory (2003) [SACD / Avenue Music – 40308 1612027]

adminMay 20, 2025 92 Views

Title: Ambra – Honour & Glory (2003)
Genre: New Age, World
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The project “Ambra” has been found especially for doing 6-channel-surround meditative music. This is their first album that originally was released on a DVD-Video disc with fantastic movies and pictures from nature. Now it’s available as sound-only disc on SACD; and referring to be a hybrid disc, it’s the first time to hear it as a normal CD in your car on your way home from work if you are stressed.

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SACD

Ambra – Child Of The Universe (2003) [SACD / Avenue Music – 40308 1612028]

adminMay 20, 2025 124 Views

Title: Ambra – Child Of The Universe (2003)
Genre: New Age, World
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

It struck a note as being on a similar vein as Enigma, who just get better each release, and haven’t yet provided us with SACD (hurry up chaps). A more Asian influence, mixed with some strong classical influence – thus not really knowing which way to go. Nice but not over impressed with the music. Sound quality is good. A bit expensive.

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1 min read

SACD

Amadeus – Original Soundtrack Recording (1984) [Reissue 2004] [SACD / Fantasy – 2WAMSA-1791-6]

adminMay 20, 2025 160 Views

Title: Amadeus – Original Soundtrack Recording (1984) [Reissue 2004]
Genre: Soundtrack
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Amadeus (1984), a cinematic masterpiece, won eight Academy Awards for its portrayal of Mozart’s life. The film captures music with unmatched fidelity, honoring the composer’s intentions. Producer Saul Zaentz, director Milos Forman, and writer Peter Shaffer enlisted Sir Neville Marriner to conduct. Marriner agreed, insisting not a single note of Mozart’s music be altered. Forman viewed the music as a third character, while Marriner called it the film’s leading character. The soundtrack, featuring Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, showcases Mozart’s genius. Critics and audiences alike praised the film and its music. The soundtrack introduced Mozart to millions, far beyond concert hall reach. Super Audio Compact Disc (SA-CD) technology enhances the music’s brilliance for new listeners. Amadeus remains a landmark in music-driven filmmaking.

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1 min read

SACD

Alyn Cosker – Lyn’s Une (2009) [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 338]

adminMay 18, 2025 214 Views

Title: Alyn Cosker – Lyn’s Une (2009)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Alyn Cosker, a dynamic force in the Scottish jazz scene, won the 2009 Scottish Jazz Awards for Best Drummer. His debut album, Lyn’s Une (2009, Linn Records), showcases his versatile, chameleon-like style, blending jazz, rock, funk, Latin, and Celtic influences. The album’s original compositions, mostly penned by Cosker, reflect his rhythmic ingenuity and passion. Featuring top Scottish talents like Ross Hamilton (bass), Jason Rebello (piano), and Paul Towndrow (saxophones), the album bursts with virtuosic, spirited performances. Other contributors include Tommy Smith (tenor saxophone), Ryan Quigley (trumpet), David Dunsmuir (guitar), and vocalist Maureen McMullan. The title Lyn’s Une stems from a computer error, misnaming “Alyn’s Tune,” adding a quirky charm. Tracks range from intricate ballads like “Unannounced” to brassy, funk-driven numbers like “Twitter and Bisted,” written to unite the full ensemble with humor. At 78 minutes, the ambitious album occasionally sprawls but shines with standout moments, such as Rebello’s lyrical piano and Dunsmuir’s Scofield-inspired guitar. Recorded in just two days, its SACD quality enhances the vibrant, varied sound. Lyn’s Une marks Cosker as a formidable drummer and promising composer, earning praise from figures like Joe Locke for his “smokin’” talent.

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2 min read

SACD

Allan Taylor – Leaving At Dawn (2009) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.4057.2]

adminMay 18, 2025 198 Views

Title: Allan Taylor – Leaving At Dawn (2009)
Genre: Folk, Acoustic
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Taylor’s Leaving at Dawn (2009), his 20th album, marks a return to his folk-inflected troubadour style, per fRoots. A consummate songwriter, Taylor delivers quintessential work with warm vocals and intricate guitar, maintaining themes of love and place. Written mostly between 2001 and 2007, the songs blend simple yet literate language with universal truths, reflecting on love (Lay Soft on Your Pillow) and locales (Provence). Standouts include the traditional-style Firefly, the poignant The Almost Man (a tribute to his father), and Red on Green, a translated WW1 love letter. The album’s state-of-the-art SACD recording, praised by The Living Tradition, offers stunning clarity and rich textures from instruments like accordion, banjo, and fretless bass. Taylor’s narrative power subtly weaves stories, evoking specific times and situations, with The Last of the Privateers as a full narrative ballad. The album balances reflective melancholy with optimism, encapsulated in lines about following a “golden star.” Its acoustic settings, rooted in folk, feature magnificent guitars and empathetic contributions from a small ensemble. Leaving at Dawn is considered one of Taylor’s finest, drawing listeners with its quality writing, singing, and spacious production. Taylor acknowledges the influence of British and Irish traditional songs, evident in the album’s folk essence.

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2 min read

SACD

Allan Taylor, Gottinger Symphonie Orchester – There Was A Time (2016) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.9015.2]

adminMay 18, 2025 158 Views

Title: Allan Taylor, Gottinger Symphonie Orchester – There Was A Time (2016)
Genre: Folk
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Taylor, born in Brighton in 1945, is a revered troubadour known for his literate songwriting and vivid chronicles of unsung lives over a 40-year career. He has performed regularly at the Folkest festival in Spilimbergo, Italy, often in Piazza Castello, near Udine. In 2013, Italian composer Valter Sivilotti arranged Taylor’s songs for a special orchestral concert at the festival. Günter Pauler of Stockfisch Records, inspired by demo recordings, proposed producing an SACD featuring Taylor with a symphony orchestra. The Göttinger Symphonie Orchester, led by conductor Christoph-Mathias Mueller, was hired for the recording in Göttingen. Sivilotti’s arrangements, empathetic to Taylor’s songs, enhanced their emotional depth in an orchestral setting. Taylor praised the technical and artistic expertise of Stockfisch Records in creating the album. The SACD, Allan Taylor: There Was a Time (2016), reimagines songs from his catalog, some decades old. The recording session was a successful collaboration, showcasing Sivilotti’s creativity and Taylor’s timeless material. This orchestral project offers listeners a fresh, majestic take on Taylor’s introspective folk repertoire.

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2 min read

SACD

Allan Taylor – All Is One (2013) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.4078.2]

adminMay 18, 2025 133 Views

Title: Allan Taylor – All Is One (2013)
Genre: Folk, World, Country
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Taylor’s All Is One (2013, Stockfisch Records) reflects the wisdom of a seasoned troubadour nearing 70, delivering a profound yet understated philosophical statement. After overcoming a severe shoulder dysfunction that halted his guitar playing, Taylor returned to the studio without framing the album as a dramatic comeback, staying true to his contemplative style. Unlike his earlier works about physical journeys across countries and hotel rooms, this album delves deeper, exploring time and unity, with the title track embodying this shift. Begun in 2004 and completed years later, “All Is One” weaves lyrics of old guitars and closing doors into a subtle blend of dance and march rhythms, avoiding sentimental resignation. A continuation of his 2009 album Leaving at Dawn, it amplifies themes of movement through time rather than space. Taylor’s warm baritone and sensitive Martin guitar work, supported by sparse instrumentation like fretless bass and flute, create a crystalline soundscape, though some may find the compositions monotonous, prioritizing sonic purity over musical complexity. The SACD’s exceptional sound quality, a hallmark of Stockfisch Records, enhances the introspective mood, making it ideal for reflective listening.

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SACD

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony 4 & 16 (2014) [SACD / BIS – BIS-2110 SACD ]

adminMay 18, 2025 112 Views

Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony 4 & 16 (2014)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson was a dedicated symphonist, composing 15 symphonies after his unfinished Symphony No. 1 (1951), plus a fragment of another by his death in 1980. Apart from six non-symphonic works, he nearly always had a symphony in progress. The gap before Symphony No. 4 was likely due to the poor reception of Symphony No. 3’s 1956 premiere. Unlike the four-movement Symphony No. 3, No. 4 adopts a single-movement structure, a format Pettersson favored after his Symphony No. 2. Symphony No. 4 features long, chorale-like passages alongside modernist elements, possibly reflecting his mother’s religious songs. Pettersson dedicated the work to his mother, noting in his journal her embodiment of goodness. Symphony No. 16, composed in 1979 for saxophonist Frederick L. Hemke, includes a prominent alto saxophone solo. Its “jazz-scented” slow section follows a frenetic opening, resolving in a tonal, peaceful conclusion. Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, joined by saxophonist Jörgen Pettersson, deliver a critically acclaimed performance. Their recording continues their celebrated cycle of Pettersson’s symphonies, showcasing the works’ stylistic duality and emotional depth.

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