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SACD

Aaron Heick & Romantic Jazz Trio – Europe (2009) [Japan 2015] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-65]

adminMay 12, 2025 171 Views

Title: Aaron Heick & Romantic Jazz Trio – Europe (2009) [Japan 2015]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Aaron Heick, a leading U.S. alto saxophonist, releases his debut album with Japan’s Venus Records. Known for collaborations with Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Richard Bona, Heick steps into the spotlight. He leads a one-horn quartet featuring John di Martino’s Romantic Jazz Trio. Heick showcases phenomenal technique, a solid sound, and soulful emotion throughout the album. The setlist includes Santana’s “Europe,” Herbie Mann’s “Comin’ Home, Baby,” the Beatles’ “And I Love Her,” and Wayne Shorter’s “Infant Eyes.” Heick contributes two original compositions to the album. The quartet delivers powerful performances, enhanced by Venus Records’ classic sound engineering. This debut highlights Heick’s extraordinary talent as a modern jazz saxophonist. The album is a fantastic and solid introduction to Heick as a bandleader. It marks a significant milestone for a musician long overdue for his own project.

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1 min read

SACD

Aaron Copland & London Symphony Orchestra – Copland Conducts Copland (2000) [SACD / Sony Classical – SS 89041]

adminMay 12, 2025 180 Views

Title: Aaron Copland & London Symphony Orchestra – Copland Conducts Copland (2000)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Copland Conducts Copland is a collections of recordings released in the 70s by Aaron Copland conducting The London Symphony Orchestra. This is one of the SACDs that can make anyone a believer in the new format. The performance is top notch to begin with, but it’s the quality of the recording that caught my attention, even though I have other good recordings of these pieces. Instruments truly sounded live and spread across a 3 dimensional space. Hall sounds were distinct from the music – you could tell the hall was empty when the recording was made and you could easily time the primary reverbations. Every instrument and distinct sound seemed to exist in its own space. Only complaints are that overall sound is a bit bright, typical of the era of the recording, and the hall reverb was too strong, probably due to the empty space. — Customer review at amazon.com

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1 min read

SACD

Aage Kvalbein & Iver Kleive – Til Trost (2008) [Reissue 2017] [SACD / Kirkelig Kulturverksted – FXSA 341]

adminMay 12, 2025 166 Views

Title: Aage Kvalbein & Iver Kleive – Til Trost (2008) [Reissue 2017]
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Norwegian cellist Aage Kvalbein and composer-organist Iver Kleive collaborate on Til Trøst, a collection of soothing classical and Norse folk music. For this recording, Kleive switches from organ to piano, joining Kvalbein for intimate performances. Recorded over three days in October at Kulturkirken Jakob, the album aims to console the soul. The concept draws from music’s historical role in providing comfort, as seen in David’s harp for King Saul 3,000 years ago. Producer Erik Hillestad curated a list of songs often used in moments of grief or reflection. Kvalbein and Kleive added to the list, selecting melodies from hymns and classical pieces frequently played at funerals or for solace. Kleive arranged the traditional melodies, while the duo adapted classical works for cello and piano. The album features familiar tunes that evoke peace and stillness. Both musicians, with decades of experience, create a deeply empathetic musical experience. Til Trøst is described as “balm for the soul,” ideal for those seeking comfort.

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1 min read

SACD

10cc – The Original Soundtrack (1975) [Japanese SHM-SACD 2010] [SACD / Mercury – UIGY-9033]

adminMay 12, 2025 142 Views

Title: 10cc – The Original Soundtrack (1975) [Japanese SHM-SACD 2010]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

10cc’s third album, The Original Soundtrack, finally scored them a major hit in the United States, and rightly so; “I’m Not in Love” walked a fine line between self-pity and self-parody with its weepy tale of a boy who isn’t in love (really!), and the marvelously lush production and breathy vocals allowed the tune to work beautifully either as a sly joke or at face value. The album’s opener, “Une Nuit a Paris,” was nearly as marvelous; a sly and often hilarious extended parody of both cinematic stereotypes of life and love in France and overblown European pop. And side one’s closer, “Blackmail,” was a witty tale of sex and extortion gone wrong, with a superb guitar solo embroidering the ride-out. That’s all on side one; side two, however, is a bit spottier, with two undistinguished tunes, “Brand New Day” and “Flying Junk,” nearly dragging the proceedings to a halt before the band rallied the troops for a happy ending with the hilarious “The Film of Our Love.” The Original Soundtrack’s best moments rank with the finest work 10cc ever released; however, at the same time it also displayed what was to become their Achilles’ heel — the inability to make an entire album as strong and memorable as those moments.

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2 min read

SACD

10cc – Deceptive Bends (1977) [Japanese SHM-SACD 2014] [SACD / Mercury – UIGY-9567]

adminMay 12, 2025 174 Views

Title: 10cc – Deceptive Bends (1977) [Japanese SHM-SACD 2014]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

After Kevin Godley and Lol Creme left 10cc in 1976, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman continued as a duo with drummer Paul Burgess. Their 1977 album Deceptive Bends defied expectations, delivering a strong collection of lush, witty pop songs. While less eccentric than earlier 10cc works, it compensates with catchy, well-crafted tracks. The hit “Good Morning Judge” blends a funky pop sound with a humorous tale of a career criminal. “The Things We Do for Love” is a Beatles-inspired hit showcasing 10cc’s vocal harmony mastery. “People in Love,” a straightforward ballad with lush strings, became a modest chart success. Non-hit tracks like “Marriage Bureau Rendezvous” and “You’ve Got a Cold” offer catchy hooks and clever arrangements. “Marriage Bureau Rendezvous” satirizes dating services, while “You’ve Got a Cold” pairs misery with a lively melody. The closing medley “Feel the Benefit” falters due to its length and vague lyrics but is redeemed by a catchy mock-Spanish section. Deceptive Bends is 10cc’s finest post-Godley and Creme album, ideal for fans of Sheet Music or The Original Soundtrack.

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2 min read

SACD

Ewen Carruthers – One Red Shoe (2009) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.4048.2]

adminMay 11, 2025 140 Views

Title: Ewen Carruthers – One Red Shoe (2009)
Genre: Acoustic, Folk
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ewen Carruthers’ One Red Shoe is a warmly anticipated new album that feels like reconnecting with an old friend. Its melodies shimmer like sunlight on autumn leaves, paired with reflective, heartwarming lyrics. The slide guitar adds a captivating touch to the down-to-earth yet soulful songs. Carruthers’ storytelling weaves personal and universal themes, exploring life’s beauty and flaws. His lyrics address human experiences, from love and understanding to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. He portrays Katrina as a raging force, yet celebrates the resilience of New Orleans artists creating from debris. The title track references a single red shoe at Ground Zero, symbolizing loss and hope. Carruthers grapples with life’s imperfections, a recurring theme in his work. He suggests that art, like his, sustains us until the world is restored. One Red Shoe is a kaleidoscope of human emotion, delivered with timeless artistry.

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1 min read

SACD

Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Tuesday Wonderland (2006) [SACD / ACT – ACT SACD 9806-2]

adminMay 11, 2025 171 Views

Title: Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Tuesday Wonderland (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Esbjörn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.), a leading European jazz force, released Tuesday Wonderland in the U.S. after its 2006 European debut. The album blends classical, melodic jazz, and electronics, delivering the energy of a pop/rock show. Nominated for Best Jazz Album, it appeals to diverse music lovers. Tuesday Wonderland opens with “Fading Maid Preludium,” a delicate piano line that shifts into a heavy groove with drums and fuzzed bass. The track, paired with “Fading Maid Postludium,” frames the album’s bold, intuitive improvisations. Pianist Esbjörn Svensson channels Keith Jarrett and Ahmad Jamal while incorporating modern influences like Cecil Taylor and rock power-chords. Drummer Magnus Öström shifts effortlessly from subtle brushwork to polyrhythmic complexity, evoking Steve McCall. Bassist Dan Berglund delivers soulful acoustic lines and uses a synthesizer for both delicate and intense effects. Tracks like “Brewery of Beggars” move from lyrical calm to electric intensity, showcasing e.s.t.’s versatility. E.S.T. has evolved into a unique, modern jazz hybrid, balancing freedom with melodic and rhythmic clarity.

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2 min read

SACD

Ennio Morricone – The Mission (1986) [2003 Remaster] [SACD / Virgin – SACDV 2402]

adminMay 11, 2025 201 Views

Title: Ennio Morricone – The Mission (1986) [2003 Remaster]
Genre: Soundtrack
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ennio Morricone’s Academy Award-nominated score captures the conflict between 18th-century Jesuit missionaries trying to convert the native Indians, and the slavers who want to destroy them. In keeping with the serious subject matter and epic scope of Roland Joffé’s film, the score is by turns grave, lyrical, and tense. Ever inventive, Morricone mixes liturgical chorales, native drumming, and Spanish-influenced guitars, often in the very same track, to capture the drama of the culture clash. His trademark lyricism also comes through, notably in the beautiful themes for “Gabriel’s Oboe” and “The Mission.” Not as over-the-top as his well-known spaghetti Western scores, The Mission shows Morricone at his dramatic best.

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1 min read

SACD

Ennio Morricone and Dulce Pontes – Focus (2003) [SACD / Universal – 980 829-3]

adminMay 11, 2025 203 Views

Title: Ennio Morricone and Dulce Pontes – Focus (2003)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Focus, a 2003 album, features Portuguese singer Dulce Pontes interpreting film composer Ennio Morricone’s cinematic themes. Pontes transforms Morricone’s music into songs in English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese with epic grandeur. Her potent yet subtle voice blends gracefully, capturing the nuances and beauty of Morricone’s eccentric style. Standout tracks include the English song “Your Love” from Once Upon a Time in the West and the Brazilian-inflected “Nosso Mar.” Her finest moment is “No Ano Que Vem,” inspired by Jerusalem and set to upbeat music from Maddalena. Focus is a superb achievement in Pontes’ career, matching Morricone’s classical stature. The album showcases her ability to elevate Morricone’s compositions with breathtaking vocal artistry.

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SACD

Elisa – Lotus (2003) [SACD / Sugar – 3004324]

adminMay 11, 2025 159 Views

Title: Elisa – Lotus (2003)
Genre: Rock, Pop
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Elisa, an Italian singer-songwriter, performs under her mononym and primarily writes in English, blending pop, alternative rock, electronica, and trip hop. Lotus, her fourth studio album released in 2003, combines live acoustic recordings, new songs, re-recorded hits, and covers. Originally planned as a live album, it includes six new tracks, seven reimagined songs from her earlier albums, and three covers. The album opens with a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and includes a slowed-down version of The Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale.” Re-recorded tracks like “Sleeping in Your Hand” and “Luce (tramonti a nord est)” from her previous albums are presented in acoustic form. Mia Martini’s Italian classic “Almeno tu nell’universo” is also covered. Lotus was recorded live, emphasizing its acoustic, intimate sound. Certified 4x platinum in Italy, it sold over 400,000 copies.

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