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SACD

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

adminMay 18, 2025 85 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 53 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 45 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 40 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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2 min read

SACD

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

adminMay 18, 2025 34 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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1 min read

SACD

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 9 (2013) [SACD / BIS – BIS-SACD-2038]

adminMay 18, 2025 31 Views

Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 9 (2013)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson composed his Ninth Symphony in 1970, following the triumphant 1968 premiere of his Seventh under Antal Dorati. This success brought him greater recognition, but his health worsened, leading to a nine-month hospitalization after completing the Ninth. The symphony, his longest at 65–80 minutes, is a single-movement work depicting an extended struggle toward harmony. Pettersson believed fighting through a symphony’s challenges should ultimately yield consonance, even if it takes hours. In the Ninth, harmony is achieved in the final two chords, forming a plagal “Amen” cadence in F major. The work is more concise in its resolution than his other symphonies. Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, completing their BIS cycle of Pettersson’s symphonies, have earned critical acclaim. Their recording of the Sixth Symphony was praised for capturing Pettersson’s dark atmosphere and pacing its climaxes superbly. The Ninth continues their empathetic interpretation of his singular musical vision. This release is a fitting capstone to their acclaimed series.

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1 min read

SACD

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 13 (2015) [SACD / BIS – BIS-2190 SACD]

adminMay 18, 2025 33 Views

Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 13 (2015)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson focused almost exclusively on symphonies from 1951 until his death in 1980, despite the genre’s declining popularity. Called “the last symphonist” in 1960s Sweden, he completed his Symphony No. 13 in 1976 for the Bergen Festival’s 25th anniversary. Its complexity delayed the premiere until 1978, and it wasn’t performed in Sweden until 2014 by Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. The single-movement work blends atonal and tonal styles, a hallmark of Pettersson’s music. It features allusions to composers like Beethoven and Shostakovich, including the latter’s D-S-C-H cryptogram. The symphony showcases Pettersson’s commitment to the genre’s expressive potential. Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra have a strong affinity for Pettersson’s music, evident across their recordings. This performance highlights their deepening connection to his challenging, large-scale works.

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1 min read

SACD

Allan Holdsworth – All Night Wrong (2002) [SACD / SMEJ – XSGP 1]

adminMay 18, 2025 49 Views

Title: Allan Holdsworth – All Night Wrong (2002)
Genre: Jazz, Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played a variety of musical styles spanning a period of more than four decades, but is best known for his work in jazz fusion. All Night Wrong is Allan Holdsworth’s first official live album, released in 2002 through Sony Music Entertainment Japan.

Allan Holdsworth, a renowned guitarist, performs live in Japan in 2002 with his trio. The trio includes drummer Chad Wackerman and bassist Jimmy Johnson, longtime collaborators. Both Wackerman and Johnson excel at complex time signatures and odd-metered rhythms. Their powerful playing provides a solid foundation for Holdsworth’s virtuosic guitar work. The album, impeccably recorded, captures Holdsworth’s signature legato riffs and jazzy chord voicings. He weaves delicate sound textures alongside dynamic, climactic solos. The trio blends nuance with controlled intensity, elevating the performance. The recording showcases their ability to navigate intricate musical structures. It ranks among Holdsworth’s finest works, delighting his dedicated fanbase. The live setting highlights the trio’s synergy and technical prowess.

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1 min read

SACD

Al Jarreau – All I Got (2002) [SACD / GRP – 065 082-2]

adminMay 18, 2025 46 Views

Title: Al Jarreau – All I Got (2002)
Genre: Jazz, Funk, Soul
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Al Jarreau, a versatile crooner known for scat singing, has won seven Grammys across jazz, pop, and R&B over four decades. His second GRP/Verve album, All I Got, features 11 songs showcasing his imaginative vocal style. The album blends urban innovation with soulful, jazzy, and romantic elements. Producer Paul Brown’s urban sound shapes tracks like “Random Act of Love” and “Secrets of Love.” Jarreau’s a cappella “Route 66” and the title track highlight his layered storytelling. “Random Act of Love” offers a fresh take on countering street violence. The gospel-infused “Feels Like Heaven to Me” reveals Jarreau’s depth. “Until You Love Me” and “Jacaranda Bougainvillea” pair his vocals with lush string orchestras. Featuring Freddie Ravel and a duet with Joe Cocker, the album surpasses the versatility of Tomorrow Today. All I Got showcases Jarreau’s diverse, award-winning artistry in fluid, soulful settings.

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1 min read

SACD

Alfred Brendel – Mozart Piano Sonatas (2005) [SACD / Philips Classics – 475 6199]

adminMay 18, 2025 53 Views

Title: Alfred Brendel – Mozart Piano Sonatas (2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The Mozart piano sonatas on this album are technically challenging due to ornaments and contrapuntal themes. Alfred Brendel performs these with ease, delivering a graceful and nuanced interpretation. His playing occasionally leans forceful, lacking subtle restraint. The Sonata in E flat, K. 282, and Fantasia, K. 396, share a slow, meandering temperament. Brendel infuses the E flat sonata’s minuets with unexpected humor. The Sonata in D major, K. 576, is notably elegant, with balanced handling of its hunting-call theme. He treats contrapuntal entrances like a fugue, showcasing Mozart’s Classical refinements. Brendel adds subtle coloring, enhancing the sonatas’ depth and character.

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1 min read