OPINION
Steve Harris
Contributor
Steve Harris edited Hi-Fi News between 1986 and 2005. He loves jazz, blues music,
vinyl and vintage hi-fi and anything that makes good music come to life
Old spice
Lowther loudspeakers and past technologies re-born were just two of the audio highlights that
brought cheer to Steve Harris during the year. Then there was the YouTube addiction...
W e should try to look forward
not back. But in audio, old
ideas often re-emerge,
or just refuse to go away.
At the end of last year I found myself
reminiscing about my first experience
of a Lowther speaker. This was in the
1980s, at a time when (in the UK) the
idea of trying to make a full-range
speaker with a single paper-cone driver,
if it was remembered at all, seemed
archaic and even ridiculous in the
context of mainstream, ‘modern’ hi-fi.
But the Lowther speakers were based ABOVE: The Marlow loudspeaker from E J Jordan stands 330mm tall and features a Jordan Eikona
on the designs of the British audio driver (see www.ejjordan.co.uk/marlow-ce) and (right) the New York jazz pianist Emmet Cohen
pioneer Paul Voigt, whose Voigt Corner
Horn was far ahead of its time when first non-BBC design, when it was adopted in a can still access old music – almost any
produced in 1934 and was the first great characteristically pragmatic move by Linn.
British hi-fi speaker. After World War II, music that’s ever been recorded. But
Voigt sold his company to Lowther and In the early days of the LS3/5A, the BBC in the last year and a half, the shutting-
normally licensed a maximum of three down of performance venues has been
emigrated to Canada. manufacturers at any one time to produce catastrophic for musicians.
the speakers for BBC use and for sale to the
HOT METAL public. First to launch was Rogers, followed HOME RULE
Now the Lowther company has been by Audiomaster and Chartwell, a company Streaming can provide a substitute for
restarted, and you can buy genuine set up by BBC man David Stebbings in live events, but virtual concerts can’t
Lowther full-range drive
1976 but which failed only replace the revenue that’s lost. Efforts
units, along with the two years later. have been made to bridge the gap, for
plans to build your chosen ‘Linn speakers And in 1979 the first example by classical streaming service
cabinet, just as enthusiasts Idagio with its pay-per-view Global
run of around 100 Linn Concert Hall, where 80% of the net
were built intodid in the 1950s. Kan speakers were built profits go to the artists. But most people
The website at www. into actual LS3/5A cabinets see the Internet as a provider of free
acquired as bankrupt
actual LS3/5Alowtherloudspeakers.com stock after the demise of entertainment, and we’ve just become
Chartwell. Linn used the used to not paying. Artists who put on
pays due tribute to Paul cabinets’
Voigt, and also has a link to
the Lowther Voigt Museum KEF B110 bass/mid driver virtual shows or post videos just have to
website [www.lowthervoigtmuseum.org. but (as it had done with the Isobarik) fitted hope that we’ll still want to see them live
uk], which is certainly worth a look. a Scanspeak tweeter instead of the KEF T27
used in the LS3/5A. Linn soon switched to when we’re allowed to.
Announced in the middle of 2021, the One of my recent YouTube addictions
Marlow speaker from E J Jordan Designs using chipboard cabinets. has been the long series of from-home
displays an interesting new combination concerts by ebullient New York jazz
of two old technologies. Based on the INSTANT ACCESS pianist Emmet Cohen [see p168]. He’s
current incarnation of the late Ted Of course, the LS3/5A became an icon had a different guest star every week,
Jordan’s metal-cone drive unit, which and is still in demand worldwide. Though but best of all for me has been ‘Live
he’d begun developing in the 1960s, it it’s some 45 years since the speaker first From Emmet’s Place Vol 46’ with the
uses the ‘thin-wall’ cabinet principle used appeared, there are now more BBC- wonderful singer Samara Joy.
in the LS3/A and other BBC speakers of licensed manufacturers than ever before. Between numbers, Emmet hints that
the 1970s. The BBC’s cabinet concept If it’s comforting to know we can still they might tour Europe together next
year. If they do get over here, that would
continues to be revered, but it’s amusing buy into old technology, it’s much more so really be something to look forward to.
to look back on its first appearance in a to know that, thanks to the Internet, we
YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 151
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ALBUM
REVIEWS
AUDIOPHILE: VINYL
FRANK SINATRA
Sing And Dance With Frank Sinatra
Impex IMP6036 (180g vinyl; mono)
Reviewed on SACD in April, this so deserves to
be heard on vinyl that it gains five more points
and snags Album Choice: it may be mono, but
wow, does it sing! To recap, this expands the
1950 album, initially on 10in 78s, which Impex
remastered from the original 15ips tapes
(and three tracks from 16in discs), and the
rewards are two-fold. First, you hear Sinatra
at a transitional period from bobby-soxer idol
to suave crooner, and secondly – this is, after
all, a hi-fi magazine – you’ll be staggered
by the sound of 70-year-old recordings.
It’s worth acquiring, too, for the booklet, a
model of liner-note excellence. If you already
have the SACD, it’s a great way to play ‘guess
the format’ with your friends. KK
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THE BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND ERIC CLAPTON & FRIENDS CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG
East-West Crossroads Guitar Festival 2019 Déjà Vu
Speakers Corner/Elektra EKS-7315 (180g vinyl) Rhino R1 628789 (six discs) Rhino/Atlantic 03497 84802 (LP + four CDs)
Reissued many times, this earned the Clapton’s occasional fundraiser marked its The remastered vinyl here is audibly
20th anniversary with yet another ‘Who’s superior to the CD version – reason enough
Speakers Corner treatment not for sonic Who’ of guitar heroes. Its 42 tracks are for buying. But it’s clearly a set aimed at
worth but musical merit. Regarded as devotees: the three extra CDs contain
Butterfield’s best, there is no doubt it spread over six LPs, and the live feel is what demos, outtakes and alternates which
will keep ’em busy for hours. What we
marked a transition in typical blues band makes this set a perfect document of the have here is a magnificent Rhino ‘50th
repertoire, as exemplified by the title Anniversary Deluxe Edition’ of the group’s
event: the show was produced and mixed second studio album, one of the best so
track: a 13m jazz/raga. The band’s second far and certainly one of my all-time fave
by Simon Climie, then mastered by the LPs [see Off The Leash, p186]. The sound
album, from 1966, it freed practitioners inimitable Bob Ludwig. Guests included from the very opening song is proof it’s
Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather Low, Billy unabashedly ‘demo-worthy’. ‘Our House’,
of the genre, especially young white blues Gibbons, Bonnie Raitt, The Buddy Guy Band, ‘Woodstock’, ‘Helpless’, ‘Teach Your
Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, John Mayer, Keb’ Mo’, Children’ – every track a gem, and no rock
players, from the constraints of the 12-bar Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow, Sonny Landreth, library is complete without it. KK
Susan Tedeschi and more, playing loads of
format, but this contains enough of straight
blues numbers and covers of Eric-related
blues not to alienate hard-core fans. The milestones. Sales will benefit the Antigua
cover of ‘Get Out Of My Life Woman’ is my Crossroads drug treatment centre. KK
fave, but all of it is exceptional – especially
Butterfield’s harp virtuosity and the guitar
skills of Mike Bloomfield. KK
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154 | www.hifinews.co.uk | YEARBOOK 2021
COMPACT DISC SUPERAUDIO DVD BLU-RAY VINYL DOWNLOAD
ANNETTE PEACOCK T REX STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN &
DOUBLE TROUBLE
X-Dreams Electric Warrior
Couldn’t Stand The Rain
Sundazed LP5589 Orange vinyl Mobile Fidelity MFSL2-490 (two 45rpm LPs)
Mobile Fidelity UD1S 2-007 (two 45rpm One-Step LPs)
In 1978 X-Dreams established Peacock as Someone with a long memory will tell me
if this is the first time an album earned If One-Step titles default to our monthly
a jazz vocalist for rock fans. The American both vinyl and digital Album Choice, as I
singer – imagine Rickie Lee Jones crossed Album Choice, that’s because they sound
couldn’t resist giving the SACD a top score astonishing. And this second Stevie Ray
with Captain Beefheart – enhanced her in Sept ’20. The same now goes for the
vinyl version which is somehow even better One-Step will thrill any who rank him up
rock credibility with an array of heroes there with Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield
including Mick Ronson and Chris Spedding across the board, but especially for treble and Rory Gallagher. I’m not quite that
on guitars, drummers Bill Bruford and Rick
Marotta and others who created what is a snap, bass richness and a sense of space. worshipful, but this is one of the best blues
super-session, but of the abstract. More of
Anyway, this 1971 release is one of the revival albums of the Second Wave (the
a poetry reading than a songfest, X-Dreams glam legend’s finest efforts, boasting two First being Butterfield, Mayall, Korner, et
of his biggest hits – ‘Jeepster’, ‘Bang A Gong al). Although not adored quite as much as
was considered way ahead of the curve (Get It On)’ – and I can assure you that
back then; the opener, ‘Mama Never Taught you’ve never heard them sound this visceral his debut, because half of this consisted
Me How to Cook,’ yanks this into 2021 with nor as uncontrollably infectious. Gorgeous
details, like Flo & Eddie’s backing vocals, of cover versions, it remains a showcase
confessional content too topical to discuss of fiery guitar-hero wizardry. And who can
make forensic listening forgivable. KK fault his cover of Jimi’s ‘Voodoo Chile’? Its
here. And then there’s a cover of Elvis’s
‘Don’t Be Cruel’. For the adventurous. KK treble activity will test your tweeters. KK
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DR JOHN, THE NIGHT TRIPPER
The Sun Moon & Herbs
Speakers Corner ATCO SD33-362 (180g vinyl)
Dr John’s passing in 2019 had inspired a binge
as I worked through much of his canon, and
this reissue, serves as a fine memorial. Dating
from 1971 and technically his fourth solo LP
as ‘Dr John’ rather than ‘Mac Rebennack’,
it has guests including Eric Clapton, Mick
Jagger, Graham Bond and enough five-star
studio musicians to let you know that
by this time, he was an A-lister, if mainly
considered a ‘genre’ musician. He was still
caught up in his weird funk voodoo shtick,
but the compositions are more akin to
listener-friendly New Orleans R&B. Gripping
throughout, the playing alone merits this
Yearbook placing, but the sound seals the
deal: the bass is monumental. KK
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YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 155
ALBUM
REVIEWS
AUDIOPHILE: DIGITAL
THE KINKS
Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part 1
BMG CAT434BOX (three discs + two 7in singles)
Not, for me, as brilliant an album as the
band’s previous release, 1969’s Arthur (Or
The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire),
but this is still amazing, as it gave us ‘Lola’ –
undeniably one of the band’s most beloved
songs. There are ample reasons to consider
this (if with hindsight) a seminal release, and
not just because it addresses trans issues: its
observations about the music biz resonate even
in the streaming era. This 50th Anniversary
Deluxe Box Set features a remastered version of
the original stereo release, while extras include
alternate takes, other mixes, demos, live tracks
and more, augmented by memorabilia and a
60-page hardback book. ‘Apeman’, ‘Rats’, the
lauded title track… another Kinks gem. KK
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THE BAND FIONA BOYES BOBBIE GENTRY
Stage Fright Blues In My Heart The Delta Sweete
Capitol 02507 35243 (two CDs + Blu-ray + LP + 7in single) Reference Recordings FR-740 Capitol 5930474 (two discs; part mono)
After their eponymous second LP, arguably This acoustic blues set is one of those rare Even if you own the 2018 comprehensive
their finest album, Stage Fright was an ‘audiophile’ titles which defies the usual box set, this release is essential for Gentry
anti-climax, without one moment to match great-sound-shame-about-the-music curse. devotees. It expands on her much-adored
its predecessor. That said, so-so Band is ten Though it reminded me at first of Rory 1968 second album, filling two CDs with a
times better than just about anyone else, so Block (for whom I have a near-obsessive new stereo mix, the mono mix and bonus
this is an opportunity to hear ‘The Shape I’m adoration), and a bit of early Bonnie Raitt, tracks including demos, alternate takes and
In’, ‘All La Glory’ and eight other exemplars Boyes is less the fire-breathing purist that an instrumental with Shorty Rogers. The
of roots music, with bonus tracks and on implies. Don’t get me wrong: I revel in set reinforces the argument that she was/
three formats. Extras in this lavish 50th Block’s and Raitt’s pedantry, but Boyes’s is a pivotal force in contemporary country
Anniversary box set also include a superb approach makes me imagine what a blues music. The title pun hints that this is a
concert from the Royal Albert Hall in 1971 album recorded by Julie London might have themed album, its content continuing in
(available too in the bargain 2CD set 02507 been like. A mix of traditional numbers and the vein of 1967’s ‘Ode To Billie Joe’ with
35239), a Blu-ray with the album in stereo originals, a liquid voice, sublime harmonica vignettes about the South, including cover
and 5.1 surround, and the Spanish 7in at the back of the room: this is intimate and versions like ‘Louisiana Man’ and ‘Tobacco
single of ‘Time To Kill’ and ‘The Shape I’m audiophilic at the same time, up there with Road’. Long a recluse, Gentry is deservedly
In’. Essential for the Band hard-core. KK the Eric Bibb CDs on Opus3. KK being reassessed. This shows why. KK
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156 | www.hifinews.co.uk | YEARBOOK 2021
COMPACT DISC SUPERAUDIO DVD BLU-RAY VINYL DOWNLOAD
DON GRUSIN JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND JONI MITCHELL
Out Of Thin Air John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band Archives Volume 1
Octave Records OCT-0001 (SACD + DVD) Universal 0602507354299 (six CDs + two Blu-ray discs) Rhino R2 604555 (five discs)
This new label is unashamedly ‘audiophile’ After three tedious Yoko-infected While sound quality is a primary concern
in every way, ticking all the boxes. How so? experimental LPs (Two Virgins, Life With The in our digital section, some releases beg
This inaugural release is 1) a double-disc Lions and The Wedding Album) and a dire indulgence. Subtitled ‘The Early Years
affair, containing an SACD and a DVD so live set, Lennon produced an album made (1963-1967)’, this material comprises pre-
you can do your own comparisons, 2) the up of actual songs. This late 1970 release fame home tapes, demo recordings, early
music itself is superbly-recorded solo piano, was a monumental kvetch, all his life’s TV and radio broadcasts and a live set from
all the better to judge without distraction, resentments and anger suddenly exploding. 1967 filling two of the five CDs. The sound
3) all the studio kit is itemised and 4) the ‘God’, ‘My Mummy’s Dead’, ‘Isolation’, is so unexpectedly fine for such raw archival
player is a jazz hero (whose brother Dave ‘Working Class Hero’ – fortunately, the material, and the content… Let’s put it this
is responsible for early audiophile LPs). OK, music transcends the message, and this way: along with the box’s 40-page booklet,
maybe I just described a throwback to the complete remastering sounds fantastic. But whole volumes will be written about the
late 1970s, but this is a vibrant recording do we need eight discs of Yoko’s archive previously unreleased material, including
that will make you sit up in your chair, so plundering? Much of this is repetitious filler, 29 original compositions heard for the first
real is the experience. It may not get played but devotees will relish every second. With time. If you acknowledge Mitchell as an
to death in your system, but trust me: you hindsight this seems to be Lennon’s musical exceptional, important songwriter, you’ll
will use it to dazzle like-minded visitors. KK mantra for wokeness. KK agree: this had better win a Grammy. KK
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THE WHO
The Who Sell Out
Polydor 02577 11420 (five CDs + two 7in singles; mono/stereo)
Didn’t see this coming: a five-CD set for what
isn’t even remotely their best? What could the
vaults yield? Here are mono and stereo versions
of the original album with bonus tracks on a CD
each, one CD of unreleased tracks, a CD called
‘The Road to Tommy’, and a fifth of unreleased
Pete Townshend demos. The pic sleeve singles
contain the earlier ‘Magic Bus’ and Sell Out’s
one classic, ‘I Can See For Miles’. Gubbins
include a sticker, posters, etc, and, amusingly,
two 45rpm adapters. Their fans will wallow in
this, but some might find the concept album
nature irritating and dated. Forget that: the
sound is superb, while the music shows why
The Who deserve mention alongside The
Beatles, The Stones and The Kinks. KK
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YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 157
ALBUM
REVIEWS
HI-RES DOWNLOADS
VPO/RICCARDO MUTI welcome for one second, but seem to CLANDESTINE AMIGO
have an especially haunting magic this
2021 New Year’s Concert (96kHz/24-bit, FLAC) year – Voices of Spring too. And Karl Temporary Circumstances
Komzák’s beguiling Baden Girls, with (44.1kHz-192kHz/24-bit, FLAC; DSD64)
www.highresaudio.com; Sony Classical 19439840162 its perky intro, sounding as if from a
distant past. The detail and rhythmic www.psaudio.com; Octave Records OCT 002
Muti’s sixth New Year’s Day concert power at the end of Poet and Peasant
with the Vienna Philharmonic, but one typifies the potency of the VPO/ The idea of a hi-fi company having its own
with a difference – the Musikverein Muti combination – even if, via the record label is nothing new: many firms
was empty, albeit populated by Eurovision transmission, at times he from high-end to mass-market have had a
the spirits of Brahms, Bruckner and appeared to be doing very little! CB go. But Octave, an offshoot of PS Audio, is
Mahler, as Muti said in his address rather different: yes, it too is committed
[trk17]. So, the closing Radetzky SoundQuality:95% to paying its artists fairly and recording
March is bereft of audience clapping! them in the highest possible quality, but it
Six pieces new to the orchestra are 0 - - - - - - - - 100 also makes its releases available in strictly
mixed in with old favourites: with limited editions. This album, the debut by
its ‘cuckoo’ calls, In Krapf’s Woods is singer/songwriter Jessica Carson and her
worth the price of this set alone! And band, is offered in a run of just 1300 SACDs,
the two long favourites, The Emperor 500 45rpm 2LP sets, plus this DSD/PCM
and Blue Danube never outstay their download bundle. Recorded using a stack
of high-end studio equipment, the set is
musically interesting in a small-scale way,
but most impressive for its extraordinary
sound, with the kind of presence that
redefines the word ‘intimate’. If you like
that sense of a band being in the room
with you, then you’ll love this! AE
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OUR PROMISE LAB REPORT LAB REPORT
Following our Investigation feature Aside from Muti’s address, which is a Best auditioned as the native DSD64
[HFN Jun ’11] where we examined the 48kHz mix, this is a genuine 96kHz file file [RMS, blue; peak, red] which shows a
claimed quality of ‘high-res’ downloads, with every Hz of its ~48kHz bandwidth good dynamic range <30kHz. The 192kHz
Hi-Fi News & Record Review continues successfully occupied by the Vienna [orange] and 96kHz [green] downsamples
to measure the true sample rate and Philharmonic. Note some unfortunate filter out much DSD noise. Note spurious
bit-depth of HD music downloads. spuriae from 18-48kHz [black trace]. PM 18kHz tone on the vocal feed [grey]. PM
The Graphs show peak [red] and RMS
[blue] spectra. These unique reviews
are a regular source of information for
those seeking new and remastered
recordings offered at high sample rates
and with the promise of delivering
the very best sound quality. (Note: an
asterisk in the heading denotes a
technical reservation – see Lab text). PM
158 | www.hifinews.co.uk | YEARBOOK 2021
COMPACT DISC SUPERAUDIO DVD BLU-RAY VINYL DOWNLOAD
RLPO/VASILY PETRENKO MANNA LUCIA RICHTER, BAMBERG FRANK PETER ZIMMERMANN/
SYMPHONIKER/JAKUB HRUŠA MARTIN HELMCHEN
Rossini-Respighi: La Boutique Fantasque (Suite arr.
Sargent); Stravinsky: Petrushka (1911 version) Mahler: Symphony No 4 (96kHz/24-bit, FLAC) Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Op.24, ‘Spring’, and
(96kHz/24-bit, FLAC) Opp.30:1 & 2 (96kHz/24-bit, FLAC)
www.highresaudio.com; Accentus Music ACC30532
www.highresaudio.com; Onyx ONYX4192 www.highresaudio.com; BIS BIS2527
We had a highly individual Mahler 9 with
Pair these two works and the collector the Bamberg Orchestra under Herbert We’ve had fine BIS recordings of the String
will immediately think ‘Ernest Ansermet’ – Blomstedt [HFN Nov ’19]. He was then Trios with Zimmermann, and last autumn
whose early 1950s Decca recordings set almost 91, whereas their current chief he began recording the Violin Sonatas with
benchmarks rarely equalled. Petrenko too conductor, Jacub Hrůša, is this year a the excellent Martin Helmchen [Nos 1-4:
opts for the 1911 Petrushka scoring, and mere 40. Trained in Prague he first came BIS2517]. As then, Helmchen is playing a
Onyx provides 14 tracks for this recording, to the orchestra in 2015. As noted in the Chris Maene straight-strung concert grand
done (like The Fantastic Toyshop) at the PDF booklet, the players at the July 2020 (like the one commissioned by Daniel
Philharmonic Hall back in late spring 2017. sessions were spaced across the extended Barenboim in 2013). Zimmermann has a
Producer Andrew Cornall, incidentally, Konzerthall platform with a marginal 1711 Cremona Strad. If you want period
recorded the complete Toyshop ballet with reduction in string forces. The orchestra is instruments there’s Viktoria Mullova with
Richard Bonynge in 1982! Superbly played given a quite distant balance, the vocalist Alasdair Beatson in Opp.24 and 30:1, where
and conducted, with a wide range of centred in the finale – where her pitch every expressive drop is drained from the
dynamics, Petrushka is so vivid that you can accuracy impresses, although expressively music [HFN Sep ’21]. Here, the playing is
‘see’ the whole ballet, from the sensitive her singing becomes properly interesting more ‘traditional’ but fresh and very well
flute solo of the ballerina to the grumbling in the final section. The scherzo here prepared. As with all good performances
wild bears and the bustle of the fairground. has never sounded so charmingly rustic, you think more about the music itself: eg,
The contrast with the amiable Toyshop, the retuned fiddle gradually tempered, the huge gap between the A minor and
with its can-can and sentimental waltz while the slow movement suggests both C minor Sonatas, albeit both composed
makes an ideal ‘wind down’ sequel. CB innocence and inwardness. CB around the same time. CB
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LAB REPORT LAB REPORT LAB REPORT
Recorded a month apart these genuine This is a genuine 96kHz/24-bit rendering Recorded in 94kHz/24-bit format via
96kHz renderings of two works both offering excellent dynamic range (a peak- Sequoia and Pyramix workstations, this
show some minor post-production to-RMS of 23dB in ‘III. Ruhevoll’) and no native download is free of spuriae, peaks
spuriae at 38kHz but are otherwise very hint of overload. Effective bandwidth is at –0.5dBFs and has good dynamic range
clean. Dynamic range is excellent with no ~40kHz but ultrasonic noise is very low (typically 20dB peak-to-RMS). Violin
peaks exceeding –0.3dBFs. PM and spurious tones mercifully absent. PM harmonics reach out to ~40kHz. PM
YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 159
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ProAc K1 Luxman L-595SE Sonus Faber Amati
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Hegel H590 Wilson Audio Sabrina X Auralic Vega G2.1
£9,000.00 £21,998.00 £5,999.00
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audiovenue.com T 020 8567 8703 T 01628 633 995
E [email protected] E [email protected]
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REVIEWS
HI-RES DOWNLOADS
FOXFEATHER JOACHIM EIJLANDER GABRIEL MERVINE
The Nature Of Things Dark Fire (DSD64/128/256/512; DXD) Say Somethin’ (DSD64; 44.1-192kHz/24-bit, FLAC)
(DSD64; 96-192kHz/24-bit, FLAC)
www.nativedsd.com; TRPTK TTK0056 www.psaudio.com/products; Octave Records n/a cat no.
www.psaudio.com/products; Octave Records 0007
This album by cellist Eijlander is, like the This latest release from Octave Records
This beautiful album by Colorado band Paper Motion set [HFN Feb ’21], another sees jazz trumpeter Mervine joined by
Foxfeather is a prime example of PS TRPTK release, which means it is also heavily an exceptional backing trio comprising
Audio’s Octave Records output. Recorded annotated when it comes to the equipment pianist Tom Amend, Seth Lewis on bass
straight to DSD in the spacious acoustic employed in the recording process – but and drummer Alejandro Castaño to create
of Vernon Barn in Longmont, CO., and it couldn’t be much more different in style a recording of remarkable vitality and
produced by the band’s Eben Grace, The and approach. It’s one of those ‘musical intimacy. It was recorded live with no
Nature Of Things is special for so many cultures meet’ projects, the cello being overdubs to 32-track DSD, using equipment
reasons. Not least for the remarkable voice joined by guitar, piano, accordion and including vintage mics, mixed using a
of Carly Ricks Smith, combining power duduk (that’s an Armenian double-reed vintage Euphonix deck and then taken back
and bags of light and shade. It stuns right woodwind instrument made from apricot into DSD for mastering. It’s about as close
from the set’s opening title track, and wood). Anyway, the pieces here may be as you’re ever going to get to the effect
then goes on to delight and amaze. The unfamiliar, but both the performances of having the musicians live in front of
songwriting combines rock, soul and just and the recorded sound, placing the you, with fabulous presence and glorious
about everything one might describe as instruments in an atmospheric church instrumental timbres. It’s all lovingly
‘Americana’, but this isn’t just an album acoustic, are really rather excellent, with annotated in the booklet and, while the
for devotees of the lonesome windswept Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s ‘Five Pieces On Folk music itself holds no great surprises, being
highway. Instead, it’s at turns bluesy, Themes’ especially attractive in making use very much straight-down-the-line small-
heartfelt and a real toe-tapper. In fact, if of the varied instrumental textures on offer. ensemble jazz, there’s no denying the
this isn’t the perfect antidote to sanitised It’s a slow-burner, to be sure, but it is one musicianship in evidence here and the
‘audiophile’ albums, it’s damn close. AE well worth exploring. AE care with which it has been recorded. AE
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LAB REPORT LAB REPORT LAB REPORT
Recorded and mastered in DSD64 using Supplied as FLACs, the DXD files are best Reviewed here as the native DSD64
a Sonoma recorder/editor, this download unpacked to WAV before playback. The file from Animal Lane’s Sonoma 1-bit
exhibits the expected swell in ultrasonic latter are normalised some 5-6dB higher system in Colorado, in practice the final
requantisation noise. Trks 1-5, 8 and 9 than the DSD128 files [black trace], but bandwidth and (limited) dynamic range
peak at 0dBFs and audioband dynamic both offer ample bandwidth to capture is determined by the ‘vintage’ analogue
range is a good 20dB peak-to-RMS. PM these acoustic instruments. PM console, peaking at –1.4dBFs [trk 4]. PM
YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 161
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REVIEWS
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KANSAS JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET DANIIL TRIFONOV, MARIINSKY
ORCHESTRA/VALERY GERGIEV
Point Of Know Return Live & Beyond String Quartets by Bartók (No 3), Beethoven (Op.59:2)
(96kHz/24-bit, FLAC)* and Dvorak (Op.96, ‘American’) (96kHz/24-bit, FLAC) Piano Concertos by Prokofiev (No 2) and Scriabin;
Prokofiev & Stravinsky solos (96kHz/24-bit, FLAC)
www.highresaudio.com; InsideOutMusic n/a cat. no. www.highresaudio.com; Sony Classical G010004516958U
www.highresaudio.com; DG 483 5331
It’s arguable whether we need another Founded in 1946, the Juilliard Quartet has
The album title ‘Silver Age’ relates to the
version of Kansas’s most successful album, had various changes of personnel: these pre-Revolution Russian cultural movement.
recordings are the first to feature lead- The solo pieces are Stravinsky’s Serenade
acclaimed by some as the band’s best
work, but here – 44 years on, and with violinist Areta Zhulla, who joined in 2018. and three transcribed movements from
the inevitable changes of lineup – we Her companions are Ronald Copes (vln), The Firebird and Petrushka, while we
Roger Tapping (vla) – ex-Takács Qt and from hear Prokofiev’s big Sonata No 8, his less
have a live version, recorded during the
the UK – and Astrid Schween (vlc). You can frequently recorded Sarcasms and a Gavotte
2019/20 ‘Anniversary Tour’. And what we from Cinderella. Nowadays with pianists
see videos of them playing the complete like Yuja Wang and Anna Vinnitskaya, his
get is the whole album played in sequence, Bartók and recording the Beethoven finale, formidable G-minor Concerto sounds like
bookended by some extra tracks from the
on their website. We had admirable mono child’s play but Trifonov is too thoughtful
band’s extended catalogue. So, one just for and stereo Bartók cycles with earlier lineups
the fans, then? Not quite: what this album and introspective an artist to create this
delivers is some fine musicianship, and – but the Juillards’ Beethoven was mostly impression – try ‘Petrushka’s Room’. He is
considered ‘transatlantic’ and hard-bitten.
notwithstanding PM’s Lab Report indicating It’s a different picture now, with a closer- able to bring an entirely different palette
upsampling at work for this 96kHz/24-bit knit production sound too. There’s raptness
to the transcriptions from the purely solo
release – an exemplary recording job. Give in the Beethoven Adagio, brio in the ‘thème works: warmth rather than the customary
russe’ scherzo and finale. Acerbity and
in to the portentous lyrics and the howling ‘night sounds’ in the Bartók [trk 6] give way neoclassical dryness in the Serenade, but
guitars, kick back and enjoy a fine version to the affable Dvořák Qt – in all a really brilliance in the Prokofiev Sonata’s Vivace.
of ‘Dust In The Wind’, and you may well find
enjoyable programme. CB Excellent support from Gergiev. CB
the whole experience enjoyable, even if
you’re not nostalgia-tinged. AE
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All but two of these tracks (7 and 15) are With no booklet available, I can at least These are genuine 96kHz recordings,
normalised to –0.68dBFs but the album confirm this is a genuine 96kHz file, free the Prokofiev and Scriabin captured in St
looks to be a 96kHz upsample of 48kHz of spuriae. The higher strings stretch Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre [17-20,
live streams. Occasional bursts of aliasing out to an impressive 38kHz and dynamic 24-30] showing slightly higher ultrasonic
noise [black trace] suggest some upstream range is excellent, only nudging 0dBFs in noise [Graph, above]. Dynamic range and
limiting – but this is a live gig after all! PM the Bartók No 3 [trk 5, see Graph]. PM ~40kHz bandwidth are well used. PM
YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 163
ALBUM
REVIEWS
ROCK
FIELD MUSIC
Flat White Moon
Memphis Industries MI0657CD; LP: MI0657LP
Field Music – brothers David and Peter Brewis –
have purveyed a distinctive style of progressive
art-pop music since 2004 and their eighth
album finds them at the top of their game.
Their approach to songwriting is exemplified by
the single, ‘Orion From The Street’. It’s in four-
time, but the taut playing, repetitive keyboard
arpeggios and syncopated drum patterns create
a tension which is resolved by their Beatlesy
vocal melodies, while elsewhere strings soften
some of the sharp edges. After 2020’s Making
A New World, which was themed on Britain
rebuilding after the First World War, the band
were keen to have a bit more fun and Flat
White Moon is full of joie de vivre. MB
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BIG BIG TRAIN THE CHILLS JACK CHESHIRE
Common Ground Scatterbrain Future Fractal Plays
English Electric EERCD0028; LP: Plane Groovy PLG096 Fire FIRECD581: LP: FIRELP581 Loose Tongue GN200004; LP: GN200003
Big Big Train are the most adventurous The Chills’ career has been fraught with Jack Cheshire has always shown himself
group currently operating under the such difficulty since they formed in 1980 adept at writing folk-tinged, acoustic
progressive rock banner. They take the – including geographical isolation, endless guitar-based tunes in the singer-songwriter
best aspects of the genre from the ’70s, personnel upheavals and mainstay Martin tradition. But while ‘Ocean Floor’ falls
mix them up with other influences (they Phillipps’ struggle with ill health and into that category, he also looks beyond
namecheck Elbow, Pete Townsend, Bowie, addiction – that it feels nigh-on heroic that such stylistic limitations and Future Fractal
even Elton John) and create a hybrid of he is still making music of such freshness Plays finds him venturing further out into
finely wrought big tunes with dazzling and quality. Scatterbrain is up with his best landscapes of strings and spacey synths. On
instrumental passages, and on ‘Apollo’, they work and carries on the familiar Chills traits ‘Tunnel Vision’ Cheshire exhorts us to ‘move
are augmented by a limber brass section. of buoyant melodies, lean ensemble playing into the light’ over the busy drums and
And it’s all integrated without individual of a subtle complexity and an atmosphere spangly electric guitar. On the title track,
grandstanding. These new songs reflect on of haunted strangeness. Phillipps is an he ponders the multiverse and advises the
subjects more personal than those the band imaginative lyricist and writes on topics as listener to ‘pack your psychic bags and
usually explore, but the prevailing themes diverse as the allure of ancient stones, alien vacate inner space’, shifting musical and
of connection and communication coalesce travellers, the pleasures of domesticity, and lyrical perspectives in a way that’s typical
on the epic ‘Atlantic Cable’. MB his own mortality (the chilling ‘Destiny’). MB of this brilliant, enigmatic collection. MB
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FOO FIGHTERS THE GO! TEAM GOJIRA
Medicine At Midnight Get Up Sequences Part One Fortitude
Roswell/Columbia 19439788362; LP: 19439788361 Memphis Industries MI0684CD; LP: MI0684LP Roadrunner 0075678645372; LP: 0075678644511
This may not be this year’s best album, This begins with ‘Let The Seasons Work’, an On the single ‘Born For One Thing’ the
but it will surely be one of the most overture of bleeping synths, Zappaesque French metal band show off their trademark
immediate and invigorating. ‘Making A brass figures and flute arpeggios, all combination of brutal power and melody
Fire’ opens, riding out on a funky groove buoyed up by a funky rhythm section. as juddering unison bass and guitar chords
with swaggering guitar chords, and female Ian Parton’s arrangements brilliantly build up to a soaring chorus. Mixed by Andy
backing singers elegantly framing Dave dovetail samples and played instruments Wallace – who has worked with Nirvana
Grohl’s exultant lead vocals. Greg Kurstin’s in part finely crafted structure and part and Rage Against The Machine – Fortitude
punchy production adds to the intensity. multi-stylistic mash-up. On ‘I Love You finds Gojira twisting through some complex
They are also happy to wear their influences Better’ harpsichords borrowed from John structures with electronics and spacey
on their sleeves: the title track nods back Barry dance around revved-up My Bloody keyboards adding texture. And while still
with a smile to David Bowie’s ‘Lets Dance’, Valentine-style guitars and vocalist Ninja’s formidably heavy, it’s their most accessible
bluesy guitar solo and all, and ‘No Son Of sweet, primary coloured melodies. ‘World offering. Gojira are a principled bunch and
Mine’ borrows the riff from Motörhead’s Remember Me Now’ is a hybrid of big bark out environmental warnings in a way
‘Ace Of Spades’. Packed with strong tunes, grinning synths, brass parps and steel that you wouldn’t want to argue with, on
Foo Fighters’ tenth album finds them drums, all surmounted by an irresistible pop ‘Amazonia’, and explore ancient cultural
sounding unfeasibly fresh. MB tune and ethereal backing vocals. MB roots on the ritualistic ‘The Chant’. MB
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CALEXICO
Seasonal Shift
City Slang CD/LP: SLANG50339
Arizona-based Calexico have delivered a ‘sort
of’ Christmas album and to those allergic
to such an idea, they’ve dispensed with the
mawkishness associated with music marking
the festival. Instead, it’s a delightful, pithy
set. They are augmented here by guests,
and their filmic take on Tex-Mex music is
cut with Latin brass and hints of Portuguese
Fado. Singer-guitarist Joey Burns appears to
be seeking a temporary retreat into a more
certain, secure world, sifting through regrets,
taking stock, and hoping for better in 2021. He
praises friends, family and drunken parties, on
material that includes a cover of John Lennon’s
‘Happy Christmas (War Is Over)’ and the chilly,
vibraphone-led instrumental, ‘Glory’s Hope’. MB
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ALBUM
REVIEWS
ROCK
CASPER CLAUSEN
Better Way
City Slang SLANG50317; LP: SLANG50317LP
Clausen is lead singer in Efterklang, a Danish
post-rock collective renowned for their
imaginative instrumental arrangements and
song structures, and that approach feeds into
his debut solo album. Clausen tends to work
up songs spontaneously from an ‘intuition’
and on the lengthy, mantric ‘Used To Think’
rides out on synthetic drum beats – a palette
of bright, shifting sonics is introduced before
his reassuring voice makes its entrance. The
song was influenced by Spacemen 3; and Sonic
Boom from that band produces here, creating
a soundscape of great depth and detail. On
‘Little Words’ the treated guitars, flickering
electronics and vocal harmonies combine in a
potent mix of melody and experimentation. MB
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LOST HORIZONS LORD HURON JAKKO M JAKSZYK
In Quiet Moments Long Lost Secrets & Lies
Bella Union BELLA1111CD; LP: BELLA1111V Republic LOHU050020; LP: LOHU050017 Insideout 19439779492 (CD + DVD); LP:19439779501
Multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde The elements that make up Long Lost King Crimson vocalist and guitarist Jakko
(ex-Cocteau Twins) and drummer Richie mainly come from America’s past: the Jakszyk has worked with a wide range
Thomas recorded 16 atmospheric soundworld of Elvis and Roy Orbison; of musicians including Level 42, Tom
instrumental tracks, some with strings, and the guitar twang of Duane Eddy and Robinson, Sam Brown and a who’s who of
invited guest vocalists to write and record The Ventures; and the modern slant on avant-rockers, all of which feeds into his
lyrics along the lines of ‘death and rebirth’. Americana by Fleet Foxes and The National. first solo album since 2009. It encompasses
‘Every Beat That Passed’, sung by Kavi But all this is refashioned into a timeless dreamy ballads, inventive pop forms, and
Kwai, is in the Cocteaus’ mould, but this and remarkably fresh signature sound. Ben tough, angular compositions with fluid
collection works so well because the singers Schneider’s voice finds space to soar on lead guitar and intricate picked patterns,
have scope to make the songs their own, the single ‘Mine Forever’, and on the tale recorded with members of King Crimson.
with particularly inspired performances by of dissolution, ‘Not Dead Yet’, his sardonic Lyrically he deals with love, loss and
Ren Harvieu and John Grant. Soul singer lyrics balance the sonic sweetness. String societal unrest with two tracks particularly
Ural Thomas (now 82) is backed by sparse arrangements add eerie atmospherics to poignant: ‘The Borders We Traded’, an
piano on the exquisite ‘In Quiet Moments’ the nocturnal tryst of ‘Meet Me In The City’ a cappella song about his search for his
and Porridge Radio’s Dana Margolin delivers and attain a cinematic sweep on ‘Drops In Irish birth mother, and its companion
the edgy ‘One For Regret’. MB The Lake’, with its Theremin chorus. MB instrumental, ‘Trading Borders’. MB
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KITTEN PYRAMID PASSENGER JANE WEAVER
KOOZY!! Songs For The Drunk And Broken Hearted Flock
Flip Flop FFR2021-01 CD; LP: FFR2021-01 LP Cooking Vinyl PASS20CD1; 2CDs: PASS20CD2; 2LPs: PASS20VP1 Fire FIRECD544; LP: FIRELP544
Kitten Pyramid’s Scott Milligan takes Some break-up albums can be heavy going, In the ’90s Jane Weaver served in Britpop
delight in the wonder and absurdity of the but although Mike Rosenberg aka Passenger group Kill Laura, and her solo career has
everyday. ‘Take my hand and jump off a cliff draws here on his own recent history, he touched upon folk and Americana. But on
with me’ he invites on ‘Leggy Friends’ then appears to view his predicament with a her more recent releases she’s fashioned a
leads us through a series of surreal non- certain feeling of liberation as he sinks distinctive style from disparate influences
sequiturs, inviting comparisons with Edward another one. The songs are presented in and clearly loves both the transcendental
Lear, Robin Hitchcock and Brian Eno’s both band and acoustic versions, and at qualities of pop melody and of sonic texture
capricious early songs. Even the humdrum times his vocal inflections are reminiscent and timbre. On Flock she’s created a vivid
world described in ‘Doughnuts’ sounds of Cat Stevens – his heartfelt advice on sound, which includes elements of primary
enticing. He allies the sensory disorientation ‘The Way I Love You’ is along the lines of coloured ’80s funk and a strong electronic
of psychedelia, albeit in a gentle kind of Stevens’ ‘Wild World’. On ‘Remember To component, with ‘Modern Reputation’ a
way, with the structural complexity of prog Forget’ Rosenberg is with a substitute for veritable feast of cosmic analogue synths.
rock. ‘KOOZY!!’ mixes blaring horns, strings his lost love, his mixed feelings echoed by The glam stomp of ‘Stages Of Phases’
and bassoon, and ‘Auntie Mabel’ kicks off a bittersweet trumpet, and ‘London In The evokes Goldfrapp’s ‘Strict Machine’ and on
with boisterous guitars before cooling to a Spring’, with pedal steel guitar and strings, the title track dreamy flutes drift timelessly
bittersweet conclusion. MB finds him again in love with life. MB over hyperactive drumming. MB
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TINDERSTICKS
Distractions
City Slang SLANG50349; LP: SLANG50349LP
Vocalist Stuart Staples describes Distractions
as ‘minimal, austere almost’, with decoration
regarded as ‘frivolous’. He’s not kidding. It’s
a challenging collection and a world away
from their trademark orchestrated ballads.
On the 11-minute ‘Man Alone (Can’t Stop
The Fadin’)’ sparse incantations float around
synthetic drums as if skirting a musical void,
but it’s gripping nonetheless. There are creepy
recitations on ‘I Imagine You’, a skeletal piano
ballad in ‘Tue-Moi’ and ‘Lady With The Braid’ is
an animated bossa nova with lush keyboards
and strings. The closer ‘The Bough Bends’
incorporates birdsong and voices intoning
‘Distractions, distractions’, as if a fleeting
thought had been transformed into a song. MB
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ALBUM
REVIEWS
JAZZ
SAMARA JOY
Samara Joy
Whirlwind Recordings WR4776; LP: WR4776LP
Samara fittingly scooped the Sarah Vaughan
vocal award in 2019, having studied Sarah
(along with Billie, Ella, and Nat King Cole) at
SUNY Purchase. Still only 21, she recorded
this set of standards under the aegis of Matt
Pierson, noted producer of Brad Mehldau
and Sophie Milman. She’s backed by the trio
of Pasquale Grasso, also on the faculty at
Purchase. He uses his astonishing technique
to emulate Art Tatum and Bud Powell rather
than other guitarists – though on ‘Stardust’
he sneaks in Charlie Christian’s chord solo. His
unremitting virtuosity is almost too much, but
Samara floats over it. A lovely voice, perfect
time, beautiful diction, effortless grace as an
interpreter. Above all, she wins your heart. SH
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MARIDALEN EMMET COHEN ELINA DUNI, ROB LUFT
Maridalen Future Stride Lost Ships
Jazzland Recordings Norway 377 935 6 (CD/LP) Mack Avenue MAC1181; LP: MACLP1181 ECM 0739322
This begins with rain falling and birds Many pianists have revived the ‘stride’ style This collaboration started in 2017, when
singing in the Maridalen valley above Oslo. of the 1920s, but Cohen does much more the virtuoso British guitarist met informally
But soon you’re in the old wooden church than that here. In the past, he’s worked with the Albanian-born, Swiss-based singer
where three young musicians found a place with greats of earlier generations, and in Lausanne while she worked on her Partir
to practice, took the name of the valley curated his own Master Legacy Series of solo album. Luft’s versatility, electronics
for their trio and made a recording. With recordings with them. This time, as the skills and selfless empathy helped Duni
limpid purity and keen-eared precision, album title implies, he’s bringing elements explore a variety of song genres. Which,
saxophonist Anders Hefre and trumpeter of stride into a modern context. With with UK pianist Fred Thomas doubling on
Jonas Lilmork Vemøy harmonise to the his regular trio partners, brilliant bassist percussion and Swiss flugelhorn player
sonorous bass of Andreas Rødland Haga, Russell Hall and drummer Lyle Poole, he Matthieu Michel, the two do brilliantly here,
the music rich and full, though there’s no romps through ‘Symphonic Raps’ and while their heartfelt title song and other
chordal instrument. In deliberately shocking ‘Dardanella’, as well as some later standards originals engage with contemporary issues
contrast, the last track’s urban processed and originals. Guest soloists are saxophonist including Europe’s migration crisis. Luft also
sounds, done via a ’50s Tandberg tape Melissa Aldana, and Marquis Hill, whose gives perfect support in two traditional
deck, make you appreciate the rest of the outstanding trumpet work makes Cohen’s Albanian songs, where Duni still has the
album’s natural sonics even more. SH ‘Little Angel’ an impressive finale. SH power to stop your heart. SH
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CAMERON GRAVES LAN TRIO (ARGÜELLES, LAGINHA JOE LOVANO, MARILYN CRISPELL,
AND NORBAKKEN) CARMEN CASTALDI
Seven
Atlântico Garden Of Expression
Artistry Music ART7066; LP: ART7066LP
Edition Records EDN1164; LP: EDN1164LP ECM 351 8721 (CD and LP)
Graves was keyboardist on Kamasi
Washington’s 2015 breakthrough, The These three very distinctive instrumental Saxophonist Joe Lovano met pianist Marilyn
Epic, and followed up with his own 2017 voices – a refreshing and open-sounding Crispell when she was with Anthony
debut, Planetary Prince. He’s since formed lineup – justify the label’s ‘super-trio’ label Braxton’s quartet in the ’80s. Later, they
a new quartet with drummer Mike Mitchell, as the group launches their second album. established a rapport that led, once they’d
a bandmate when touring with Stanley British saxophonist Julian Argüelles came to added drummer Carmen Castaldi, to Trio
Clarke, Berklee-graduate bassist Max Geri, prominence with Loose Tubes in the ’80s Tapestry, the 2019 album whose name is
who’d joined him on his own tours, and and has recorded prolifically ever since. also that of the group. Influenced by ‘Third
innovative rock guitarist Colin Cook, to Like Portuguese pianist Mário Laginha Stream’ thinking and his time with Paul
play what he aptly calls ‘thrash jazz’. With and drummer Helge Andreas Norbakken, Motian (with whom Crispell also worked),
jaw-dropping precision and attack, Graves he’s long been open to African musical Lovano’s music is harmonically open,
turns his acoustic piano into a metal/rock influences, but plays with a European rhythmically free, sometimes even close to
instrument, while his compositions reflect sensibility. He offers engaging musical stasis. Now it seems even more organic and
the title and his penchant for complex time logic on his clean-sounding tenor sax and intense, helped by superb sonics. Recorded
signatures. Apart from the wistful ‘Fairy is matchlessly clear and lyrical on soprano. in the generous acoustic of Lugano’s
Tales’, the pressure never drops. SH Sonically satisfying and a musical treat. SH Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI, in Nov ’19. SH
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KEITH JARRETT
Budapest Concert
ECM 0730194 (two discs); 2LPs: 0739330
This latest solo album documents Jarrett’s
performance at the Hungarian capital’s Béla
Bartók hall in July 2016, two weeks before
the concert that yielded Munich 2016. As a
taster, back in May 2020, ECM celebrated the
pianist’s 75th birthday with a digital single
release of a Budapest encore, his blithe and
eloquent interpretation of ‘Answer Me’. But
sadly, around the time the album itself was
announced, it was revealed that Jarrett hadn’t
recovered the use of his left hand since his two
strokes in 2018, and was unlikely to perform
again. ECM says Jarrett himself has viewed the
Budapest concert as the ‘gold standard’ among
his solo recordings, which must be reason
enough to add it to your shelf. SH
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BEEF UP YOUR LIFE.
“…I am now not questioning whether we need a big
ˣˢ˪˘˥ ˔ˠˣ˟˜Ё˘˥ ˟˜˞˘ ˧˛˘ ʴˊʥʨʣ˅Ϧ ˕˨˧ ˛ˢ˪ ˪˘ ˖˔ˡ
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REVIEWS
JAZZ
VERONICA SWIFT
This Bitter Earth
Mack Avenue MAC1177; 2LPs: MACLP1171
For her second album, the wondrously talented
singer who scats like Ella and swoops like Sarah
opens with a song of Dinah’s, although she
takes on the 2012 Max Richter mashup rather
than Washington’s 1961 track, and her quick
vibrato is more ruffled velvet than brass. And
her choices are more about content than style.
‘You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught’ is South
Pacific’s once-controversial poke at racism
while ‘He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)’ is the
song King and Goffin wrote when Little Eva told
them about beatings from her boyfriend. Then,
from ‘I’m Hip’ composer Dave Frishberg, there’s
‘The Sports Page’, about the one place in the
newspaper where ‘you can’t say you win if you
lose’. How topical can you get? SH
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VIJAY IYER, LINDA MAY HAN OH, BOB MINTZER & WDR BIG BAND KÖLN ALLISON NEALE
TYSHAWN SOREY
Soundscapes Quietly There
Uneasy
Jazzline D77082; 2LPs: D78082 Ubuntu Music UB0062
ECM Records 3520696; 2LPs: 3536241
In the early days of CD, Mintzer first This Seattle-born, UK-based alto saxophonist
It’s six years since Break Stuff, the last of reached the ears of audiophiles with can if she chooses sound exactly like
the pianist’s three albums with an earlier Camouflage on the DMP label. A member Desmond or, as on the title track here, a
trio, but he’s been working with the current of Yellowjackets since 1990, he’s also a little like Getz. Neale led a great previous
lineup since 2019. Drummer Tyshawn Sorey formidable composer and arranger who’s quartet with pianist Leon Greening. But
is a colleague of many projects while bassist been chief conductor of the WDR band for her fifth album – her first for Ubuntu –
Linda May Han Oh is a new collaborator since 2016. These two worlds met last year Neale revisits the ‘space and openness’ of
and a fine soloist. Iyer’s own pieces often with the fusion band’s WDR collaboration a guitar-based quartet, as Peter Bernstein
address social issues, eg, ‘Children Of Flint’ Jackets XL [Mack Avenue]. But here Mintzer joins her favoured bass and drum team of
refers to the Michigan lead-poisoning leads in ten new arrangements of his own Dave Green and Steve Brown. They bring
scandal, while ‘Combat Breathing’ was music, with some fresh, engaging tunes sprightly life to a tune that often drags,
written at the start of the BLM movement. in flavours from Afro-Cuban to swing – to, ‘Midnight Sun’; they dig happily into John
The album’s title is also that of a 2011 in one piece, what Mintzer whimsically Lewis’s cool blues ‘Two Degrees East,
ballet Iyer scored, but although the word describes as ‘atonal funk’. We hear him Three Degrees West’, and cheer up some
now seems ‘too mild for cataclysmic times’, on tenor sax and EWI but there’s plenty of songbook standards too. It’s a carefree,
his music brings peace and calm. SH scope for WDR band’s own soloists too. SH melodic and delightful selection. SH
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REVIEWS
JAZZ
QOW TRIO CHRIS POTTER CIRCUITS TRIO JOEL ROSS
QOW Trio Sunrise Reprise Who Are You
Ubuntu Music UBU0078 (CD and LP cat no) Edition Records EDN1171; LP: EDNLP1171 Blue Note 0712749; LP: 0712750
Big-hearted Irish tenor man Riley Stone- Potter’s 2019 Circuits marked a fusion- In Ross’s follow-up to his 2019 debut,
Lanergan looks back here to the sax giants inspired change of direction for the KingMaker there’s again a major role for the
of the past, in a format inspired by the celebrated saxophonist, who said he’d alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, whose
piano-less Sonny Rollins trio recordings been ‘itching to get back to grooveland’. own Blue Note debut, Omega, appeared
of the 1950s. It’s a boisterous, joyful set Which is exactly what he did, in the last summer. Pianist Jeremy Corren and
propelled by veteran drummer Spike Wells, company of top-of-the-tree drummer Eric drummer Jeremy Dutton also reappear, this
who in decades gone by worked with Tubby Harland, outstanding young pianist James time joined by bassist Kanoa Mendenhall,
Hayes and visiting American stars. On bass Francies and great electric bassist Linley who played cello before moving into jazz
is Eddie Myer, who is also part of indie rock Marthe. This time, given a brief chance to and being mentored by drummer Kendrick
band Turin Brakes. ‘Qow’, the 1973 Dewey come together again between periods of Scott. A special guest is harpist Brandee
Redman tune, gets a gutsy workout while lockdown restriction, Potter, Francies and Younger, who helps make ‘After The Rain’
‘Qowfirmation’ is a tribute to the be-bop Harland were more than itching to play such a beautiful, evocative and tender
greats and ‘Pound For Prez’ a nod to Lester and the result was a fantastic high-energy track. Ross demonstrates his sure and subtle
Young. From the opening ‘Slow Boat To session. Building structures over wonderful harmonic sense throughout, even with no
China’ to the swinging ‘It’s All Right With keyboard bass lines that make up for the chordal instrument when the group strips
Me’, this is good to the last drop. SH absence of Marthe, Francies astounds. SH down to a trio for ‘The Nurturer’. SH
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DAN WILSON
Vessels Of Wood And Earth
Brother Mister Productions BRO4001
From Akron, Ohio, guitarist Dan Wilson drew
attention recently with his jaw-dropping
technique on tour with Van Morrison and
Joey DeFrancesco. He’d already self-published
two albums, but now a varied, accessible new
album marks his debut for Christian McBride’s
Brother Mister imprint. With pianist Christian
Sands, bassist Marco Panascia and drummer
Jeff ‘Tain’ Waits, he kicks off an opener called
‘The Rhythm Section’ at a furious pace. Things
calm down as he caresses Stevie Wonder’s ‘Bird
Of Beauty’ before we get to some gutsy vocals
from Joy Brown, and finally, Wilson displays all
his versatility and charm in a pair of off-the-
cuff duets with bassist/producer McBride. The
jaunty ‘Born To Lose’ is a winner. SH
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YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 173
ALBUM
REVIEWS
CLASSICAL
YVES SAELENS, LUCILE RICHARDOT,
HET COLLECTIEF/REINBERT DE LEEUW
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Alpha ALPHA633 (downloads to 88.2kHz/24-bit resolution)
This was the third Das Lied we had in as many
months – but one with a difference. Following
the example of Schoenberg, in 2010 Reinbert
de Leeuw made his own reduced forces
transcription, involving just 15 players – he
felt his choices gave a better idea of Mahler’s
own sound world. A labour of love, de Leeuw
completed this recording in Amsterdam’s
modern Muziekgebouw in Jan ’20, one month
before, sadly, he passed away. Piano is perhaps
a little prominent, but this intimate re-scoring
somehow allows the vocal parts to have greater
impact. The singers are both excellent, and this
is altogether a rather special release. Alpha
provides generous booklet information. CB
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BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCH/ VIKTORIA MULLOVA/ALASDAIR DANIEL LOZAKOVICH, MUNICH PO/
THOMAS DAUSGAARD BEATSON VALERY GERGIEV
Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin (cpte); Suite No 2; Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Opp.23; 24, ‘Spring’; 30:2 Beethoven: Violin Concerto
8 Hungarian Peasant Dances
Onyx ONYX4221 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution) DG 483 8946 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
Onyx HMM902419 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
It’s over a decade since Viktoria Mullova’s While these are live recordings (Gastein
A first here, as the Mandarin ballet is not first pairing of Beethoven Sonatas with Hall Munich, Dec ’19) it’s a pity there’s
only played in full but recorded using a fortepiano accompaniment, where we total silence between tracks. The last is
recently found score without the cuts had the ‘Kreutzer’. Now we have the the Adagio from Bach’s Sonata BWV1001,
imposed for the Budapest premiere in equally popular ‘Spring’ but in a different beautifully played although with some
1926. A great account – ‘The Chase’ must partnership. Playing an 1805 Walter replica breathing sounds from Lozakovich. We
be one of the most exciting on records! instrument, against Mullova’s gut-strung hear the Kreisler cadenzas in the Concerto:
Terrific sound too, from Simon Eadon. The 1750 Guadagnini, Alasdair Beatson also a warmly ‘traditional’ performance and
Suite is an early work (1909). I found the writes the booklet intro. Working from the all the better for it. We may not think of
old Doráti LP version a bore but this is latest Bärenreiter Edition, these realistic Gergiev as a Beethoven conductor but here
something else: try the Allegro scherzando. recordings were produced in 2021 by he brings out some pertinent detailing –
Derived from his folksong researches, Mullova’s husband, at Wyaston Leys. The eg, the bassoon writing – and he shows
Bartók selected 18 pieces for a piano score, unison runs in the Op.24 scherzo show the acknowledged empathy with his young
later orchestrating nine of them. Again, hand-in-glove nature of the partnership, soloist. ‘We have such a great chemistry’,
Dausgaard captures the idiom perfectly. CB Mullova not once hogging the limelight. CB says Lozakovich (who was 20 in May). CB
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174 | www.hifinews.co.uk | YEARBOOK 2021
COMPACT DISC SUPERAUDIO DVD BLU-RAY VINYL DOWNLOAD
CBSO/MIRGA GRAŽINYTE-TYLA BBC PHILHARMONIC/JOHN WILSON HALLÉ ORCHESTRA/SIR MARK ELDER
Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem Eric Coates Orchestral Works Vol. 2 Debussy: Images; Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune;
La plus que lente, etc
DG 483 9072 (download options MP3-96kHz/24-bit resolution) Chandos CHAN20148 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
Hallé CDHLL7554 (downloads to 44.1kHz/24-bit resolution)
Issued in digital form only, at a special Everyone will know Calling All Workers, the
low price (but without a booklet), this live lively piece commissioned by the BBC for A fine addition to the Hallé Debussy series
recording was made towards the end of its wartime morale-boosting programme where, for me, the standout tracks are
2019 at the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie. ‘Music While You Work’ – it ran for 27 years. the composer’s atypical transcription
It’s the second DG recording by the young There’s London Bridge too (no Dambusters including cymbalom, La Plus Que Lente,
Lithuanian conductor: appointed to the which must surely be in the pipeline). John and with flautist Katherine Baker, L’Aprés-
CBSO following Andris Nelsons’ tenure. Wilson zips through these in readings that midi – one of the most satisfying accounts
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla’s Sinfonia da Requiem are as smart as new paint, while the 1938 we have had on records. There is also Colin
is markedly individual – her outer movt ballet score The Enchanted Garden shows – Matthews’ orchestration of ‘Et la lune
timings (9m 30s/5m 34s) contrasting with say, in the charming Allegretto, No 4, with decend…’. The five movements making up
Britten’s own in his 1964 NPO recording its swooning second theme – what a master the orchestral set were well done by the
for Decca (8m 51s/6m 37s). Her grip never of orchestral colour Coates was. When the San Francisco Symphony in 2016, but the
falters in that slow Lacrymosa and if the BBC Philharmonic moved to MediaCityUK, British players have the edge, and there’s
young Britten’s Dies irae sounds too clever Salford, I thought Chandos was not getting more warmth and depth in Sir Mark Elder’s
by half, the emergence of the Requiem such good sound quality, but it has clearly interpretation, with a winningly colourful
aeternam touches the heart. CB come to terms with its acoustics. CB evocation of Spain in ‘Iberia’. CB
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SINFONIA OF LONDON/JOHN WILSON
English Music for Strings
Chandos CHSA5624 (SACD; downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
The longest of the pieces here by the four
English ‘B’s is Britten’s Frank Bridge Variations –
that composer represented by his short (faintly
Delian) Lament prompted by the Lusitania
sinking in 1915. From Lennox Berkeley we have
the Serenade for Strings and from Bliss his
Music for Strings, premiered in 1935 by the VPO
under Adrian Boult, ‘at the top of his form’. The
jolly opening movement of the Serenade will
keep you listening to the very end – although
Richard Hickox [Chandos] brought more
depth to this score. Wilson makes the Britten
cohesive and fairly introspective in spite of the
‘character’ movements. The Jan ’20 recordings
were made at St Augustine’s Church, Kilburn:
this adds a slight ambience to the sound. CB
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YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 175
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Whole Note Distribution
0203 9115 549 | [email protected] | www.wholenotedistribution.co.uk
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REVIEWS
CLASSICAL
BEHZOD ABDURAIMOV
Chopin: 24 Preludes Op.28; Debussy: Children’s Corner Suite;
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
Alpha Classics ALPHA653 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
The young Uzbek pianist’s Rachmaninov at
Lucerne on Sony was our 2020 Yearbook
High-Res album choice. This is his first solo
programme now he’s signed to Alpha – the
Chopin and Mussorgsky, at least, essentials
in any pianophile’s library. I’ve not heard a
more consistently interesting Pictures: you can
almost hear the words with the ‘two Jews’,
and the finale is marvellously built with an
extremely wide dynamic range. ‘Tuileries’,
‘Limoges’ and ‘Unhatched chicks’ are dazzling.
The Chopin Preludes show so many touches of
individuality (as they should) with beautifully
soft playing in the tranquil numbers. And
Debussy’s ‘Snowflakes’ really dance! CB
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SANDRINE PIAU, STUART JACKSON, BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER/ KRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT
KONSTANTIN KRIMMEL, ARCANGELO/ CLAUDIO ABBADO
JONATHAN COHEN Mozart: Sonatas, Variations and shorter works
Mahler: Symphony No 10 – Adagio
Handel: Brockes Passion Harmonia Mundi HMX290400715 (nine discs; downloads to
Berliner Philharmoniker BPHR2003649 (48kHz/24-bit resolution) 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
Alpha ALPHA644 (two discs; downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
This is excerpted from the Berlin orchestra’s The fruits of Air Studios sessions spanning
Richard Eggar’s AAM set has a bonus CD eight-conductor, 2011 to 2020 Mahler seven years, this recompiled set has each
and a 215pp hardback book. Alpha’s live cycle: €59 as a download, a lot more disc programmed with a keyboard sonata,
presentation is more modest but you still in physical formats, although there you a set of variations and selected shorter
get a scholarly essay and all texts for the can see all ten performances too. The works – many of these virtually unknown
93 tracks provided. Production was at St single work download includes the lavish to most of us. In this near-complete
Jude’s London in Oct ’19, Jonathan Cohen 128pp booklet PDF. The Digital Concert survey, Bezuidenhout has only left out the
directing his 18-strong Arcangelo group Hall also has a 3m video clip from Abbado’s juvenalia. He is playing fortepianos after
from the harpsichord. Jesus is nobly sung, May 2011 account of the 10th Adagio Anton Walter 1802 and 1805 originals,
the ornate writing for the Evangelist and (memorised from the Cooke Edition). This is and he describes his musical approach –
Daughter of Zion finely accomplished – a very great account of a piece that ranges ‘unlearning’ the techniques better suited
other solos are taken by members of the from despair to life-embracement (those to modern pianos – in a foreword to
Vocal Consort: eg, alto Alex Potter as Judas. Berlin winds in glorious brightness) and exhaustive annotations. Always focused, the
This is a vivid yet intimately scaled account, compels the attention from start to finish. playing ranges from brilliance to pathos –
gripping from start to finish. CB Extraordinary – good sound too. CB I’d not go back to Steinway Mozart now. CB
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YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 177
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REVIEWS
CLASSICAL
SINFONIA OF LONDON/JOHN WILSON ZURICH TONHALLE ORCH/PAAVO JÄRVI BBC SO/MARTYN BRABBINS
Respighi: Fontani di Roma, Pini di Roma, Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos 2, ‘Little Russian’, and 4 Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 5, Pilgrim’s Progress
Feste Romane
Alpha ALPHA735 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution) Hyperion CDA68325 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
Chandos CHSA5261 (SACD; downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution)
These are recommendable performances This fourth CD coupling in Hyperion’s
Key recordings of Fountains/Pines date that easily surpass the Bychkov/Decca Vaughan Williams cycle with the BBC SO
back to Toscanini and the NBC, with equivalents, however attractive the Czech comes with Scenes adapted from John
Reiner’s and Karajan’s in the stereo era. PO timbres there may sound – eg, the horn Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (with solo
Aptly recorded in the generous acoustic solo at the start of No 2. The grandeur voices and two BBC vocal groups; 27m).
of St Augustine’s, Kilburn, John Wilson’s with which the finale starts is anything There’s unexpected variety in this selection
coupling – prefaced by the blockbuster but ‘Little’ (the nickname relates to with Emily Portman’s unaccompanied
Feste Romane – is another Sinfonia winner. Tchaikovsky’s use of Ukrainian folk tunes), ‘Flower girl’s song’ a highlight. No 5 is the
It’s the quiet playing that impresses most. and if No 4 doesn’t shift my allegiance composer’s quietest, arguably greatest,
In the most beautiful Pines movement, ‘I to the LSO/Markevitch on Philips it’s Symphony and in (i) it’s almost as if the
pini del Gianicolo’ the recording used for nevertheless an account that equally will music flows of its own volition – nothing
the nightingale is unusually distant (a minor invite repetition. In (iii) you twice hear a interventionist in Brabbins’ account. You
disappointment?) and the clarinettist really couple of accents in the second violins not simply hope nothing goes amiss in either
deserved a credit. The following trudge of in my score, or noticed with other versions, ‘Romanza’ or that inspiring finale, and all is
the Roman soldiers sets the pulse racing… but they may be authentic. The sound is well in a distanced Watford hall production
Well researched booklet notes too. CB very good indeed – as is the orchestra. CB by Andrew Keener/Simon Eadon. CB
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CHRISTINE RICE, STUART SKELTON,
BBC SO/EDWARD GARDNER
Works by Fried and Schoenberg (Verklärte Nacht),
Korngold and Lehár
Chandos CHSA5243 (SACD hybrid, downloads to 96kHz/24-bit res)
Sixteen years before Schoenberg completed
his ‘Transfigured Night’ string sextet, Oskar
Fried – mainly remembered for his 1924 Mahler
‘Resurrection’ 78s – set Dehmel’s verses for
two voices and orchestra. A late romantic
piece of no discernible individuality, it has
here some compelling singing by Christine
Rice. The Schoenberg (eight tracks provided) is
dramatically varied and distinguished by some
really soft BBC SO string playing. But Korngold’s
four tenor Songs of Farewell and the Lehár
Fever are the real finds here: the latter, with
obligatory waltz and even a Radetzky March
quote, tells of a soldier in hospital! CB
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YEARBOOK 2021 | www.hifinews.co.uk | 179
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Dealer Directory
6HQVLEOH KL ð VLQFH IAN HARRISON HI FI
· Rega HEADPHONES:
· Harbeth SENNHEISER, BEYER, ERGO, GRADO,
· Croft
· Hegel PSB, AUDIOQUEST, AUDEZE,
· Luxman ULTRASONE, FOCAL
· Michell
· EAR HEADPHONE AMPLIFIERS:
CREEK, FIDELITY AUDIO,
Saffron Walden www.radlettaudio.co.uk GRAHAM SLEE, ICON AUDIO,
01799 599080 [email protected] LEHMANN, PROJECT, SUGDEN
PLEASE PHONE OR EMAIL ENQUIRIES TO:
[email protected]
TEL: 01283 702875
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MONITOR 30.1 £POA TECNODEC £POA
01767 448121 TECNOARM £POA
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To advertise in this section
please call Sonia Smart on 020 4522 8220
Ailsa
IAN HARRISON HIFI Our high-precision Achromatic RCA and Z plugs are designed to
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ATACAMA IXOS SENNHEISER WHEST AUDIO TWO.2 £POA
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BENZ MICRO LEHMANN SOUNDSTYLE WHEST PS4ORDT £POA
BEYER LUXMAN SRM TECH EAR/YOSHINO £POA
BLACK RHODIUM MICHELL SUGDEN BLACK RHODIUM £150
BLUESOUND MOERCH SUMIKO PRO-JECT £POA
CABASSE MOTH SUPRA PROJECT PHONO BOX DS £POA
CARTRIDGE MAN MUNARI T+A GOLDRING £POA
CREEK MUSIC HALL TAYLOR ACOUSTICS BEYER £POA
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must be submitted by email or post...
Please email your entries to: letters@hifinews.com
THE PLACE TO GOODMANS 150 tuner/amp, 12. MISCELLANEOUS
BUY & SELL AUDIO
EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES 75W per channel. Teak case and RUSS Andrews Torlyte platforms,
black fascia. Getting on in years but
NOW FREE a heavyweight performer. Make me three available, good condition,
an offer. Tel: 07710 453050 £50 each. Six Wattgate 350i AG IEC
2. AMPLIFIERS CYRUS Stream Xa streamer/ plugs, £40 a pop. One is 16A version.
9. TURNTABLES Email: [email protected]
TRICHORD Research D400 DAC. Owned from new with all
original packaging. Just serviced and TOWNSHEND Rock turntable, PIONEER PL112D turntable
monoblock pair. 400W per channel, upgraded by Cyrus at their standard
Hypex Class D with massive linear charge of £300. Excellent condition. Cello MC cartridge, Pink Triangle £125. Nakamichi CR2E cassette deck
power supply and discrete input £495. Email: [email protected]. turntable, Audio Note AN-S6 (upgraded) £150. Russ Andrews Yello
stage. Serviced and upgraded Tel: 07950 068162 transformer, M2 pre phono, Audio Powercord 30th Anniversary Edition,
by Trichord. Cost £3500 new, Note Neiro monoblocks, Snell JII 1m UK-to-IEC female, brand new,
now £1750. Tel: 07796 021637. MARANTZ CD17 KI Signature loudspeakers, interconnect and never been used. £49. 15 A5-size
Email: [email protected] speaker cables, SME 3009. May Hi-Fi Choice magazines from 1975 to
CD player. Black finish, captive mains split or swap. Greater London. 1987. £10 each. Cash on collection
LINN Classik amplifier, £395; lead, gold-coloured remote control Tel: 07944 909209 only. Tel: 07708 431963.
handset. Lovely condition. Owned
Roksan Kandy 2 amp, £395; Rotel from new. Excellent sound. Happy to THORENS TD124 MkII turntable, SENNHEISER HD 660S
RA-971 amp, £85; AVI Neutron IV demonstrate player. Collection only,
loudspeakers, £295. May swap. based in the Norwich area. £250 chassis only, £750. Linn Basik LVX headphones. New condition.
Tel: 07792 55555 ovno. Tel: 01603 568423 or arm, £130. Tel: 07988 081094 Unwanted gift. Delivery possible.
07973 671915 £300. Tel: 01277 233183
3. CABLES PINK Triangle PT1 turntable in
5. DACS GRYPHON Black ST spikes
KIMBER balanced Silver Streak, excellent condition. Pink lid, and
CAMBRIDGE Audio 851D with Linn/Rega and SME armboards. (set of four) complete with wooden
0.75m, silver plated, XLR plugs, £450. Collection only. Mission box, perfect condition, £180. Email:
perfect condition, excellent sound DAC in black. Has been upgraded 774SM tonearm (GB tools), very markuffi[email protected].
quality, unbeatable at £199 ovno. by Trichord Research with Crystek good condition. £450. The PT1 is Tel: 07539 446070
Email: [email protected] Femto Clocks, superior op-amps and collection only. Tel: 07305 871175
upgraded headphone stage. Beats HFN/RR back issues. Virtually
CRYSTAL Cables Dreamline stock unit hands down! £695. SME 10 turntable. Excellent
Email: [email protected]. complete set from 1976 to date,
Plus speaker cables, 2.5m with Tel: 07796 021637 condition, boxed, £1850. Series including Annual Reviews when
spade connectors. Mint condition, IV. Unused since being serviced by published. Selling complete for
complete with original packaging 7. SPEAKERS SME in May. New internal wire and about £0.50 per copy as need the
and certificate of authenticity. This FD-IV fluid damper (black). ‘As new’ space. Tel: 07710 453050
is a current model with a UK RRP of QUAD ESL57s with Gradient subs. condition. Boxed with all tools and
£17,600. Terrific build quality and instructions, plus FD-IV instructions. 13. WANTED
performance, only selling to upgrade All black and in good condition. The £3050. Tel: 07305 871175
to a newer model. £5750 ovno. speakers were recently serviced in NET AUDIO or Amplabs tape
Email: paullawrence824@yahoo. Germany. All manuals. Can demo. 11. SYSTEMS
com. Tel: 07966 507873 Buyer collects (Teddington). £500. adapter board for Quad 33 amplifier.
Email: [email protected] B&W DM601 S2 speakers and Tel: 01344 776445
4. CD/DVD PLAYERS
B&W 683 S2 loudspeakers. Only Apollo stands, Onkyo CD C-7030, YAMAHA CDX-5050 CD player
ELECTROCOMPANIET Aiwa cassette AD-F810, Sony tuner
six months old. £400 the pair. ST-S261, Rotel RC-850 preamp and or laser. Tel: 01531 631337
EMP 3 multiformat optical-disc Tel: 020 8882 5703 two RB-850 power amps (bridge
player (SACD/DVD-A/Blu-ray Audio/ or bi-amp). All reasonable offers SONUS FABER Amati
HDCD/Redbook CD) with remote MAGNEPAN 1.7i, off white, considered. Modest value, so
control. HDMI, analogue RCA carriage not economical. Buyer Anniversario Homage, Guarneri
multichannel outputs (up to 7.1), oak trim. Complete and boxed, collects from Stockport, Cheshire. Memento, Amati Futura, Guarneri
balanced stereo outputs. Demo comes with custom oak and Tel: 0161 368 5549 Evolution or Serafino Tradition
available on request. Buyer collects chromed feet. Excellent condition. in red. Speakers must be in mint
from Cambridge, UK. Offers from Info/pics available. Buyer must condition. Tel: 01269 595271
£799. Tel: 07967 978854. Email: collect. £2000. Email: taffmon@
[email protected] hotmail.com. Tel: 07810 825673 PLACING AN ADVERTISEMENT IN THE HI-FI NEWS CLASSIFIEDS SECTION
MARANTZ SA-7S1 SACD player. REL Stampede subwoofer, cherry Fill in your advertisement copy here...
Please write the product category number that best suits your equipment in the
Owned from new, complete with veneer, vgc, all leads, £250. first square. The product categories are: 1 – Accessories; 2 – Amps; 3 – Cables;
remote, manual, accessories, Tel: 07986 003422 4 – CD/DVD players; 5 – DACS; 6 – Software (CDs, records etc.); 7 – Speakers; 8 –
receipts and original packaging. In Tuners; 9 – Turntables; 11 – Complete Systems; 12 – Miscellaneous; 13 – Wanted
absolutely mint condition with very 8. TUNERS
low usage as a secondary player. We will insert the telephone number you want to appear in your advertisement(s)
£1250. Email: [email protected]. MYRYAD MXT 2000 FM tuner, as many times as is needed. You only need to fill it in once and it only counts as
Tel: 07971 563212 one word – even if you run multiple adverts.
mint condition. Brushed silver livery.
ESOTERIC K-01X CD/SACD Super reception and used by me Tel (to appear in advert):
from new. Comes with a handset
player, perfect condition, very little and user manual. £400 ono. Please post this completed coupon to Hi-Fi News magazine, AVTech Media Ltd, Suite 25,
use, boxed with all accessories Tel: 01483 472650 Eden House, Enterprise Way, Edenbridge, TN8 6HF, or email your advert to letters@hifinews.
and manuals. Pictures and com. Hi-Fi News accepts no responsibility for description or condition of items advertised.
demonstration on request, £8250 TECHNICS ST-8080 FM/AM
ovno. Email: neilpage37@yahoo.
com. Tel: 07516 506639 tuner. Black, good cosmetic
condition for its age and sounds
super, £75 ono. Tel: 07985 975546
184 | www.hifinews.co.uk | YEARBOOK 2021
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LAST WORD
OFF THE costs a bundle, but it deserves hearing, as
does Soundsmith’s phenomenal strain-gauge
LEASH! system [see p41]. Thorens knocked me out
with two products at either end of the price
KEN KESSLER TELLS IT LIKE IT IS... sector, the MM-008 £299 phono stage [see
p47] and the reborn TD 124 [see p42].
Ken Kessler would
give a special analogue But the past 12 months weren’t all about
award to Pro-Ject but has analogue, and I am still reeling from the
revelled in new CD boxes revelation that is the KEF LS50 Meta [see
p99], a new reference in small, standmount
W ho’d have thought COVID-19 Prize. It has already won an EISA Award, but speakers. Again, this is a must-hear.
would affect us two years in a the Debut PRO [see p39] is a major tweak to
row? Or that it would put all the company’s signature product, presented I won’t mention products I discovered in
the world’s hi-fi shows on hold, with a proprietary version of an Ortofon 2M 2021 which are not present in the UK –
suffice it to say that there was no shortage
or that manufacturers would only be able to cartridge, creating a new standard at £699. of exciting new hardware from every
territory. There are so many new goodies
launch new products ‘virtually’? But there Anyone who knows me – either as a from Eastern Europe to hear that the delay
of the incredible Warsaw high-end show
has been an upside for the hi-fi industry: reader or face-to-face – is aware that I refuse until 2022 is doubly painful.
whether the discovering of a bit of spare to play the ‘This is the best in the world’ BONANZA BOXES
cash, due to not spending on travel, dining game because one man’s Ferrari is another’s Probably the biggest trend of relevance to
HFN readers is the continued issuing of
out or other distractions, or simply out of Lamborghini. There isn’t a single category in mind-boggling box sets. Both vinyl and CD
(the latter recalling Mark Twain’s remark that
curiosity, many enthusiasts have upgraded hi-fi where there is but one ultimate victor. ‘reports of his death are premature’) hosted
multi-disc expansions of classic albums to
their systems as a result of more time spent Thus I’m not saying the Debut PRO is the mark their half-centuries, and boxes
containing partial or whole catalogues.
listening without distractions. only deck to consider in this sector, so please
Among the best were The Band’s Stage
don’t take my respect for it as some excuse Fright occupying two CDs, a Blu-ray, an LP
and a 7in single; The Kinks’ Lola Versus
WINNING DEBUT not to consider anything else. Powerman And The Moneygoround Part 1,
requiring three CDs with two singles; The
How did I spend my down-time? Same as I am, and always have been, pro-choice Replacements’ Pleased To Meet Me, filling
three CDs and an LP; The Who Sell Out,
ever, but with more attention paid to when it comes to audio gear. I maintain tipping the scales with five CDs and two
singles. And, perhaps best of all: Crosby,
forgotten LPs, the further curating of my undiminished regard for Rega and Thorens, Stills, Nash & Young’s Déjà Vu with a
remastered LP and extras over four CDs
open-reel tape acquisitions to name but two with [see pages 156 and 157 for reviews].
(800 more to go…) and the ‘There is sub-£1000 turntables. I Box of the year? If you regard Joni
digging out of components I something think the original Rega Mitchell as the songwriter’s songwriter, the
hadn’t fired up in ages, such near magical Planar 2 is a peerless sheer scholastic brilliance of Archives
as my old McIntosh MC275. I milestone, and I have Volume 1 and its five CDs of rare early
had forgotten quite what an owned more Thorens decks material raise the bar so high that the only
effort to which it can be compared is The
astonishing power amplifier than those of any other Beatles’ Anthology of 1995. Considering
make, during my 53 years that 2020 was its 25th anniversary, I’m
about the PRO’it is – indeed, I would love to staggered Apple didn’t make us buy it all
over again, with irresistible bonus material.
hear that circa-1989 example as an audio casualty. But But let’s wait and see what Peter Jackson’s
revamped Let It Be yields for box sets…
against a 1960s original and the current, there is something almost magical about the
green-lit ‘Gen 6’ iteration. So that’s a goal of Debut PRO, not least how the new tonearm
mine for 2022. And I know exactly who has could handle a cartridge costing ten times
a mint ‘Gen 1’ to lend… the price of the entire package.
New components that knocked me out AVID dazzled me with the £4000 Boron
during lockdown were numerous, but special moving-coil cartridge in April [see p32], and
mention goes to affordable stuff rather than in the February issue we reviewed DS Audio’s
dreamware. If I awarded ‘Products of the new cost-no-object reference cartridge, the
Year’ honours, Pro-Ject would take the Grand astounding Grand Master [see p33]. Yes, it
DecIssue EXCLUSIVE TESTS: PLUS:
î îdarTZeel NHB-18NS/NHB-468 amplifiers Vintage Review: Hitachi HT-L70 turntable
î îParadigm Founder 120H floorstanders
on sale19NOVth î FerrumOORheadphoneamplifier Investigation: Xmas boxset bonanza!
î Behind the scenes: Ardent Studios, Memphis
î AVM Inspiration CS 2.3 all-in-one î From The Vault: We crack open HFN’s archive
î îManley Chinook all-tube phono preamp
Vinyl Icon: George Michael’s Faith
186 | www.hifinews.co.uk | YEARBOOK 2021
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