Speaking of Hiromi, another great album is Voice:
Great piano presence on this recording, lovely separation among instruments and clear/airy soundstage. Another great production by Michael Bishop from Telarc.
2 Likes
One of my favourite albums for evaluating equipment is Tanita Tikaram’s debut “Ancient Heart” on vinyl. It was never issued as an audiophile recording, but it just always was a beautifully produced and engineered record full of great tunes, atmospheric lyrics and superb percussion work. I bought it on its release in 1987 on vinyl and it’s one of those albums that just doesn’t have a single bad track - they’re all great, from the moody “Cathedral song” to the peppy and bouncy “sighing Innocents” which will really show you if your system can boogie…
I took a copy over to Ajay Shirke’s place when we had an afternoon of music listening on his incredible system and he adored it, so I tracked down a nice secondhand copy and sent it to him. In fact everybody I play it to seems to fall in love with it… I’ve ended up buying about three friends copies after playing it to them!
Better still it’s dirt cheap for some reason - even on vinyl…
JonathanG
16 Likes
Pat Metheny is my favourite musician. But I always find his recordings somewhat veiled, especially his latest albums. His ECM stuff was better recorded I think.
Metheny I believe is better seen live. None of his records live up to a live show. I try to catch him every year when he comes to Italy.
I have a splendid Hiromi solo album. What a player. Chick Corea’s trio albums are great recordings, as well as great music.
2 Likes
The CD sounds pretty good too.
2 Likes
Spectrum? That sounds very good too.
I’m just waiting to get Metheny’s last 2 albums, I wonder how they will sound
This recording with Corea, Patitucci and Weckl feels pretty airy and natural, very nice soundstage. The concert is great too.
3 Likes
I was sarcastic. I too find no interest in her boring music. But generally, in this kind of thread, she is cited to death.
1 Like
Ah yes, have used the CD version of Ancient heart (long since ripped) when auditioning. Pretty good SQ.
2 Likes
Just three recent albums that sound good.
John Patitucci: Spirit Fall
This one really makes my Lehmann Audio Drachenfels head amp and Senheisser HD800S headphones sound amazing. Who said the HD800S cannot do bass.
Cassandra Wilson: Blue Light 'Til Dawn.
Wadada Leo Smith: Najwa
3 Likes
TT is very under-appreciated, one of my faves is Consider the Rain from The Sweet Keeper which I believe has Sonny Landreth on bottleneck guitar.
1 Like
“We Get Requests” is a musical masterpiece and I never tire of hearing it and it’s a go to for deciding whether a system is “on song”. If you haven’t already check out the HDTT version in DSD - absolutely sublime and as analogue as digital get, IMO of course.
4 Likes
I’m too young for Sinatra really, but when I heard Sinatra at The Sands I understood.
2 Likes
This made in Japan one (LIM K2HD) is also a very nice sounding CD, but OOP. Unfortunately the prices I see on Discogs for the NM ones are a little shocking to me!
5 Likes
Thanks glos_olly I will certainly check that out… I see she has a new album out actually practically this week I think…
Always an interesting artist, although I have found her other albums to lack the melodic brilliance of her debut… I have the same problem with Kate Bush, I adore her 1st album because there isn’t a bad track, all her other albums feel like they are a third touched by genius and two thirds a bit of a dirge!
JonathanG
Braiding the Stories by Gaahls Wyrd
Thanks @Taake I hadn’t heard this before. I was only listening via Qobuz Webplayer but I liked it a lot.
1 Like
It’s really good. Probably in my top-5 best albums of 2025.
I have to say. listening to Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit album Reunions. It really sounds superb on vinyl. It’s a fairly laid back album but the sound quality is right up there.
3 Likes
Tom Petty - Wildflowers Vinyl
The standard AAA reissue is fantastic but the new One Step is even better.
Also it’s a fantastic album.
3 Likes
Carol Duboc feat. Jeff Lorber - Restless
Punchy jazz fusion album with crisp and nice vocals, the soundstage is airy and very clear.
3 Likes
