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SACD

(e.s.t.) Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Viaticum (2005) [SACD / ACT – ACTSACD 9801-2]

adminOctober 30, 2025 82 Views

Title: (e.s.t.) Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Viaticum (2005)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

As Esbjörn Svensson’s trio has developed into a first-rate contemporary jazz entity, the combined acoustic-electric sound he employs is more alluring and arresting with each recording. The subtle nuances of amplified keyboard shades that embellish his piano playing is a unique quality of E.S.T.’s music that sets them apart from the vast majority of combos who place a larger value on louder complements. Another aspect of this group is that they are truly a working ensemble with stable personnel, as bassist Dan Berglund and drummer Magnus Öström have joined Svensson in this trio for years. The meditative and surrealistic quality of this music is hard to deny or dismiss, as it is so refined and defined within a spiritual parameter — unique unto itself, and beyond most modern categories. While the titles are elusively cryptic, they can shed some light on the musical content. “Tide of Trepidation” aligns itself to the ECM/Bobo Stenson school of piano thought, a mysterious type of composition with underlying, echoed electronic washes lapping up the melody. “In the Tail of Her Eye” is undoubtedly a slow, 4/4 song of brokenhearted regret, “What Though the Way May Be Long” is a poetic discourse on unseen destiny lying ahead, and “The Unstable Table & the Infamous Fable” intimates a film noir spy scene in its cinematic anticipation of held tension. Less inanimate, “Eighty Eight Days in My Veins” is cast via a shuffle mode in 6/8 time, more driven and chiming with a two-note contrapuntal buzzing insert. The slightly bouncing or bumpy modified tango line of “The Well Wisher” is very light on its feet, in a style that could be a cousin of Keith Jarrett. The most compelling track is “A Picture of Doris Travelling with Boris,” as the trio conjures up an aural visage of sleepwalking movement or late-night paranormal mean streets with a sheen of electric light guiding the way. E.S.T.’s music is for specific tastes, but seems to have found common ground with fantasy imagineers, the baby boomer ECM crowd, and youth searching for parallels to the Bad Plus or Brad Mehldau. Viaticum is a successful effort, a progression from their previous efforts, and in many ways a new pathway to the future without relying on black holes.

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3 min read

SACD

E. Power Biggs – Rheinberger: Two Concertos for Organ & Orchestra (1973) [Reissue 2017] [SACD / Dutton Epoch – CDLX 7334]

adminOctober 30, 2025 112 Views

Title: E. Power Biggs – Rheinberger: Two Concertos for Organ & Orchestra (1973) [Reissue 2017]
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

This splendid Dutton SACD, licensed from Sony, contains two organ concertos by Joseph Rheinberger. The concertos are among the finest ever composed for this instrument. Rheinberer included brass soloists and timpani as well as an orchestra. E. Power Biggs is featured along with the Columbia Symphony directed by Maurice Peress, recorded in St. George’s Episcopal Church in New York November 28-29, 1973 on the grand Möller organ. For this reissue, the producers used great imagination taking full advantage of the four channels, separating the instruments most effectively. The equipment indicates that this is a 5.1 recording, which seems rather odd as this was a four-track recording. At any rate, the result is a treat for those who care about quality sound, a thrilling audio experience.

hraudio | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Dylan van der Schyff – The Definition Of A Toy (2005) [SACD / Songlines Recordings – SGL SA1554-2]

adminOctober 26, 2025 118 Views

Title: Dylan van der Schyff – The Definition Of A Toy (2005)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This Canadian/American/European collaboration is the brainchild of Vancouver drummer Dylan van der Schyff who formed the group, brought it together and thoughtfully sequenced the album. An excellent recording accentuates the music’s colours and moods. Each of the performers, apart from van der Schyff, contributes a substantial composition or two to this 2005 release, resulting in a diverse yet complementary range of modern jazz styles and free playing. With only one day of rehearsal, the collective depth of the musicianship is evident throughout in the soloing and group dynamic.

This set had me worried. Some of the group improvising is so sparse and meandering that it almost sounds as if the musicians are lost, or too shy to play much. However, just when one is ready to give up on this project as a lost effort, one of the musicians gets the momentum flowing and the others follow with their own comments. By the time the quintet performs the closing “Broken,” the music makes perfect sense and has plenty of forward momentum. The musicians, best known of which are clarinetist Michael Moore and bassist Mark Helias, are all excellent and intuitive. Although they have been involved in more rewarding projects through the years, The Definition of a Toy by its conclusion has logical development. It just takes a long time to get to the point!

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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2 min read

SACD

Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan – Dvorák: Cello Concerto – Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (1968/2012) [SACD / Universal (Japan) – UCGG-9045]

adminOctober 26, 2025 89 Views

Title: Mstislav Rostropovich, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan – Dvorák: Cello Concerto – Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (1968/2012)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

This timeless masterpiece, which swept the world’s major recording awards—Germany’s Schallplattenpreis, France’s Grand Prix du Disque, and Japan’s Record Academy Award—can be declared Rostropovich’s greatest performance.

hraudio | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 “New World” and other orchestral masterworks (2005) [SACD / Living Stereo – 82876663762]

adminOctober 26, 2025 97 Views

Title: Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 “New World” and other orchestral masterworks (2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This performance exemplifies the magic that occurs when a perfect symbiosis is achieved between a music director and orchestra. Nothing sounds forced or contrived, and when Reiner takes some slightly unusual tempo liberties in the Largo the performers seem to innately understand his intent and everything flows and makes perfect sense. Reiner emphasizes the minor/major key changes in the Scherzo to brilliant effect, and the 4th movement dazzles with energy and virtuosity. The Carnival Overture, Smettena and Weinberger are lovely surprise ornaments to a must-have Symphony No. 9. The multitrack transfer reflects the 3-mike original recording (left, center and right channels only) and does not add engineering to a splendid recording. This disc is like a time machine bringing the listener back to a main floor center seat a Orchestra Hall. The strings reveal their wooden resonance, and you can hear the buzz of string on frets during the bass pizzicato passages. That said, we are talking about 1950’s recording technology and I have heard more detailed SACDs. Still, the difference between the CD and SACD multichannel layers is not subtle. I’ve known and loved the Solti/CSO “New World” recording for years; it is now relegated to the re-gifting pile. If you are a Dvorak fan, buy this disc. ~sa-cd.net

hraudio | discogs

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2 min read

SACD

Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay – Dvořák: Symphony No. 9; Smetana: Vltava; Kodály: Hary Janos Suite (2020) [SACD / Tower Universal Vintage – PROC-2267]

adminOctober 26, 2025 80 Views

Title: Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay – Dvořák: Symphony No. 9; Smetana: Vltava; Kodály: Hary Janos Suite (1959-1961/2020)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

Furichai’s iconic masterpiece. Overwhelming with its fierce intensity, “New World” and others are newly mastered from the original analog master tapes in Germany for the world’s first SA-CD release! Superb recording. Newly mastered in Germany from the original analog master tapes. This golden combination album pairs Furtwängler’s definitive DG recording of the “New World Symphony” with his equally masterful “Moldau,” also conducted with the Berlin Philharmonic, and Kodály’s “János Károlyi Suite,” one of the composer’s major works which Furtwängler championed with extraordinary passion throughout his life, alongside Bartók. The 1959 recording of the “New World” Symphony showcases the Berlin Philharmonic’s formidable power with its low center of gravity, combined with Furtwängler’s exceptional sense of tempo and masterful transitions. Beyond just this recording, one feels the tremendous intensity poured into the performance. It is a compelling interpretation that stands out among the many recordings, and even 60 years after its release, it remains a masterpiece worthy of the forefront. The Moldau begins at a brisk tempo, with the middle section offering a sense of liberation rich with lingering resonance and a flowing tempo that is truly outstanding. As seen in rehearsal footage, the meticulous direction and the orchestra’s ability to respond to it make this a rare masterpiece. While this piece is often performed separately and many recordings exist, this performance is also one that captures the essence of Fricsay. Furthermore, Kodály’s representative orchestral work, the suite “Háry János,” is nothing short of definitive in this recording. Though made just seven years after the first recording in 1954, this re-recording—despite the difference between stereo and mono—paints Kodály’s world with even greater intensity. His approach to music, emphasizing universal musicality over excessive nationalism, undoubtedly results in performances that satisfy many listeners. Moreover, this recording was made just two months before Fricsay abandoned his conducting career, making it one of his final recordings, a fact that lends it profound significance.

The DG recordings from that era possess a robust, almost rugged thickness with a solid foundation. Yet, thanks to high-resolution remastering, the soundstage has become sharper and the ambient sound richer, allowing one to feel the atmosphere and passion of that time. As these are highly regarded, important recordings, both the “New World” and “Moldau” were previously released on Blu-ray Audio. However, this time they have been remastered from the original analog master tapes in the country of origin, digitally converted to 192kHz/24bit, and given the latest mastering, allowing for an even more detailed sound. Furthermore, the recording technology for the “Hary János” suite had advanced even further, achieving a quality that holds up remarkably well even when listened to today. For this reissue, we traced back to the original analog master tapes from the country of origin and performed high-quality digitization. Using the highest-grade flat master tape, not just for this release, has yielded an exceptionally strong presence. Texture and spatial positioning have become astonishingly clear and distinct, combined with the benefits of DSD conversion to reproduce unprecedentedly superb sound quality. For this release, the original analog master tapes from the country of origin underwent physical maintenance and restoration before being digitized at high resolution (192/24 PCM). Mastering was then meticulously performed over an extended period at Berlin’s Emil Berliner Studios by the label’s dedicated engineer, following a detailed process specifically for this series. The SA-CD layer delivers the high-definition master sound. The CD layer also features the latest digitization and mastering, setting it apart from the sound quality of previous releases. This series adopts the original jacket design and includes a new introductory essay by Kotaro Yamazaki. This 21st installment of the “Vintage SA-CD Collection” will release a total of three titles.

hraudio | discogs

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4 min read

SACD

Dusty Springfield – Dusty In Memphis (1969) [Analogue Productions Remaster 2013] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CAPP 8214 SA]

adminOctober 26, 2025 104 Views

Title: Dusty Springfield – Dusty In Memphis (1969) [Analogue Productions Remaster 2013]
Genre: Pop Rock, Soul
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Sometimes memories distort or inflate the quality of recordings deemed legendary, but in the case of Dusty in Memphis, the years have only strengthened its reputation. The idea of taking England’s reigning female soul queen to the home of the music she had mastered was an inspired one. The Jerry Wexler/Tom Dowd/Arif Mardin production and engineering team picked mostly perfect songs, and those that weren’t so great were salvaged by Springfield’s marvelous delivery and technique. This set has definitive numbers in “So Much Love,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” “Breakfast in Bed,” “Just One Smile,” “I Don’t Want to Hear About It Anymore,” and “Just a Little Lovin’” and three bonus tracks: an unreleased version of “What Do You Do When Love Dies,” “Willie & Laura Mae Jones” and “That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-De-Ho).” It’s truly a disc deserving of its classic status.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Duran Duran – Astronaut (2004) [SACD / Epic – 82876761752]

adminOctober 26, 2025 94 Views

Title: Duran Duran – Astronaut (2004)
Genre: Rock, Synth-pop
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

“It’s like the Mamas & the Papas meets Kraftwerk.” This line, more baffling than a lyric like “Shake up the picture, the lizard mixture, with your dance on the eventide,” is how Simon LeBon described Astronaut to Rolling Stone. If it was meant to lower expectations of the first Duran Duran album to feature the Fab Five (meaning LeBon, Nick Rhodes, and the trio of unrelated Taylors) since Seven and the Ragged Tiger, it worked. Astronaut, rest assured, sounds nothing like that match made in hell. Instead, it resembles what the average lapsed Durannie might expect or even hope for — a modern-sounding mixture of extroverted dance-pop and rock, with a couple of relatively subdued and introverted moments. No sound seems forced, and you can tell that the members are thrilled to be in the same studio with one another. Despite a disparate lineup of producers, including Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne) and Dallas Austin (Boyz II Men, Janet Jackson, Pink), the songs slide into one another as well as they do on any of the group’s early albums. The big, glossy, buoyant songs work best, containing punching choruses and sleekly raucous motifs that manage to trigger faint memories without sounding recycled. The lighthearted mid-tempo funk of “Bedroom Toys,” however, is a randy nightmare that’s almost as awkward as any of the covers on Thank You. Even with a handful of forgettable songs beyond that, the album is easily the best one credited to the Duran Duran name since 1993’s Wedding Album. That’s not saying much, but the fact that these five fortysomethings have made something fresh and contemporary — without acknowledging the ’80s revival(s) — is a feat of some kind.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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2 min read

SACD

Duke Ellington – Supreme Jazz (2006) [SACD / Supreme Jazz – 223261-207]

adminOctober 26, 2025 115 Views

Title: Duke Ellington – Supreme Jazz (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Duke Ellington was the most important composer in the history of jazz as well as being a bandleader who held his large group together continuously for almost 50 years. The two aspects of his career were related; Ellington used his band as a musical laboratory for his new compositions and shaped his writing specifically to showcase the talents of his bandmembers, many of whom remained with him for long periods. Ellington also wrote film scores and stage musicals, and several of his instrumental works were adapted into songs that became standards. In addition to touring year in and year out, he recorded extensively, resulting in a gigantic body of work that was still being assessed a quarter century after his death.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane – Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1962) [Analogue Productions 2010] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CIPJ 30 SA]

adminOctober 26, 2025 85 Views

Title: Duke Ellington & John Coltrane – Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1962) [Analogue Productions 2010]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

For this classic encounter, Duke Ellington “sat in” with the John Coltrane Quartet for a set dominated by Ellington’s songs; some performances have his usual sidemen (bassist Aaron Bell and drummer Sam Woodyard) replacing Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones in the group. Although it would have been preferable to hear Coltrane play in the Duke Ellington orchestra instead of the other way around, the results are quite rewarding. Their version of “In a Sentimental Mood” is a high point, and such numbers as “Take the Coltrane,” “Big Nick,” and “My Little Brown Book” are quite memorable. Ellington always recognized talent, and Coltrane seemed quite happy to be recording with a fellow genius.

hraudio | allmusic | discogs

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1 min read