Kind of black mirror magic

an impression of music that goes bump in the night

Ryuichi Sakamoto: soundtrack to Black Mirror: Smithereens

Record Store Day release in 2019

As we continue to break in and evaluate the system of life as it falls apart to smithereens.

More nightmusic as Ryuichi Sakamoto’s sombre electronic contribution to the world of Black Mirror as it rotates through the world of darkness.

Little chapters that add up to a whole lot of creepiness. As ominous and eery a soundtrack for a stormy nocturne.

(this evaluation is part of a 100 hour process of “running in” a pair of Dali Oberon 7 speakers and a Shure m97xe cartridge paired with a N97ED stylus on a Technics SL-Q2 direct drive turntable. No rhyme or reason except semi-automatic is handy in the darkness.)

Kind of Köln

a few impressions on music

Recorded live at the opera in Köln, Germany, January 24, 1975.
Reissue in SHM-SACD format for the first time. Uses the DSD master produced by ECM Records (Germany) in 2017.

SHM-SACD discs are fully compatible with standard Super Audio CD players, but they do not play on regular CD players. Features DSD mastering. Universal. 2021.



1. KÖLN, January 24, 1975 Part I 26:15
2. KÖLN, January 24, 1975 Part II a 15:00
3. KÖLN, January 24, 1975 Part II B 19:19
4. KÖLN, January 24, 1975 Part II C 6:59


i myself have the original of this historical concert from the ECM label on vinyl. The classic ECM recording. Keith Jarrett as his own self-accompaniment, complete with foot stomps and little guttural verbalisations as he digs into the piano and reacts to his music. Modern free range explorations in the classical and jazz range. Ready to play a million notes a minute. The audience is drawn into a submersive experience of piano.

Kind of cool on a beach – Getz / Gilberto

The classic of the cool generation.

Getz / Gilberto


Getz Gilberto

Stan Getz on tenor sax
João Gilberto, singer songwriter and guitar
Antonio Carlos Joabim on piano
Tommy Williams on bass
Milton Banana on drums
Astrud Gilberto on vocals

Verve Records

 

1   The Girl From Ipanema

 

Vocals – Astrud Gilberto
 5:22
2   Doralice 2:43
3   Para Machucar Meu Coração 5:04
4   Desafinado (Off Key) 4:12
5   Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars) 4:13
6   Só Danço Samba 3:43
7   O Grande Amor 5:25
8   Vivo Sohando (Dreamer) 2:54
9   The Girl From Ipanema (45 RPM Issue) 2:46
10   Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars) (45 RPM Issue) 2:20

I personally own a few copies of this album on vinyl, regular black vinyl, stereo, mono. Two versions of this album exist on Super Audio CD ( S A C D ), on either, the recording comes to life. This listened to copy is the single layer SACD with the two 45 single versions of Girl from Ipanema.

“Antonio Carlos Jobim, considered as the primary force behind the creation of the Bossa Nova style of Brazilian music, his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists, both within Brazil and across the world.” 
The Girl From Ipanema starts off with the guitar and quiet vocal sung in its own inimitable way. Enter Astrud Gilberto and the English lyrics.

 

Kind of mono – part 3

Julie London – SHM-5401

Cool and elegant. Earth(a) kitt and sensual.

By sheer happenstance as we reflect upon a case of mono recordings, Julie London turned up at the top of the stack of vinyl.
Julie London on Sunset Records SUM-5104

A1LauraWritten-By – Raksin*, Mercer*Written-By – Raksin*, Mercer*1:37
A2In The Middle Of A KissWritten-By – Coslow*Written-By – Coslow*2:40
A3I’m In The Mood For LoveWritten-By – McHugh/Fields*Written-By – McHugh/Fields*2:28
A4That Old FeelingWritten-By – Brown*, Fain*Written-By – Brown*, Fain*2:35
A5My Love, My LoveWritten-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*Written-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*2:38
B1Baby Come HomeWritten-By – Troup*, Rowles*Written-By – Troup*, Rowles*2:40
B2Tain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That Cha Do It)Written-By – Oliver*, Young*Written-By – Oliver*, Young*2:05
B3Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come HomeWritten-By – Cannon*Written-By – Cannon*2:05
B4Spring Is HereWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:05
B5Blue MoonWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:20

Companies, etc.

Credits

Other Versions (5 of 7)View All

A1LauraWritten-By – Raksin*, Mercer*Written-By – Raksin*, Mercer*1:37
A2In The Middle Of A KissWritten-By – Coslow*Written-By – Coslow*2:40
A3I’m In The Mood For LoveWritten-By – McHugh/Fields*Written-By – McHugh/Fields*2:28
A4That Old FeelingWritten-By – Brown*, Fain*Written-By – Brown*, Fain*2:35
A5My Love, My LoveWritten-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*Written-By – Haymes*, Acquaviva*2:38
B1Baby Come HomeWritten-By – Troup*, Rowles*Written-By – Troup*, Rowles*2:40
B2Tain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That Cha Do It)Written-By – Oliver*, Young*Written-By – Oliver*, Young*2:05
B3Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come HomeWritten-By – Cannon*Written-By – Cannon*2:05
B4Spring Is HereWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:05
B5Blue MoonWritten-By – Rodgers/Hart*Written-By – Rodgers/Hart*2:20

Companies, etc.

Credits



Kind of mono part deux



A series of reflections on music or records

This is Kind of mono Part Two

Part One is dedicated to a listening of the pressing of Kind of Blue Columbia that was released on blue vinyl Columbia – CS 8163. However, life sometimes kind of throws you a bowl of spaghetti at you, so you dodge.

Sitting here in the dark with Brothers In Arms (20th Anniversary Edition) SACD playing. Who in this current century is still purchasing a SACD player or searching for actual Super Audio CD? Although it may be deemed a dead format by someone who is in the game told me, nonetheless the thought of having the perfect rendition of a favourite record spinning in the night is enticing. With the Denon DVD-3910 universal DVD player — the Swiss army knife able to play a whole host of DVD and CD formats and surfaces — the atmospheric soundscape of ths album transports the listener into the clouds with its sharp and shiny production.

Starting with So Far Away, the SACD is an ideal format for Mark Knopfler’s guitars and gruff expressive voice all the way to the last track of Brothers In Arms and the feel of tight bass elements with the drums sitting just right into the mix. The single track Money for Nothing absolutely showcases the dynamics of the production and wha is possible on SACD. Then there is the jaunty Walk of Life. Even in this age of the re-emergence of vinyl as a desired item to possess and play, this Mobile Fidelity SACD from 2005 would fit into your collection and with its hybrid format, it would play in the normal listener’s CD player. Considering the price of the Mobile Fidelity vinyl version of Brothers In Arms, the MoFI SACD is quite affordable.

As a novel listening experience in this era. Listening to an actual SACD in your own private listening room in Future Shop on a comfortable couch. Recommended.

A case of mono

A series of reflections on music or records

With the recent RSD 2021 release  Chet Baker Sings, the trumpeter gets to feature his singing voice. The feature of the release is it is in mono. Being in mono actually brings this recording to life.

Listening to it is a pleasure and being a stereo or audiophile nut (albeit without the budget) means the resurrection of the Connoisseur BD-1 belt drive turntable that was built by the experts at Ring Audio. The assembly kit was placed on a solid piece of wood that was anti-vibration. Drilled in place beside the platter is the original classic SME 3009 tonearm. Chosen for its characteristics to accompany the tonearm is the Nagaoka MP-10 cartridge, a Japanese cartridge that for its time was expensive. Fortunately, the MP-10 cartridge still works with the new generation of its brand of stylus options. The MP-110 replacement stylus represents an upgrade over what would have been its new MP-100 counterpart.

Together, the Nagaoka combination sounds like a dream, accurate and bringing out detail in the mid-range. The high end rings and the bass is present.

That it is from the original mono tapes acutally brings this recording to life. Keeping it in mono makes it sound less processed. With eyes closed, the image of Chet Baker Sings rings true centre.