Music Recommenditions For Audiophiles

[Lsi9]

As Max requested...

I like African music for testing sound mainly because the instruments used are different and have a wider vareity of frequency range from the exotic percussion which can be in the higher frequencies as well as the real low, to the horns exotic stringed instruments, odd self taught guitar playing and the list goes on.
Imaging on african music is usually excellent due to the amounts of instruments and varieties of sound. I get bored of listening to same music and type of music so recently I'm into world music particulary african.

For starters Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Toure w. Ry Cooder is an exellent example of the spectatcular imaging I am talking about. The stick percussion is crystal clear and will show off your system's imaging. The guitars are bright yet full and have 3-d imaging, its a classic cd
eveyone here should own.

I would also start with a compilation to get a general feel for African Music...an excellent compilation is called "The Very Best Of Africa"
Click (http://www.amazon.com/Very-Best-Africa-Various-Artists/dp/B000060P9K/sr=8-1/qid=1159398828/ref=sr_1_1/102-4007937-0852103?ie=UTF8&s=music)
It has a song by one of my favs Kanda Bongo Man, but pretty much every song in the compilation is good. These 2 two cds will get you started in the world of African music.

[madmax]

Thanks! Next order to amazon I'll pick up a few. I'm mostly into the percussion type stuff. (I think).
madmax

[Early B.]

A few months ago I purchased a CD by Ahmed Abdul-Malik called "Jazz Sounds of Africa." It is extremely well remastered, despite being originally recorded in 1962. Anyway, the CD is basically a fusion of jazz with an African flavor. Great instrumentation. Very intriguing stuff.

[Lsi9]

Latest Musical Aquisition even though it wont arrive until November, is The Doors new boxset Perception
My favorite rock band ever is getting the Dvd-A 5.1 audiophile treatment!

Here is the Amazon listing even though I ordered from cduniverse.com for much less!

http://www.amazon.com/Perception-Doors/dp/B000ILYYJE/sr=8-14/qid=1159478194/ref=sr_1_14/102-4007937-0852103?ie=UTF8&s=music

And I quote, (from Amazon "Each of the group's six albums has not only been re-remastered (this time by the remaining band members plus original engineer Bruce Botnick as the "40th anniversary mix"), but loaded up with a bevy of previously unreleased bonus tracks. But that's not it--for each album, there's a companion DVD, which includes a whole new 5.1 surround sound mix with more tracks, as well as the usual DVD extras, i.e., photo galleries, lyrics, and videos. That makes 12 discs, much of it essentially redundant. If you're cool with that, you're in for a treat. From the spookier, unissued version of "Indian Summer" to the entirely new tune "Push Push" and some super-rad footage of the band rehearsing L.A. Woman, it's easy to fall in love with this swirling, highly sexualized, and often brilliant band all over again." --Mike McGonigal

[Zero]

Awesome recommendations! Here are a few of my own;

Hui fen min - River of Sorrow (XRCD 24)

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=13312&section=

Alex De Grassi - Folk Songs of the 21st Century

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009ATK8/ref=s9_asin_image_1/002-5015963-1079248

Danny Knicely and Will Lee - Murders, Drownings, and Lost loves

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/cds/11052.php

Great selections of various folk - from traditional chinese, to modern interpretations of classic songs, to hill-music! The discs in my opinion, capture some of the purist forms of instrument timbre I've heard thus far.

[Lsi9]

That Hill Music sounds interesting, whats it like?

Edit: listening to the sample, sounds great!

[organ]

I got Dulce Pontes last week. Beautiful voice, music and excellent sound quality. I just got into world music. This is one exotic piece of work. Reference quality stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/O-Primeiro-Canto-Dulce-Pontes/dp/B00003Q4LO/sr=8-2/qid=1159483490/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-5667466-9270519?ie=UTF8&s=music

I think I'm gonna check out some of those African stuff you mentioned.

Check out the world music section of www.6moons.com for some nice music.

[Danny Tse]

Hui fen min - River of Sorrow (XRCD 24)

I will second this title, although I have it as a stereo hybrid SACD. Incidentally, the CD layer of the SACD is HDCD-encoded....I wonder how it sounds when compared to the XRCD?

I would also recommend titles from the Water Lily Acoustics label.

[jm1]

I found a reference to the Opus3 label. Someone was using their Test CD 1 for auditioning equipment. After browsing the Opus3 catalog, I decided to order the latest release of the test disc: Test CD 4 (http://www.opus3records.com/cd_samp.html).

The recording quality on the disc is amazing. The intended purpose is for testing HiFi equipment and unquestionably challenges your system to recreate the dynamics, depth and timbre of acoustic instruments. The enclosed booklet contains a brief description of what to listen for on each track (http://www.rockian.biz/opus3/op19420.htm).

If you like this type of music, I highly recommend this disc for auditioning equipment or your listening pleasure. I thoroughly enjoy this entire disc and will be looking at purchasing other catalog items in the future.

[daniel_paul_]

Try any of "Rusted Root" for the American African sound. Fast paced and high energy.

[Kenneth Swauger]

Hello JM1,
Thanks for bringing up Opus3 recordings, excellent way to learn about what makes up a good listening experience. Also recordings from the Proprius label can be used for this purpose. Very well recorded, especially Jazz at the Pawnshop.
Regards, Ken

[Lsi9]

I like this thread and would like more suggestions especially ones with HDCD, since i now have a CDP that can play these discs

[hearingimpared]

Subscribing

[Ricardo]

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[Danny Tse]

Since "River of Sorrow" was mentioned above, I would like to recommend titles from FIM (First Impression Music"). The titles, like "River of Sorrow", are often recorded simultantously directly to DSD (for release on SACD) and analog recorders (for release on audiophile LPs). Otherwise, their CDs are either encoded with HDCD and/or released as XRCD.

[hearingimpared]

Hello JM1,
Thanks for bringing up Opus3 recordings, excellent way to learn about what makes up a good listening experience. Also recordings from the Proprius label can be used for this purpose. Very well recorded, especially Jazz at the Pawnshop.
Regards, Ken


I'm glad you mentioned Jazz at the Pawnshop Ken, I've been raving about this for months. I just recently purchased the SACD version. . . incredible stuff.

[Early B.]

I'm glad you mentioned Jazz at the Pawnshop Ken, I've been raving about this for months.

I picked up a copy of this one, too. Excellent recording. Among the best I've heard.

[hearingimpared]

I picked up a copy of this one, too. Excellent recording. Among the best I've heard.

EB which version did you pick up; JATP vol1, the double CD set, the double LP set, or the double SACD set?

[Early B.]

EB which version did you pick up; JATP vol1, the double CD set, the double LP set, or the double SACD set?

Double CD set.

[hearingimpared]

Double CD set.

Great snag. . . listen to the audience, you will feel you are in it.

[Jim Shearer]

Speaking of percussive music....
I was listening to Jim Svade's "The Record Shelf" a couple weeks ago & heard a piece by Gareth Farr, a composer from New Zealand. 'From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs' from his CD Gareth Farr: Orchestral Music, issued in 1998. Label: Mam Records; ASIN: B00000DGXR. Can't seem to find a copy of it any where. If anyone knows where to get this, I'd appreciate your letting me know.

Thanks, Jim

[Lsi9]

Ive been listening to some Taj Mahal tonight, Senor Blues...his cds have excellent sound with lush full bass and sparkly highs

[hearingimpared]

Ive been listening to some Taj Mahal tonight, Senor Blues...his cds have excellent sound with lush full bass and sparkly highs

I saw him in concert several times in the 70s. He's a very cool dude. I would love to acquire some of his stuff on CD.

[Deadof_knight]

The first 30 seconds of take me to the top by loverboy is killer keyboard