Qobuz. HR. Having stroked off Ms. Du Pre and Delius, I then had to check out her Elgar. Much better than the Delius, but as an Englishman Elgar is programmed into my DNA. I even enjoyed the Sea Pictures, since Ms. Baker is a contralto and thus relatively screech-free. Do not be fooled by the HR; this is a recording from 1964 and the sound is acceptable but not exceptional.
4 Likes
10 Likes
7 Likes
7 Likes
4 Likes
6 Likes
Anecdote alert -
in the early 2000s I was being driven home by a project manager, we’d just finished some or other IT upgrade, and were both somewhat sleepy.
PM put this CD on, very loud, to keep us awake.
It is of course a soundtrack, with a variety of upbeat tunes and interesting sounds, and one track in particular impressed me very much: Marilyn Manson’s “This Is The New Schitt”. Not so much for it’s musicality (hint, there isn’t a huge amount, though it is a fascinating aural experience), as for the first time I had really heard (and felt the power of) that style of singing that sounds like a guttural growl pitch shifted up an octave or two*.
Mr. Manson is of course currently being exposed as a likely abuser (similar to Trent Reznor a couple of years ago and the two are linked) and I’m not recommending his material, as this is the only track of his I really know.
The Second time was when I was dragged to see a local gig of a tribute band calling themselves “MegaDeaf” - which was an amusing enough Tribute name to make me say “yes” when asked.
They were, as you might expect, very loud and shrieky, but they had a support band who had a female singer, who also did a similar thing: Gentle sweet verse lyrics, followed by that speeded-up-guttural-growl on choruses, and the contrast was quite startling, such was the quality of her gentle singing.
I seem to be rambling, must be time for a nap!
* Or, in the case of Doom Metal, guttural sounds not speeded up at all.
Most of the proponents of which seem to be perpetually lost in Norwegian forests, if their photo-shoots are anything to go by.
They take their Doom Metal very seriously in Norway - Murder and church burnings and all…
4 Likes
Love this Chris Bell album. He was with Big Star and died at a very young age (27 club I think).
Just shy of 27 what a shame:
Born: January 12, 1951, Memphis, TN
Died: December 27, 1978, Memphis, TN
4 Likes