CD Reviews

[Vinothan]

Probably hip hop songs are the best to test the subwooferz. my fav would be 50 cent songs. 'Just a lil bit' is the best song!

[Slidingturtle]

Incidentally, shunza, just released a english album titled "Songs for Lovers". which is a collection of love songs from 'smooth operator' to 'my funny valentine'. A largely jazz based album, u get lots of deep bass guitars, which i like my fav in the album are "lex Yeux ouverts' and 'feel like making love'

 

Personally, shunzi is one of the female vocals that i like a lot, as i find her voice has a smoothness that at the same time has a deepness/richness that i love. She does jazz pieces pretty well too. My most loved song of hers is 'hui-jia' and 'xie-yi-shou-ge April 5, 1969'.

 

[sorry my chinese fonts simple refused to work today...]

Edited March 5, 2006 by Slidingturtle

[Sarong1]

Dearest all, I will be doing a series of CD reviews in the days to come. What I have on hand which my ICE bros have generously passed and shared with me will be reviewed right here. So, before you decide to splurge your money on CDs, why not watch out for the CD reviews to come before investing your money on "worth to keep and listen" CDs.

 

What I do have on my tables are genre that dwells very much on sound quality (SQ) as follows...

 

Chinese pop (3 titles) For eg "Ms Chen"'s Vol 2, some "Ducklings" and satu lagi...

Jazz (1 title)

Classical (1 title, depending on my work schedule and family committment)

 

I will also share with you the ICE system I have audited the CDs for more knowledge transfer. In this manner, CD reviews will not be that dry anymore.

 

Of course, each CD review will be done on two broad types of ICE setup i.e. ICE with TA and ICE without TA.

 

I will also share with you what I think are pertinent areas to listen out for so that each and everyone of you can perhaps start to prep yourself for some ICE competition round the corner.

 

Meanwhile, be patient and stay tune...God bless everyone.

Edited March 9, 2006 by Sarong1

[Kermit]

Let's not waste anymore time. I'll start the ball rolling with the first of the series...and my first CD review.

 

CD Title : Hua Yan Qiao Yu

Artist: Lily Chen Jie Li

No. of tracks: 13

Language: Mandarin/Cantonese

Label/Format: RFS(China)/DSD/Gold Disc/Dec 2005

 

Overall

I've always been a "fan" of Lily's crystal clear voice. As with her earlier works, her voice was the main focus in the recording, clear and warm. Overall recording was clean, and simple. Throughout the CD, no more than 3 instruments are playing at the same time. Of cos, separation of instruments in the sound stage and image is given. I like the way each instrument is simply arranged, and placed at distinct positions and depth of the stage. While the songs are largely covers of earlier popular songs, 2 tracks are original works. If you belong to the 30-45 age group, you will find quite a few songs familiar, especially those sung by Tracy Huang Ying Ying...nostalgic...

 

Favourite Tracks

 

7.Hua Yan Qiao Yu - This is a remake of Tracy Huang's song, and has got to be the best track in the album as the entire album was named. Only 4 instruments in total; Piano, Nylon Classical Guitar, Steel Acoustic Guitar and Jazz Drum set. Placement of the instruments are as such (Left to Right): Nylon Classical Guitar- Jazz Drum set-Vocal-Piano-Steel Acoustic Guitar. I particular liked the depth of the piano on the right of centre, far yet distinctly clear and natural. I am also impressed with how the drums are also at the depth (left of centre) and never too overbearing. Now the most exciting part of this song is that the nylon guitar at the extreme left plays lead parts while the steel guitar at the extreme right plays rhythm parts. The overall effect is quite good. Look put for the space around Lily's voice, which I think is most well done in this track. But please bear with her English!!! I find her pitching of lower notes a bit weak too...but this track is still very sweet...

 

9.Ye Bai He Ye You Chun Tian - Another one which I like. This one was done by Lou Da You previously, and many others followed. In this version, it was made livelier, kinda bossanova feel. I must say that whoever rearranged the song has done it so well. Bassline is distinct, touching the subs range but not overwhelming. Drums are also swinging further behind with the guitar grooving nicely to the beat. Not forgeting the occasional clarinet solo. The entire ambience should be felt and its musicality should make you want to move. Another good song to drive-to on the way home...

 

10.Lian Ai Yu Gao - Nostalgic cantonese track by Danny Chen Bai Qiang. The focus of this track is her voice I think. Lily has done it with almost perfection. For those who knows what I'm saying...her voice control and projection is superb. Pitching was flawless. Of cos, this is not the only track she sings well, but I like leh...this song nice mah...

 

Ok, while I only listed these 3 tracks, the rest are also very well recorded and mixed-down. An overall enjoyable album. But when is she ever going to get her lower pitching right???

 

Rating - 4/5

Edited March 9, 2006 by Kermit

[Sarong1]

Allow me to add a bit more on Kermit's superbly done review. I think Lily's vocal belongs to the mid-high category, i.e. her vocal is not as dynamic as much as I wanted her to be, maybe because she is still young. That is probably one reason why so many boy boy and uncle likes her voice, plainly sweet and youthful. Aghhh.....

 

On her own self-composed tracks (two only), she has made it such that the notes are not too low for her to handle. So, when you think she should have gone a bit "lower" , you may be in for a bit of disappointment.

 

If your ICE is tuned nicely, you should be able to hear her breath and her lips movement. Kermit is right in that her dictation in some of the English verses are a bit weak, but blame her not, that is not her 1st language.

 

And I concur with Kermit, four stars...by the way...$13 only if you pay by cash at the CD shop in Adelphi, that's what I gathered.

 

If you have gotten her previous work, like 1.825m or melodious singing (three-some)...this particular CD should be another copy that I would recommend.

 

Important: Thanks Mr Ben for generously sharing this CD...

Edited March 9, 2006 by Sarong1

[Kermit]

I belong to the Boy Boy category

[Sarong1]

Hello, just gotten back from a leisure trip in HK and at the same time, hunt for some CDs not available in S'pore or have not arrived at S'pore. I am still in the process of enjoying them one by one...so it will be sometime before I can do some reviews on those new ones. Meantime, these are some of the CD titles and rated initially out of 5 thumbs-up. These CDs were bought in Times Square, Causeway Bay and some shops in Kowloon.

 

1. Hacken Lee Live in Concert 2006 (24bit/96kHz recording, DSD) 2 CDs

 

2. Naim Sampler 3 (no chance to listen)

 

3. Danny Summer - Now and Then (XRCD2) (A must buy and keep CD)

 

4. Leslie Cheung - Salute (XRCD2)

 

5. The Bass Gang - La Contrabassata (2005) (Simply naughty way of playing with bass, bravo!)

 

6. Perfect Sound Vol 2 (XRCD2) Compilation of older cantonese made featuring Jackie Chueng, Andy Lau, Fay Wong....

 

7. Romance de Amor - Yang Xue Fei (Special Edition CD + DVD)

 

8. Antonio Forcione - Tears of Joy (Needless to say...world class finger works)

Edited April 10, 2006 by Sarong1

[Lukie102]

HK CDs cheaper or here? Should have asked you to help me buy hacken lee's one

[Sarong1]

For the ranges of CDs that I was looking for, HK seemed cheaper. You can get the Hacken Lee Live in Concert 2006 CDs in S'pore. Its available at the price of $22.90 at Semb Music Cen (just went with friend to see yesterday).

Edited April 12, 2006 by Sarong1

[Lukie102]

i cheapskate want buy cheapest possible. the il divo still with me

[Sarong1]

OK, time to do a short review on Hacken Lee's Live in Concert 2006 CD released on 31 Mar 2006 by Universal Music Hong Kong (VCD version is out but not avail yet).

 

I am an avid fan of Hacken Lee, his vocal is clear and dictation is good, more so when compared to Alan Tam. No matter how fast the song is, his dictation of words have never been disappointing, this to me is very important. Next, this 2006 CD is my second copy of his concert. So while comparing both series, I gave higher scores to this later one.

 

Reasons are simple, as with all concert CDs, the recording before has never paid too much of attention to details within a live environment. There are much difference if you have ever been to a live concert. The ambience must be right, the live feel must be present, failing which, it should not be called live concert CD. 2002's series to me then was good compared to some other live concert recordings. This was particular so because there was a sense of liveliness while replaying. The audience cheerings, clappings, whistling, screaming; the singer's manner of holding to the mic and singing into the mic all play important roles to replaying the correct mood in a concert.

 

Having said much, 2006's series promised more than what was heard in 2002. One key difference is the detailness given to the instruments, from percussion to violin, er-hu, the back vocals and such, 2006 is definitely better compared to 2002's. The live sensation is felt immediately when the first track is played, I must say marvellous. For your info, the CD was recorded on Chinese New Year, the fifth day of the lunar new year...listen and you will know.

 

I preferred CD 2 to CD 1, don't ask me why, this is just personal preferrences over the songs or perhaps a coincidence my favourite songs are in CD 2. I particularly liked the "Red Sun-Hong Ri", "Deep Deep Deep-Sam Sam Sam", "Flying Flower-Fei Hua" and "Da Hui Tang Yan Zhou Ting"...it just got me repeating the tracks over and over again.

 

I am awaiting for the VCD version (3 VCD) as it has got more songs lined-up compared to the CDs version.

 

Now, since the CD was produced with so much effort, please don't resort to copying them, its not doing any justice to those people working so hard behind to give you such good quality CD. Get the original copy, you have more to gain than lose.

Edited April 14, 2006 by Sarong1

[Sarong1]

Here I am again...

 

 

Have you heard of Hong Kong's actor cum singer Danny Summer? I guess not many people know him as a singer but if you take a look at the album again, I guess he should be recognisable. In fact, most people know him as an actor more than a singer, especially in the HK mafia show called

Edited April 17, 2006 by Sarong1

[Sarong1]

I think I am gonna give myself a break after doing this one more review.

 

Remember I mentioned last time round about the CDs that I have brought back from HK? I think most of it can be found in S'pore. If not, it should arrive in no time, so pls do wait patiently.

 

The album this time round is Romance de Amor performed by Yang Xue Fei (Apr 2006 EMI Classic). Recorded in Hong Kong 2005, with a Greg Smallman 2003 installed D'Addario EJ46LP and a Matthias Dammann 2001 installed D'Addario EJ46LP. Some background on Xue Fei,

 

Xuefei Yang is one of the finest guitarist of her generation in the world, and a rare female guitarist who enjoys an International career. Xuefei Yang has since childhood been a pioneering spirit. She was the first guitarist in China to enter a music school and later to graduate from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with a B.A degree; The first guitarist from her country to study classical guitar in the west; and the first guitarist as well as the first Chinese student ever to receive an international scholarship from the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music for her postgraduate study at Royal Academy of Music.

 

After listening to Romance de Amor for some time, I kinda got a feeling that the playing style seemed so familiar, some of the tracks sounded familiar too. Immediately, I dig out my old copy of Portrait of John Williams (SK 37791 Sony Masterworks June 1982) and made a comparison. No wonder, the two albums was identical in many of the tracks. Just that Xue Fei's album had added four other contemporary pop to liven up the otherwise typical classical pieces while JW's is a purely classical.

 

Between the two albums, especially John Williams (JW) which I was very familiar with, I am more inclined to Xue Fei's album. I guess technology has a part to play, in terms of sound quality, a DXD sounded better off than a DDD. Moreover, Xue Fei's guitar play was recorded using three mics, two flanking above her and one nearer to the soundhole. I am not very sure of JW's.

 

The main difference between JW's and Xue Fei's is the intimacy level, JW's guitar sounded a bit blurrish, seemed distant if not opaque. Xue Fei's sounded crisp, close to heart and soothing.

 

I favoured Romance de Amor more, according to some reviews, the recording was so good that the sound of her clothes rubbing the guitar could be heard, and her breathing can be very distinctive. A magazine review jokingly told her to record in swimming suit instead.

 

Let's compare the difference between JW's and Xue Fei's time taken to complete the same tracks.

 

Cavatina (time taken to complete the piece)

JW - 4 min 15 sec

XF - 3 min 31 sec

 

Sakura

JW - 5 min 10 sec

XF - 6 min 02 sec

 

Recuerdos de la Alhambra

JW - 3 min 33 sec

XF - 3 min 53 sec

 

There are a total of 17 tracks within Romance de Amor, of which, those that are familiar could be, Romance de Amor (track 2), Cavatina (track 6), I believe (track 14), Sakura (track 15) and Anak (track 17)

 

The album comes with a four track DVD and contained within a beautifully decorated paper CD box. You can read more about her in the album, spare my fingers please.

 

So long, farewell, its time to say good bye...(The Sound of Music - So long, farewell...)

Edited April 18, 2006 by Sarong1

[Ivan0507]

Try this vocal CD.

 

1)kiki dee -(live)almost nake

2)janis ian -breaking silence

3)carol kidd-auld lang syne

4)rita coolidge-all time high

5)keiko lee-this is keiko lee

6)rita coolidge- out of the blues

7)amanda mcbroon-portraits

8)susan wong- close to you

9)mimi low -believe

10)mary black-the collection

11)a women's heart 2

12)Francis black-the best collection

 

try this CDs if you like guitar.

woundn't disappointed you.

 

Ottmar Liebert

1)nouveau flamenco

2)borrasca

3)leaving into the night

Chris Spheeris

1)europa

2)culture

3)desires

4)eros

Jesse Cook

1)tempest

2)gravity

3)vertigo

Armik

1)malaga

guitarisma

(the charisma,passion & romance of the guitar.)

hidden beauty

(the evolution of sound.)

Edited April 22, 2006 by Ivan0507

[Ivan0507]

 

 

[Chewy]

Personally I use Spyro Gyra's Road Scholars live album to test out sound system. The mix is really good and all the instruments are really crisp and clear. Bass and treble mixed very well. My friend even used it to test before buying his new sound system. He loved the 1st track especially. This is a purely modern jazz group and they have been around for a long time. Just my 2 cents.... hope this helps.

[Bobcatsysop]

Hi David,

I just got myself a CD from That CD Shop in Great World City. This one I find hasa good combination of different types of instruments and vocals for high end audiophile test demo disc. The front cover says: Digital K2 sample. Found it to be a good buy at $24.90 will bring this CD to this Wed ICE meetup.

[Sarong1]

Hmm...this CD seems familiar, I have some of the albums inside and it was produced by ABC International. Price wise I think a bit steep, could have gotten it at less than $18. Anyhow, hope you enjoy it. Cheers.