CD Reviews

[Sarong1]

You will enjoy the full version from your copy tonite at the sgcaraudio MU at Blk 332 AMK. The CDs are ready for collection tonite 8pm onwards from Uncle Bob, he has kindly accepted to help me with the CDs, pls look for him.

[Muakmuak]

Aiya but I missed the first MO. Now still not enuf post to join 2nd MO. Bro Sarong, can help me slot in my name first for 2nd MO. My contact 96848982.

[Sarong1]

Muakmuak, you have PM.

[Fishball]

Bro Sarong1,

 

thank you for getting 2V1G album for me...i have no regret....

[Muakmuak]

Hi Sarong, thank you so much to accomodate my request. Collected 2V1G and has been listening over and over again this weekend. Very impressive. Excellent recommendations! Thanks bro.

[Built]

Ya, 2 voices 1 guitar....someone that is more creative told me it stands for "2 Virgins 1 Guy"...

 

no.. it's "gay".

[Eddy216]

This is definitely an excellent thread to learn about appreciating music at its finest! After reading through it, I thought I'd like to share my thoughts on some CDs that I bought recently.

 

1. Corrinne May's Fly Away.

[inline Corrinne_May_1_EL.JPG] [inline Corrinne_May_2_EL.JPG]

 

The recording is clean, detailed percussions and a nice reverb blends into the tracks that consists of her singing and playing the piano only. Corrinne

[Eddy216]

Here is another detailed and clean CD that I bought from Roxy @Adelphi. It consists of classic tracks remade like "Smile", "Hey there!", "My funny valentine", "Unforgettable", "Always on my mind" and "What a wonderful world".

 

Ingram Washington's What a Difference a Day Makes, recorded at Byton Studios Loosdrecht, Holland, Villamax Records.

 

[inline Ingram_Washington_1_EL.JPG] [inline Ingram_Washington_2_EL.JPG]

 

I am still listening to the tracks intensely but for now, "What a difference a day makes", "Smile" and "Hey there" ranks among my favourite tracks in this CD. The feel of "Hey there!" is just awesome... it felt like Ingram and his band were simply having fun in the studio while they were recording!

[Sarong1]

It has been raining monkeys and elephants the past few days, the temperature is a nice 26 deg celcius now. Nights have never been so moody driving on the road or staying at home reading.

[Eddy216]

Sarong bro, this sounds like a good CD for testing out car sound systems! Where did you buy it from, 'cos I would like to get my hands on one.

[Bobcatsysop]

Hi Eddy,

Bro Sarong1 posted a group buy at SG Car Audio Forum.

http://www.phpbbserver.com/sgcaraudio/

Edited September 7, 2008 by Bobcatsysop

[Sarong1]

"Sarong bro, this sounds like a good CD for testing out car sound systems! Where did you buy it from, 'cos I would like to get my hands on one."

 

You can still get a copy from me...enjoy the music first and discover the essence before deciding if this is a good test CD ya? PM me if you want a copy, I can reserve for you. CD collection will be at AMK Blk 332 on Fri nite but should you want to collect from me, you can do so every night after 8pm at Sin Ming Walk. :)

[Eddy216]

Thanks for the link Uncle Bob!

[Eddy216]

Sarong1, I've just sent you a PM.

[Sarong1]

Some of the folks might have seen or heard this CD I had brought along to audit some cars last Friday night. I thought I should also do a review here. If you are interested, you can also look out for this English album from the various stores available in SGP. For your info too that I have gotten Sembawang Music Centre to consolidate some extra copies including some of her earlier works under Blue Notes/Premonition for me and I will be most glad to pass on the spare copies to the members in this forum.

 

Alternatively, should you can't find any, PM me and I will see if I can reserve the spare copies for you. My FIM version cost me about $39.90.

 

Patricia Barber is a well known jazz singer in the early 90s till today, Patricia's voice is pretty close to Amanda Mcbroom and Jennifer Warnes. This widely known album titled "Cafe Blue" that I have is a remastered version done by Winston Ma of FIM (First Impression Music). The FIM CD is 24K Gold, which is pretty normal for audiophile CDs nowadays but that is not all. This album has also been made into many other formats. I found many good tracks inside that are very ideal for validating our audio system, be it home or car.

 

In Cafe Blue, Patricia also plays the piano besides singing. There are bass, guitars in some of the tracks but what is notable, is Mark Walker, who plays not only the drums and percussion but also utilising body parts to create the unique thumping sound, for eg, hitting on the chest with the mic closed-in. So, you can imagine the effects you can hear in the car or at home...cool. This thumping sound is on track 12.

 

I use track 3's The Thrill is Gone to test out my system's transcient and dynamics. Lasting about good 7 mins long, this slow number transcend from a slow introduction in the first 3 mins to a gradual crescendo from the 4th mins onwards and ending with a nice percussion which is demanding on system. If your system fails to provide that impact arising from the crescendo, I think there is a need to reexamine the amp liao. Track 6's Wood is a Pleasant Thing to Think About is all vocals, many voices are over laid to create vocals appearing from almost everywhere - nice!!!. Ode to Billy Joe on Track 8 has got a good introduction. Test your system's abililty to accurately reproduce finger snapping on this track. Harvey instantly snapped his fingers along with this track that night.

 

http://www.patriciabarber.com/discs/index.html

 

Cafe Blue

Patricia Barber

 

Recorded and mixed at

Chicago Recording Company, Studio 5

Chicago, IL on

June 28th-30th and July 1st, 1994

 

Produced By Patricia Barber

Executive Producer: Michael Friedman

[Sarong1]

I was about 14 years old when I first heard Pan Mei Chen's songs. I was influenced by my KL cousin who was working here then. I can still recall her standing by at the mini compo, ready to press the REC button to tape down Pan Mei Chen's songs. It was broadcast over the radio in the weekly "Top Ten" on 93.3FM. Tapes then were expensive, CDs were even beyond reach.

 

Sigh, my impression of Pan Mei Chen was her boyish style, many ladies then was impressed by her cool look but I wasn't. Years on, she faded off from the music scene until recently she appeared in a Taiwanese interview.

 

And just yesterday, I saw her album on the shelf. I reached out for it and looked for the label...nice, Better Music Corp. I have a rough impression of how it will be like. Better Music Corp has been focusing on live pub jazz style recording and this suited my taste to a T. I bought it without testing, $22.90.

 

Had a go in the car...her voice hasn't changed much but the style has. She is even more matured now, not as "forceful" as before. Age really change a person.

 

Total of 12 tracks redoing some of her older numbers in jazzy style. Accompanying her are piano, double bass, nice percussion and some numbers of violin and viola.

 

Recording is nice, the claimed 24 bit Super Analog is real. All recording was done at one go. Sounded just like listening in the pub environment, relaxing in a big soundstage.

 

I just called SMC, moving very fast and some outlets declared out-of-stock. MJ may have some copies left, otherwise try Adelphi. Alternatively, buy from Yesasia, they have two versions - one by Better Music Corp and the other by Warner Music. I suggest you stick to Better Music Corp.

 

Release Date: 2008-07-08

Language: Mandarin

Country of Origin: Taiwan

Publisher: Better Music CORP

 

Edited September 21, 2008 by Sarong1

[Sarong1]

This must be one of the heaviest box set (1.65kg) I have ever bought. I was at Music Junction casually looking around when this box set caught my attention. Red in colour, I took it down from the higher shelf and look at the delicate package. By the side of the box, I saw a serial number and the price tag. Can't believe it, $39.90 for 4 CDs and a 300-page Polygram limited edition hard cover catalogue listing down their 150 artists pictures, profiles and discography.

 

Now I won't have problem looking back at just what albums I have missed.

 

I am pleasantly surprised by the selection of songs in the four CDs as well. It is akin to walking down the memory lane from the early 60s to the millennium. The songs are not in any order of arrangement but the recording is good enough. Before I left, I asked if there are more copies, the sweet lady over the counter replied that mine was the last set. Today, I was at PS and I saw the same box set selling at $49.90. Bottomline, no matter what, go find it.

 

Click on the link below to see the listing of tracks. Look at the price Yesasia is selling now...

 

http://www.yesasia.com/global/the-catalogu...-0-en/info.html

 

Release Date: 2008-03-20

Language: Mandarin, Cantonese, English

Publisher: Universal Music (HK)

 

 

Edited September 21, 2008 by Sarong1

[Sarong1]

Extracted from the CD Review in conjunction with Dimension Audio's inaugural website.

 

Year 2008 is a remarkable year. The Olympics in Beijing on 8 Aug 2008 and the world

Edited October 3, 2008 by Sarong1