MUSIC / LINKS
LIVING SOUND FAVOURITES
Hi-fi is really only a means to an end, it exists solely to deliver the best fidelity to our favourite music. And since music is our passion we thought it would be fun to list some of our favourite music related websites and an album that we're currently enjoying. Most audio forums worth their salt have a good music discussion section where you can check out what others are listening to, or ask for recommendations such as where to start if you want to try a different genre of music.
OUR LINKS
Bob Dylan official website - www.bobdylan.com
Hans Theessink official website - www.theessink.com
Wayne Mason official website – www.waynemason.co.nz
Esbjorn Svensson Trio official website - www.est-music.com
Jewels And Binoculars - www.lindseyhorner.com
Gavin's Woodpile- www.brucecockburn.org
Fresh FM - www.freshfm.net
ECM Records - www.ecmrecords.com
Ben Sidran – Dylan Different
Now here is an artist I’d never heard of before. A friend from Germany, who’s also a big Bob Dylan fan, called and recommended this album to me just recently. Thanks to Ross Middlemiss from Radar Records in Christchurch, I had the CD in my post box in two days.
Sidran plays various keyboards and provides vocals on most of the tracks. The songs he’s selected are a good mix of early and later Dylan compositions, and there’s a jazz vein running throughout.
If you own Bryan Ferry’s Dylanesque album, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy Sidran’s as a companion piece.
The recording quality is very good. Sidran’s rich, warm vocals, are mixed up close and intimate. His delivery style is slightly Leonard Cohen in approach. The drums, double bass, guitar, and occasional horns are spread nicely across the sound stage, with good separation and dynamics.
Sidran has made many albums dating back to 1971. He’s also co-wrote and produced work for some big name musicians. I look forward to getting to know some of these other albums as I hope you will too.
Rick.