By: Kari Nevalainen
May 5, 2012
New Releases
For some unknown (to me) reason Bach's variations assume a lamenting nature in the bellows of the accordion. The disc brought to my mind how redwings sing their downward progressing moan in late August. This mood colours all variations, even those written for more positive dance-like rhythms. ...
By: Inner-Audio
Apr 27, 2012
Industry
In his thoroughly researched book, David Briggs interweaves a detailed biography of this remarkable man with a history of the Wharfedale Company and its products from 1932 to 1978. The author’s access to the archives of Gilbert’s children and to those of several key Wharfedale employees or their families have allowed a unique insight into the life of one of hi-fi’s most interesting and influential personalities ...
By: Kari Nevalainen
Apr 26, 2012
Reviews
Forget the sound quality. Forget audio. Lift the 11.5kg Luxman Classic SQ-N100 integrated amplifier on a stable open platform, place the Luxman Classic D-N100 CD player on its right side, connect the two, find a pair of suitable loudspeakers, and that's that. Press Play. That's all you need. That's all that any rational person would need. In addition to love. ...
By: Kari Nevalainen
Apr 25, 2012
New Releases
Ira Kaspi is a brave lady. Who else would want to record, and why, such jazz evergreens as "Call Me Irreponsible", "That Old Devil Called Love" etc. etc. by Ella, Sarah and Billie? It's not forbidden, of course, but why bother? ...
By: Kari Nevalainen
Apr 19, 2012
New Releases
Ad Lucem may not shake the earth out of its orbit, but there's something delightfully fresh about how Jormin experiments with vocal expression (Mariam Wallentin and Erika Angell singing in ancient Latin and Danish) and lissome double-bass playing ...
By: Kai Ekholm
Apr 16, 2012
Reviews
My review of the TelluriumQ Black and Ultra Black cables had hardly got dry when small birds from the British island signaled of a new top-of-the-line TelluriumQ speaker cable: Tellurium Q Graphite. The Graphites made me think is there any limit as to how much the sound can be bettered by changing a cable? ...
By: Kari Nevalainen
Apr 14, 2012
New Releases
There was, perhaps, time when talking about "cultural deeds" was pertinent. Now that the audience has split up, and the term marginalized and relativized, cultural deeds have become more or less obsolete and meaningless. Nevertheless I dare to declare that Ondine/FG-Naxos has done a "cultural deed" by releasing a recording of three newly discovered viola concertos by German-born Swedish composer Joseph Martin Kraus (1756–1792). ...