Hi all, I wanted to start a discussion about current (or at least semi-current) artists that are releasing ‘audiophile’ recordings in an attempt to discover some new music that I may be missing out on. I have been stuck in a rut listening to the same old things (mostly jazz). It occurred to me this sub is mostly about the gear, room treatments, and those types of things but I don’t see a lot about the music we all listen to or discussions about new artists. I was watching a ‘New Record Day’ video the other day and he mentioned an artist Dominique Fils-Aime so I checked her out and I’m really digging her vocal/upright bass stuff. How do you all find new artists to listen to? What new stuff have you been listening to that you think this sub should know about? Lastly, should we have a weekly new music thread where we discuss new music that was released or discovered the previous week? I’d love to see more content on this sub about the music/artists we all love. Thanks,
What the fuck is audiophile album!!!
So Im an old guy with the music taste of teen girl…but Billie Eilish has a great sound on a good system.
So Im an old guy with the music taste of teen girl…
Haha, nothing wrong with that. I haven’t really listened to her stuff but I know my wife likes her - I’ll give it a shot.
So, you want boring music like Lynn Stanley, Four Play, etc. Just asking.
That is what I think of when people say Audiophile music.
If you like folk/bluegrass/acoustic stuff, Chris Thile is definitely an audiophile in addition to a virtuoso musician. Nickel Creek’s album A Dotted Line is impressive on any decent system. His other projects: Goat Rodeo, Punch Brothers, and duets with Edgar Meyer, are all equally impressive. I’m a sucker for acoustic strings on good speakers, though.
You’re talking my language here - Punch Bros, Sarah Jarosz, Aofie O’Donnovan, etc. If we’re going “across the pond”, toss in some Martin Hayes Quartet for good measure (mind you, the clarinet is my favorite over the strings from The Boy In The Gap). Any recording that suspends the instrument in the room with you gets my vote.
I suspect the common thread for many “audiophile” recordings for me is they tend to communicate more intimacy with the players - you can hear the breath and click of the pads on the clarinet, the creek of a throne as the drummer leans into the first note, the thump of the hammers and dampers in the piano as they come to rest when fingers release the keys or the foot lifts from the sustain pedal.
Steve Wilson, harmony codex
Just about everything he’s involved in.
James Blake
I’d start with record labels. Here are a few of my favourites. In particular I recommend Chesky Records.
Stockfisch Sheffield lab Reference recording Chesky LSO bis Naim Blue note 2L Impex Linn
Also ACT and ECM.
I like Music on Vinyl as well. They typically have a really nice dead background and clean sound.
He best new recording I’ve heard in a while is jessie buckley and bernard butler. It’s beautifully recorded.
Why isn’t audiophile music just stuff we enjoy?
dawg why’d you even engage with this thread? You knew it was cringe to begin with lol.
TIPPER! Been releasing top quality shit since the 90’s and it’s only gotten better and better.
I’d personally suggest listening to Forward Escape all the way through. Absolutely perfect album in every way. All of his other releases are incredible as well. If you get the chance, see him live to have your mind absolutely blown to pieces with sounds you can’t even fathom.
Caravan palace - Parisian band that started as three collaborative music producers one being a singer. They all shared love of Django reinhardt and big band swing jazz and started by making music for a silent adult film. In my mind they are responsible for creating the genre they are associated with… “Electro Swing”… although every other attempt at the electric swing genre by other artists has fallen completely flat on its face in my ears…
The Album “Panic” is a newage Jazz masterpiece
The Presets- One of the biggest and most mesmerizing acts to come out of the Australian edm scene. If you apreciate sound design than…
the album “Hi-viz” is delightful in so many ways
Childish Gambino- The actor from the show community who single handedly created the award winning show Atlanta also became a Grammy award winning artist
The album “Redbone” is his magnum opus… a smooth mix of hip hop, and psychedelic jazz rock
Matt Mays - my hometown hero, a songwriting style akin to Sam Robert’s with a keen ear for using extremely experimental recording techniques.
The album “When the Angels Make Contact” - recorded in a world renowned studio, located inside a pharmacy building that stood tall after directly facing the Halifax explosion. The album is a mix of artists making music for a movie that lost funding and was scrapped… the artists all led by Matt Mays finished the music for the non existent movie anyway.
Not sure if it fits the bill, but all of Blake Mills’ albums on vinyl use the same pressing plant and they sound amaaaaazing.
2nd Blake Mills regardless of media type. My cd of heigh ho has become a test “record” for me.
Amazing. Whenever I turn it up louder and louder, I hear more about more about the album. It’s cool.
I’d hazard a guess here and say that if you are a jazz listener, yet feel you are in a rut with a lack of options, then you’re doing something wrong….
A little bit of everything, all very nicely recorded and mastered (some of them also nice on vinyl): Flume, Kham Meslien, Floating Points, Laufey, Anette Askvik, Melanie De Biasio, Malia, Melody Gardot, Tommy Schneider.
Ben Harper - Fight for your mind. Amazing production. His other albums are good too but not as well produced.
Jonathan Wilson - Gentle spirit. Old school analog production that sound fantastic.
Leonard Cohen - Thanks for the dance. Old artist, new(ish) record, amazing.
Alela Diane - Cusp. Great piano sound.
Anything recorded by Daniel Lanois.
Loreena Mckennitt if you haven’t listen too her. Not really new but still active.
Jon Batiste - WE ARE. A bit too upfront for me, but great production nonetheless.
Rhiannon Giddens - Freedom Highway.