Here are a few random albums that are among our favorites, these can be used for demonstrations, but we also listen to them at home on our own systems.
Felix Laband - Dark Days Exit /// We think almost everything by Felix Laband is great. Felix Laband is a South African artist who produces incredibly interesting music on his own. Much of his music is spatial and contains many interesting accents and details that keep you thoroughly engaged while listening. There are also plenty of tempo changes and sometimes dance music comes along, but you can always count on a spatial reproduction with interesting twists and details. Dark Days Exit is by far our favorite. This is typically an album where you can close your eyes and keep them closed for the entire duration.
Klaus Schulze - Timbres of Ice /// Klaus Schulze is also one of our favorite artists, a pioneer of modern electronic music. A musical genius who can create a complete musical piece on his own with the help of synthesizers. Klaus Schulze has created quite a lot of music in his lifetime, many different types of albums and music, sometimes hard-hitting trance and sometimes beautiful, dreamy music. The latter includes one of his latest albums from 2019, Timbres of Ice. Perhaps not the very best Klaus Schulze album ever, but certainly worth experiencing. As we say: "you watch a film with your ears".
B-Tribe - Spiritual Spiritual /// A beautifully recorded album with a fantastic atmosphere. Spanish guitar accents in a New Age package. Calming and very spatial. Music that is lovely in the background, but also extremely interesting to listen to. Perhaps a little too 'spiritual' for everyone, but there are certainly enough people who will appreciate it.
Tony Elman - Earthtones /// Melodic instrumental music, a combination of folk and various international cultures. Well recorded, rich in detail and space with occasional lovely deep but gentle bass tones. An album that can easily be listened to all the way through. Not the most complex music, but music in which you can feel at home and both find peace and discover plenty of details.
Harry Belafonte - Belafonte Sings the Blues /// An old blues jazz record from 1958. Sound-wise a musical delight. Harry Belafonte, aside from being a fantastic personality and master on stage (as he proves on all his live albums), is also one of our favorite singers. Belafonte has a golden voice that makes you do nothing but listen once he starts singing. This record is full of beautiful songs and Belafonte is supported by extremely skilled blues and jazz musicians on this wonderful album.
Harry Belafonte - Live at Carnegie Hall /// Most audiophiles will know this live concert by Harry Belafonte. If not, we recommend you listen to it all the way through right away. Belafonte had the gift of sounding just as pure live as in the studio, and he also plays and jokes with the audience in between, which ensures that you truly experience the atmosphere of Carnegie Hall in 1959 in your own living room. The fantastic recording quality also helps tremendously here. A variety of quiet music, supported by guitar and/or piano and grand orchestral work with of course the wonderfully beautiful vocals of the one and only Harry Belafonte.
OTT - Blumenkraft /// In contrast to the albums mentioned before, with Blumenkraft by English producer OTT we take a completely different approach. This album is full of tracks with a solid and tight bass and an excellent 3D soundstage filled with details and sounds. Yet the album never loses its rhythm and there is always something happening to keep your attention. Modern art, sometimes calm, sometimes busy, you have to love it. We certainly do.
Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters - Grateful Heart: Blues & Ballads /// A very elegant blues record by a special blues guitarist, supported by his iron-strong band 'The Broadcasters'. Ronnie Earl is not a singer, this is a purely instrumental album. But that does nothing to diminish the soul and passion with which Earl plays. He lets his guitar sing for him. The piano work by one of our favorite keyboardists Bruce Katz is also sublime.
Erik Truffaz - Bending New Corners /// This album lives up to its name, because the jazz music on this album is experimental and refreshing. But it is not so experimental that it is only reserved for a small select group. In terms of recording quality also extremely good, the basses sound natural and tight and Truffaz's trumpet clean and clear. The rap vocals that occasionally appear on this album are also appreciated.
Yello - Flag /// Everyone knows the album 'Touch' by Yello, that was the album where Yello's modern dark and full sound began, which you also find in the albums that came after (Toy, Point). But Yello had a completely different sound before that, not only in terms of recording but also in terms of music. We think the album 'Flag' is a good introduction to this music & sound. Popular tracks such as 'Tied Up' and 'The Race' are also found on this rock-solid and tight-sounding record.
Hans Theessink & Terry Evans - Visions /// Dutch pride! Together with American Terry Evans, Hans Theessink, born in Enschede, released this beautiful acoustic Delta Blues record. There is not a single track on this album that is clearly inferior to the rest. All tracks have charm and emotion. Sometimes groovy and rhythmic, sometimes soft & hopeful and even a bit sad. Hans Theessink and Terry Evans are absolutely a power duo in this genre of music. The recording quality is also very good, which also provides for a pleasant listening experience.
Faithless - Reverence /// One of the best electronic dance music creating groups of all time. Reverence is the debut album of Faithless, and what a debut album it is. The combination of interesting rhythmic and deep music, supported by the hip-hop vocals of Maxi Jazz (R.I.P.) and authentic solid 90's rave music makes this entire album truly worth listening to. The recording quality is also very good for dance music from this era, with solid bass and full-sounding vocals and details.
