Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz/24-bit, FLAC; DG 479 8143 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

That sombre cover portrait sets the tone for Benny Andersson’s latest solo project, which consists of 21 tracks from his decades-long career reinterpreted for piano. The mood is generally melancholy, and the album largely concentrates on Andersson’s post-Abba material, including songs written for musicals such as Chess, as well as his current ‘group’ – the Benny Andersson Orkester. Inevitably, though, it’s the handful of familiar Abba classics that stand out. The piano version of ‘My Love, My Life’ lacks the lush harmonies of the original, but the bittersweet melody still shines through. He even springs the occasional surprise – livening the mood with a burst of Scott Joplin ragtime on ‘Thank You For The Music’. So while Piano might not be essential listening for Abba fans, it’s still a fascinating overview of this classic songwriter’s later career. CJ

Sound Quality: 85%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Sensitively – and very cleanly – recorded, this genuine 96kHz file shows what a digital rendering of a piano should look like [see Graph, above]: few harmonics beyond 12kHz, no signs of peak overload or spurious tones. It’s a good ’un! PM