Hi-Res Downloads

48kHz/24-bit FLAC, Universal/Verve 4701861 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

I guess when you get to your 12th studio album you might be forgiven for running out of steam a bit, but this latest package from jazz diva Diana Krall has been received with somewhat mixed reviews, since its belated release due to the singer/pianist’s illness. It’s a bit of an oddity, comprising mainly of ’70s ballads by the likes of Randy Newman, The Carpenters and Elton John, and with not much sign of the piano fireworks Krall has brought to bear on some of her previous outings. It may be the familiarity of so much of the material, or that these new recordings don’t bring too much we didn’t already know, but this does seem something of an exercise in treading water. Even a new song by Paul McCartney doesn’t help much, a duet on Georgie Fame’s ‘Yeah Yeah’ is only 50% successful(!) and, while the sound is workmanlike, even that doesn’t really stand out. AE

Sound Quality: 75%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

While the last two Krall releases have been at 96kHz [HFN Mar & Dec ’13] this latest 48kHz rendering still shows the same slightly elevated (analogue) noise floor. Reduced bandwidth aside, at least the headroom is generous. PM