Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz/24-bit FLAC*, Concord Records 36693 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

This album does just what it says on the tin – well, sort of. For while Elias did return to the country of her birth to rehearse and record this set, other elements were recorded in the USA and the UK, giving the whole thing a slightly ‘samba by the numbers’ feel. Yes, it’s desperately commercial, and focuses the attention on the obviously very talented pianist/vocalist. However, the over-lush strings, which swell and shimmer away in the background, and without which the sound would have lost very little, do give this set a bit too much of the ‘latin Diana Krall’ effect. The recording is suitably warm and rich, and just the thing for Strictly Come Dancing fans’ late-night after dinner party listening, in a kind of tinkly undemanding way, but given the ‘back to her roots’ intention here, just a bit more attack and fire would have gone a long way. AE

Sound Quality: 70%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

With the contents of this album recorded at various studios in Brazil, New York and Abbey Road (orchestration) it’s perhaps not surprising the final mix was at a unifying 48kHz, subsequently upsampled to offer this ‘96kHz download’. PM