Hi-Res Downloads

Eline Hensels & Daniël Kramer
Nocturne, Et Lumineux (88.2-352.8kHz/32-bit, FLAC; various spatial audio formats)
https://trptk.com; TRPTK TTK 0114

Originally recorded in DSD256 5.1.4-channel 'immersive sound', and available for download in 88.2kHz to 352kHz stereo and surround, this gorgeous recording is aptly named. These truly luminous, atmospheric works for cello and piano – most as unfamiliar as they are enthralling – deserve to be in any collection. Capturing them in a resonant Netherlands church acoustic, TRPTK founder Brendon Heinst has used an impressive battery of professional and consumer audiophile equipment, all listed in the accompanying booklet. Heinst says 'At TRPTK, we quietly step back and let artistry take the spotlight. We're here to capture rather than enhance, and to deliver not just the sound, but the very soul of the music to you'. That's exactly what has been achieved here, allowing listeners to sit back and immerse themselves in some ravishing music-making. AE

Sound Quality: 90%

Recorded at DSD256 and converted/mastered at 352.8kHz LPCM, the cello occupies a surprisingly wide ~50kHz bandwidth. Peaks never exceed –1dBFs and dynamic range is good, but the 27kHz notch is unexplained. PM

Guy Yehuda
Between Two Worlds (CD-192kHz/24-bit; DSD64-512)
www.referencerecordings.com; Reference Recordings FR-754

It's safe to say that Reference Recordings has its formats covered: as well as on disc, this release is available for download in 44.1kHz/16-bit to 192kHz/24-bit Apple Lossless, FLAC and WAV, and additionally in DSD64-512 via nativedsd.com. However, whichever you choose, this is a very fine recording by clarinettist Guy Yehuda, as well as offering an insight into Jewish music history in the early part of the last century. There's a wonderfully expressive reading of Prokofiev's Overture On Hebrew Themes, followed by Joel Engel's suite of music inspired by Shloyme Ansky's folk-tale-based The Dybbuk, and finally Paul Ben-Haim's quintet for clarinet and strings. It's a constantly captivating set, heavily influenced by tradition and superbly played by Yehuda and his accompanying musicians. The recording is exemplary, but challenging [see PM's Lab Report, below]. AE

Sound Quality: 90%

Six of the tracks here peak perilously close to 0.0dBFs so intersample overload may occur with some DACs. Otherwise the ~95kHz bandwidth of this 192kHz file is vigorously occupied by percussion, and dynamic range is good. PM

Arve Henriksen/Harmen Fraanje
Touch Of Time (96kHz/24-bit, WAV)
www.ecmrecords.com; ECM 2794

Recorded in January 2023 in Lugano, Italy, and produced by ECM boss Manfred Eicher, this delicate, lyrical set by trumpeter Henriksen and pianist Fraanje is about as near as jazz gets to the classical chamber style of accompanied recital. Such performances rely heavily on the trust the musicians put in each other, and that's here in spadefuls, the two developing themes both written and improvised, connecting seamlessly and gracefully, to pick up and finish each other's musical thoughts. It's a recording in which to immerse yourself... Refined, mature and super-detailed, the production picks up every nuance of the breath flowing through the trumpet and the strike of hammers on strings to create a sound that's almost hyper-realistic, yet packed with musical interest. Find yourself some quiet time, and enjoy the almost mesmeric effect. AE

Sound Quality: 85%

With peaks as low as –8dBFs (trk 1) and –15dBFs (trk 8) this is a 'quiet' 96kHz recording but still well within the compass of a 24-bit range. Trumpet has harmonics at ~12kHz but there's low-level spuriae at 20kHz, 23kHz, 36kHz. PM

Held By Trees & Martin Smith
Lay Your Troubles Down (EP) (96kHz/24-bit, WAV)*
www.instagram.com/tweedjacketmusic; Self released, n/a cat no.

David Joseph's Held By Trees describes itself as an 'ambient/improv/prog/post-rock project', bringing together Talk Talk/ Mark Hollis alumni, veterans of Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and Blur, and other musicians passing through. Recorded as live at Real World Studios, with only a few later overdubs, this EP with former Delirious vocalist Martin Smith, and contributions from the same band's former guitarist Stu Garrard, is its first project not to be purely instrumental. Joseph describes the title track as 'Something of an anthem for what HBT is about; solace, community and hope', and that's matched by a gentle, mellifluous balance throughout, with close attention paid to what every musician is doing. It's a bit of a pity that the final track here, a 'Salt Of The Sound' remix, is a bit too muddy and ambient for its own good – but then you can't have everything. AE

Sound Quality: 80%

While the trk 7 remix is accurately listed as 44.1kHz, and the preceding mixes will light the 96kHz LED on your DAC, they look more like upsamples from 48kHz. All tracks peak above –0.2dBFs so intersample clipping may occur. PM

Vince Guaraldi
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (192kHz/24-bit)*
www.mendelsonproductions.com; LMFP LM24NEO2

Released to coincide with the peak of election fever in the USA, this soundtrack recording for a 1972 Peanuts special was recently rediscovered, and is now newly available in a version containing the original 15 cues, plus alternate takes among ten tracks unheard since they were recorded over half a century ago. Now offered in 'hi-res' [see PM's Lab Report, below], they sound refreshed, with fine definition on Guaraldi's piano and (occasional) guitar, and a wide-open balance with the various assemblies of backing musicians. Only trouble is, Guaraldi's many soundtracks for the Charles M. Schulz cartoon adaptations have been rather over-released, from definitive editions to various seasonal specials including Halloween, Summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc, and so they are ever-so-familiar. One for the completists, or the politically obsessed, maybe? AE

Sound Quality: 80%

Originally aired over 50 years ago, and now 'remastered for audiophiles', this analogue recording is limited to ~18kHz, but looks to have been sampled at 96kHz and resampled again at 192kHz. There are signs of aliasing >40kHz. PM