Hi-Res Downloads

Giovanni Guidi, Et Al
A New Day (88.2Khz/24-Bit, Wav)
www.ecmrecords.com; Ecm 2808

Of late we have been sampling the ECM back catalogue in these pages, enjoying the way recordings getting on for half a century old spiff up in new hi-res digital versions, but here's some brand-new output, recorded in summer 2023 by label head honcho Manfred Eicher. And pretty special it is too, long time rhythm section partners Thomas Morgan and João Lobo, and pianist Giovanni Guidi, being joined by saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. Guidi has composed most of the tracks here, with the exception of the opening 'Cantos Del Ocells' and a wonderfully muted and romantic take on 'My Funny Valentine', on which the drums and bass are a subtle underpinning for his piano. Lewis's bright, gutsy sax tone is to the fore elsewhere on the set, which is a delight throughout, not least for its excellent recorded sound and the obvious synergy between the four performers. It's another ECM classic. AE

Sound Quality: 90%

This may be a new recording (and a true 88.2kHz file) but there's still some good old-fashioned flyback noise [black trace] at 19/38kHz on all tracks except 4 and 5. Otherwise, peaks are sensibly limited to -1dBFs and dynamic range is good. PM

Micah Thomas
Reveal (48Khz/24-Bit, Wav)
ffm.To/mtreveal; Artwork Records Artr004

Recorded at Power Station, Berklee NYC, this group - featuring a traditional jazz trio lineup of piano, bass and drums - delivers a relaxing, melodic set in Reveal. It kept reminding me of those old Hamlet cigar ads where everything goes wrong except for the smoke, or the theme music to the old Barry Norman Film show. Yes, there are enough improvisational moments to keep you from drifting off, and pianist Thomas isn't too much of the prodigy (he's 27 with the chops of a 50-year-old) to address his mentors. Was that a touch of Gershwin I heard there? Some Monk? The compositions, though they might sound like pastiches to those weaned on Erroll Garner and Earl 'Fatha' Hines, are inspired by The Bible, CS Lewis, World Of Warcraft, Thomas's younger sister and other muses, and are easy enough on the ears - as is the lush, visceral sound. KK

Sound Quality: 85%

Lab Report

Dynamic range is a little above average but digital peaks are also high, varying between -0.27dBFs and -0.63dBFs. The ~24kHz bandwidth is sufficient for the piano but the accompanying percussion reaches out beyond the file's range. PM

David Darling
Journal October - Solo Cello (96Khz/24-Bit, Wav)
www.ecmrecords.com; Ecm 1161

Is it jazz? Is it classical? Listen to this set from American cellist Darling, who died in 2021 aged 79, and it really doesn't matter. Instead, just revel in the improvisation, and the textures evoked from the single instrument - well, multiple instruments, as Darling plays acoustic and eight-string solid-body electric cellos, as well as various percussion, on this album. Making his ECM debut on Ralph Towner's Old Friends, New Friends in 1979, Darling released this, the first of three solo albums, the following year. Recorded in Ludwigsburg's Tonstudio Bauer, this is an album all about musical and instrumental textures, making liberal use of overdubs to build up the depth of sound. Yes, that means it's firmly in the ambient trend of its time, with pieces more about moods than resolved writing, but it holds up well, not least due to the usual ECM recorded quality. AE

Sound Quality: 85%

Lab Report

Recorded in the pre-digital era (just!) this 96kHz rendering from analogue tape necessarily has higher noise but it also has an above average dynamic range. Peaks are 'natural' - not normalised - and never high enough to trip-up a DAC. PM

Flukten
Flukten (96Khz/24-Bit, Wav)*
www.odinrecords.bandcamp.com; Odin Records Odincd9583

Oh, those crazy Norwegians: an album called Flukten, from a quartet of the same name, opening with a track called - you guessed it - 'Flukten'. Bowed bass from Faroe islander Bárður R Poulson gives the set a gentle opening, before drummer Hans Hulbækmo, also the writer of the majority of the tracks here, enters the fray. And the 'frontline'? The sharp, edgy sax of Hanna Paulsberg, sparking and firing off guitarist Marius Klovning to dramatic effect. Five of the tracks here are studio recordings, but show not just superb inventiveness in the playing but also a real sense of the band working together, with plenty of light and shade in the sound, and Hulbækmo never being afraid of letting loose on the skins when the music demands it. And the closing trio of tracks are, if anything, even more free-form and sparkling, making this a real discovery, and hugely enjoyable. AE

Sound Quality: 80%

Lab Report

Every track here is normalised to a high -0.3dBFs and dynamic range is a little below average with a peak-to-RMS of about 2-3bits. Moreover, the 96kHz LED may light on your DAC but the music looks like an upsample from 44.1kHz. PM

Kjetil Mulelid
Agoja (96Khz/24-Bit, Flac)*
www.odinrecords.bandcamp.com; Odin Records Odincd9589

Where do artists get the titles for their albums? Norwegian pianist and composer Mulelid called his debut Piano, which is logical enough, but this one's apparently named for the first word uttered by his baby son. And that speaks to the warm jazz styles on this set, where the keyboardist is joined by an ever-shifting roster of artists, each with a part to play, from steel guitar to vibes and ambitious brass flourishes. Yet despite these musical comings and goings, this always sounds like a group effort so well do the musicians work together. Some compression is audible [see below] but the instrumental nuances remain intact without ever losing sight of the leader's piano. It opens strongly with the groove of 'Alone', and reaches its conclusion with the big and bold 'Kingdom, Slowly Disappearing', but really it's musically compelling throughout, never flagging for a moment. AE

Sound Quality: 80%

Lab Report

This is our second release from the Odin stable and another normalised to a high -0.3dBFs with a dynamic range that's slightly poorer still. And, again, your player may indicate a 96kHz stream but it's another upsample from 44.1kHz. PM