Hi-Res Downloads

88.2kHz & 176.4kHz/24-bit, FLAC*; Lucky Mojo Records 9120045196474 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

We’re constantly being told times are tough, so if you’ve had to tighten the old belt and forgo this year’s cruise, then this one could be for you. Put yourself back in the ‘late night and rather overfed Ocean Bar & Lounge’ mood with this collection of ‘so lightweight they’re almost flimsy’ jazz covers. Austrian singer Kopmajer is big in Japan, and that’s not surprising, given that this is audiophile jazz at its finest, of the kind essayed by many a Japanese chanteuse. True, PM has his own observations on the provenance of some of the tracks – see his Lab Report below –, but there’s no denying the smoothness of the entire enterprise. Neil Young fans look away now, but there’s a distinctly ‘John Lewis Christmas ad’ cover of ‘Heart Of Gold’, and while the album undeniably has pretty pristine sound, it’s unlikely to be one to which you’ll return over and again. AE

Sound Quality: 80%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Also available on SACD, this album may well have been recorded at DSD128 then downsampled to 176.4kHz and 88.2kHz for download. However, trks 1, 3, 10 and 11 [black trace, above] clearly contain upsampled 44.1kHz content... PM