Writer Stephen Estep and publisher Jim Hannon kindly gave us permission to share Steve’s rave March review in The Absolute Sound celebrating Janaki String Trio’s Young Beethoven LP! Vinyl | DSD | HDTracks | CD … Yarlung released the Penderecki and Barabba on a 45rpm platter a few years ago, and that landed a spot on our Super LP List; this Beethoven belongs there too.  The impressively natural miking picks up the instruments’ resonance and overtones…. …Three instruments rather than a string quartet…  means turbulent emotions are balanced by transparent textures in a delectable tension.  …wit and laughter.  The Janaki Trio conveys all this in a vivid pulsating performance. –Stephen Estep Please see the whole page and accompanying reviews here. And here is a link to The Absolute Sound.  Congratulations Janaki String Trio, executive producers Haydee and Carlos Mollura, and Happy Birthday Beethoven!   

Jacob Heilbrunn wrote expansively on Lifeline Quartet’s recent release “Music of the Underground Railroad” after hearing the new 180 Gram 45RPM release on vinyl.  He describes the African American spirituals escaping slaves used as Code Songs before and during the Civil War. Heilbrunn writes “Yarlung Records’ new album Lifeline thus arrives at an opportune moment.”   “The vocal authority of the Lifeline quartet is gripping. They achieve a kind of transcendent musicality as they pour their hearts into these affecting songs….” “It would be hard to imagine these songs being performed at a higher level than they are on this recording. The sound quality, it almost goes without saying, is gobsmacking. Yarlung, which is based in Los Angeles, is a small label that goes to fanatical lengths to ensure that the performers it records are displayed at their best. Attiyeh is able to draw on the abundant top-notch engineering talent in Continue Reading →

Pacific Chorale’s new album All Things Common remains a bright success story in 2020.  Music Director Rob Istad conducts Pacific Chorale and Salastina Ensemble in a glorious cross-section of composer Tarik O’Regan’s choral masterpieces written over the past two decades.  CD executive producer Lenora Meister also commissioned Facing West, for which the ink was barely dry by the time of our concert and recording session.  Arian Jansen served as executive producer for our DSD release. Just yesterday we learned that All Things Common won Album Of The Year! at NativeDSD, where it had been nominated in the choral and gospel category.  Kudos to our valiant musicians and executive producers, and many thanks to the illustrious jury at NativeDSD for its support.  Here is a link to the winning albums and article.  All Things Common is available in multiple formats: including DSD, high res PCM downloads, streaming and physical CD.  Here Continue Reading →

Esteemed music and audio critic Neville Roberts writes eloquently in the UK about Yuko’s Miles Davis triumph.  Roberts reviewed the tape and two volumes of 45rpm 180 Gram vinyl separately.  Here are excerpts from both: “As anticipated, the album is superb! In “All Blues the drums in the introduction really make me sit up and listen.  When Mabuchi joins in on the piano with a trumpet playing the melody, the clarity of the sound and instrument focus is fantastic. Blue in Green is a beautiful contemplative jazz piece that has been re-energised by Mabuchi’s performance, and Milestones is sparkling and energetic.  Nardis is a gentle and reflective track that somehow sounds fresh with Mabuchi’s interpretation. “Mabuchi’s Ikumi’s Lullaby… gently relaxes you into the environment of the Cammilleri Hall. This is followed by Mabuchi’s sympathetic rendition of So What. It took me a few moments to clue into Miles’ original performance, Continue Reading →

In its category, NativeDSD just nominated All Things Common as one of four best albums of the year.  2020 remains a challenging time for our musicians and wider world but composer Tarik O’Regan, Music Director Rob Istad and the valiant musicians of Pacific Chorale and Salastina give us so much to celebrate.  Tarik’s fabulous writing, Rob’s conducting, Executive Producer Lenora Meister’s support, Pacific Chorale’s and Salastina’s singing and playing in the superb acoustics at Segerstrom Center for the Arts made this success possible.  This concert and recording took place in 2019, before the coronavirus upended our world and re-exposed multiple fissures on our society.  Tarik may have been able to see into the future, however: our album auspiciously calls for unity and collaboration between people.  May we indeed listen! Many thanks to Brian Moura, Bill Dodd and the nominating committee at NativeDSD.  Take a look at the other wonderful nominations Continue Reading →