Myles Astor from Audio Nirvana gives the analog tape album Nostos Tes Mousikes his prestigious PFO Writer’s Award!
15-ips reel-to-reel Tape (new) of Nostos, Tes Mousikes (The Homecoming of Music), Cal. State Fullerton Singers, Robert Istad (music director), Yarlung Records $500 (three reels)
Undertaking a choral recording is no easy task. For instance, the hall’s acoustics can make or break the recording not to mention having to carefully balance the direct vs. reflected sound. With that in mind Bob Attiyeh (of Yarlung Records) set out to find just the right venue to record Nostos, and in the end chose the recently finished Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal. State Northridge. (Nostos was also the premiere recording at this new hall.)
Fans of the old Decca/Argo choral recording will love this new Yarlung recording. Nostos features the likes of Howell’s Requiem, Brahms’ Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz (Psalm 51), Martynov’s Zapovedi blazhenstv (The Beautitudes), Part’s Nunc dimittis and Eriks Esenvalds’ arrangement of Amazing Grace. No one will be disappointed with the solos on Howell’s Requiem nor the Martynov’s piece. Nostos is also sonic blockbuster with a sense of space even exceeding those old Argo recordings. Those into digital can also download Nostos in Quad DSD (or other resolutions). Price: $500/3 reels.
–Myles Astor