Buxtehude: Complete Organ Works

Advantages: Brilliant, stirring, excitingly unpredictable, fresh performance; "genius" is not hyperbole in Argerich's case.
Disadvantages: Reflecting its LP origins, the CD lasts only 50' 16"!

...statement to the next, even within the very same phrase. You can’t help but give up and surrender completely to the emotional pull and richness of the music. Her control of the keyboard is amazing. Following the emphatic introductory chords in the Grave.Adagio of the Partita’s Sinfonia, listen as Martha drops the volume precipitously, beginning the Andante in a whisper, her notes now light and perfectly balanced. The Sinfonia (Partita) and the Allemandes (Partita and English Suite) mesmerize in they way they gently wash over you like liquid waves. In contrast, she attacks the English Suite Bourées with a relish and vitality that’s positively infectious. She commands your full attention from the first note to the last. She keeps things from growing monotonous and dull, something which can befall Bach’s works in lesser hands, given the somewhat... Read review

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Advantages: VDGG in their full Glory
Disadvantages: It Is Prog Rock but that is not always bad

.... Very few songwriters could write about isolation as well as Peter Hammill. The song kicks off with some jazzy drumming and odd sax and organ melodies, sounding like a depressed carrousel, as it drops into a slow waltz. Peter's vocal soars above this sounding detached from the proceedings, and the main motif dominated by his guitar heightens this sense of dislocation. The song switches between rabid cacophony and standard structure before rather bizarrely changing into an extended reggae jam. Absolutely wonderful stuff, "Wondering" Completes the original album in rather softly with fine flute and organ work, taking you out of the tumultuous journey you have been on for the rest of the record. Ofcourse with this being a fine digitally remastered edition you have all sorts of bonus treats the first two being different versions of "When She... Read review

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Advantages: Brave new experimental direction from the Radiohead lads.
Disadvantages: Difficult to get into at first, competely different to OK Computer.

...After releasing one of the best albums of the '90s in the form of Ok Computer this album came along as something of a shock in 2000. The album represented a brave new direction for the band with the riff heavy guitars of previous efforts replaced by a far more experimental sound of synths and samples. This album is actually pretty difficult to appreciate on first listen. Tracks such as National Anthem, Idioteque and Optimistic stand out immediately but the genius of tracks such as Kid A and How to Disappear Completely will slowly become apparent on repeated listens. ---Pick of The Bunch--- First track Everything in its Right Place is an intriguing track driven by synthesised keyboards. The vocals of singer Thom Yorke have been sampled and warped to create a pretty trippy intro track that draws you into the album. National Anthem... Read review

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