Page 113 - Hi-Fi World (January 2020)

VINYL NEWS

vinyl section VAN HALEN

A rather nice 7” box set from Rhino containing
thirteen Japanese singles from the band, spanning
1978-1984. Contained in a flip top box with a
nice magnetic snap-shut lid, each
dinked disc sits in a paper
sleeve with the art printed
on a single sheet. The pair are
contained in a plastic sleeve.
Arrives with a paper insert
detailing the tracks.

CHANTAL CHAMBERLAND
‘Temptation’ from Chantal Chamberland
(Evosound: www.evosound.com) makes a big sticker
play of its German pressing source but fails to
say exactly where. Nevertheless, this singer-
songwriter combines new and classic tracks,
cooly interpreted, vocally textured and spatially
generous. It’s exactly what you’d expect to hear
at a hi-fi show. So you probably will.

SPEAKERS CORNER
A host of goodies from this German audiophile outfit
(www.speakerscornerrecords.com) includes ‘Aretha: Live at Fillmore West’ (1971). Backed
by an excellent band, there’s enough energy here to light a city. A quite brilliant,
fulfilling and sparkling live event.
Elvin Jones’ ‘Midnight Walk’ (1966) mixing jazz-funk, swing and bop for a storming
set. DEMON
Also look out for ‘The Flowering of the Original Charles Lloyd Quartet’ (1971), There’s three Greatest Hits packages from the UK
recorded at the Aulean Hall, Oslo, Norway, 1966, combining pop and jazz and vinyl outfit under its Gold imprint. One each from
appealing to the flower power set of the time. Features Keith Jarrett. 5 Star, Kiki Dee and Ace of Base.
‘Hank Plays Cliff’ sees Hank Marvin’s album on
(red) vinyl for the first time. Features Cliff Richard
on four tracks over two discs.
Rick Wakeman fans check out the rather good
‘Cirque Surreal’ (1995), featuring four Chrissie
Hammond vocals and instrumentals. A solid effort
from Wakeman.
The James Taylor Quartet’s ‘a Bigger Picture’
(2001) combines acid jazz with soul/funk and more
to provide a polished presentation of originals
with ‘TKO’, a Bobby Womack cover. Over three
sides with an etching on the fourth.
Don’t miss fun times with Hot Wax’s fun-pop
...AND FINALLY outfit, ‘Honey Cone’, who had a big hit with soul
song, ’Want Ads’. Timeless stuff.
Guido Spannocchi’s jazzy ‘All of the Above’ (Audioguido; audioguidorecords.kudosrecords. You can add gritty Laura Lee’s ‘Women’s Love
co.uk) is supposedly derived from European folk but sounds like classic bop to me! Rights’ (1971) to that. A classic women’s protest
Excellent stuff. outing, also originally from Holland-Dozier-
Wizard Rifle’s (Svart: svartrecords.com) self-titled, psychedelic noise rock is hard, Holland’s Hot Wax. The critic’s favourite was Lee.
tough, in yer face yet injects surprising melodic undertones. Features the classy ‘Wedlock is a Padlock’.
Klone’s ‘Le Grand Voyage’ (Kscope: kscopemusic.com) reminds me of Steven Wilson
blended with Sting. But the former in terms of arrangements
and delivery. Porcupine fans take
note.
The Akron Quartet Plays
‘Ritualul Sferei’ (Vampi Soul: www.
munster-records.com) is a jazz
combo majoring in exotica. Think
Les Baxter in its cool, lounge
strangeness.

www.hi-fiworld.co.uk JANUARY 2020 HI-FI WORLD 113