Today I am honored to have a very good friend posting on this blog for the first time. Below is his take on Radka Toneff's legendary album, Fairytales.
Before I continue with this review, let me make it clear that I have little affection for 'audiophile' LPs. A hi-fi reviewer once described such music as "musically bankrupt" and I cannot agree more. Now that we've got that out of the way, on with the review. Radka Toneff's last studio album Fairytales needs little introduction to aficionados of good music and great (ok, ok, audiophile) sound, because here is an LP of easy listening songs, presented in the best way possible to showcase the female human voice. From the moment the stylus hits the groove, the first impression you get is that of etherealness, as Radka's voice floats out of the system on gossamer wings, veering between fragility and emotion. The accompaniment (solo piano performed sympathetically by Steve Dobrogosz) is pretty close to the mike, but never intrudes or glares harshly. The recording is immaculate and whisper quiet, with hardly a fault or bum note. First issued in 1982 on Odin Records, originals are long out-of-print and depending on quality, exchange hands for serious money. It was subsequently reissued on 180gm vinyl (also on Odin) and Japanese CD (neither of which are 'cheap'), but the copy to gun for is the priceless original. This is music to soothe and salve wearied souls.
Today I am honored to have a very good friend posting on this blog for the first time. Below is his take on Radka Toneff's legendary album, Fairytales.
Before I continue with this review, let me make it clear that I have little affection for 'audiophile' LPs. A hi-fi reviewer once described such music as "musically bankrupt" and I cannot agree more. Now that we've got that out of the way, on with the review. Radka Toneff's last studio album Fairytales needs little introduction to aficionados of good music and great (ok, ok, audiophile) sound, because here is an LP of easy listening songs, presented in the best way possible to showcase the female human voice. From the moment the stylus hits the groove, the first impression you get is that of etherealness, as Radka's voice floats out of the system on gossamer wings, veering between fragility and emotion. The accompaniment (solo piano performed sympathetically by Steve Dobrogosz) is pretty close to the mike, but never intrudes or glares harshly. The recording is immaculate and whisper quiet, with hardly a fault or bum note. First issued in 1982 on Odin Records, originals are long out-of-print and depending on quality, exchange hands for serious money. It was subsequently reissued on 180gm vinyl (also on Odin) and Japanese CD (neither of which are 'cheap'), but the copy to gun for is the priceless original. This is music to soothe and salve wearied souls.
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