Review - The Gram - Cunic Ensemble November 2013

Time for honesty - I was asked by John Clarke who is the driving force behind Cunic Ensemble whether I would review his album on my blog - I said yes and John send me the tracks on mp3.

On the Cunic Ensemble Twitter Page https://twitter.com/CunicEnsemble the description of 'The Gram' is Pop/Blues/Jazz/Folk fusion - this is not neccesarily a good start for me - but their list of influences buoys me with more confidence - Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Alice Coltrane, Stone Roses, Chic, Beach Boys, Foo Fighters, Portishead, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles.

The album really is an ensemble of thirteen musicians and it does have that slight disconnection where say a group of four or five musicians would produce a more generic house sound that might be slightly more cohesive over a twelve track recording.

I am certain though that John was looking for the ensemble feel rather than the generic house sound - so in that respect he has hit the button.

Track 1 - Inspiration - Piano driven, gives way to guitar, striking vocal

Track 2 - Winter Bleak - Fleet Foxyesque at times (surprised they are not an influence!)

Track 3 - Freedom - Is that a banjo I hear?, voices not in harmony but complimentary

Track 4 - Yearning For Spaces - Jazzy, great piano, guitar lead as track progresses

Track 5 - Out Of Here - An Oasis track in the making!

Track 6 - The Gram Jam - Funky backbeat, instrumental

Track 7 - The Dread - Great vocal, simple guitar backing, sparse but builds

Track 8 - Feel The Unknown - Rock voice! 

Track 9 - See Feel - Strong female vocal, jazzy

Track 10 - D Nonsense - Complimentary guitars

Track 11 - It's All Just A Laugh - Jazz guitar, heavy work on vocals

Track 12 - Joined - Very apt title, good harmonies

I actually enjoyed listening to 'The Gram' - it is not quite like anything I have heard before. 

A lot of those influences come through although Nick Drake, Tim Buckley and Alice Coltrane would predominate over all the others.

Overall an interesting, thought provoking and enjoyable collection of songs - very different to my normal listen but hey everyone here's on a musical journey - check out Cunic Ensemble: 

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cunic-Ensemble/192513247455311

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/cunic-ensemble/id665108444

November 2013 - The Next Step On The Journey - Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB

After yet another conversation conversation with David Brook at MCRU https://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/ about whats good in the audio world my Tellurium Q Graphite USB lead was put up for sale and it didn't take long for a buyer to come along.

Money duly changed hands and I am now the proud owner of a Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB lead.

David is one of audio's good guys - he is a a great communicator and has a vast range of products at decent prices.

I first came across David when I enquired if he could improve my Kondo KSL - SPz mains leads which had standard connectors.

David recommended replacing the mains plugs with MK Rhodium Toughplug with a Furutech fuse and the connectors with Furutech FI-50 IEC plugs - as below

What a difference when they returned - amazing - people who heard the system could not believe that connectors could bring about such a tremendous improvement in sound quality.

Always had a great deal of respect for David after that and we have done business ever since.

I know what your saying - what's the Black Diamond USB lead like? Well there's the 30 day rule where it has to sit in my system for 30 days before I comment - initial impressions are very positive indeed.

False Start on the Digital Music Journey - November 2004 - Part 2

No equipment or dealer names will be mentioned below:

We have just moved house and my wife does not like the Heybrook HB1's black finish in the new living room - "if you get some new speakers I want them in a wooden finish to match the floor".

Having bought the Quad equipment around 1972 and having forgotten where I bought the NAD and HB1's from it was time to contact my local high street audio dealer to demo some speakers that would suit my budget (circa £1.5k) and my wife's wooden finish requirements.

After detailing my system to the dealer I was told that they would provide a similar set-up to mine allied to an award winning speaker that they said would blow me away and to bring along some cd's that I was familiar with for reference.

Cd's in hand I entered the shop and was led upstairs to the demo room - we listened to Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd and I just wasn't getting it - no more resolution, detail or soundstage.

The guy doing the demo said that he didn't think Dark Side of the Moon was very well produced (What a bellend - I found it difficult not to laugh out loud!) and that we should try Marvin Gaye - What's Going On - I didn't hear anything better here either and at this point the demo guy said he was really worried.......

I could have a serious hearing deficiency as "no-one in their right mind could not hear the difference between your system and this system - you really do have a problem".

Wow a demo guy who is worried about my well-being or perhaps a demo guy who is having a hissy fit because I really don't rate the performance of his proposed system - not being one to provoke argument I thanked him for his time and left just in time to see him roll his eyes and shrug his shoulders to his colleague.

Just for reference I played out the CD's again and I preferred my system - this was my first step on my audio journey and I had trodden backwards.

I want to go forward not backwards - note to self - I hope all audio dealers aren't the same.