The Pornographer Der Pornograph (2001) [re Up]

The first two volumes of the Silence project are credited to Pete Namlook and Dr. Atmo while the following three are by Pete Namlook alone.
Silence (1992) is the one that started it all, Fax's first album release and one which caught the ear of both seasoned electronic boffins and dance fans looking for a chilled-out tonic after a night among the thumping beats of clubland.
Both this album and Silence II (1993) are collaborations with close associate Dr. Atmo and despite being at times almost new age in their choice of themes (a voice whispers sweet cosmic nothings like "we are all part of the universe") the music is outstanding. These beguiling, shimmering, reverberant landscapes are sometimes beatless and sometimes gently beaty with subdued live pads and cymbals…

One of the rarest albums by the guitar jazz great Tal Farlow! The set's one of Tal's best for Verve (although they're all pretty darn good), and it features his edgey guitar in a west coast rhythm trio with Claude Williamson on piano, Red Mitchell on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. The titles are mostly standards, but they're played with a nice moody groove that opens them up nicely, despite the short takes on the tracks - that great sense of economy that always makes Farlow work from this period so great. Titles include "Manhattan", "I Remember You", "There Will Never Be Another You", and a solo version of "Autumn Leaves".

This CD was initially recorded in 1993 and was reissued in 2001. That is fortunate for those of us who missed it the first time around, for Paul Coletti has produced one of the finest recorded examples of viola playing to be found. Coupled with the sensitive and thoughtful piano playing of Leslie Howard, this makes for benchmark renditions of these musical gems. Hyperion's sound is gorgeous and perfectly balanced throughout. The listener is drawn into the music making, with all its expressive and tonal nuances.