For those of us with multiple headphones, which ones are you listening with now?

[rids57]

Qobuz > ROON > Holo Audio Cyan 2 > Violectric V222 > Hifiman Arya Stealth

The Emerging (2018) by Sutej Singh - After hearing his new one I just had to listen to it's predecessor and it's also brim full of excellent music. The composition and quality of musicianship is quite an eye opener, he's a world class guitarist and it puzzles me that I'd never heard of him until now. The title track, The Emerging is a classic, it starts off with some gentle atmospheric guitar and strings, then flute and then WHUMP! In come the drums, the guitar gets turned up to 10 (at least) and we're off on a very lively middle section, then calming down before finishing up with a grandiose finish. The next track, Oceans Apart is not exactly a step down, in fact it's just as good with some superb guitar soloing. This is really what I look for in guitar music, concentrating on the MUSIC and composition rather than playing twiddly bits for the sake of it - I really can't understand why he's not more well known outside of India.
The Aryas did great with this and the previous album, the guitars sound alive the music feels complete rather than a bunch of instruments - Highly addictive!

p.s. A BIG thank you to @JAnonymous5150 for recommending him in the first place.

 

[Nick24JJ]

Xiaomi 15 Ultra + Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro (Wi-Fi) (4.2M Lossless Audio)
UAPP

 

[Luckyleo]

Qobuz > Yggy+ GS2 > ZMF Aegis > Grado HP100 SE - Killer combo while listening to a great new album!

 

[frkasper]

YouTube Music -> Schiit Magni Unity -> FiiO FH19

Sharon Van Etten - Porta

Phantogram - Into Happiness

Vansire - Every Time Around

Hope Tala - Phoenix

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Just had to jump in and say this is one amazing album - I'm not even half way through yet but everything I've heard so far is exceptional

Qobuz > ROON > Holo Audio Cyan 2 > Violectric V222 > Hifiman Arya Stealth



The Emerging (2018) by Sutej Singh - After hearing his new one I just had to listen to it's predecessor and it's also brim full of excellent music. The composition and quality of musicianship is quite an eye opener, he's a world class guitarist and it puzzles me that I'd never heard of him until now. The title track, The Emerging is a classic, it starts off with some gentle atmospheric guitar and strings, then flute and then WHUMP! In come the drums, the guitar gets turned up to 10 (at least) and we're off on a very lively middle section, then calming down before finishing up with a grandiose finish. The next track, Oceans Apart is not exactly a step down, in fact it's just as good with some superb guitar soloing. This is really what I look for in guitar music, concentrating on the MUSIC and composition rather than playing twiddly bits for the sake of it - I really can't understand why he's not more well known outside of India.
The Aryas did great with this and the previous album, the guitars sound alive the music feels complete rather than a bunch of instruments - Highly addictive!

p.s. A BIG thank you to @JAnonymous5150 for recommending him in the first place.

I'm happy to turn more people on to Sutej so you're very welcome. It is mind-blowing that a guy can produce two albums of this caliber and be more or less unknown to the wider world at large or even within the prog community. There are musicians with long recording careers who are household names with multiple successful albums that haven't produced anything on this level and I'm not saying that as a knock on them, but as a compliment to just how good this dude and his work are. I'm hoping that now that he's got a second ridiculously good album to show that his first wasn't some fluke he's gonna start attracting more recognition. I'm yet to rec or play his work for anyone who's a prog fan and have them not dig it. Here's to hoping this is just the beginning of what we see/hear from Sutej Singh.

Topical Schtick:

I had a bit of a late night last night so I'm getting a late start this morning. I'm not normally much of a coffee drinker, but this is one of those days where some strong, black coffee is a necessity to clear the cobwebs and reanimate my corpse. I'm starting off the day on my Audeze LCD-4s driven by the SMSL VMV P2 and Gustard R26. One of the best qualities of the LCD-4s, IMO, is their ability to balance high level technical prowess and an impactful, dynamic presentation with an overall laid back and relaxing vibe. Their treble and mid range in particular, are smooth in all the right places while still having presence and clarity. It's always been kinda baffling to me that Audeze stopped producing these and more or less stepped away from making a similar sounding and performing replacement.

Up first in today's queue is Marc Roussel with his two most recent EPs: About Time (rel. 2023) and A Journey Into A Black Hole (rel. 2024). Roussel is a Canadian guitarist who plays instrumental prog and prog-metal compositions. A friend of mine actually recommended his work to me so I hopped on Qobuz and looked him up so I could give his stuff a whirl. I'm only a couple tracks in, but so far it's enjoyable, approachable, and pretty straightforward guitar-centric prog/prog-metal. His playing style so far seems to be more emotive/emotional rather than the shreddier, flashier, speed for speed's sake kinda styles that I tend to get bored with pretty quickly. So far so good!

https://marcroussel1.bandcamp.com/album/about-time-2

 

[Singaravelan]

On the Miroak II

been a while since I heard the wonderful Ahab.. call of wretched sea with some whiskey now... bliss

https://ahab.bandcamp.com/album/the-call-of-the-wretched-sea

 

[Elsiewi21]

Just had to jump in and say this is one amazing album - I'm not even half way through yet but everything I've heard so far is exceptional

You think Restless Relentless tops The Emerging, or are they both must-haves in their own right?

 

[Singaravelan]

On the penon Conductor

 

[benjifx19]

Qobuz > Musician DRACO > RNHP> Abyss JOAL

If you want intense electronic bass check this album out

 

[atomLI631]

There was an absolute ton of new releases yesterday and I am making my way through them...

Still on my Tungsten DS via PC (Tidal and bandcamp) -> Wandla GSE -> V281

To start, the new Ghost Album dropped. I much prefer the older, darker Ghost albums but this one isn't bad. Not sure if it's one Ill continually revisit like the first 3 albums.

Ghost - Skeleta https://tidal.com/browse/album/430783746?u

Caliban - Back from Hell (OG Metalcore, good to see these guys are still at it) https://tidal.com/browse/album/410578766?u

Caustic Wound - Griding Mechanism of Torment (Death/grind) https://tidal.com/browse/album/416084119?u

Ahamkara - The Harrow Of the Lost (featuring Austin Lunn of Panopticon. I love every project he is involved with and this is no exception)


OG USBM - Profanatica !!!!! Arguably one of the best BM bands from the USA and certainly pioneers of the 2nd wave.

 

[rids57]

You think Restless Relentless tops The Emerging, or are they both must-haves in their own right?

I'd rate them as A+ and A respectively, so both are must haves and are going to get a lot of playtime through Qobuz for me and if I wasn't saving hard for a new PC I'd be heading straight for Bandcamp for both of them

 

[Charade19]

Qobuz > ROON > Holo Audio Cyan 2 > Violectric V222 > Hifiman Arya Stealth



The Emerging (2018) by Sutej Singh - After hearing his new one I just had to listen to it's predecessor and it's also brim full of excellent music. The composition and quality of musicianship is quite an eye opener, he's a world class guitarist and it puzzles me that I'd never heard of him until now. The title track, The Emerging is a classic, it starts off with some gentle atmospheric guitar and strings, then flute and then WHUMP! In come the drums, the guitar gets turned up to 10 (at least) and we're off on a very lively middle section, then calming down before finishing up with a grandiose finish. The next track, Oceans Apart is not exactly a step down, in fact it's just as good with some superb guitar soloing. This is really what I look for in guitar music, concentrating on the MUSIC and composition rather than playing twiddly bits for the sake of it - I really can't understand why he's not more well known outside of India.
The Aryas did great with this and the previous album, the guitars sound alive the music feels complete rather than a bunch of instruments - Highly addictive!

p.s. A BIG thank you to @JAnonymous5150 for recommending him in the first place.

Alright, Happy Saturday/Sunday everyone. @JAnonymous5150 and @rids57 , two tracks in and I am loving it. The playing is immaculate. Reminds me of late 90s/early 2000s Dream Theater. Thank you both!

P.S. Qobuz (PC) --> Topping D90iii --> Schiit Valhalla 2 (Brimar 6060 driver tubes) --> Schiit Jotunheim 2 --> Meze 105.

Edit: Alright, that was a great album. Really enjoyed it. Onto the next one. Switched the gear. Qobuz (PC) --> Topping DX9 (DAC duty) --> Auris HA-2 SE+ (Mullard CV4024 driver tube) --> HD600. Needed a bit more relaxed "warm" sound, though without losing the neutrality. More music to come.

 

[Luckyleo]

Qobuz > Yggy+ GS2 > ZMF Aegis > HP100 SE

 

[Singaravelan]

On the conductor

Flashbacks of Cream, Hendrix, and every great blues based power trio

 

[frkasper]

YouTube Music -> Schiit Magni Unity -> Shure SRH1540

The Jungle Giants - Sending Me Ur Loving

Palace - Bleach

Yumi Zouma - Give It Hell

Stephen Sanchez - Until I Found You