Listening to some Anouar Brahem. Proud to say I "discovered" him well over a decade before he became fairly well known (among connaisseurs that is). In a Moroccan furniture store in London they played his Barzakh album, and I was immediately addicted. Bought everything he put out ever since. Can't go wrong with something like "the astounding eyes of Rita", But old the old stuf is to die for. This music makes discussions about PCM, 96/24, dsd, vinyl so utterly moot....
Anuar Brahem
- Thread starter edorr
- Start date
Same feelings here. Brahem has been on my radar for a decade too. I have most of his ECM recordings and a folder full of live shows.
Simply sublime.
Don't worry, this music thread will die a death quickly too. LOL.
Another long time fan here 
If you like him, check out Dhafer Youssef also, specially his latest album, "Abu Nawas Rhapsody".
alexandre
If you like him, check out Dhafer Youssef also, specially his latest album, "Abu Nawas Rhapsody".
alexandre
Lloyd,
Some years ago I had the pleasure of attending a live performance of the "The Astonishing Eyes of Rita" in a good auditorium - it was an wonderful moment . I had enjoyed Anour Brahem even before he moved to ECM but as a starter I would advise you to get Astrakan Café. This recording was a source of dispute at home, as every-time I wanted to listen to it I would have to look everywhere in the house, as some one else had picked it from my listening room and forgot to return it. Although it is less referred, the Le Pas du Chat Noir is also fabulous - its poignant and romantic style is unique.
And yes, Brahem recordings belong to a lot that make you feel happy that you have a great system with great synergy and properly matched. Its music lives on interplay of great musicians, and is full of small clues connected to cultural references in well know music. The proper cables
will be able to put you again in the auditorium, recreating the wonderful suspense of the entering chords of The Lover Of Beirut, obliging you to listen to the whole recording again and again.Lloyd,
Some years ago I had the pleasure of attending a live performance of the "The Astonishing Eyes of Rita" in a good auditorium - it was an wonderful moment . I had enjoyed Anour Brahem even before he moved to ECM but as a starter I would advise you to get Astrakan Café. This recording was a source of dispute at home, as every-time I wanted to listen to it I would have to look everywhere in the house, as some one else had picked it from my listening room and forgot to return it. Although it is less referred, the Le Pas du Chat Noir is also fabulous - its poignant and romantic style is unique.
And yes, Brahem recordings belong to a lot that make you feel happy that you have a great system with great synergy and properly matched. Its music lives on interplay of great musicians, and is full of small clues connected to cultural references in well know music. The proper cables
I prefer Astounding Eyes of Rita over the two albums you mentioned, and would definitely get this first - but this is all very personal. The album Barzakh is more traditional arabic - I absolutely love it, but it may not be up your alley. The astounding eyes of rita is a 99% risk free purchase.
Pathetic audiophile that I am I could not help myself, and I ended up listening to "The Lover of Beirut" twice yesterday to comparare the impact of using upsampling in my MSB dac on this fabulously recorded track/album, with decay of the high notes on the clarinet to die for....
Curious what you thought of the upsampling on the MSB. Better with it or without it?
alexandre
I knew this question was coming. The differences were minimal and I had no strong preference. I believe the upsampling was a bit more "polite" and smooth, while non-upsampled sounded a bit more dynamic. I can see prefering one setting for some music and the other for other types.
Now, I just got a call my Femto clock is waiting for pickup at Fedex office AND there is a USB package with Wirewold platinum starlight USB cable on my doorstep. Plenty more "audiophile" stuff to do for the evening. Anuoar couldn't care less of course...
edorr,
Thanks!
Your opinion reflects mine.
I leave upsampling on, except for classical, and "audiophile quality" recordings. For average stuff, upsampling on. And for the nasty compressed sh*t, I switch to Filter 4 as well. That does wonders.
alexandre
Thanks!
Your opinion reflects mine.
I leave upsampling on, except for classical, and "audiophile quality" recordings. For average stuff, upsampling on. And for the nasty compressed sh*t, I switch to Filter 4 as well. That does wonders.
alexandre
I first heard this of this artist during a Cabasse speaker demonstration at TAVES. It was the most memorable part of the show. It was a sale! The "The Astounding Eyes Of Rita" CD, though the speakers were remarkable as well.
Not legally, unfortunately. And it turns out it's really 24/44.1 upsampled to 24/96.
Really? Upsampled? How do you know?
if this is true then for me it has sullied the Qobuz reputation.
I am surprised ECM would allow this.
Qobus site is slow and confusing. It is a native french site, the english version seems to be an online automatic translation.
They have two types of recordings - Studio Masters (coming directly from the manufacturers, they do not manipulate it) and True CD Quality (please do not ask me what it means, I could not find, even in french).
The Astonishing Eyes of Rita is not labeled as being a Studio Master, so probably it is not true HiRez
They have two types of recordings - Studio Masters (coming directly from the manufacturers, they do not manipulate it) and True CD Quality (please do not ask me what it means, I could not find, even in french).
The Astonishing Eyes of Rita is not labeled as being a Studio Master, so probably it is not true HiRez
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