2023 SURROUND RELEASES

[J. PUPSTER]

Just checking out some samples of that upcoming Boris Blank title; and I bet that'll be a great one

Will have to throw at that new Andy Jackson as well

 

[azcarz]

Y'know, we're truly a hardy lot. Besides all the "crap" being released, the desirable titles are for the most part just re releases and probably inferior mixes stereo only! I mean, I understand the creator needs to put his stamp of approval on a release before a finger is lifted but jeez can't anyone persuade Jeff Lynn to remix his entire catalogue in immersive Atmos. Yeah, sure i picked up El Dorado even though it's two channel only. But beggers can't be choosers!

 

[fizzywiggs41]

@haikubass

I just noticed your adding a few Jan Feb 2024 's ...ok and wow!! Off to a great start!

I wonder if 24 is going to have at least as many surround titles as this year ?
What a great year for surround titles this year of 2023 has been . And yet in ever increasing numbers , also big bonus on the number of quads from the 1970's .

Anyway thanks for your due diligence.
I love your listings and reference them month to month... if not sooner.
I'm sure I'm not alone in that endeavor.

fizzy

 

[J. PUPSTER]

One more fresh title, out this Friday and reportedly with free international shipping when pre-ordered:

Jazz big band Ursula Reicher & The Globular Cluster offer their album Welcome To Dark Matter in typical IAN Records manner - CD+BD-A combo with 5.1, Atmos & Auro-3D mixes, of course by David Merkl & Stefan Bock.
https://ianrecords.com/products/welcome-to-dark-matterhttps://tidal.com/album/317666111

Finally got mine in from Germany yesterday, had forgotten I'd even ordered it. Some very wild stuff but interesting and moody. Listening in 5.1 now, sounds great and very surroundy. Only thing is, I don't see a CD (fine with me anyway) in my package, just a BD.

 

[haikubass]

What you might have missed last week?

First off, a rather major announcement by Big Big Train, who are releasing their first studio material The Likes of Us in surround/spatial next March (the previous 4 were all live and 5.1 only).

Two new items on the IAA site:
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio's album A Shade of Blue was released on SACD this October, but now you can purchase it as a 5.1 and/or Atmos download as well.

a question of when's when it happens to you is the other one - if you want to sample a real indie sounding release, give this a chance.

In case you really missed it here, some of the always popular Jethro Tull re-releases were re-pressed, namely Minstrel in the Gallery, Aqualung and Songs from the Wood.

And finally, the both last two batches of Quadios are now also available in Europe on Amazon and elsewhere, and this SDE article covers various pricing neatly.

 

[François]

And finally, the both last two batches of Quadios are now also available in Europe on Amazon and elsewhere, and this SDE article covers various pricing neatly.

Still nothing in France… Getting closer, though!

 

[haikubass]

Still nothing in France… Getting closer, though!

I thought the only Amazon still a little behind was the German one, as I have seen America or Lightfoot on Amazon.fr last Friday already?

 

[François]

I’m always a little wary of third party vendors…

 

[haikubass]

Just a quick one today - you know what batch #3 and SDE #17 are, right?

 

[H.A.L.]

I'm quite happy with the 2023 releases I have acquired (or are waiting for ).

Great year! Let's hope 2024 is kinder, if only to take our minds off the news .

 

[humprof]

[T]hree new downloads over at Immersive Audio Album:
[. . .]
https://immersiveaudioalbum.com/pro...ran-and-his-latin-jazz-big-band-atmos-mkv-mp4

Review in DownBeat:

Hilario Durán

Cry Me A River

(Alma)

On Cry Me A River, Cuban-Canadian maestro Hilario Durán’s first big band recording in nearly two decades, the Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning pianist, composer and band director leads a 19-piece ensemble with magnificent results. The nine tunes draw sustenance from Durán’s traditions, yet along the way also pay homage to maestros from both the classical and jazz realms. Invited guests include acclaimed Cuban alto saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera, drummer and percussionist Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and Okan’s Elizabeth Rodriguez on violins. Cry Me A River is remarkable for inventive arrangements that intertwine traditional grooves with fabulously lush, richly textured orchestration and uninhibited improvisation.

 

[weekendtoy]

Review in DownBeat:

Latin Jazz Big Band ~ intriguing.

Would love to read a review or two regarding the surround mix.

 

[sjcorne]

Would love to read a review or two regarding the surround mix.

It's really good. Durán's piano and the drums are in the fronts, horns fill up the sides and rears, and percussion appears overhead.

 

[DuncanS]

The Levellers is in transit, I'm only missing the Yes as I was waiting for a stand alone, but I keep weakening!

I weakened, and succumbed to temptation . The Yes arrived this morning bought it new on eBay and wondered why the tracking didn't seem to work, it turns out I bought it from ImportCDs in the USA, but hadn't realised that from the eBay listing.
So it arrived sealed in perfect condition for only £66.95 inc. VAT & P&P from the USA!!

 

[haikubass]

2023 is over now, a massive year for surround.

Last titles added were two Atmos downloads via IAA - Cuban Rhapsody by Hilario Durán & Jane Bunnett, and Bruce Soord-mixed Katatonia album Sky Void of Stars. Interestingly, the latter was one of the first physical surround releases of 2023 and the first one to go out-of-print.

If you want to look back, contemplate & evaluate, these threads are here for you:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/2023-the-year-of-surround.35319https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/top-ten-surround-picks-for-2023.35317https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/iaa-listeners-choice-awards-2024.35063/#post-748116
And just in case you still can't get enough and/or still have enough dough, why don't you check out the new list/link-hub for 2024 (hint: there's one gigantic release gently inserted at the last moment):
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/2024-surround-releases.35349
Happy 2024, everyone - stay surrounded & immersed!

 

[humprof]

Fandango at the Wall isn't quite the bargain I thought it was (the original double-CD album had 33 tracks, while this new "Immersive Edition" is whittled down to just 10), but it still has a stellar mix that befits such a brilliant project, which combines cutting-edge works for jazz orchestra ("Latin" influenced, though not necessarily your father's--or O'Farrill's--Afro-Latin jazz) with multi-generational son jarocho from Veracruz. Plus guest stars like jazz violinist Regina Carter. And @sjcorne is right: if you're only familiar with Jim Anderson/Ulrike Schwartz's immersive mixing from albums by Patricia Barber or Jane Ira Bloom or even that Sammy Nestico big band album that came out a couple of years ago, then this will strike you as an adventurous departure from their previous work. "Big" Atmos, with full use of the overheads.

O'Farrill's Latin Jazz Ensemble somewhat improbably topped the "Rising Star Big Band" category in this year's DownBeat Critics Poll, while an artist with another Anderson Audio Atmos mix (or two)--namely Jane Ira Bloom--won Best Soprano Saxophonist.

https://downbeat.com/news/detail/jane-ira-bloom-super-power-at-work