After going through a nadir I have bought some new CDs to broaden my listening palette.

My favorite of these has been Meteora by Linkin Park. The album is strong and concise the (whole album can be enjoyed in approximately 40 minutes). What makes the Meteora so fascinating is the partnership between Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington, the contrasting vocal styles give the album a depth that would be missing if there was only rapping or singing present. Unlike some albums were a guest vocalist (singer or rapper) merely “features” and are only present as fleeting piece of variety on an isolated track, the two vocal styles are integrated in a deeper way throughout the entire album. The brevity of the songs and the general attitude of the music is reminiscent of punk rock, but not in a slavish way. Before taking the time to enjoy Meteora I have only ever know some of Linkin Park’s hits and until now I had not taken the time to listen to their music in depth. What struck me particularly was the power and range of Bennington’s singing he switches effortlessly between snarling growls, pure singing, and many vocal textures in-between. The power of his voice is incredible and makes to songs vivid. Meteora is a work of great merit and deserves to be enjoyed often.

Next is Imogen Heap’s album Sparks, I have heard some of her music years ago but I had not listened to anything by her since then. After having given the album a couple of listens I was not initially very moved by the music, but it is slowly growing on me (despite the occasional feeling of frivolity in some of the songs). Heap’s music eclectically blends aspects of folk, ambient music, and even techno into her own unique formulation. There are some interesting song structure choices were the flow of the song is abruptly interrupted by a change of direction musically by abandoning the existing tempo totally, for example: Xizi She Knows. I also enjoyed the way that Heap’s disorganized internal monologue is externalised in the song Neglected Space and to a lesser extent in Telemiscommunications. The overall mood of the album is one of joy and loss all mixed together from the perspective of someone who is going through great changes in their life. My favourite track is You Know Where To Find Me. I would definitely recommend Sparks, what imperfections there are I feel are made up for by the spirit of exploration and adventure in the music.

I have also been enjoying two albums by Animals as Leaders: their self title debut and Weightless. Tosin Abasi’s guitar playing is incredible. He is the inheritor of the legacy of the guitar pioneers Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen who pushed the boundaries of what was possible with electric guitar. There are a variety of techniques he employs, that have as far as I am aware, have never been used before. He is also playing an eight string guitar with his own unorthodox tuning which is another innovation.

However, there are some minor flaws with Animals As Leaders and to a lesser extent Weightless. The mastering of the album is not very dynamic and sometimes the compositions feel like mere technical displays rather than expressions of emotion. That said I these are only minor blemishes on what is an exceptional album.

Finally, I have been enjoying a CD of Sibelius’ music conducted by Herbert Von Karajan. One of my first Classical CDs was a recording of him conducting Sibelius, so without realising it I have been listening to Karajan’s work for years before I was even aware of the purpose of the conductor and his fame. This recording is his interpretation of some of Sibelius’ most famous pieces including Finlandia. There is a sumptuous quality to the sound Karajan draws from the orchestra. I don’t have any recordings of the pieces featured in this CD by another conductor, so it is hard to asses it’s merits in the absence of anything to compare it to. Regardless, even if you are not a fan a Karajan’s style these recordings are certainly worth a listen.