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As in this group's previous release of the Mahler Fifth, the engineering is refreshingly clean and gimmick-free. The brasses that launch the Fourth have solid presence and depth. The oboe that begins the slow movement emerges startlingly from utter silence. Woodwind chords register with color and texture; the buzzing contrabassoon occasionally cuts through.

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Lizz Wright's new album recalls the good old days when successful jazz labels bankrolled ambitious projects for big-time singers. Shadow has classy packaging, a large cast of musicians, an established producer, a well-known photographer, fashion designers, and famous guests like Angelique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello. But it is 2024, so Wright had to do all that herself. Shadow is the second…

It has been 12 years since the last time Little Feat went into the studio to make a new record. The passing five years ago of longtime member guitarist Paul Barrere caused Feat fans to worry that the band might never make another record of original music—that an ensemble that always embraced change might become a fixed museum display.

Sam's Place is welcome not only for its inherent sense of fun but for ensuring that the band…

Admittedly, I have never attended the big shows in Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Warsaw, but it would be hard to imagine either one outdoing Munich. The Warsaw show calls itself the second biggest show in Europe, deferring, presumably, to the Munich show. Munich is so big that it even has a sideshow, HiFi Deluxe, just down the road. HiFi Deluxe…

When the CD is gone, and it will be soon, we'll miss it. New CD releases are winding down (footnote 1). In the classical world, the era of big, bargain-priced boxes of CDs—a somewhat recent development—is ending because, after a long, slow descent, retail sales have fallen off a cliff in the past year or so. In pop and rock, if you discover a new band you like, you may or may not be able to buy a CD. Perhaps they'll self-publish a few to sell at concerts; there's a better chance they'll have LPs, assuming they…

It's time to go out on a limb. Are Danny Elfman's Percussion Concerto and the other works on his new album "great music"? Should this classical music, from the former lead singer and songwriter of new wave band Oingo Boingo—who composed film scores for Pee-Wee's Big…

The sound
Experience with the Accordo Goldberg has reacquainted me with Franco's pursuit of truly natural timbres. From the first few notes, I heard an unstressed, communicative delivery that quickly drew me in. While rock and electric jazz played as well as most designs of this size, power handling, and compact category, such material could not reveal the full measure of the quality on offer here.

It was with simple recordings of natural sounds that these speakers' true excellence was revealed. Here, the Accordo Goldberg proved capable of effortlessly differentiating…

Description: Two-way, rear-ported, bass-reflex loudspeaker with laminated wood cabinet. Frequency range: 39Hz–23kHz. Impedance: 7 ohms nominal, 3.8 ohms minimum, at 5.5kHz. Sensitivity: 87dB/2.83V/m. Minimum amplifier power: 40Wpc.
Dimensions: 16" (405mm) H × 9.5" (240mm) W × 16.9" (430mm) D. Stand height: 29.1" (740mm). Weight: 27.5lb (12.5kg) each loudspeaker; 17.6lb (8kg) each stand.
Finish: Solid wood with parts made of chrome and aluminum.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: Numbered pair 371 (auditioned), 326 (measured). Manufactured in Vicenza,…

Analog sources: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Keel chassis, Karousel main bearing, Radikal motor control, Naim ARO tonearm, and Lyra Delos cartridge.
Digital sources: Naim UnitiCore network server and S/PDIF source. Roon Nucleus +. Naim ND555 Streamer-DAC with dual 555PS(DR) power supplies.
Preamplification: Townsend Allegri Reference, Naim SuperLine-SuperCap DR phono preamplifier.
Power amplifier: Naim NAP250 2024 series.
Loudspeakers: FinkTeam KIM, BBC LS3/5a (15 ohm), Magico A5.
Accessories: Several 4- and 5-tier point contact Naim…