Quite a rum selection for me. I only have a couple dozen classical
recordings, but I added to them with:
Brahms - the Complete Symphonies (for only 6 quid!)
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas, Vol 9 (no, I don't have the first 8)
The best of Ivan Rebroff - has anyone heard this indisputably unique singer?
He has (or had - I'm not sure he's still alive, he'd be about 70) a
mind-boggling range, from the deepest, richest basso profundo through to a
pure, sweet falsetto, reaching high notes some female singers might struggle
to hit. He sang a lot of traditional Russian songs, operatic arias, show
tunes, even a not-terribly-good pop tune called Perestroika - AND he sang in
at least 6 languages!
Then there was that duplicate copy of Pooka's "Spinning" album (and no, this
isn't a bogus attempt to shoehorn yet ANOTHER mention of this album into my
despatches to the list!!), for which I have found a good home. In fact I'll
send the next copy to one of you folks on the other side of the water, so you
can spread the word over there!
And finally there's Lauren Hoffman's 1st album, Megiddo, which I've listened
to once and sounds good, though I'd be surprised if I decide it's as good as
>From The Blue House.
Oh, and let me kill two thread birds with one stone by declaring that I'm a
Gemini (anyone else born on the 4th June?)
On a personal note, I'm writing as a free man - Thursday 28th was my last day
working for a city law firm, after 12 years. I'm now a free agent
(unemployed), considering my options (wondering what the f*ck I'm going to do
to pay my mortgage) and staying calm (yes Mr Ali Khan, just breathe into the
paper bag then breathe in, repeat as necessary).
Azeem in London
