Yamina - How Deep Is The Ocean (2015) [SACD]

In high-end audio, less is more when there is less electronic transition and digital processing of a performance during recording and mixing. In the case of this Opus 3 SACD, How Deep Is The Ocean by female jazz vocalist, Yamina, we’re told the original DSD128 file had “never been in the PCM domain…” The rest is appreciatively more: more processing power by way of a pioneering eight channels of native DSD128 recording from Europe and then mixed in analog format completely.
Most delightfully, the entire album was a audience-less live recording in the Jarna Kulturhus’ Concert Hall with no post-recording dubbing. The result is a dynamically well-balanced work of art infused with high transparency and complex tonality. Though closely miked and hence cast effectively to the front and over the instrumentalists, Yamina’s voice never eclipses her band mates.
Small labels like Opus 3 churns out distinct gems occasionally, while many established artists flock to major labels for their marketing muscles. But the mainstream propensity and standardized recording processes often paled in comparison to the individually tailored musical accompaniments and discriminating choices in studio complements prevalent at small, independent labels by new artists...

Tracks:

01. My Foolish Heart
02. Yes No Yes
03. How Deep Is the Ocean
04. Very Present
05. Living Dead
06. One Feather At A Time
07. Gentle Rain
08. This Cold Light
09. Little Mermaid
10. Devil's Grip
11. Incinerate To Dust
12. Wild Is the Wind

Personnel:

Yamina, vocals, piano
Bjorn Jansson, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Anna Wallgren, cello
Mats Anderson, 7-string guitar
Robert Erlandsson, double bass
Thomas Wingren, percussion