New Santana Album "Africa Speaks"
Back on track ... I love Latin music. It’s full of soul. I started a thread titled "Do you like Mexican music," and was taken to task by a few small thinkers claiming that I was being "racist." The fact is, I’ve been deep into the Hispanic culture for a long time. My children are Hispanic. The music is fantastic, and I have a lot of it. On the Arturo O’Farrill albums ... As a result of Wolfie’s above post, I checked them out on Spotify. The ballads on the "In These Shoes" album are really good and the vocalist is quite nice as well. The band kind of reminds me of Willie Bobo’s orchestra. Not my cup of tea really. I much prefer the small Mexican groups. Mariachi is quite nice too. Check this out ... one of my all-time favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRp5vIJ_-ek Frank |
So this really isn’t just about music or sound compression at all is it?My apologies to the OP, some people you just cannot reach. So in the spirit of this thread I just streamed Africa Speaks again and even streaming you can tell it is heavily compressed. |
Wanna see a group of grown men running away from a mouse?, watch what happens when they turn on this video!;) A few points 1st - - This music is extremely well played, is a derivative of a music with roots in the Latin Jazz behemoth; Irakere (Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera). It's all the rage in Cuba and its called Timba. - The music swings mightily and allows room for and encourages, extended solos! - The people like to get dolled up, and than proceed to sweat their asses off, not by simply dancing, but improvising on the dancefloor. There was a time when the exact same things used to be said about JAZZ!;) https://youtu.be/ogvBr2avWjs |
Lots of great Latin and African tunes on this album. A Putumayo Blend - Music from the Coffee Lands Not sure if it meets the compression police standards but very good rhythms and beats. |
mc, since when am I PC. I'm a certified desert dweller. Like most modern popular artists Santana's later work lacks the intensity of youth. It is too polished, too well thought out. As for this citizen of the world BS, it would be lovely except the rest of the world isn't ready for it yet. See how long you last as a white guy in Rwanda. Talk to me in another 100 years. I'm an American Jew and proud of it. I don't have to worry as much about having my family killed here. |
Wow. You guys are a tough crowd-comparing the latest outing from a 72 year old artist to one of the all time classic albums, Abraxis! I think we could compare the vast majority of albums released by most artists in the last 2 decades to Abraxis and still come up short. Firstly an admission of bias-I have been a huge Santana fan since Abraxis first was released-still have that copy and it sounds great. I really liked this album-a lot. He is playing with real passion and I feel he has returned to roots. Santana 4, released a few years ago also is great, btw. Part of our problem today is we listen to a spin or two and don't let the music get a chance to percolate through our heads. That's because we aren't sixteen year olds who can afford only one album every 2-3 months. I remember albums that I thought were real dogs but played them because I had played the crap out all my others only to find that after multiple plays, the music got better and better. If you don't like Santana, you probably won't like this album. But this is one of his best releases music wise since the classic first four in my opinion. If you have it-let it be the album you warm your system up with. It just may change your mind. |
No one gets out alive. Even the LP is overly compressed. 😢 http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Santana+&album=Africa+speaks |
In the rock/pop world if you don't use large amounts of compression across the entire mix, your song will sound weak and wimpy when it follows a track that is heavily compressed. The compressed track will sound louder, punchier and more alive when compared directly to the uncompressed track. Technically the process is compression/limiting. They chop off the signal peaks and then raise the average signal level. It's like having an amp that goes to "11". |
This will be my last and final post on "Audiogon"; some will be happy, some will be sad, but I'm moving on. I'm making this post in honor of "Carlos Santana", one of the greatest musicians of my generation, and I say this with the authority vested in me as a music lover. "Woodstock"; in August of 1969, Carlos Santana let the world know who he was and what he could do with a guitar; from that time on, he only needed one name "Santana". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZceAQSJvc "Epiphany" is defined as an appearance or manifestation; Santana was both, he was the appearance of a guitar deity, and the manifestation of "Latin Rock"; plus, for me personally, a trip into another reality. "Abraxas" Singing Winds, Crying Beasts; I wore out three LP's of that album, and presently own 1 new LP, plus 2 CD's; to say that I like that album is an understatement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xskk5q1DL6A&list=PL4B040D6EA1342931 Santana had "it", and he still got it. |
onhwy61 In the rock/pop world if you don’t use large amounts of compression across the entire mix, your song will sound weak and wimpy when it follows a track that is heavily compressed. The compressed track will sound louder, punchier and more alive when compared directly to the uncompressed track. Technically the process is compression/limiting. They chop off the signal peaks and then raise the average signal level. It’s like having an amp that goes to "11". >>>It’s the difference between loudness and dynamic range. If the music doesn’t have dynamics it’s just elevator music albeit loud elevator music. That’s why you have to turn the volume UP for uncompressed tracks. The overly compressed tracks sound MONOTONIC not DYNAMIC. Teeny boppers love it, though. 😍😍😍 |
Orpheus10, it would be a shame, to not have you here. Your contributions have always been appreciated by me, even if I disagreed at times. On another thread, I put forth a question to the other posters. It went like this. " Given an opportunity to listen to a typical, junior high school jazz ensemble, in Carnegie Hall, with you being in the 1st 10 rows, OR, Miles Davis, with some of his quartet members, in an acoustic space, no better than an airport bathroom, which would you prefer ? ". I do not recall if anyone responded to me, but, without being disrespectful to the junior high band, I selected the MD quartet, not caring where they performed. Some of us, use the music, to listen to our equipment, and some of us, use the equipment, to better listen to the music. Most of my favorite music is compressed, to various degrees, such as Africa Speaks, ( actually, compared to being at a live, unamplified musical performance, once it hits the microphone, it is over ). I understand this, and feel, my system, allows me to hear more of the " music ", and I can pay less attention to the recording quality. All recordings, do not sound like a Chesky production ( it would be nice if they did ), but I know, many audiophiles, who ONLY listen to recordings, such as these. I can, and do, appreciate a recording, that is stellar in it’s recording production, but I will continue to listen to all of my recorded music, because it is all about the music. One last point. Many folks posting on this thread, feel their systems are the wonders of the audio community, but little do they know, the speakers they use, exhibit compression. Please, stick around, and see, all of the posters, who respond to my post here. Enjoy ! MrD. |
@orpheus10 Hey I totally get where you are coming from, many of the responses left me cold as well. I agree with you 100% about Abraxas - one of the all time greatest rock albums. I also agree with you about Africa Speaks - sounds good to me, Carlos has the fire back on that one. It’s quite the achievement and testimony to Mr. Carlos Santana to be making music all these years. Enjoy the music ! Take care of yourself. |
This will be my last and final post on "Audiogon"; some will be happy, some will be sad, but I'm moving on.What in the world? Why would be my question. I know the posting on Audiogon has taken a turn for the worse at times of late but no need to leave. Take the high road and rise above the cattle. Sorry to see you go if that is your final choice and one that I respect. Good luck! |
Well, I listened to Africa Speaks, again, in it's entirety, and what is amazing to me, unlike many here, I enjoyed the music, the playing, the melodies, the harmonies, the song structures, the interplay between the musicians, the creativity of what Carlos has put together, 50 years after his beginnings. My system allows musical flow, rhythm, agility, details, tone, coherence, and dynamics, to show through. My system disappears, with this, and many. Yes, it is a studio album, but all I can say, for those of you who do not give this masterpiece another go, is missing out on another Santana marvel. To not listen to music, because of some audiophile ignorance, is unfortunate. Enjoy ! MrD. |
When I first saw this thread it reminded me that I hadn't heard any Santana in a while and I listened to a couple of his older albums. As far as this album, I didn't sit down and listen to this in a "critical" way, I just let it play and I have to say, I was drawn in by the Santana's blistering guitar work right from the start and the percussion and singing kept me listening. To me it sounded like a group of talented musicians enjoying themselves and letting their creative juices flow. I read that they recorded 49 songs in ten days! Hate all you want. If you can do anything as good or better than this in any creative form of expression, my hat's off to you! Oh... by the way, it sounded pretty good on my system. |
This recording, is where, Santana is now, after 50 years of doing his thing. If you are a Santana fan, I would be surprised, if you do not like this, to some extent. If you do not like it, because : it is compressed; it is not " Africa " enough for you; or, you feel he " sold out " ( as some comments suggest ), well, you and I, listen to music, for different reasons. For those of you who are going to listen to it again, try, and not think so much. Enjoy ! MrD. |
Well I streamed this again late last night on Qobuz hires. Was very relaxed and receptive. Still think it is overly compressed and lacking in air and dynamics but..... Yes there is some pretty fine guitar playing and it does have a cohesiveness to it that has possibly a longer term appeal than my first go round indicated. Would I buy the album? No I would not but it is now in my Qobuz fave list. I think it might do better on a decent headphone setup. |
My CD was delivered by a pony express rider who was flagged down by one of "Miss Kitty's" girls along the way; hence, it took awhile for me to get it. This thread would be incomplete without my final evaluation, and that required the physical CD. Unfortunately, I agree with the "audiophiles" about the recording downfalls of this CD; however, I give the music an "A", that's because I began listening to music with a complete rig that came in something that looked like a "small" suitcase; consequently, it's easy for me to separate the music from the recording quality. Although I found the title to be slightly misleading, the music was pure "Santana" and I enjoyed it. I hope Santana gets this message and never again records such a sorry CD from a technical point of view. |
The cd is selling on the Bay, new, for under $5, inclusive with shipping. I do not stream yet ( I am still looking into it ), but the cd, sounds good on my system. The music....., wow. I know it is a very processed studio album, but as I said many times in my posts, it is the music that matters, and Santana, being a favorite of mine for 50 years, did not let me down. Enjoy ! MrD. |
