Jean.Francois
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Hello,
Japanese composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi releases his new album Joe Hisaishi Conducts, recorded during a concert at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall on July 31, 2024. The program features his suite The End of the World — inspired by New York after 9/11 and later expanded into five movements — as well as Steve Reich’s The Desert Music, shaped by the landscapes of America.
Two points are worth noting about the release of this album:
This album offers a high-resolution stereo version (24-bit/96 kHz), providing sound quality that is as close as possible to the original digital recording, but with truncated dynamics.
As physical formats will not be available until March 2026, seven months from now, listeners have no choice but to enjoy this high-resolution version. Only those who prefer a vinyl edition will have to wait longer.
Deutsche Grammophon, which is a quality label, has accustomed us to much better, so let’s hope this is an isolated case.
As for the Atmos streaming version, it offers a remarkable immersion in the music, even if it does not achieve the refinement of the lossless stereo version.
Find the audio samples, all the measures and the complete analysis here (link).
Enjoy listening,
Jean-François
Japanese composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi releases his new album Joe Hisaishi Conducts, recorded during a concert at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall on July 31, 2024. The program features his suite The End of the World — inspired by New York after 9/11 and later expanded into five movements — as well as Steve Reich’s The Desert Music, shaped by the landscapes of America.
Two points are worth noting about the release of this album:
- No physical CD or vinyl editions are available for this release: they are available for pre-order for delivery in March 2026. In the meantime, priority is given to digital formats, through streaming and online purchase. This choice, far from trivial, reflects the evolving strategies of the music industry — and affects in particular the field of classical music, where the production timelines for physical formats are even more restrictive.
This situation raises questions: are physical formats, once essential for music lovers and collectors, now reduced to a secondary offering, relegated to niche or prestige items?
- The waveform of the Tidal Max – 2025 version shows a correct dynamic range confirmed with DR10. There is a noticeable limitation in the dynamics present on the waveform, unlike the waveform of the Dolby Atmos version decoded in 2.0.
This album offers a high-resolution stereo version (24-bit/96 kHz), providing sound quality that is as close as possible to the original digital recording, but with truncated dynamics.
As physical formats will not be available until March 2026, seven months from now, listeners have no choice but to enjoy this high-resolution version. Only those who prefer a vinyl edition will have to wait longer.
Deutsche Grammophon, which is a quality label, has accustomed us to much better, so let’s hope this is an isolated case.
As for the Atmos streaming version, it offers a remarkable immersion in the music, even if it does not achieve the refinement of the lossless stereo version.
Find the audio samples, all the measures and the complete analysis here (link).
Enjoy listening,
Jean-François
