Skye Deep Blue

It is believed many Malaysians may have missed this album for it was not distributed here. A classic story of lounge singer, spotted, went into a recording studio. There are a lot of unpolished great singers that needed a break. CD recorded in China to me sounds unnatural, with a very forward midrange while the rest step back.

Try hunting this CD in JB, no luck. Got to get it from Singapore. Boy, am I glad. Skye is a Singapore born, lounge singer at St. James Power Station. Built in 1926, this place was a power plant turned into an entertainment centre for the booming Vivo City. This album was released in 2008, this is her debut album under Harmony Records. It is a surprising good cover version album with great selection of modern classic Mandarin hits and a English number, Elvis's Love me tender. Mind you, this is not another ordinary cover version, it gives me goosebumps. Credits to her husky voice, weighty, individuality, unplugged style and great recording quality. Of course, her executive producers, Yin Tan and Sebastian Koh. Her vocal reminiscent of Paul Young's flu-struck voicing. Some cuts bettered the original to my ears, of course.

If you are a fan of MA recording, this is going to be a treat. Todd Garfinkle, the familiar face who show up every year at KLIAVS promoting his CDs is responsible for recording. Single microphone, one take recording, uncompressed, no mixing and direct cut to master. Optimum sonic preservation. Expect exceptional harmonic richness, palpable imaging and great ambiance capture, a hallmark of MA recording. Recording took place in Republic Polytechnic. Every bit spells audiophile. The arrangement is mostly accompanied with crispy guitar plucking and gorgeous drum. All audiophile goodness you ever asked for from this album.

Track list

1 後來
2 曾經心痛
3 囚鳥
4 味道
5 一笑而過
6 棋子
7 一個人生活
8 聽海
9 哭不出來
10 最熟悉的陌生人
11 Love Me Tender

Skye smoked Sally on this particular track, bettered in emotional intent of the song. Sally has a higher key, displays an angry delivery while Skye conveys helplessness.

Unreserved thumb up.

KLIAV 2014 coverage

Audio Sector line up

Rogers LS5/9 (right) and its replacement model (left).

Marantz network player NA11S1, deserves your attention.

Atoll electronics

BMC Pure Vox debut

Impressive showing by BMC Pure Vox, small speaker with big heart

Rear view of BMC PureVox

BMC USB high speed cable debut

Swedish Statement showing, Marten and Vitus winning combo

Local made diffusor by Hifi Creations

Hifi Creations, Arpeggio speakers and Magnet electronics. Good run for your money.

Tweaking from the pearl of east, Hong Kong

Audio Physic Scorpio 25 driven by Odyssey electronics

Audio Physic Scorpio 25, cross section view

Classic on wall (left) and Classic 10 (right)

Linn Akubarik with Linn electronic

Harbeth C7ES-3 with Quad electronics

AE Reference 2 with Roksan electronics 

New line up from Epos, K series

Devialet driving Penaudio Cenya

Inside the Devialet

Estelon speaker and 49 sonic personalities Graitech cables, come at RM28k

Unconventional Devialet remote control on Penaudio Sara S Signature 

Audio Note assault

Alan Wolff's Magico S3

Focal JM Lab Aria 900 with McIntosh electronics

Rosso Fiorentino in action

Adam Column by Audio Art

Soul Note,ex Philips engineers creations

Gut wires

French seduction, Atoll electronics

Audiomica Laboratory

Triangle speaker

Triangle line up

Hi Diamond cables

XTZ Divine 100.49 with YBA electronics

Focus Classic series teamed up with Densen electronics

Zellaton Grand and KR amp

ASI speaker, resonators and Karan electronics 

ASI cables with proprietary metallurgy

Dynaudio C1 with Jeff Rolwand electronics

Meeting the Naim family

Mission + Audiolab

Aurum Cantus from China

Canton tag teamed Moon audio

Verity audio + Nagra 

Neat speaker, FM acoustics and Vertere turntable. You gotta hear this!

Vertere The Record Player

Wharfadale classic

Harmon Kardon group, Revel + Mark Levinson

Opera speakers line up

Dali + dCS Vivaldi and Constellation

Sonus Faber Aida + Audio Research

Rockport + Vitus

Close look at new Vitus

PMC fact 12 driven by TAD electronics

JM Lab + McIntosh

Goldmund Prologos Plus

Findings :

CD and CAS as media are among equal, five accounts for only 11% is using vinyl at this year KLIAVS.

Speaker below RM10K showcased attained 16%, below RM30K 41%, below RM100K 30%, below RM200K 11%, above RM200k 2%.

I returned for the show on the second day to make sure I am missing anything.,particularly the sound from Arpeggio + Magnet and BMC room. Some are lucky that they do not have home theatre as neighbour, some are unfortunate. Man, Neat + FM Acoustics + Vertere combo captured most of my attention. Rhythmic, lively, clean and communicative, set my foot tapping, they did the least wrong. Best sound in my book even though missing the lower octave energy. It goes for RM300K, the least. No mushy mushy presentation but plenty of bite. If you are for live, directness, micro dynamic and gutsy sound, ASI room is worth checking out. Super Tango goes down to 18hz + - 3dB, that's is amazing.