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Favorite Albums Not in the Mainstream Found on Streaming Services

What are your favorite albums you have found on streaming services in any genera that would not be considered in the mainstream? What I mean by not in the mainstream are albums form artists generally less well known, that do not get media attention or … albums from artists that chart but the particular album does not get the same level of media attention.  
 

For example, surfing Qobuz, I recently found a live album from German artist, Loveland by Carolin No, a pop singer not popular in the US, that fuses unusual, complex and freeform improvisational structures from jazz, country and rock.  I find myself getting lost in her freeform style.  Her studio recordings do not go as far with the improvisational structure. The live recording is a well produced live album that retrieves the ambience of the large hall and solid bass, with slightly distant miking, producing correct dynamics for the miking … soft but I’m my opinion correct for the distance.  It is far from an audiophile’s standard from an engineering perspective but more than decent.  I recommend a listen.  
 

I hope to hear some of your recent finds.  

jsalerno277
jsalerno277 OP
331 posts
 

@sfgak Great choice of an album not in the mainstream from two mainstream megastars.  I do not know of it being available on streaming services, and it is out of print.  If you know where I can get a digital copy, let me know.  
 

By the way, did you listen to the Cunningham Bird album, an unusual, stripped version of the Buckingham Nicks songs? Birds violin interplays with guitars and Cunningham voice is crystalline, as opposed to Nicks dense virbrato.  The album has what I may describe as modern chamber music quality to a small degree.  The engineering is of audiophile quality.  It streams on Qobuz.  For a polar opposite take on the great set of Buckingham Nicks compositions, give the Cunningham Bird interpretations a listen.  

sfgak
149 posts
 

@jsalerno277 Oops... I misread your post to be asking for favorite albums not in the mainstream and also not on streaming services... As far as I know, Buckingham Nicks was never released in any digital form. I know there are at least two rips from the vinyl available on YouTube.

Thank you for the pointer to Cunningham Bird. I just finished my listening session for the night, but this is now queued up for the next session. Always great to get quality recommendations like that.

jsalerno277 OP
331 posts
 

@sls883 Agreed.  I like all of Carolin No’s albums.   However, her freeform improvisational  style that draws me in so deeply to the soaring exchanges between the piano, guitars, and percussion instruments is not as evident on the studio albums.  That’s why I love the live recording more even though the studio albums are engineered better.  

sls883
708 posts
 

@jsalerno277 have you listened to Angus and Julia Stone?  Their self titled release and Down the Way are excellent. 

jsalerno277 OP
331 posts
 

@sls883 Thanks.  Just finished streaming Down the Way digits on Qobuz.  Excellent choice.  Never heard them before.  I would characterize the album as a collection of a modern adaptation of late 60s acoustic psychedelic rock, similar in some ways a genetic hybrid of let’s say rock of The Fallen Angeles and Three Dog Night with the smooth, slow folk melodies of The Carpenters and The Mamas  and the Papas, leading to a new sound.  Decent recording engineering as well.  

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