Blue Coast Records Heavenly Voices

Anyone who's followed my love of great recordings and exceptional productions knows that I value the work of Cookie Marenco and company very highly. Cookie is a real professional who has worked in the industry for decades now, and the artists associated with Blue Coast Records are first-rank, all.

Recently I downloaded the DSD256 version of Fiona Joy Hawkins (piano) and Rebecca Daniels (violin) new album, Heavenly Voices. Fiona and Rebecca, internationally acclaimed musicians from Australia, perform a set of compositions bring together the best of new-wave 21^st century romanticism with echoes of the sort of contemplative Windham Hill vibe, a fusion that moved me extremely.

Fiona Boyd Hawkins (photograph courtesy of Blue Coast Records)

Rebecca Daniels (photograph courtesy of Blue Coast Records)

Track listing:

Finding The Way Out (5:09)
Interwoven Threads of Chance (4:53)
Lake of Contemplation (5:34)
The Bit In The Middle (3:22)
Elegy (5:19)
Sugar Plum Ghost (4:06)
The Lightness of Dark (10:28)
Ghosts Insanity Angels (5:40)
Heavenly Voices (5:38)

I have listened to Heavenly Voices many times now, always a good sign. In addition to the DSD256 from Blue Coast, in our reference stereo room (Wolf Audio Systems Alpha 3SX streamer to the aqua acoustics Formula xHD rev. 2 DAC to the Merrill Audio Christine Preamp and Element 118 monoblocks), I've also streamed it from Qobuz via Roon on two different reference streaming systems that we have. One is in our office system (exaSound DM streamer/DAC to the Vinnie Rossi hybrid integrated amp, and on to a pair of Focal Sopra One monitor speakers), and one on our outdoor system (exaSound PlayPoint streamer to the exaSound e62 DAC and onwards to the Mytek Digital Brooklyn Amp and Focal 100 OD8 outdoor loudspeakers).

In every setting, whether in DSD256 or Qobuz's PCM 192kHz/24-bit, the wonderful nature of Heavenly Voices shone through every time, moving and calming my soul. (Of, course, DSD256 was clearly superior, but that goes without saying.)

Fiona Joy: a portrait by firelight. Newport Beach, 2017 (photograph and image processing by David W. Robinson)

My summary response from my notes:

"What a lyrical album! The performances of both Fiona Hawkins and Rebecca Daniel are first rate…measured, deeply felt, and sure. There is an aching sense of melancholy, desire, loss, and joy that is impossible to miss.

But you don't have just two performers here, whirling about in occasional encounters. There is a clear empathy between Fiona and Rebecca that makes this album a continual contemplative delight.

The recording is very fine. The superior quality of the production is most obvious in Quad DSD, where the ease and naturalness of the sound space shows to great effect. The piano is rich, reaches deep, and doesn't ever congest or become hard. Likewise, there is none of the edginess or steeliness in the presentation of Rebecca's violin that can happen in lesser recordings. Vocals are also well handled. For example, the voices in "Sugar Plum Ghost" are haunting, effortless, dynamic, and without strain. It is a real pleasure to hear such a natural rendition of female voices…and quite an accomplishment. The musical and sonic balance between the two artists is ideal, allowing for a weaving of music and souls that quite delighted me.

Clearly, Fiona Joy Hawkins and Rebecca Daniel have really done magic here with Heavenly Voices…your heart would have to be concrete to deny the delight.

Blue Coast Records has a real winner here. Very highly recommended!"

I have to say that I cannot remember hearing a better recording of piano and violin, with performances that flow so clearly from the souls of this brilliant duo. This is a true reference-quality performance and recording in all regards.

You can purchase and download this album at https://bluecoastrecords.com/recording/heavenly-voices/. Multiple formats are available.

If you love music and are wise, you'll do so immediately….