"…Hope is one of those intensely visceral, large as life, and immediately present recordings that will make pretty much any system sound at least very good, and will cause better ones to raise goose bumps." – Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, August 2008
"…The high quality original mix plus Analogue Productions' superb mastering has resulted in a terrific, very transparent sonic with great impact." – John Henry, Audiophile Audition
"A stunning demo disc to test or show off any stereo system." – Playback, June 2008
"Here's another masterpiece from Chad Kassem and Kevin Gray…you would swear that you are listening to a master tape in your living room…this one is great for showing off what your stereo system can do." – Jeff Dorgay, Tone Audio, No. 15, 2008
A longtime audiophile demonstration disc. Hope will show off your system's dynamic range as well as any record ever released. Hugh Masekela, the outstanding South African trumpeter, assembled a seven-piece group and recorded this great set live at Washington, D.C.'s Blues Alley. The songs stretch over a period of nearly five decades and serve as an informal guided tour of Masekela's life. The songs are honest and bare, and as for the sound – WOW!
Tracklist:
1. Abangoma (The Healers)
2. Uptownship
3. Mandela (Bring Him Back Home!)
4. Grazing in the Grass
5. Lady
6. Until When
7. Languta
8. Nomali
9. Market Place
10. Ntyilo Ntyilo (The Love Bird)
11. Ha le Se (The Dowry Song)
12. Stimela [Coal Train]
Label: Analogue Productions
Released: 1994/2008