Chie Ayado – Friends (1999, 24/96) – EWE Records
Friends is part of Chie Ayado’s early EWE catalogue, where her intimate vocal approach is balanced by jazz-combo accompaniment and a strong sense of musical conversation. The 1999 24/96 edition represented here is particularly suited to listeners who want to examine the textures of voice, piano and rhythm instruments. The album’s title is fitting: its greatest strength is the sense of musicians listening to one another.
Sound Quality
Ayado’s vocal has a rich, expressive midrange that should remain highly articulated. Piano provides strong transient information, while bass and drums create the rhythmic floor. A resolving system should reveal the small timing differences between the musicians without making the presentation sound analytical. The 24/96 format can preserve fine instrumental decay, but tonal balance remains crucial; Ayado’s voice should have warmth and grain rather than glossy studio smoothness.
Audiophile Listening Experience
Friends is best played at a realistic level, where the dynamic relationship between singer and ensemble becomes obvious. Listen for piano attack followed by natural decay, then follow the bass and drum response underneath. The stereo image should have enough depth to distinguish the musicians without stretching the stage unnaturally. Quiet passages are especially revealing because Ayado’s expressive phrasing depends on small changes in intensity.
Reference Tracks
Use the most piano-centered songs for transient speed and harmonic decay. Vocal ballads test midrange realism, while faster ensemble numbers reveal timing and separation. Listen for the space between Ayado’s phrases and the instruments that answer her; those moments are more revealing than sheer frequency extension.
Audiophile Verdict
Friends is a natural fit for audiophiles who value musical interaction. Its 24/96 presentation can expose the texture of Ayado’s voice and piano, while the ensemble gives the system a chance to demonstrate timing and separation. The result should feel lively, intimate and human rather than overly polished.
Ayado’s performances benefit from a system that respects dynamic contrast. Her voice and piano can sound intimate one moment and physically powerful the next. Compression, excessive warmth or aggressive treble can reduce that contrast. With neutral playback, the listener can hear the small timing relationships between voice, piano, bass and drums that are central to the vitality of these recordings.
Friends is part of Chie Ayado’s early EWE catalogue, where her intimate vocal approach is balanced by jazz-combo accompaniment and a strong sense of musical conversation. The 1999 24/96 edition represented here is particularly suited to listeners who want to examine the textures of voice, piano and rhythm instruments. The album’s title is fitting: its greatest strength is the sense of musicians listening to one another.
