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Donald Fagen: Morph the Cat |
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Wednesday, 24 January 2007 |
 Donald Fagen: Morph the Cat
Morph the Cat, the third solo effort from Donald Fagen (longtime co-leader of Steely Dan), follows 1982’s classic The Nightfly and 1993’s acclaimed Kamakiriad—and represents the latest installment in a powerful and at times deeply person trilogy. Whereas The Nightfly viewed the world from a youthful perspective and Kamakiriad dealt with midlife, Morph the Cat now ponders on endings and our own mortality. This may sound dry and morbid in a foreign-film kind of way, but Fagen delivers these ditties with a cheerfully witty and jazzy touch. The funky grooves, catchy melodies, and smooth vocal harmonies in this solid DVD/CD package keep us flying at a comfortable cruising altitude, above the potentially gloomy and turbulent themes.
DVD-Audio content is presented in hi-res 96 kHz/24-bit 5.1 surround and stereo, while Dolby Digital stereo/5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround options are also provided for DVD-Video players. A standard CD contains the stereo mix. Steely Dan engineer/mixer Elliot Scheiner once again turns the knobs, and the surround mix soars alongside hes other outstanding Steely Dan/Donald Fagen 5.1 mixes. Fagen’s lead vocal and core rhythm section occupy the front speakers, while percussion, background vocals, and additional musical elements work the surrounds. The high-end is a tad bright, compared to the smoother hi-res stereo option, and there are no video or multimedia supplements on the DVD disc.
Morph the Cat is a groovy time and best consumed in surround—glass of red wine (or your beverage of choice) not included.
CD/DVD-Video, Reprise Records, Technical Rating:B+ |
Audio Reviews 
