In FLAC, you can hear the "fingers on strings" texture of his Italian-made guitars and the subtle decay of the reverb in his home studio, things that often get squashed in standard MP3s. Summary of the 2CD Experience
: Perhaps his most famous track, featuring that iconic, brooding build-up. It’s a biting critique of modern life that somehow became a definitive driving anthem.
: A moody, atmospheric piece that highlights Rea's lyrical preoccupation with the passage of time and the changing seasons. Why Audiophiles Seek the "EAC FLAC" Version
The first half of this collection typically focuses on the "Imperial Phase" of Rea’s career. This is the music of the open road.
The second disc of the 2007 era collections often digs deeper into his 90s output and his shift toward the "Blue Guitars" project.
There are few voices in British music as instantly recognizable as Chris Rea’s. It’s a voice that sounds like it’s been cured in peat smoke and aged in a mahogany barrel. When you combine that vocal grit with his melodic slide guitar playing, you get a discography that bridges the gap between Delta blues and polished European pop.