On the song "Ghost Towns" by Radical Face, the piano and acoustic guitar play beautifully against each other. The higher piano notes sound twinkly and delicate, with the lower notes adding weight and mood to this haunting track. The string plucks have dimension, and hand slaps against the guitar have a satisfying clap. Vocals sound clear and near. Later in the track when piano, guitar, drum, and tambourine play together, you get details from each, but in a way that seamlessly blends into a whole: the pressing down on the piano keys, the scratch of guitar strings, the way the stick hits the drum, the shimmer of the tambourine. I actually found this whole album (The Family Tree: The Roots) to be an auditory treat on the Expanse, with the details on the array of pensive and delicate tracks hitting with a satisfying intensity.
Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction was in frequent play on my Sony Walkman and cheap-o headphones back in the way. It was quite a treat to hear it on something a little better. At the start of "Sweet Child O' Mine," I immediately perceived a layer of sound that seemed to be coming from somewhere down and to my left. Lots of detail here! The electric guitar at the beginning did come on a bit screechy for my (on some days) sensitive ears, and I had to lower the volume. But I did enjoy the clarity behind that wail. And I loved the peppiness that the Expanse gave this track. Axl Rose's voice is a love it or leave it proposition. I happen to like it, and I liked the up close and personal nature of his vocals. Yes, while the soundstage is big on the Expanse, vocals still sound relatively close.
