Taking the time to actually feel the music, to feel something real, absorb it, and begin playing only when the mood intends. Alasdair Hames Dodds is refreshingly genuine when it comes to piano composition, and Disillusionment is an initially simple but ultimately striking ode to that truth.
Instrumental
New York based composer, pianist and doctor Esmond Rubinov has achieved noteworthy successes with single projects over the years, but now returns to the bare essentials of composition, with the highly-anticipated launch of his debut album The Year After.
Maryland-based award-winning composer and visual artist Rahul Mukerji has become renowned for his unique fusion of world music, rock, jazz and cinematic sound design. The India-born creative notes over two decades of experience immersed in music, and as such, his balancing of unique artistry and skilful wisdom shines brightly.
Nashaat Salman achieves a fine balance between creative freedom and familiarity, with the recognisable threads and sheer musical excitement, even brilliance, of Sonatina For Lena.
There’s an exotic vocal flavour, alongside these sci-fi soundwaves and notes, and this creates a sense of rising enchantment that only grows stronger throughout the near-fourteen-minute journey. The song features a mutated version of the riff from Ghost Rider, by Suicide, and is a welcomed alternative to the more traditionally structured electronic tracks that seem so simple and rather predictable these days.
Fallout is ideal as a starting point, a trap rhythm and dreamy keys and synths laying down a haunting, thoughtful aura, as the beat follows a mellow stop-and-start arrangement that naturally gets the mind wandering. The style is cinematic, finely built, with central melodies that feel fresh, and a kind of impending intensity that always lingers amidst these panned, sweeping sounds and effects.
Sensational indie jams, slick guitar playing and soulful grooves – summer-night saxophone and a generally impressive fusion of excitement and colourful calm. Ununk delivers the goods in strong supply, with an instrumental playlist designed to both uplift and entertain audiences, as well as show off some incredibly handy-seeming musicianship at the helm.
From the Riverside EP of gorgeous instrumental originals, Serbian guitarist and musician Zarko delivers a crisp and captivating acoustic composition, for the wonderfully impressive and moving Vilino Vrelo.
Music made for visual media, a careful combination of cinematic, classical and playful melodies and arrangements, built out of hybrid orchestral sounds and synths. Toby Tune captures a creative edge that’s artistic and intriguing, for ELEMENTS OF SUBSTANCE.
Award-winning cinematic and classical composer and pianist Antonija Pacek turns her passion and expression towards the Christmas classics this season, offering a refreshingly warm, intimate and honest instrumental album, perfectly titled Heartwarming Christmas Compilation.
On those occasions when we’re gifted the experience of something truly purposeful and moving in art and music, may we seize the opportunity entirely, to speak with truthful enthusiasm, passion, and promise. As such, I can whole-heartedly encourage you to spend some time, and I assure the value of, listening and exploring in full, The Price Of Salt.
In defining the process or purpose of this album, Stewart Lane notes that ‘each piece traces the build-up to ecstatic release’. This is something you can hear and feel throughout these seven compositions, a unique and gentle progression, growing and culminating in some huge emotional presence and weight, suddenly peaking, and then being relieved or lifted away.