Something to listen to at volume, largely for its blissful fusion of intricate detail and soulful expression. An ambient, ethereal journey, blending spiritual warmth and trip hop across an evocative realm of lyrical guidance and meandering sounds. Isaac Garza’s music is a dream and a pleasure to stumble into, and Revolt marks a sublime introduction for those new to his work.
Piano
Featuring unique production akin to the atmospheric trip hop of simpler times, Lucky Star follows a single to multi-layered vocal delicacy, through a near-falsetto progressive melody, as we fall further into the embrace of this other-worldly concept and mood.
The UK’s own Henry Charles masters the space with evocative, delicate yet purposeful vocals – a piano-led ballad with a twist of lyrical poetry to captivate. Plastic Stars is familiar but powerful, slowly extending its reach, evolving skilfully from intimate and honest, to impassioned and mighty at its peak.
Unity is essential, and a key aspect of Faith – this belief in something more, something bigger, and in better days. The song’s sheer optimism and minimalist approach in contrast to the complex vocal layering all helps let that sense of Faith and possibility ring loud and linger in the mind.
The West’s favourite holiday resounds with musical cheer, and always we crave a slightly original take on the classics – something a little fresh, but not straying too far from the warmth and familiarity we’re used to.
New music from the poetic and distinct corner of creativity that is Ivano Bersini’s compositions – Love is instantly recognisable as Bersini’s style, but at the same time, this is once again a completely new take on the concept of pairing piano and poetry.
Romanian pianist and composer Andrei Irimia astounds with this work. Initially engaging listeners with a profound and emotional piano performance, Fragments soon evolves through a boldly electronic ambiance, an industrial to cinematic sense of drama, to effectively redirect us entirely.
Piano-led and intimate but mildly theatrical – TheEccentricLad delivers a boldly poetic, metaphorical journey, for the organic and evocative Vapors Of Love.
Building up beautifully from intimate and haunting to dramatic and impassioned, its the live aspect of the playing that grips you – the melody is unsettled, sometimes comforting, but for the most part this feels like an outcry on behalf of the soul itself; an artistic manifestation of conflicting emotions and the true vastness of existence.
Themes of love lost and its ‘lingering beauty’ make up much of the lyrical journey, and Robert’s repertoire features a rotating cast of singers whom have each been recognised as finalists in either The Voice or American Idol. This unique performative ability helps bring to life the genuine emotion and passion of every Lonesome Echo song, and Don’t Give Up On Us exemplifies that quality perhaps more so than any other.
Musically inspired by JS BACH and Benedetto Marcello, Minuet 5.0 features a solo piano thread descending under vocal harmonies and a softly spoken poem about children.
With words delivered again by Stephanie Rodriguez M, Minuet 5.0 repeats the word ‘children’ throughout, forever reinforcing the innocence at the heart of the writing, and thus heavily juxtaposing this innocence and love with the shattering darkness and devastation of a polluted and desperately broken world.
When the gift of music shines its light through just a solo performance on a single instrument, it holds the power to remind us of the essence of our being – the simplicity of life that can feel far more rewarding and fulfilling than anything overly loud or complex.
Solo pianist and composer Michael Strening Jr. captures precisely that quality, with the easy rise and fall of his melodically and rhythmically evocative Into The Light.