Illuminine – “Dear, Limerence”
-I don’t know what illuminine or limerence mean, but I do know that I like this minimalist composition. The easy developing melody feels delightfully comforting. It feels like it was written to help me focus. I appreciate the conversational phrasing. This is… illuminating?
Julia Andersson – “Tilia Cordata”
-This piece feels like you’re looking into another world, like a snow globe or something. It feels like it’s already happening and I’m watching into it. I’m not sure what about the composition gives me that feeling, but it does. There’s a starry-eyed wonder to this one and I’m not quite sure how to explain why I sense it. I could listen to this type of thing all day.
Ville Laaksonen – “Silent Grove”
-The way the piano resonates on this piece, especially the right hand, feels like a music box. The clarity on the recording is really quite impressive. I’m not sure if there’s some sort of studio magic happening or if the recording was genuinely that bright. No matter, this is a beautiful composition that will make you take a bit of pause in the midst of your busy life.
Rebecca Jean Rossi – “Stella Alpina”
-The sense of movement in Rossi’s composition is stunning. This piece feels like what I think neoclassical sounds like when I tell other people I’m a fan. It’s emotional and moving without words or extra instruments. The piano, well played with plenty of emotion from the performer, can command the room and the moment. This is orchestral and downright magical. I am captivated by this. Perhaps the “alpina” is in reference to the mountains… and if so, I totally agree. This is a towering musical wonder.
Khyaam Haque – “A simple orange”
-I never thought about writing a song for (?) or even about an orange. Is it the color? Is it the fruit? The world may never know. But what I do appreciate is that the sparing composition leaves plenty of white space for the listener to wonder. There’s space to ponder the meaning of the song or other aspects of life. Rarely do we find music with such gentle, intimate phrasing that creates this kind of anticipation and meditation.
Khyaam Haque – “Some things are strange”
-I can fully agree with the title of this piece; surely some things ARE strange. In fact, I might say that MANY things are strange. In a genre that rolls in timeless and modern traditions to create something unique, I am always interested in how artists will accomplish their goals. Haque brings in some instruments to support the piano, but they are used sparingly. The piece feels almost cinematic in that way. It sounds like a mixed media piece of visual art, to me, tricking the eye and making folks wonder where it’s going next.
