Title - 'Mists of Time: Solo Piano & Ambient Soundscapes'
Artist - Andrew Colyer
For those not in the know, Award-winning composer and performer Andrew Colyer has sung and played piano, keyboards and trumpet across the US, England, Canada and Japan and has even performed at Carnegie Hall three times.
Classically-trained at Juilliard, Colyer’s musical resumé is literally all over the map - from rock and prog-rock to jazz and big band to scoring for radio, video and film - and that eclectic background merges to create a style and approach that is unique and original.
Indeed, the list of artists and groups Andrew has performed and collaborated with is an impressive “Who’s Who” of contemporary music.
Which all goes to show that here on his brand new album, Mists of Time: Solo Piano and Ambient Soundscapes (out now via Inner Nova Music Label), fans of George Winston and Peter Kater might also appreciate this new set of works.
As well as people who like the space present in Michael Whalen's pianoscapes, Brian Eno and Deuter's ambient music, new age chill-out music, and finally, perhaps even Thomas Newman's American Beauty soundtrack.
1. 'Rain Notes: Storm'
2. 'Oliver's Journey'
3. 'In Alex's Orbit'
4. 'Climb'
5. 'Strings of the Ocean'
6. 'One Thing (Remastered 2020)'
7. 'Rain Notes: Forest'
8. 'A Thoughtful Moment'
9. 'Ghosts of Aberfan'
10. 'Moons of Jupiter'
11. 'Overcoming'
12. 'Serenity'
In short, Mists of Time captures non-traditional solo piano improvisations and ambient soundscape arrangements, and thus opens with the weathering magnificence of 'Rain Notes: Storm,' which is followed by the precisely plaintive notes of 'Oliver's Journey,' the free flowing transcendency of 'In Alex's Orbit,' the playful 'Climb,' and then we get one of my own personal favorites, the beautifully ornate, Latin-imbued 'Strings of the Ocean.'
Next up are the elegant pairing of both 'One Thing (Remastered 2020)' and 'Rain Notes: Forest,' and they are followed by the delicate reverence of 'A Thoughtful Moment,' the soft touch ballad 'Ghosts of Aberfan,' the sonically spatial 'Moons of Jupiter,' with the album rounding out on the intricate shapes cultivated within 'Overcoming,' closing on the calmingly peaceful, and aptly-named 'Serenity.'
In closing, listeners should enjoy the fresh piano-driven approaches, and all twelve tracks are original, which is a nice turn of events.
Colyer's classical and jazz training are present throughout, in addition to his work in film scoring and progressive rock.
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