Artist: Stephen Philips
P: 1999
From ambient and electronic music artist Stephen Philips comes an album very unlike (mostly) his other work. In The Moonlight sounds like a cross between Brian Eno's Neroli, Ernesto Diaz-Infante's Ucross Journal and the late Dan Hartman's New Green, Clear Blue. These minimalist introspective piano (and sparsely used synth) improvisations paint a somber and reflective, yet mesmerizing soundscape. Introspective and yet warm and inviting at times, the music is not as minimal as Eno or Infante, but it lacks any structure that would be recognizable even to a fan of George Winston, Janie Campbell or William Watson.
This is not new age piano music - not by a long shot. But I found the album amazingly calming just the same (I had the same reaction to Diaz-Infante's Ucross Journal). Maybe that makes me a depressing kinda guy, since the music itself seems suffused with a rich melancholy at times (or at least an overdose of reflection). Surprisingly, sometimes the music is more active than any of the other artists mentioned (except for Hartman, whose one masterpiece still remains the epitome of floating and warm serene piano/synth music to my ears).
Most of the six cuts are solo piano - occasionally whisper soft and at other times single notes strike out with sudden urgency. "Relative Experience" actually begins to resemble a more traditional (well, relatively) song at times, but for the most part, you won't be humming cuts like "Free Flow" or "In A Round About Way." But, don't think this CD is dissonant or harsh. While the juxtaposition of soft and loud notes takes some getting used to, perhaps, the balance makes the music all the more interesting.
The title cut will be the one to evoke comparisons to Hartman, as low key subtle synths permeate the background, while gentle piano notes walk forlornly on the surface. It's a flat out great song (and, at over eleven minutes, worth the price of admission alone). But there's also the closing cut, "Snowfall" which also adds synth textures to its lower register piano to incredibly visual effect. I can almost see myself walking deserted city streets in fading light of a late afternoon in winter, as shadows grow deeper and the world readies itself for nightfall. Those of you who have never lived in the northern climates may not believe me, but falling snow actually makes a sound, if you're lucky enough for the world to be still enough to hear it. Sad yet beautiful, it's a sound that speaks of peace and sleep. In the same way, Stephen Philips' In The Moonlight echoes this sense of repose and solitude - much like a solitary walk in the snow.
The CD is highly recommended for people who want to bring some stillness into their lives and can listen to silence as easily as they can to music. This album is a marvel of economy and a deeply satisfying emotional experience.
Weight:
0,105
kg per
piece
