Earth
New Focus, 2022
8/10
The very diverse artist Stephen Barber brings us a solo piano listen that embraces worldly popular music, film scoring and modern classical sounds on this very colorful and interesting body of work.
“Yellow Warbler” opens the listen with dancing keys that emit much beauty and warmth, and “Fireflies” continues the meticulousness with a hypnotic and flawless delivery that’s quite chilling and fascinating.
Elsewhere, the firm presence of “Stop” manipulates space and tension well, while “Electra 88” is quite unpredictable with its low moments of rumbling and cinematic swells of intricate progressions.
Close to the end, “Easter” flows with fluid melodies that weave in and out of adventurousness and prettiness, and “Earth” exits the listen with a sublime intimacy that’s quite reflective and heartfelt in its stirring appeal.
More than half the songs here are less than 3 minutes, as Barber covers a lot of territory that often draws inspiration from major figures, and will be sure to enthrall anyone with an ear for piano music.
Travels well with: Kimia Hesabi- Nemāno Gaona; Steven Ricks- Assemblage Chamber