(Ludovico Einaudi, piano/loops/overdubs/electric guitars, assisted on various tracks by: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic/Robert Ziegler; Marco Decimo, cello; Paolo Giudici, sound modificator)
This is one of the top-selling albums in Europe at the moment, and it has captivated listeners around the world with its piano-based minimalism, but it is so much more than that description. (I see it is listed as a $36 import on one commercial web site; no need for that since this is a U.S. pressing.) This CD was not a challenge to categorize in just classical or jazz; Einaudi’s music draws on ambient, New Age, world music, contemporary pop, New Music, rock, soundtracks, you name it. Actually not much on jazz. Divenire means “To Become,” and one discoverer of this new album from the Italian composer/pianist described it as providing the soundtrack of his life. The work as a whole seems to give the listener the ability to draw the music into himself or herself. It is introspective, intense, some tragic sounding, other times expressing great joy, and all of its sounds are beautiful and very accessible to any listener.
The dozen pieces flow from one into another, retaining the mood without harsh interruptions and floating the listener along on a carpet of melody. If most so-called New Age albums had just half of Einaudi’s creative good taste, they wouldn’t drive those of us with a music education background up the walls – especially when played endlessly by massage practitioners.
TrackList:
1. Uno
2. Divenire
3. Monday
4. Andare
5. Rose
6. Primavera
7. Oltremare
8. L’origine Nascosta
9. Fly
10. Ascolta
11. Ritornare
12. Svanire
– John Sunier
