Chris Child, Pieces For Piano Vol.1 Review
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Chris Child is a New York based Emmy award-winning composer and pianist. Child has a wide spanning body of works from writing music for TV shows, commercials, and video games, to his electronica explorations where he is known as Kodomo. Child has performed at music festivals around the globe as Kodomo and on multiple albums, EPs, and remixes that demonstrate his crafty skills in production and as a DJ. Having spent much of his time creating music under the moniker Kodomo in the studio, Child felt he needed to get back to a more direct and immediate approach to his composition process. Child’s goal was to create a project that was inward looking and depicted the direct nature of his solo piano playing and compositions. Child is releasing a new album titled, Pieces For Piano Vol. 1. The album is a collection of twelve solo compositions and ambient sketches captured on his iPhone and handheld recorder while traveling throughout the United States. The influence of the classical literature came from composers such as Bach and Debussy. Child used their works as a referential framework to launch his fascinating variations and sonic experiments from. Drinking deeply from the well of inspiration from great classical composers, Child used the opportunity to experiment with various compositional processes and techniques to express a simple and direct emotional message. Pieces For Piano Vol. 1. is a collection of piano works created with the intention of creating something simple, intimate and quiet that offers elements of the past, present and future.
Positives:
Child’s compositions proposition the richness of structures and developments found in classical literature, combined with sounds from ambient and electronica.
Bottom Line:
Pieces For Piano Vol. 1 is twelve compositions that present multiple moods, soundscapes and textures all while creating a musical space of introspection and relaxation. The classical technique for development of melodies and the harmonic flow and texture of the pieces are all easily traced back to the classical tradition. Child’s playing and touch on the piano is balanced as he projects the singing melodies of each piece. The background sounds of soft field recordings and noises add to the texture and sonics of the project, with each recording presented in a different space, giving the flow consistency of the sound. Some of the pieces are also augmented with electronic instruments, giving a variety of instrument colors and densities. The result is an imaginative body of work by a composer and performer that has an ear for subtly and a charismatic style of playing and writing. Go ahead and let loose and get into the space of Pieces For Piano Vol. 1, you will not be disappointed. That’s the short of it!