Release Date: 2004

Genre: New Age/Ambient

Label: Soundscapes

Distributor:

Producer: Robert Rich

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Robert Rich held a 1925 vintage AB Chase Baby Grand hostage in his room and poured a tremendous amount of concentrated energy into producing a collection of magnificently composed improvisations that came into existence the second his fingers approached the keys. It's an uncommon phenomenon folks.. but it's a naturally embedded event for Robert.

What's immediately apparent in listening to Robert at the piano is the fact that it's something more than traditional 'new age' acoustic piano meanderings in that life is breathed into the rich and occasionally dark tones and a regenerative life is breathed back.

The tracks that do it for me include Insular, Past Glances, Open Window, and Parallel Horizons. I just cannot stop myself from rewinding these tracks straight back to the start. Insular for instance, comes across with a thought provoking melancholic touch, almost as though a whole bunch of sadness is leaking between the notes. For Past Glances, I get the impression of an air of reluctant or hesitant memory recall.. it's in the playing... its in Robert's performance of this magnetic piece.

Parallel Horizons could be the soundtrack to the business of the day with it's more up tempo architecture and emotive wanderings. Open Window, on the other hand, and for me at least, is the music for the intakes of breath we take when confronted with true desire in perhaps it's purest unadulterated form. It all adds up to mature music for a very wide yet percipient audience and it's an album that you just can't put back on the shelf for too long.

Elley Wilson

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