The Grand Piano Spa
By
Darlene Koldenhoven
Written by
Steve Sheppard
When one mentions the artist Darlene Koldenhoven, we may assume that they could be referring to
one of the foremost vocalists of the current time, indeed she is, but Darlene
is so much more than that, and her skill set on the piano is both vast,
compelling and relaxing as well, and those three words also aptly sum up this
latest album release by the artist entitled The Grand Piano Spa.
There are nine tracks upon this quite chilled release, to ease
you into and through any stressful day. Koldenhoven’s performance is both warm
and all embracing; we can find an example of this tender touch on tracks like Into The Light, or perhaps the
reflective refrains of pieces like Delphi's
Dream.
Imagine floating on the warm waves of a tranquil spa and by
giving into the moment we can truly enjoy Reverie,
one of the most relaxing pieces off the album, one that literally musically
massages away any cares and worries you may have.
Koldenhoven has a beautiful performance style, she plays with
such a wonderful tender touch, and one can find a perfect example of this on
the album via the track Clover Fields,
a piece that I personally found hard to leave, and one that brought me much
calm after a stressful day.
The narrative of this album is perfect for simply relaxing
and letting go of concerns and problems, and Koldenhoven’s talent as a pianist
manifests truly blissful and heartfelt pieces, she indeed is the creator of a
musical panacea that we all seek, and through her musical compositions that can
be found right here on this splendid album.
The release concludes with Simple Life, an almost lullaby styled opus and a clever and crafted
way to bring to an end what is a wonderfully chilled collection of well
performed and beautifully played tracks, and we can now know these as The Grand Piano Spa, probably one of
the most tranquil moments of solo piano your likely to experience this year.
Thanks for the fabulous review Steve. Much appreciated. You have a musical way with words!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, a charming album indeed.
ReplyDelete