Always
By
Dan Chadburn
Written by
Steve Sheppard
Ever since the album Solo
Piano in 1998 Dan Chadburn has
been on my music radar, over the subsequent years the artist has produced some
of the most heartfelt piano ever. A new release by Dan is always a pleasurable
experience; it’s one of those moments that brings a reassured smile to your
face, as you just know it’s going to be good, and on this new offering entitled
Always, we have just that, and much
more.
The opening piece is always an important matter, and when you
grace it with the title header Always,
you are on to a solid winner of a composition. I once gave Dan the title of the
world’s most sensitive pianist, and on this track the evidence is crystal clear
why I did so, this is the most perfect composition with which to start the
album with.
However one of my personal favourites from this new album was
the explorative and fascinating opus entitled Uncharted Waters, Chadburn quite cleverly takes the front seat and
drives this piece from calm waters into a fast paced, up-tempo realms and
possibilities.
There is always a time for a classic, and they probably don’t
come much more so than O Shenandoah.
Here Chadburn pulls off a memorable presentation and adds a whole layer of
feeling and emotion into the arrangement to boot.
Turning Point is a sweet song, manifested by the
hand of a soul that truly feels his music; this is classic Chadburn, full
flowing, emotive and proud, a charming reverie indeed, and one of the most
passionate songs off the album. The artist dances with his own composition
creating moments of intrigue and segments of an almost cinematic posture.
Time to give a little short form up with the track Yesteryear, this friendly little
offering is actually more complex than you would at first think, and it is
certainly worth numerous listens to pick up on several Chadburn styled nuances
contained within.
Always by Dan Chadburn is a 12 track album, and at the midway point you will
find a new age styled opus entitled Minuet,
the rhythm here is simply idyllic, one could with ease dance across moonbeams
to its tone and timbre; a light hearted reverie of great texture can be found
here.
The deep notes and chords of Uncertainty bring a whole new feel into the proceedings, the
moodiness of this track creates a somewhat nervous and cautious energy, the
minor nature of this song is sublime, but deep within the weave of this
wonderfully manifested arrangement is one thing that Chadburn always holds deep
within his musical heart, hope.
On Missing You we
have a standard created by the artist that only he is able to reach its heights
over and again. This is one of the most soulful songs from the release, packed
with that full flowing sensitivity I mentioned in the early lines of this
review, this piece conjures up images of a piano, an empty room and a lonely
heart, utterly beautiful.
We now drift into the welcome arms of this next offering
entitled The Wishing Well. Here is a
short musical narrative that is almost pristine to the touch, and akin to a
musical fragrance floating over a crisp summer meadow in August.
We drift into the darker whirlpools of the release now, and
we find a moving creation called Sacred
Breath, here lays a tentative arrangement; one that slowly grows with a
gentle hand at the tiller of time. Chadburn is masterful here at manifesting a
reverential and respectful mood, with what seems consummate ease.
The penultimate offering off the album is probably one of the
most important and called Synchronicity,
this is something I have been aware of for years, but only in the last 10 or so
have I been acknowledging this universal truth, and now my life is bliss, and
in some ways this is what the artist has manifested here, listen to its
cautious start and its confidence building mid-segment, and onto the bright and
positive conclusion, sheer brilliance from Dan
Chadburn indeed.
How else to end an album than with a track called Final Curtain, the Chadburn flourish is
here, the smooth almost sunset styled conclusion, and a performance that will
leave you feeling calm, happy and totally fulfilled with the very last note
played.
Always by Dan Chadburn is a truly splendid album, we may have waited a while
for the stars to align, but here is an album that is very special indeed. With
style and panache Dan Chadburn has
brought to the world one of the finest creations of solo piano the planet has
seen this year, one full of rich flavours, bathed in delightful aromatic chords
and melodies. Always by Dan Chadburn is one of those albums
that is an absolute must have at all costs, after all, your ears will love you
for an eternity for doing so.
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