By
Lynn Tredeau
Written by
Steve Sheppard
It is so nice to hear from Lyn Tredeau again, her last creation Reflection seems such a long while ago, but it wasn’t really. Now
one of the most creative and emotive female pianists of her day is back with a
new manifestation of great songs with an album called Many Branches, and it is this journey through music we now most
willingly go.
The opening piece is both delicate but deep in its intent,
and one may add, extremely reflective. Tredeau is a true artist in every sense
of the word, and here on Room with a
View, one can almost visualise the musician sitting gazing out at the
mountains while her hands caress the pianos keys, and what comes from them is
utter beauty and gratitude, in one of the most loving opening compositions I
have heard for quite some time.
Sunshine Tomorrow is our next musical port of call;
this is without doubt a soft manifestation of sound, one filled with hope,
grace and appreciation, her presentation here is melodic, but always within
that structure, there is a refrain that sings of better days to come.
I must admit I am a total lover of the moodiness of the
piano, from Beethoven to Bach, from Lanz to, Tredeau, here
comes a piece heading your way right now and called On a Distant Hill. There is a wonderfully colourful mysterious
quality about this track that I love. Nature is a constant in my life, rolling
hills doubly so, one even appears on my last album cover shrouded with mist, it
is so pictorial, as indeed is this masterful arrangement.
Many times I have gazed out of my window to see boats
drifting across the horizon and over the curve of our beautiful planet; their
hulls caress the oceans depths, and as the artist says they simply, Sail Away. This is a beauty of a
creation, and Tredeau’s presentation is as sun kissed as the piece itself, new pianists
would do themselves a favour by just listening to the harmonic bliss and
fluency of this track alone, it is perfection.
The curiously entitled Moon
Jellies is up next, interestingly enough this song is about jellyfish, one specific species that the
title of this song illuminates; I live on the coast where occasionally we see
them, but it’s rare, but it’s also quite beautiful to watch them propel their
delicate frames through the water, here the artist spectacularly captures this
graceful almost ballet styled movement, through the keys of her trusty piano
with an artistic ease.
Now I cannot remember the last time we had rain, so if we get
any soon, I will be happy dancing in it! Here on Desert Rain, we have an occurrence that is rare, but it does
happen, I live in a very hot country and sometimes it can rain and almost
evaporate before it hits the ground, you have to be quick to enjoy it. The slow
movement here by Tredeau could well be illustrating the sluggish storm clouds
path before despatching their thinly veiled mist as it falls from the sky; this
is a wonderfully composed composition, packed with a slow tempered, yet
pictorial energy, employing so creatively manifested musical nuances within
that are so very appealing.
We are now well within the confines of the second half of
this most fine album by Lyn Tredeau
and as we tread ever deeper we come across a drifting and harmonic composition
entitled Envisaging. This pristine
creation has the mood of a waltz within its nature, and its lightness may
indeed manifest a mood where literally anything is possible.
Ilunabarra is up next; it is nice to learn
something new every day, and apparently this word represents the perfect
sunset, something we’re blessed with nearly every day of the year here in
Cyprus. Winter sunsets are indeed amazing, so with that in mind I am happy to
report that in my view this composition would be perfect for that pre-dusk
occasion, the tenderness and artistic intelligence of this arrangement is
simply sublime.
To be honest I cannot remember if I have ever ridden upon a Carousel, however the likely hood is
very good. This is another very delicate creation by the artist; the high notes
here build on the slow swing of the piece to give us a happy refrain, and to
bring to the world a piece that is irresistible.
We are now swimming in the deeper pools of the album as we
come across Shadows, the careful and
somewhat mournful approach here reminds me of the aforementioned David Lanz in texture, this however is a
mysterious and almost deceptive arrangement, illustrating how one can never be
sure of what may be hiding just around the corner of life’s rich tapestry, then
it occurred to me also, that this very piece would have gone down really well
in any movie created by the ever dark, but artistic Tim Burton.
Well we have arrived at the penultimate track off this
wonderful new album by Lyn Tredeau
called Many Branches, and as we do
so we are gifted one more track, in the ever hugging energy of Technicolor Blanket. It is amazing how
a simple item either of clothing or a household object can retain such a thing
as an emotional response, but it does, I seem to remember the same thing in my
life, however the artist has gone one stage further and created a very personal
composition about the said blanket, its uses and the memories that it still
evokes for her to this day.
The cleverest thing a composer can do is manifest the last
track off of any album and that offering is so well created that it leaves the
listener wanting more; a compelling concluding song on this very release has
been brought into life by the artist and called Morning's Promise. With each sunrise we as creators of our own worlds
have the opportunity to do so much good, this in my view is not only a great
way with which to leave the album, I also think its anthem like structure could
also make a good single for the artist too.
Many Branches by Lynn Tredeau is a very good album; dare I use the old worn out
cliché of it being her best work thus far? I am going to yes, this release has
a new Tredeau, she has taken her life’s journey and written a full album that
holds dear to the wisdom gained, and the knowledge found, this is what musical
story telling is all about, and I have no hesitation to state this is a must
have for all fans of solo piano, and an album that will be a massive hit on the
charts.
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