Carousel by David Lanz

 

Carousel

By

David Lanz

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I must admit to have been shocked when I realised just how long my musical relationship with David Lanz had been going on for, I can take you back to 1983 and a release called Heartsounds, let’s not forget I am a European, and back then the internet wasn’t a thing, yet still the music of the master of new age piano found a way into my heart, lets fast forward some 43 years later as I sit enjoying the tones of David’s latest and I must say brilliant creation called Carousel, and it is an utter gem of an album indeed.

The opening piece is proudly the title track Carousel, I appreciate it when musicians do that, it’s like saying here is my title track, my inspiration, and I love my musical child. Here Lanz performs one of his brightest tracks for some time in a rapid tempo, here is a flourishing piano narrative that contains fun, happiness and a great energy as well, this piece was also a released as a single earlier on this year.

The other single from the release is called La Fontana; I don’t know what it is, but I love fountains, the progression of notes on this piece were particularly impressive, ever climbing and cascading, and at that peak Lanz adds a classical motif like a strawberry on top of the cream moment. La Fontana is so elegant and graceful its one of those feel good pieces that you simply never want to end.

On Aria Nova we have that classic Lanz phrasing and melodic beauty, the fluency of this one piece also is enough to inspire any new pianist on to even greater heights, it has a certain energy about it that simply begs to be listened to.

Carousel by David Lanz is a masterwork of 11 delicious tracks from new age music’s finest ever pianist, one can hear David roll back the clock on this next memorable and moving opus called April Ayre. This track screams classic Lanz; however there is a sense of underpinned freshness and rejuvenation within the notes of the track that makes it so very palpable.

The short form fans of solo piano get a rare treat now from the middle placed piece called Summer Ayre. Here is a deeply energetic and emphatic composition, and even though its duration is just 149 seconds long, it makes its sun kissed point beautifully.

However one of my personal favourites is up next and called Autumn Ayre, I found this specific creation deeply moving, and I going to stick my neck out here and rate it as one of David’s most beautiful manifestations for many a year. The repeating motif and the proud tonal tale told here are some of the finest I have heard from the master, and one that will resonate in my mind’s eye for as long as I can breathe.

We conclude the seasonal narrative with December Ayre, as you would expect Lanz manifests something deep and chilling, this is both melancholic and also reflective, but in a way that allows the listener a journey of their own through the icy fields of Decembers cold and barren plains, one has to pay particular note to the emphasised performance on the heavier notes, ones that build a compelling winter tale of time and tide.

I have always thought that David’s music is like a gentle caress, something that we all need and not afraid to embrace it, on Sonata Reprise we have that gentleness and tender tonal tapestry, mixed with more emphatic moments, but always leaving the listener feeling safe and secure whilst doing so.

The rapidity of this track called Home At Sea creates a somewhat energetic juxtaposition for the listener to enjoy, however as up-tempo and creative as it is, one could easily see the control that Lanz has over the musical tiller, in this exciting short form narrative that can be found in the deeper waters of the release.

The penultimate track from the album is called Waves of Gold, the fluency and sweeping performance here has a beautiful sense of rhythm within its construction. The symbiotic waves, melodious vibrations, and the sculptured piano performance for me, make this one of the most crafted and wonderfully composed and played pieces from the release.

The concluding tale told by David is a more full bodied offering entitled In the Fullness of Time. This is a dream like reverie to utterly enjoy; each of us has a moment like this song hidden away in our own memory palace, something so redolent of the best bits of our lives, which are an unwoven tapestry of charming natural beauty and love.

Carousel by David Lanz carries a theme across the album that is nostalgic, and allows childhood memories to evolve, seasons come and go and pass, imagination always remains, and however emotional our memory is, it is always fondly remembered, with Lanz’s polished melodic piano style he makes the experience of listening a sheer joy of unadulterated pleasure, which leaves me to predict with ease I have just listened to one of David’s finest releases for a decade. Here is a release that will top the charts and win awards, and one would do good to remember that a deluxe version containing 2 bonus tracks, of this release can be purchased from the artist very own website, that’s certainly something you cannot miss out on as we close the book on Carousel by David Lanz.