Peter Broderick - Float [Type Records - 2008]Float is the solo debut album from 21 year old oregan based Pianist and muilt-instrumelist Peter Broderick & though he's already recorded works with the likes of M Ward, Horse Feathers and Norfolk- this is his first solo ride and what a ride it is. He has a keen feeling for atmosphere, melodies and compositional skill, with Float he offers up a memorable, beautiful and often cinematic collection of mainly piano based tracks that are often warmed, enhanced and made more sonically dramatic by; strings, accordion, trumpet, Theremin, banjo and field recordings- that for the most part are played by Broaderick himself. His piano playing is elegant and accomplished but never too showy or experimental, the focus here is making beautiful and atmospheric pieces that drift, waltz and wonder into each other. He returns to melodic themes through-out, but it’s all composed as each turn is as enchanting, beautiful and dramatic as the last, it never become repetitive or less than magically. This is pretty flawless through-out, though one or two of the later tracks finds Broderick adding in the odd jarring instrumental edges- that do rather ruin those tracks, but it’s only one or two tracks out of all ten here so one can't complain Truly an inspired, beautiful and emotional pulling debut album that effortlessly pulls you in from its first play and makes you want to return as often as possible to its rich, melodic and dramatic sonic shores. Roger Batty
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