Goldmund - The Malandy Of Elegance [Type Records - 2008]Keith Kenniff is most know for his harmonic electroncia project Helios with this his third album under the Goldmund name he strips the electronics complete out to produce 15 piano only tracks of great harmonic and atmospheric depth which hint at the likes at of Erik Satie, Ludovico Einaudi, etc -but with Kenniff's own distinct twist on piano music. Opening up the album we have Image- Autumn-womb with high, light and spaced tinkling tones which to begin with feels like leafs falling in slow monition, as the track progresses low notes and a warmer harmonic presences is established. Directly after we have the rich melodic flow of In a note book which brings to mind a fine Victorian lady drawing or writing in a note book in spring time either in a orchard or by a stream. Most of the tracks here have the ability to trigger imagery or feelings off in ones mind, there all fairly short and to the point but Kenniff really has the ability to sonically say an awful lot in a few cleverly placed strokes. But don’t take the description of the first few tracks to be an indication this is all brightness and light, Kenniff also has the ability to paint hurt, sadness and darker sonic hues too- take the track Now with its slow struggling high notes and a great feeling of tiredness, despair and worn down-ness. Or the track Mound builders with edgy almost discordant spaced notation, dread filled hovering underbelly and eerier piano string shimmer it feels like catching site of something macabre going on from a distant in a woodland grove. On the whole it’s a fairly consistent and memorable collection of piano based tracks, through I did feel it could have been say 4 or so tracks shorter as it felt a bit too long for its own good with a few of the tracks treading similar harmonic patterns and atmospheres. Never the less if you enjoy paino music or Kenniff's other music it's worth picking up Roger Batty
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