Short Reviews [Andrew Colyer - 2020 - "Mists of Time"]

Subtitled ‘Solo Piano and Ambient Soundscapes’, this is a beautiful solo album from Circuline and 3.2 keyboard player Andrew Colyer. The subtitle pretty much tells you all you need to know about this, bringing together elements of Roger Eno’s excellent ‘Fragile’ album, the work of Roger’s brother Brian, plus some of the more ambient pieces from Wakeman. The result is an album that is often played on the highest reaches of the piano, with space and reflection being an important part of the process. This Is not music to be played when the listener does not have the time to really listen, as it is only by paying close attention that the true beauty really shines through. It demonstrates there is no need for massively complex technical performances, but rather it is all about the melody and how the music makes the listener feel as they interact with it. Some of the songs have been remastered from earlier recordings, while some are improvisations, but all contain the inner beauty which makes this such a beautiful album to listen to. While most of the recordings took place over the last few years, closer “Serenity” is from 2002/2003, and while it contains more elements than the others, is still built solidly around the piano. There are times when all wants to listen to is something that causes the listener to reflect and let their mind wander where it will, adrift on some delicate notes, and that is exactly what this delightful album does. It is spacious, beautiful, and a totally enjoyable piece of work which deserves to be discovered by all those who enjoy music that is class from the first note to the very last.