by Paul Cardall
Review by Jerry Rabushka
Paul Cardall stands out among folks doing "pretty piano music" … well, ok, you could call it New Age but I'm not going to… but get a CD of his, and you're not getting the same song 11 times in a row. His latest, Faithful, makes hay exploring a darker side of the genre. Some minor keys, synthesizers, plus a great electric guitar solo in the opening (and title) track all make this the kind of CD that keeps your attention, creates a soft velvet, actually makes a difference in the surrounding air. It means something.
Stuttering drum beats, rock licks, and some mysterious voices from afar make track 3, "The Noise" particularly memorable. It cuts a line across categories, plays at times like a movie soundtrack, and reaches out to just about anyone looking to explore the recesses of the subconscious… a delicious two chord piano break at about 3:16 of the track is practically orgasmic. After a perfectly timed pause, it takes you just where you want to go.
Nice cello solo in "Sacred Nature," a slower number, still contemplative. Cello by Steven Sharp Nelson. "A BLUE World" give you those familiar chords that starts out the Going Home march in Dvorak's New World Symphony... Cardall plays with the tune a bit, so you never hear it as originally written, and in fact this version sounds more European than the symphony's quasi-American roots. But the original lurks subtly in the back of your head throughout this musical wordplay. again the piano/cello combo is used to great advantage.
"Less Complicated," the final cut, for some reason, doesn't seem to live up to the quality of the rest. I think it needs just a bit more complexity. And a couple less pics of Paul? Cool guy, but one or two is probably fine. Mostly though, really beautiful stuff.
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