When I was younger, I had a secret garden. It was attached to a derelict house on the outskirts of the town I then lived in, and was the proving ground of many a fantasy, both dark and light. Such places rarely seem to exist these days, or I have grown out of them (which is doubtful). More likely I don't get the chance. Anyway, it is already in the first track everything that it promises to be, and coincidentally I was listening to Shostakovich earlier this morning, though a different work of his. Small world in many ways, however lonely it may feel at times. Another coincidence is that this was released on my birthday. Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice. I think she'd know... That was Swinging In A Secret Garden, and excellent.
Alexander's Walk is profoundly good listening from the outset. Magical keyboards couple with layers of sound, to create a soundscape with immense depth and profundity. Reminds me of an old friend, Jutta. She returned to Finland, finding English society difficult to merge into. She was a fine woman then, and doubtless still is a good soul. Another empty space for me to fill. Looking at the preamble, piano was a source of my early sense of joy in musical form. Then came the fear. Then came, and remained, the escapes into fantasy as a coping mechanism. The darkness holds no fear for me anymore, the only thing that frightens me are human beings. Now, they can be very scarey.
The third track, Last Day Before The War, has been a daily occurence for some people, some where, in this messy world. If it isn't one place, it's another. If it is not outright, full-blown war, it's a personal one. Micro-level and macro-level, it always seems to me to be applicable and pertinent. And another thing that this fantastically controlled track brings to mind, thinking again about its introductory text, is that I have listened to it about five times now and it just seems to assimilate itself into my everydayness. To the point where aspects of it appear to blend seamlessly into what is going on around me as I endeavour to listen to it. It merges with my levels of conscious and unconscious awareness. But today has been 'one of those days' for me, if that makes a difference. Part of my unbounded virtual reality in reception eh?) Reminds me a little bit of Pink Floyd's 'Wall' in places, and that's a compliment if you are wondering. That is 'one of those albums/films'! However, now I have my ear-goggles on and focus is sharper, as I watch over my youngest asleep. A truly astounding track with an immensely good sense of progression, by a finely tuned couple of musicians.
Pan's Dance captures a wonderful sense of the hoofed one and doesn't overdo the pipes, which would be the obvious temptation. I find it, not at all unsurprisingly, extremely well-balanced and presented. I would expect nothing less from these dynamic deities, if I may be so bold! Here is an essence of a darkness that got out of hand, thinking of deification, the horned one's reputation growing disproportionately out-of-hand thanks to the crush of Christianity and repressive overlaying of paganism. Not the first or last time Nature will have been hijacked, for ulterior motives, I do dare say. There is a lovely, quaint, mischievousness towards the latter part. Very apt, and then sealed with the wonderfully syncopated, passionate piano of Lena. Nicely rounded up.
Finally, the title track, Nangilima. Beauty personified from the very start, with shadows. Some that speak, some that just sound. Just as in real life. I create such spaces in my head, especially noticeable when drifting through somnambulism, but noises always sound lounder in the quiet of night. Even when they are internal. An immensely fine piece of sound sculpture, and the dance of the sculptor in creation, is evident in the produce of the creative urge and dirge of actualisation. Fantastic collaboration of musical and creative energies. I would even dare to say, unsurpassed. Certainly, so far in my estimation, though there is so much to yet hear and experience. I believe I will rarely feel the same sense of awe. Numinous, for sure. Excellent combination of crafts(wo)manship.
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