Playlist in times of isolation №3
Katherine Zyabluk
author, musician
There are so many unpredictable challenges in times of isolation — mainly when we try to deal with ourself. All the things are done, there is nothing special to do, an instinctive-emotional randomizer is extremely prepared, so it would be easy to look for good healing music due to it.
Alfredo Rodriguez — The Little Dream
Sometimes it’s easy to guess a musician’s character due to the music. Probably, Rodriguez may be a choleric extravert, which tames his crazy urges with sensitivity and a reverent attitude to the music he creates. If you check the pianist’s profiles on Facebook or Instagram, you will think that melodies pour from Rodriguez all the time, as he always records short musical videos with other musicians and answers their musical ‘calls’.
That is how the structure of the album looks. There are plenty of different tiny melodies, which are naturally connected between each other. So, it’s impossible to sort them by “coolness”, as none of them will get you bored, encouraging to find an the origins of the tune you hear. Anyway, these tiny melodies remind our “little dreams” — when they merge with replete parts and riffs of drums and bass, it looks like a good way to make it real.
Ganavya — Aikyam: Onnu
“Music is closer than we thought” — these are the words of a girl, who has recorded this album. As the idea of mixing jazz with the rare music is spreading widely, the farthest rural areas and nations are becoming closer and clearer. In fact, Ganavya sings jazz standards, which she loves and learns from, with a company of delicate and inventive ensemble. So, the greatest thing we can learn from her is how to balance between the unique voice and musical knowledge, and properly combined these things makes music unrepeatable.
Kevin Seddiki — Il Sentiero
His music is time-tested for me. Due to its estrangement and wandering, with a lot of folk melodies from the other countries, it reminds in a way the music of Anouar Brahem and the Tarkovsky Quartet. The title means “the way”, so it looks like Seddiki has had a complete Mediterranean trip. There are Greek and Balkan rhythms, lyrics in French and Italian, folk tunes from Spain and Portugal. Sometimes Seddiki doesn’t need anything but for his guitar to retell all these things, however vocals, percussion and a clarinet nicely complement this strong character. The compositions always sound fragile and minimalistic whoever appears there. Even considering that amount of band members, it would be fair to name it a “guitar music”.
Keith Jarrett — Creation
It is a canonical record which doesn’t need any long explanations. As for me, this record by Keith Jarrett means a constant motion and wandering without a purpose (actually, as all of his solo-albums).
It’s easy to delve into this canvas of sounds, especially at the times of global stagnation. Also it’s a good way to encounter boldly with different sides of your conscience — like it or not. It’s something that needs a lot of humility, love and being ready for every turn of the destiny. It looks like Jarrett feels the same every time he sits in front of the piano. It inevitably has an impact on his music, as every note he plays can calm us down.
Arvo Part — Summa
The master of “tinntinnabuli” is always important and relevant. His sacral simplicity comes from the even balance between faith, children’s naivety and knowledge of how the world’s bad and good things structure. Part gives us an ultimate understanding, that the true faith hasn’t interrupted or distorted our perception — it’s enough to have it and share it with your people, since it would be very helpful during hard times. Probably, Part’s faith transmits in every tune, whether it’s for piano or for huge symphonic orchestra.
Palya Bea - Ribizliálom
A bonus track for the playlist, which is about to become an anthem of the whole isolated being. Palya Bea sings stories from the past, full of beauty, images of nature and love for the loved ones. That’s the thing, which gives us energy to live.