JEFF PEARCE
In the Season of Fading Light
Self-released (2012)
Jeff Pearce, the master of evocative ambient guitar and
purveyor of sublime Chapman stick instrumentals has apparently decided that
"the world is not enough," and has now added piano to his tool box,
as it were. And, of course, he uses this new tool as artistically as he has his
previous ones, evidenced throughout his piano debut In the Season of Fading
Light [be sure to read the * footnote at the review's end for important
information about the CD's origins and Pearce's charitable aspect of this
release].
Graced with a startlingly gorgeous cover by Teodora Chinde (as
beautiful, if not more so, than 2008's Rainshadow Sky), flawless mastering by
Corin Nelsen, and graphic design by Hypnos label founder Mike Griffin, In the
Season of Fading Light displays three distinct "personas"
to Pearce's composing and piano playing. One of these is no doubt due to the influence
of noted pianist Philip Aaberg (whose online piano lessons Pearce is taking). This
style is reflected in pieces such as "Autumn and Regret II,"
"The Road and the Wind" and "Into Spring." These songs are
less melancholic and possess a more defined melody, although could still
be classified as tone poems. The second type of music on the album (which I would
describe as vintage Pearce) may be best exemplified on the opening title track,
featuring plaintive piano accented by Pearce's always emotive ambient guitar
which sighs softly underneath the sparse, intimate moody shadows of the piano.
"After the Frost" could also fall into this category, especially if
one imagines Jeff playing the same forlorn melody on either Chapman stick or guitar.
The heartrending sad beauty of "Words from the Rain" (with an
expertly applied backdrop of falling rain) is indicative of the third type of
music on the album, one that bears a strong resemblance to the minimalist
chamber style of Tim Story (note the deeply echoed piano on this track, a
device that Story uses on many of his solo works).
All of the thirteen tracks on In the Season… are winners, as
the mood crisscrosses various moods and sensations: the subtle liveliness of
"Autumn and Regret II," the somber yet slowly rolling fluidity of
"Where the Rivers Begin," a faint whisper of hope (with a hint of
church hymn music contained in the melody) in "Harvest Prayer," a
dash of jazz amidst the sepia tones of "Newfallen," and the deep (almost
funereal) drama of "Where All Rivers End," on which the cries of
ambient guitar form a subdued wailing of sorrow amidst the stark darkness of
the piano, accented by other ambient textures underneath.
It may be that long time readers of my reviews will view
this gushing praise of In the Season of Fading Light as Binkelman going all
sycophantic on yet another Pearce release. If such is the case, so be it. When
I hear talent this obvious, I call it like I hear it – and I hear Jeff Pearce's
genius once again in evidence.
*Twelve of the thirteen tracks on In the Season of Fading
Light were originally released as the Provision Series, digital-download-only
singles which were released monthly beginning in July 2011. Jeff Pearce donated
a part of each sale to a different charity each month, taking particular care
to select charities which were (according to the artist's website "… run through the databases of a few
organizations that monitor a charity's activities." Now with the
release of In the Season of Fading Light, Jeff Pearce is donating one dollar
from the sale of each album to the charity Feeding America. More info, including
Jeff's reasons for doing great work available is at Jeff Pearce's website. While
I have no doubt he will bristle at my writing this, Jeff Pearce's example
should serve as a beacon to all of us, especially given how many people in
America (and elsewhere) are in dire straits right now. I applaud him for this
generous gesture and his commitment to caring about the plight of others in
such a direct manner.
No comments:
Post a Comment