Release Date: September 22, 2023
Label: Independent
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"Confettis" starts the proceedings in a very bright
and upbeat manner. The arrangement is fast-moving and simply a delight for the
senses, setting up the listener for a complete journey through the piano's
keys.
"Pas d'ami (comme toi)" begins in a more subdued way,
then proceeds to pick up the pace. Doug's brilliance on the keys shines bright
as he picks up the melody and delivers the bass with one hand and the lead with
the other. Doug's talented fingers bring both parts of the song to your ears. I
like the skill and variety of his compositions.
"Combien de temps" is another excellent example of how
solo piano can hold your attention by sounding utterly different than the
previous track. There are never any similarities that I can hear. There are a
few parts where Doug shows his talents with that rapid rolling of the keys,
which sounds fantastic.
What continually gets my attention consistently is the flow and
clarity of every track. Also, the artwork on the cover cleverly shows the
artist getting caught in the rising surf. This is the metaphor related to the
title. And interestingly, I find myself swimming in the music; my entire person
is surrounded and consumed by the rhythm and beauty.
As things move further into the tracks, like on "Wider
Da," I heard the sentiment and sadness in the music. I can listen to a
story being played inside my mind and how it's affecting my feelings. It is
simpler than previous tracks, however, very purposeful, thus the space in the
music to reflect. As I have often said, I found the beauty in the sadness.
"Rien n'est si bon" is a gorgeous composition based on
classical (as all this music is) with a convergence of contemporary with the
pace of a slow walk in the park while you breathe in the cool air as the sun
sets beyond in the mountains. It is dramatic yet picturesque.
All those tracks offer a mental escape from reality and continue
to the end. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to let the music remove
you from your current state or mindset, if you will. The music you will hear is
unique because it is simply piano and with no need for lyrics. The passion with
which they are presented and played will have you going back for another listen
to revisit all the emotions and mostly good feelings you can experience.
Thirteen tracks, all stand-alone stories, are played perfectly. After covering Doug Hammer's music for so many years now, it is no surprise how much I appreciate this wonderful music and must come to expect a certain level of excellence. For my ears, this is what I needed to hear.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR
Founder
September 8, 2023
Tracks:
01. Confettis 3:45
02. Pas d’ami (comme toi) 3:06
03. Combien de temps 3:24
04. Rivière 3:40
05. Wider Da 3:08
06. Rien n'est si bon 3:40
07. Clear My Throat 4:25
08. Je n’attendrai pas 2:16
09. Monsieur - Je ne sais pas trop 3:07
10. Rêverie 4:23
11. Où Sont Les Clés ? 4:04
12. Du 2:34
13. Wie Einem Der Gewissheit Hat 2:21
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