Release Date: March 8, 2024
Label: Independent
I found the cover art compelling, and it reminded me of the Mott
The Hoople album The
Hoople. It's a
different genre, but there are some similarities and good memories for this
music fan.
Javier plays the Armenian Duduk, bansuri, oboe, soprano sax,
piano, guitars, pan drum, marimba, EWI, synthesizers, and sequencer.
"Resilience" starts the recording with atmospheric
music and superb vocals from Julie Elven. The Armenian Duduk provides some
delicate acoustic picking; the dreamy vocals will have you floating away in
no time. Give yourself up to the music, as the artist offers all the sounds
to allow you to open that window of opportunity to let go.
"Duermevela" begins with a soft and light piano, and a
Bansuri
(Bamboo flute) induces atmospheric sounds of tones
and colors. As the track moves on for over two minutes, it takes on a
jazz-world feel, most definitely with the fretless bass lines.
"Quietude" fits the title perfectly, with its opening Armenian Duduk taking
the lead as the piano stays in the background and then goes to the front with
the background of strings to accompany it for an orchestral direction. The
track sounds sad around the three-minute mark, and you can feel that emotion in
the music's quiet. Relaxing and contemplative, we move on to something
different to follow.
The title track, "Momentum," begins with operatic
vocals. The Armenian
Duduk is the lead here again, and Clara Sorace
lends her angelic voice to give the track a decidedly heavenly touch of class.
At 3:25, it is one of the shortest tracks on the album but leaves an indelible
mark on your consciousness. Interestingly, this approach was taken with a
strong title for the track.
"Balada Das Ondas," which translates to "Ballad
of the Waves," is another short-lived track and the shortest at 2:33. The
piano and guitar are lovely, with a soft touch that gently and convincingly
brings you into the music. Because of the song's length, it must move you
instantly, which it did to me. It melts the stress away from your day.
"Pulsar" starts very differently than all the other
tracks. It is upbeat and free from any expectations from hearing all the
previous tracks. In other words, it is as eclectic as the entire album has
been; however, the difference between this is that the energy and level of
instrumentation go in an entirely different direction. It is hard to define any
categorization. However, jazz has influenced it more than any other track, and
it is the only track featuring the soprano sax.
"When We Leaving Home," as it indicates, would have
some strong feelings attached depending on the circumstances of your leaving.
Whether for an hour, a day, or permanently, each feeling would have a range of
intensity. The Duduk
and nylon guitar playing is very laid-back and
reflective, and there is a hint of sadness as well. A nice flow and softness
invite a listener into the music without a care.
“Ephémère,” translated, is ephemeral, fleeting, faddish, and
short-lived. It starts with an exciting sound, the pan drum (Javier), with its
ringing echoing tones similar to steel drums but much higher and more resonant.
It is a stimulating track that picks up in pace with varying degrees of sounds
and tones. It almost sounds like two instruments playing at once. It was the
most intriguing track on the recording because it was so different, an outlier,
compared to all the previous compositions.
"Under no Flag" could have many meanings depending on
your identity and the possibilities. I will look at it as the artist is under
his influence, and no country or flag controls what he creates for his audience
to listen to. It ends up being one of the more beautifully constructed tracks
with three main instruments converging: the piano, oboe, and acoustic
guitar. It was the quiet storm of jazz for my ears
and a superb way to close the curtain on this mixture of sounds and textures to
engage your consciousness.
Momentum is a strong release that showcases diversity and musicianship. The mixture of contemporary, classical, new age, and jazz is a musical patchwork quilt that any discerning music lover can understand and appreciate.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR
Reviews Founder
September 3, 2024
Tracks:
01. Resilience
02. Duermevela
03. Quietude
04. Momentum
05. Balada Das Ondas
06. Pulsar
07. When We Leaving Home
08. Ephémère
09. Under no Flag