Search - Ludovico Einaudi :: Collection

A solid introduction to this poetic minimalist

Gordon L. Fuglie | 03/10/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I heard a cut from Einaudi's new album, Nightbook, while driving the Santa Monica Freeway and struck by its insistent, captivating rhythm, pulled off to await the DJ's announcement of his playlist. Einaudi was new to me, though I hear he's been big in Europe for some time. Noting it down, I got on Amazon and discovered this 4-disc set at a good price.



My wife and I like thoughtful mood music as a background in our home or while on long drives. Einaudi fits these contexts perfectly -- his compositions are basic, lyrical, and thoughtful enough to not fall into the category of musical wallpaper. Look, this is a pianist noodling away on some elemental tunes that have an engaging emotionality, but he isn't Philip Glass, or Bill Evans. Put another way, Einaudi's work is akin to a film score, without the film.



The most interesting CD of the 4 in this "box" is STANZE where LE's 16 musical meditations are realized by harpist, Cecilia Chailly, We've heard nothing like it. Five stars for STANZE, four for the other 3."