Nature/Music/Food/The Stars and the Planets is a two-CD set. Disc one features
Mark Springer on multi-tracked pianos, soprano saxophone, and piano harp. Drummer Clive Deamer adds his discreet touch on a few pieces, while Zoom Quartet provides soft electronica floorings on a few more. Disc two contains the two-part solo piano piece "Vertikal" (56 minutes total).
Springer's music lies somewhere between instrumental new age and avant-garde. Usually tonal, it can take unexpected left turns, only to come back in the middle of the road a moment after. The first CD offers nice moments, like the opener, "Incision." Zoom Quartet's contribution is limited to an electronica background: reserved and forgettable. The whole disc falls into a niche of easy listening creative music, where half-baked ideas can be drowned by concern for the listener (
Carolyn Hume and Paul May's Zero belongs in the same category). "Vertikal" proves
Springer's talent as a pianist, but its length makes it tiresome. Elements of
Philip Glass,
Peter Hammill, and Windham Hill artists come together in this piece. It was recorded on a Steinway piano in a chapel: The sound quality is fantastic.
Nature/Music/Food/The Stars and the Planets is for the meditative music lover. ~ François Couture