Recently Heard: Stoa by Nik Bartsch's Ronin

[ellyssian]

Nik Bartsch's Ronin: Stoa

Stumbled across this while entertaining Brandon at Border's. This is proof, from a retailer point of view, that allowing customers to hear music before they buy it will result in more sales. It is also proof that, in my case, I should not give in to temptation and should avoid such establishments like the plague.

Although Brandon did enjoy this - not as much as the Tab Benoit, of course - Justin really liked it, and I was intrigued by it. The promo sticker mentioned something about Zen or Japanese music, and it does have some of that spaciousness in Oriental music, where not playing a note is as important as playing a note. There's also a steady rhythmic pulse to these pieces, which counters that not-playing thing - but the piano, which takes the lead, does so with plenty of room in the lines it plays.

This music is suitable for both intense listenings to really get through the complexities in this, yet is also quiet and relaxing enough to provide background music to other pursuits. Worth a listen for folks who like some sophistications and complexities delivered in a seemingly simplistic setting.