This album doesn’t show Armstrong’s real talent and strengths to the full. It only gives a glimpse of a great talent. But when it is there, it is special.
Craig Armstrong is more associated with arrangements and collaborations with artists such as Massive Attack and Madonna and film soundtracks such as Moulin Rouge and Love Actually than perhaps his classical works.
Releasing an album of piano pieces is probably a great moment for any composer. This album makes a small departure and returns the musician/composer/arranger to his roots. Armstrong studied at the Royal Academy Of Music and worked his way up through the ranks forming various ensembles and collaborations along the way. His work with Nellee Hooper and Marius de Vries opened up the musical playing field for Armstrong allowing him to work with a host of names through records, theatre and film.
This solo album, released on Sanctuary Records captures some of Armstrong's known pieces from previous collaborations including Massive Attack with the wonderful 'Weather Storm' and also 'Satine's Theme' from the glorious and adventurous score of the Baz Luhrmann film 'Moulin Rouge'.
It is at times full of the simplistic and gentle sides of Faure or Satie, Ravel or Debussy. It is at these times when Armstrong's works sounds the best. Away from the busyness and complexity that so many composers immerse themselves in. There are times when Armstrong falls into the same trap though. His 'Fugue' means well but ends up being too clever for its own good. It tends to get lost both rhythmically and melodically. It has an almost humorous air to it which I am sure was not the intention.
On the other hand the opening piece 'In My Own Words' is a beautiful atmospheric piece and the composer as pianist brings a delicate and sensitive touch to his playing. This is when Armstrong tampers with impressionistic and minimalistic moments. These are his best moments. ’Diffuse’ is interesting in the way the piano is treated with effects given a more ambient and eerie sound to the instrument. The post modernist ‘Leaving Paris’ is a strong melodic piece as is ‘1st Waltz’ that comes from the Satie stable if anywhere.
‘Laura’s Theme’ is a very obvious melodic piece with a repetitive arpeggio left hand. It is very simple and perhaps the simplicity in some cases fails to excite. In works like ‘Weather Strom’ and In My Own Words’ that is in fact the beauty of the pieces but here it doesn’t hit the mark as well. ‘Delay’ speaks for itself. Lashings of delay on a simple and delicate melody. The notes build to form a wall of sound. Perhaps a little muddy at times particularly with the lower notes.
‘Hymn 3’ is exactly as it says. A simple piece that opens with chords in a very hymn like manner and develops into a melodic, ambient and dreamlike soundscape. Again a strong use of effected piano with gentle reverse reverbs and subtle delays. This piece also shows Armstrong’s piano playing. His touch is sensitive and light but definite. It is not ponderous or heavy. Even when he wants strength in a part or section of a piece he plays with a determined yet restrained manner.
‘Childhood 2’ is built around a basic motif which the composer keeps to throughout, embellishing and developing in again a gentle manner.
‘Sunrise’ the last track on the album uses more fx on the piano. Sustained notes gently but surreally grow into reverse notes. Clusters of impressionistic chords morph and mould their way across a barren horizon.
It is a good album but Armstrong is not Debussy. I am sure he is not trying to be but with Paris as his inspiration, the album recorded there, one can’t help but draw the comparisons. As an album to put on and have in the background it serves the purpose finely. As an album to listen to intently... perhaps six or seven tracks out of the nineteen stand out.
For me Armstrong is a great arranger, a unique composer in the world of film where everything out of Hollywood begins to sound the same. But his ‘Piano Works’ lack the development and structure that help the pieces stand out on their own. It was Baz Lurhmann who felt that Armstrong’s music was like a film in itself. Certainly that encouraged the filmmaker to work with him.
If you want a so called 'chill-out ' album then this is 100% the very thing. If you are expecting a mature classical album then you will be slightly dissapointed.
This album doesn’t show Armstrong’s real talent and strengths to the full. It only gives a glimpse of a great talent. But when it is there, it is special.
1. In My Own Words
2. Heatmiser 2
3. Hidden
4. Gentle Piece
5. Weather Storm
6. Diffuse
7. Leaving Paris
8. Fugue
9. Theme from Orphans
10. 1st Waltz
11. Satine's Theme
12. Morning Breaks
13. Laura's Theme
14. Glasgow Love Theme
15. Delay
16. Hymn 3
17. Angelina
18. Childhood 2
19. Sunrise
