Eden Roc - Ludovico Einaudi

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money

Advantages:	Gorgeous pieces that make you want to cry; very low price .
Disadvantages:	One or two tracks can really only be enjoyed in specific moods .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I was introduced to Ludovico Einaudi on Classic FM on morning, when Simon Bates said soothingly, "And now time for something to make you stay warm under the covers just a few minutes longer..." There followed a simple, yet beautiful piano piece, which was accompanied perfectly by a cello. I was enthralled at how marvellous and soothing the music was, and when it was announced that Einaudi had composed and played "Due Tramonti" - "Two Sunsets", (the aforementioned piece), I decided to look for a CD of his.

In an HMV store near Oxford Road in London, I found the CD for a mere £4.99! I was a little taken aback at first, but paid the small sum and listened to it when I got home.

The only way I can describe how wonderful the music was is to give a track-by-track analysis.

1. Yerevan (2:24)
A perfect beginning to a soothing classical music album is Yerevan. Barely any piano in this one, but the instruments used instead are atmospheric and overall extremely effective. There is a quartet of strings along with a double bass in the background, providing the monotonous, but breath-taking ambience. The strings are played ever so slightly out-of-tune to add to this effect. The 'duduk', an Armenian wind instrument is a perfect match to the humming background. A slight taste of the piano comes in towards the end, but just enough to whet one's appetite for what is about to come!

2. Eden Roc (3:19)
A complete contrast to the mellow sounds of the previous piece, three classical guitar strummings are immediately introduced, followed by a perfectly fitting, rolling piano part. The main instrument, being the cello, then joins in. The guitars are fresh and brisk, giving an impression of new life and spring; the piano creates a fast, fluid-like sound, babbling like a brook; and the cello gives a warm feeling inside. Overall, very fresh and lively, with a spring, woodland feel!

3. Fuori Dalla Notte (4:56)
A more gentle and slow piece follows, named Fuori Dalla Notte - translating as 'From the Night Outside'. One does get a sense of calm and coolness of the night outside. Ludovico Einaudi begins to show his talent at making beautiful pieces in this one, with his fantastic piano playing. One very good point about this piece is the excellent use of dynamics, which Einaudi is famous for. The strings and double bass add to the mood of the piano very well, making this a gorgeous piece.

4. Due Tramonti (4:52)
This was the first Einaudi piece I had ever heard, and it still rates highly in my favourites. Again, the use of dynamics is varied and very well done in Due Tramonti. It is very simple; it is all in free time and has a simple but effective piano and cello part. When you think this piece has come to an end, it starts up again on more than one occasion. I love this, as it gives you that 'extra bit more' of the piece that you always want at the end of something really good! Beautifully simple.

5. Nefeli (4:11)
Nefeli is one of Einaudi's more famous pieces, and it is a piano solo. Not as simple as some of his other pieces, Einaudi explores what sort of beautiful music can be made with a perfect C major key signature! He does it very well, especially with his fantastic use of dynamics and free-time playing. Very relaxing and with a flawless sound to the piano, this is an ideal song to listen to if stressed or unrelaxed. If a jolt of adrenaline is required, this piece's dynamics deliver it perfectly. Wonderful!

6. Odessa (5:47)
This is one of those pieces that one has to be in an open-minded and relaxed mood to find engaging. It is very long, serene and relaxed throughout. The music played is fairly complex in parts, and handled well by Einaudi. This is my least favourite on the CD, as it doesn't feel as if it is going anywhere. Instead, it is more the sort of music I would like to be played in the background whilst I am relaxing or working. The duduk's virtually ad-lib part in Odessa adds to the easiness of the entire piece. Not a well-received piece, but still has many qualities, especially if the mood is right.

7. Ultimi Fuochi (4:04)
Leading out from Odessa effectively, Ultimi Fuochi - 'Final Fires', in the first 2 minutes, consists of entirely strings and a double-bass, playing an extremely brisk and winter-like, chilly part. This winter-like sound increases in volume and pitch, forming a high-pitched crescendo, ultimately breaking down into a warm, fireplace type piano part. The strings, however, remain in the background, and their part repeats with the piano this time, forming a crescendo of notes along with the piano, adding a touch of frost to the warmth of the piano. All in all, very brisk but enjoyable.

8. Giorni Dispari (5:13)
For me, Giorni Dispari is the most beautiful track on the entire album. The piano is the central instrument again, and the chord progressions are so typical of Einaudi, yet they are gorgeously rich and fulfilling at the same time. Dynamics, yet again (sorry!), are used at their best in this piece by far. Around two minutes is the most beautiful part of the piece, with a little tune that I find myself humming for hours after listening to it! After a breakdown, the music envelopes you as the instruments really sing out with a magnificence that I can't describe, but can recommend only too greatly. The standout track on the CD.

9. Julia (4:48)
This piece is solely for the piano, and is a nice, rolling tune with complex playing techniques involved. The effect of these is that one thinks two pianos are playing, and can't quite distinguish how it is being played. Therefore, this piece needs to be able to simply wash right over you and so you take in everything at once. This is another example of a piece that is more suited to background music, as careful listening can prove to be frustrating for some!

10. Fuori Dal Mondo (4:56)
Fuori Dal Mondo - "From the world outside” begins with a slow, calm strings part, in the vein of Fuori Dalla Notte. The piano then joins in with it, giving the lovely Einaudi tone once again! It is basically part two of the first piece. It is fantastic and atmospheric around the three-minute mark, due to a brilliant mixture of string parts. The ending of this piece is the same as the start, but the addition of the high piano notes just adds the icing to the cake!

11. Ultimi Fuochi II (1:29)
To be quite honest with you, I do not know why this is on here, because it is simply the same as Ultimi Fuochi. The only difference is that it is the second half of it, and the strings’ playing style is different from that of Ultimi Fuochi. However, it is a nice piece, and it is nice to be reminded of it, but I can't understand why it is included again, being the same as its predecessor.

12. Un Mondo A Parte (4:06)
Starting off with some simple, gentle piano chords, Un Mondo A Parte - "Apart from the World" then gently eases into a gentle piano piece, accompanied softly by strings. A very haunting, and sad song that makes you want to cry if in the right mood. The music crescendos as the piano plays some of its touching and tear-jerking high notes, then plonks out some effective chords, whilst taking note of the dynamics brilliantly. It then breaks down softly again, leaving you with a very 'breathy' sort of sound. Overall a gorgeous and soft piece.

13. Password (4:30)
Beginning with a slightly different piano part from the rest of the pieces, Password is light and soothing. It then turns into a warm, lower piece, slightly reminiscent of Julia in the style of playing. The viola then accompanies the piano perfectly, with gorgeous, warm harmonies flowing from the piece. It never suddenly bursts out in volume, like Julia however. A simple, but warm and fluid piece.

14. Yerevan II (1:43)
Much like the concept of Ultimi Fuochi II, Yerevan II is just Yerevan repeated, with a more complex strings part. There is no piano in this one, and the duduk again makes it sound slightly Eastern, which is a fantastic sound to include on the CD. However, much the same as Yerevan, and I can't see much of a reason why it was included.

15. Exit (5:53)
Exit begins ever so softly, with the haunting piano melody heard at the end of Yerevan at the start of the CD. Very gently played, including the strings just after two minutes, which play the same part as the piano. All in all this range of octaves is effective. Then the piano descends into the lower bass notes, making the depth of the piece a lot greater. Exit never really moves anywhere or has any significant changes in the whole piece. This is a lovely, and suitable way to 'exit' the CD, after all of the beauty and majesty encased within the 15 tracks.

I have been listening to this CD practically every other day since I bought it, and I have not tired of Einaudi's wondrous work, even getting excited when I hear a piece of his on the radio!

Value for money is a very silly question to ask at this point. I would recommend the price of £14.99 for this CD, but I bought it for £4.99 so there is no rating high enough to justify buying such quality for so tiny a price!

If you want more information about Ludovico Einaudi and his works, visit his official website on http://www.ludovicoeinaudi.com.

Overall, a stunning CD from Einaudi, full of gorgeous and mystifying pieces with playing styles that are typical of Einaudi. It isn't much like Mozart or Beethoven, but that's because Einaudi is a contemporary composer, with a totally different style.

I would recommend anyone who likes quiet or enriching classical music to purchase this CD without a second glance at whatever price you can.

Steve's rating: 9/10

Thanks for reading! xXx