Shnabubula is more know for his work on OverClocked Remix but I wanted to draw everyone’s attention to his latest album “Fading Light” which is a sumptuous collection of piano instrumentals.
Each of the ten tracks tell part of a story and flow excellently into each other. Opening with the wistful “Drifting Gently” which sounds like an opening of Anime things are gently put into place before “Time for a Picnic” brings in things with more gusto. There’s some beautiful motifs and twirls and this track shows off Shnabubula’s piano chops. “Turning Point” is played so timidly you can almost taste the emotion and thought in the air. “Sunny Days Again” in contrast is spirited and sprite. Title track “Fading Light” pushes things into a more classic tone like a piano collections battle track. It’s the first time the low bellowing notes come out to play and some of the piano work is utterly amazing – surely more than two hands are work here but still! The intricate arrangements continue with “The Bewildered Swordsman” that surfs up and down the entire piano keyset as if it were merely a quick glide. The power of the track is amazing even if the recording of the piano leaves a lot of the bottom end behind. “Kittens and the Moon” is a time for reflection before “The Man From Out of Town” gives us a more rousing theme. “Last Day of Spring” evolves from a little jumpy track into a beautiful all-consuming classical piece that wouldn’t be out-of-place in a black and white films finale. The album closes with “Looking For Answers” which feels like a reprise of everything that has come before.
The piano chops of Shnabubula have to be heard to be believed. Some of the arrangements are so complex I just sat back and went “wow”. Occasionally if you are careful there’s the very occasional duff note but the fingers are going so fast there’s this real one-take emotion fits all feel to everything (even though it probably isn’t) you don’t mind them anyway. Intense, emotive, spellbinding to the pianist within. Give it a listen.