What does Marika Takeuchi sound like?

Modern classical, often piano-based compositions.

The review of ‘Iridescence’ by Marika Takeuchi

Modern classical composer Marika Takeuchi was staying in a small, peaceful village in Northern Italy following a loss. She was devastated, but found solace in the Dolomites. Also known as The Pale Mountains, they are a majestic mountain range which Marika found utterly captivating. Torn between the contrast of her personal sadness and the beautiful views, ‘Iridescence’ was born.

The six-track EP is a piano-and-string-laden affair, charting Marika’s personal experience and emotional recovery. ‘Dolomites’ opens the EP with an eventual rising triple note motif born from a lower bass chord. It’s as if every few bars, a new mountain on the range is discovered, creating a more majestic whole. The strings are subdued in a way that implies scale lurking beneath. ‘Views’ is suitably uplifting and sweeping. The piano has a majestic gallop mid-riff that allows the elegant strings to drape over the piano like snowcaps. Whereas the first two tracks are grounded by rich strings, ‘Shuttered’ is solely piano, and far more questioning in tone. Most bars of music sway between two chords, sometimes with an overarching chord progression that spirals into a lost feeling. It’s beautifully performed.

‘Nowhere’ is performed on a prepared piano, where the keys are low, and the hammers are brushed. The percussive river of clonks and wooden knocks, with the occasional tink of a piano string, is delicate and evocative of an internal emptiness. The thick strings that accompany the prepared piano also rotate around chords that evoke a searching feeling, rather than grounded closure. That closure is left for ‘Returning’, where the strings provide warmth and a welcome home hug. The bluesy nuance to the piano melody has a tentativeness to it, as if Marika Takeuchi isn’t quite sure if she is returning home with peace or not. It means the melody has a slight clunk and delay, landing its emotions beautifully. Peace is coming, though, as the EP closes on ‘Hope Again’. This piano solo piece is gently uplifting, leaving behind the questioning spirals and circular notions of previous tracks. Instead, it feels like a soft place to land.

In just over 15 minutes, Marika Takeuchi brings us a fully fleshed-out musical journey that feels rich in colour, thought, and melody. This is the perfect companion for a walk in nature, or a nighttime look up at the stars. Introspective and somewhat romantic in a way, this is a luscious release that will feed your heart and soul.

Recommended track: Views

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