Martin Ptak - River Tales
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 22 / 2 / 2019
Label:
Col Legno
Format: CD
intro
Passionate but subtle second album from Austrian composer and pianist Martin Ptak which takes its inspiration from his country’s rivers
Subtitled 'Der endlose Strom der Wiederkehr',Martin Ptak's second album evolves around the cycle of water that runs from the mountains to the sea and back over again. He grew up walking the flood plains along Alpine rivers. Austria is perhaps a country where one could become a composer or a musician by simply drinking local dairy. The undercurrents in Martin Ptak's music though shy away from storm showers and snow, and 'River Tales' goes from well to delta. The initially timid and sometimes tame orchestration sets one off on the wrong foot. It veers towards kitsch new age music during the first ten minutes, and the listener needs to settle down in this valley of sparkling sounds in acountry that no longer has sea ports. Vibes and currents pass through yet nothing stays within Austria's borders. This could explain the nation's sense of melancholy. No stranger to that, Ptak flirts with the greats from his country, but only for twenty to thirty seconds however, before choosing the entirely opposite direction. On 'Merging' I hear Balkan brass of the most minimal kind as I come back to my initial impressions. On 'Flood', Martin Ptak becomes so overwhelmed by passion that his piano playing turns slightly sloppy. The residue sounds heard next on 'Sinking' follow that flood of emotions immaculately. Eerie screeches and breezy trumpets on 'Darkstone' recall Pere Ubu's 'Dub Housing' but in a dub version as it were. All about streams of water, the album the 'River Tales' starts quite well, and becomes more complex and varied towards the end. The best is saved until the last, 'Panta Rhei' brings out the finest of Martin Ptak's piano playing.
Track Listing:-
1 The Source2 Stream
3 Wings
4 Merging
5 Storm
6 Flood
7 Sinking
8 Darkstone
9 Cyclo
10 Kanon
11 Panta Rhei
12 Digital Booklet: River Tales
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart