Far Islands And Near Places

French composer and pianist Quentin Sirjacq studied composition and piano at Mills College and the Royal Conservatory in the Hague; although ambient music isn't usually my thing I was intrigued by the inventiveness and intelligence of the compositions here; Sirjacq aims to take listeners on a journey to different subconscious places and I think he largely succeeds; amazing range in what he can do with piano

No FCC's – all instrumental; Favorite tracks: 4, 6, 7

1- Aquarius – (4:13) – pleasing piano melody with interesting percussive effects weaves tapestry of chiming sound

2 –Bodies (4:19) – synth and marimba/vibraphone type sounds; sounds more like rain falling to me, but maybe they could be bodies or footfalls; switches gears midway; synth drumbeat

3 – Orange (4:24) – quieter, sounds rounder; contemplative piano melody

*4 – Far Islands (5:01) – shimmering, slow, sustained synth notes lead off; sense of going into space or long journey; intervals lead you out into a wider space

5- Wolves (4:50) – starts with glockenspiel motif; adds synth; pointillist melody opens out into some sustained notes; picks up speed and then fades away

**6 – Round Dance (4:04) –springy sound of glockenspiel with piano over it, intricate; synth provides some treble sustain; tapestries of shimmering sound with nice modulations

*7- Cold Lands (4:44) – chilly, precise little treble piano melody with bass rumbling underneath opens out into minor piano chords, sustained notes with trickling sounds; ends with broken chords

8-It's raining in my house (4:39) – rain-percussion with synth, piano chords, more trickling sounds with slightly disturbing synth drones

9- a dream in a dream (4:13) – piano motif begins with alternating high treble and lower notes; a little mesmerizing as it unwinds