A gorgeous, dynamic piano-forward track from John C Buttigieg, “Prelude in G-Sharp Minor” emits ample power in its evolving mood and knack for soundscape. The London-based neoclassical pianist and broadcast composer caught our ears recently with the Piano Odyssey EP, a 2022 release. “Prelude in G-Sharp Minor” continues the impressive output from Buttigieg, and also represents his first piece of 2024. Buttigieg’s tendencies for emotive, cinematic-feeling for unfolding piano epics is on display here.
A delicate, twinkling piano arsenal quickly develops into a whirring trickles of momentum. A clanging ferocity around 01:30 is particularly compelling in its cohesive descent into dreamy lushness. The various tonal rises and falls make for a consistently climactic structural navigation. “Prelude in G-Sharp Minor” enthralls in its deft balancing of serenely introspective calmness and trickling vigor, standing out as another thorough success from John C Buttigieg.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
