Tage Der Nostalgie (Dunkelheit Produktionen)

 Lebensessenz is a Brazilian pianist and composer (whom I have never heard about before) who plays a bittersweet blend of beautiful and melancholic classical music… While I’m pretty ignorant about classical music I love the compositions of Wagner, Grieg and Tchaikovsky, but these are the only composers I regularly listen to, so I’m probably not the more qualified  person for reviewing this album… anyway, I’ll do my best to transmit in words what this album is all about to a non-classical audience. “Tage Der Nostalgie” is a ten-track journey to delicate and introspective landscapes full of beauty and a subtle sense of melancholy, there’s a delicate emotiveness on this album, in fact I would dare to say this album is all about emotions, Lebensessenz passionately delivers, with his impeccable performance, a plethora of sentiments, sometimes overwhelming, sometimes calm, always surrounded by a subtle veil of gloom. There’re some quite vibrant compositions at this album as well, such “Gedichte Aus Der Kindheit” or the vivacious “Sobela Und Serrano”, which show a brighter and lively side of this emotive proposal. I applaud Dunkelheit Produktionen for introducing this artist to a more obscure and metallic audience, to sign with a neo-classical artist is definitely a daring gamble for an obscure Metal label… “Tage Der Nostalgie” won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, especially considering that the most of the people aware of the release of this album is most likely into a very different kind of music, but if you enjoy the tranquility, introspection and subtle intensity of the neo-classical music, or simply are looking for some excellently composed release, this record may be an interesting addition to your collection. (AP)