Laraaji

"Moon Piano" is the second in Laraaji's trilogy of piano albums, and follows the spiritual "Sun Piano", released earlier this summer. The piano was the first instrument the esteemed ambient idol learned, and his return to the keys feels generous and open-hearted. Laraaji's focus here is more melancholy and contemplative than on the album's predecessor, and while the same process was used - “I’d sit down, touch the piano and through free association, also blending it with my prepared mental state, I was able to tune in and affirm my highest sense of presence," he says - the mood is markedly different.

It's gorgeous stuff, not ambient by any means, but born from a similar space mentally. Laraaji is adept at capturing emotion with his music, and while the piano offers a more familiar tone than, say, the zither that sings from his most popular records, his touch is infectious and easy to get lost in. There was a glut of solo piano records about fifteen years ago and we have to say, we got a bit sick of it, so it's quite nice to hear something so enjoyable that doesn't contain a single field recording of birds or the sea.