We always look forward to reviewing the compositions of Leonardo Barilaro, a.k.a. The Space Pianist. Having covered his previous releases including Not 66 days without a note, the Genesis EP, Spusa de pesse and 100 Days, we were more than excited to hear his latest opus, Maleth!
Opening with intricate piano performed on a Steinway, along with a cerebral, glistening texture, Leonardo takes us on an arpeggiated, minor key journey with epic runs and robust emotion. The composition is full of prowess as the synth crescendo takes us to a cinematic segment. We love the additional percussion, giving a sense of authenticity and “live” dimensionality element to the soundscape.
Leonardo never fails to draw us in with his dramatic key work and we are obsessed with the nuance of the piece, which is laced with dynamism and intrigue. Fading out with an enigmatic vibe and percussive details, we are left wanting more and reaching for the repeat button!
We learn that Maleth is also the name of the program taking bioscience missions to space, and is the ancient Phoenician term for Malta. Uniquely, the composition was also stored for a month on the mission computer of the ISS by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, and accessed from the mission control room in Malta and broadcasted from Space in a special event when the ISS was flying over Malta!
The artwork for the single is created by Chiara Rovoletto, and the composition comes with an out of this world video showcasing the intricate performance by our protagonist on a majestic Steinway model D!
Speaking on the release and his intention, Leonardo Barilaro says with depth, “As humans we are a self-aware species buzzing around hoping for the best and messing up things. Very rarely we try to do something meaningful, like striving for space travel to become a multi- planetary animal with an extra chance of survival. Maleth is a symbol of this logarithmic marathon.”
We have added Maleth to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Leonardo Barilaro!