Setting the tone with an elegant and cinematic piano performance, Gav Moran opens his album, Broken Pieces, with a track titled Letter to Kyiv. The opus immediately draws us in with its melancholic nature, tapping directly into our heart centre with the keys alone, before strings amplify our emotion, bringing us to tears within less than a minute of the composition.
This is the power that Gav Moran holds with his arpeggiated sound design and transcendental edge, naturally forming an ode to Ukraine and the current reality facing millions in Eastern Europe.
Speaking on the opener and wider record, Gav confesses, “Letter to Kyiv focuses on the emotion of uncontrollable world events, The album then moves through a collection of audio imagery using piano and strings compositions taking the listeners on a melancholy journey through the various neo classical styles.”
Next, we experience In tenebris lucemus, which opens with a stunning strings arrangement, holding an almost meditative energy. The title of the track translates as “Let us shine in the darkness”, which literally comes to life as a portal into the record, as if a wave of light energy is hitting us and immersing us wholly.
Lilium showcases more depth on the piano, as Gav Moran demonstrates his instrumental mastery, but also the intricacy that he can deliver with his performance. Naturally, strings tease us to amplify the sonic experience and we are in awe.
This is followed by Letter to Guinevere which showcases elegance and the cinematic nature that we have come to love from Gav Moran’s artistry. Lugubris holds an emotive energy, with a surrealist twist and anthemic crescendo into the finale, whilst Tempus takes on a more intimate dimension.
Broken Bells features dramatic nuance, functioning as a piano solo, and Radium features sonic textures with an arpeggio build up, raising the tempo and intrigue of the record with the return of the cello and violin!
Speaking on his inspirations, Gav Moran confesses, “My main influences are are classical artists from the baroque and romantic classical periods and contemporaries like Max Richter and Philip Glass.” We certainly feel this come through in the record, but there is no doubt that Gav is creating a universe of his own.
Finally, we experience A Letter to say Goodbye, which holds drama form the first bass note, once again showcasing the dynamic nature that the visionary composer has to offer. We appreciate the poetic prowess in his performance, and the emotional depth that he shares with the finale, and throughout the entirely of the refined record.
We have added Letter to Kyiv to our New Music Spotlight, whilst we continue to stream the album and anticipate future releases from Gav Moran!