Dustin O'Halloran – Lumiere

Album Review by Jonathan Butcher | 28 Feb 2011
Album title: Lumiere
Artist: Dustin O'Halloran
Label: FatCat Records
Release date: 28 Feb

Composer Dustin O'Halloran's latest work is a beautifully crafted and rather unique kettle of classical fish, and deserves widespread attention. Lumiere stands in contrast to his two previous solo piano records, in that it's an expansive, wide-ranging tapestry of piano, strings, guitar, and the barest hint of electronics. Playing like the soundtrack to a poignant art film, each piece balances minimalism with an almost magical attention to detail.

Tracks such as Quintette N. 1 and A Great Divide are given the freedom to breathe yet never sound sparse, and snake between orchestral richness and the heartbreaking solitude of O'Halloran's lonely keys. Written with a knowing and purposeful disregard for traditional structures, O'Halloran uses winding, exploratory passages to pluck unexpected emotions from the listener. At 43 minutes it feels like a short ride, but Lumiere will no doubt stand as a landmark within a career already bursting with achievements.

http://www.dustinohalloran.com