Harold Budd

Harold Budd is known for his piano pieces and his collaboration with Brian Eno, on The Pearl. This time, Budd returns to resonating, treated chords, which reminds me of George Winston's seasonal series Winter into Spring. Right away the track inspires a waking, glazed-eye dream state that demonstrates the beauty inherent in the piano. The notes shimmer like light off a nocturnal lake and there are the occasional tracks of pure ambient synthesis, such as "The Room" and "Secondary Light," yet these two cannot hold a candle to Harold Budd's resonating piano playing. Usually this kind of material tends to the kitsch, new age-ish realm, but Budd keeps his playing raw and fresh enough to avoid the pitfalls of such stigma.