Justin Rubin

This is exactly the kind of release that gets shouted down by the flashier, louder, more ego-driven releases in the CD pile. It's the type of music that faces an even darker fate upon its discovery: dinner music. Either way, the rewards of attentive listening to the details of these exquisitely composed pieces for solo piano and small chamber groups don't clamour for attention, even if they do offer many layers for those who focus on these unassuming waltzes and sonatas. Sometimes sounding "nice" can become a deafening roar. A closer listen reveals a deeply considered musical logic beneath the soft textures and haunting melodies. Shades of Erik Satie colour this music with unusual harmonic twists and moments of subtle humour. It's a compelling reminder that there's still vast territory where tonality makes slippery, startling turns without falling into the romantic, chromatic abyss. There's still plenty to explore within the old canards of melody and harmony. A Waltz Through the Vapor is the antidote to a busy, cluttered sonic life; it's beauty with substance stretching along a breathtaking expanse of the past and present. I recommend enjoying this disc a few times before digging into its deeper folds. Either way, please don't relegate this one to your next dinner date at home.