Lubomyr Melnyk - ‘Rivers and Streams’: Beautiful, if occasionally relentless

Having wallowed in obscurity for much of his first 60 years, it’s only since joining Erased Tapes that Lubomyr Melnyk has stepped into the spotlight.

His second album on the label further explores the Ukrainian pianist’s “Continuous Music” (combining a rapid series of notes and sustain pedal), using the theme of water as a physical and transcendental representation of the technique.

It's beautiful, if occasionally relentless. Parasol sets off like a train, climbing to ever-greater heights. Sunshimmers makes a close connection with Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint and, bolstered by Korean flautist Hyelim Kim, cascading arpeggios on The Amazon are as vast as the river.

Melnyk's talent arguably requires a live setting to be fully appreciated; Rivers and Streams is the ideal vehicle for his performances.

[ lubomyr.com ]