One of my
favourite CDs is the original Lakota Piano album
from 1997, so I was delighted to discover that a
long overdue sequel had been made recently. Lakota
Piano made Piano Heaven a number of years ago, and
the review (which also details the composer's
incredible background) can be read
here.
When I listened
to the first track, ‘Voices in the Wind’ I had to
check the title of the album again, as there was not
a piano note in sight! Instead, there is quite a
groovy beat, and a pleasant droning and subsequent
melody which is very pleasing to the ear. As with
much of the album, synthesisers have been used
extensively, and although the track is perhaps out
of place with the content of this web-site, I really
do like it!
‘Last of the
Great Chiefs’ does indeed see the appearance of the
piano, certainly not in its purest form, but the end
product is a beautiful, reflective track.
A favourite
piece on the album is the third track, ‘Spirit of
Ft. George’. I am guessing this stands for Fort
George, and with its gentle background beat, and
lovely piano melody, this is Brulé
at his best. It's quite a soporific piece, and I
absolutely adore it. The ending is simply exquisite.
Piano is at
the forefront of ‘Dreamshield’, a gentle, almost
minimalist composition. The piano has a more natural
sound in this piece. It is another melodic track,
and extremely relaxing and soothing.
‘Red Path’
is much more upbeat, with piano and the return of
the funky beat! This is a happy composition, and
contrasts with both of the next two tracks. ‘Heavy
Hunt’ has a sense of foreboding, and I love the
sound of the drums, which are very atmospheric.
This leads
onto track seven, ‘Broken Trails’, which is another
favourite despite not featuring the piano at all.
This is an incredibly mournful and yet achingly
beautiful short composition, the background of which
I am guessing is something to do with the Western
World's interference in traditional tribal land.
I enjoyed
reading about the family history of Brulé,
and the next track sees him reminiscing about the
times his Great Grandmother (Mary Little Elk) would
sometimes play the upright piano which sat out in
the prairie grass near home on a warm Summer's day.
As I listen to this track, I hear the piano filling
the air and its sound resonating across the prairie.
Onto track
nine, entitled ‘Bravehearts’; another favourite.
This is a slow-tempo piano piece, lightly
orchestrated which is perfect for drifting away from
one's troubles. It's a simple melody, but one that
is played with real feeling and compassion.
‘Beyond Buffalo
Moon’ is a remixed outing of a track originally from
the first Lakota Piano album. It has been made more
upbeat, and is an interesting variation on the
original composition.
My favourite
track of the CD. and undoubtedly one of my most
loved tracks of all time, is track eleven, ‘Lakota
Oyate’. Featuring piano and orchestration in equal
measure, I cannot begin to describe how gorgeous the
resulting composition is to the human ear. It is a
mournful yet beautiful song, and one that seemed to
capture how I felt when I first heard this CD- I
first listened to it the day after my dad's sad
passing, and I felt that the piece with its distant
bells was just so appropriate for the occasion. It
was almost as if the piece had been written just for
me. The entire track is exquisite, but the ending
particularly so. It has a mesmerising quality to it.
They say music is a great healer, and this piece has
certainly helped me.
The final
piece, ‘Mary Little Elk’ is obviously a tribute to
his Great Grandmother, and is an optimistic
composition, probably chronicling her active and
successful life.
I think this
CD was made in 2009 as stated on the jewel case, but
on the back of the insert it says 2005.
I am a great
fan of the piano music and gentle orchestrations of
Brulé,
and hope that it is not twelve years before Lakota
Piano III sees the light of day! Another excellent
recording from this fascinating and intriguing
musician.
S.C. |