Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Best Music of All Time newsletter!
Today’s music pick is another breathtaking addition to an impressive classical oeuvre.
Genre: Modern Classical, Instrumental
Label: 88 Touches
Release Date: October 20, 2023
Vibe: 🌕
I first saw Sofiane Pamart live in a church that’s nearly 150 years old.
Surrounded by candlelight, with nothing supporting him onstage besides a grand piano, he treated the packed house to over an hour’s worth of astonishing contemporary classical music, with many of the compositions taken from his exquisite 2020 release, Planet Gold. The French pianist and songwriter brings an impressive pedigree to his pedigree, but, like the best instrumentalists, the technical mastery never overshadows the direct emotional impact of his music. That night, his program conjured up vivid visuals of love and lust, all taking place against the backdrop of exotic European, African, and Asian locales.
I bring this up because his 2023 LP, Noche, would be even more at home in such a hallowed, serene setting. Composed while traveling through Central and South America, each track sounds like it’s being played under a beam of moonlight as a gentle evening breeze flutters through an open window. Pamart’s playing is restrained but purposeful, with each note having a specific part to play in building a soothing, sensual atmosphere. The pianist also experiments with sonic color, moving seamlessly from songs grounded in the traditional (”Miedo”) to an electric, more psychedelic presence (”Luna”) in the span of a few minutes. What these compositions may lack in length, they more than make up for in craft.
I saw Pamart live in March 2024 in Montreal, Canada—his first of three consecutive sold-out shows in one of the city’s oldest theaters. He played for around 90 minutes, including two encores, and if he’d had any energy left, the crowd would’ve welcomed a third. To see someone at the top of their craft, in total command of their instrument, is an experience to treasure, mainly when it’s a one-person virtuoso. Nothing but a grand piano and a whole lot of talent. The universe is lucky to count Pamart’s creative output as part of its many positives.
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