Dirk Maassen - Avalanche (2018) [Hi-Res]

Composer/pianist Dirk Maassen’s Avalanche feels anthemic throughout. The opening “Eclipse,” a beautifully undulating piece that sways to its own natural rhythm, is a rock song in miniature, while the richly scored “Allewind” is full of tense, urgent drama. “Helios,” featuring sound artist Max Knoth and string orchestra accompaniment, harks back to Nyman’s score for the 1993 film The Piano, and “Nocturne” pays homage to the simple romance of the theme from Love Story. But while this is an album of many influences, Maassen, a master pianist, assimilates and crafts them into his own stunning, original whole.