Ethereal is a gorgeously atmospheric album out today from Samyula, a Spanish pianist and composer whose gentle yet affecting piano-led sound stirs with serene entrancement. The project of Samanta Yubero, who is also a neuroscientist and holds a PhD, pursues an enjoyable introspection throughout the album — which plays as a journey of the self, where one must look inward to unveil “layers of being.” Each of the tracks within represent a different stage of that voyage; for example, the title track radiates lightness, while “Core” plays with grounding effect in its elegantly trickling piano work.
Samyula draws inspiration from the contemporary likes of Ólafur Arnalds and Goldmund, in addition to minimalist artists in the vein of Arvo Pärt and La Monte Young — and also the timeless-appealing classical outputs of Ludovico Einaudi and Michael Nyman. As a whole though, Ethereal shines with its original charm — integrating contemporary, minimalist, and familiar classical concepts in its enveloping and emotional sound.
The highlights on Ethereal are numerous. The title track’s effervescence shines in opening the album, moving from sporadic piano to a steadier lushness. Meanwhile, “Duality” exudes a delectably dramatic tone in the maneuvers to higher-pitched piano chills, while “Axis” plays with ballad-like appeal in its prancing piano weightlessness. The album’s final tracks also enthrall in their textured additions — whether via the electronic-touched and nature-like ambience within “Transcendent – Rework” or the beautiful cello integrations on the concluding versions “Duality” and “Orbit.” Ethereal is a strikingly memorable success from Samyula.
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“Ethereal” is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Obscure Ambient.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
