“Welcome to Loch Raven” captures an immersive outdoor recording from composer and music educator Noah Crist, who placed a recorder at Baltimore’s Loch Raven Reservoir and allowed birdsong and wind to blend with his original piano composition. The resulting ambient piece balances natural sound with piano that excels across both understated and expressive moments.
A gorgeously dynamic emotional range is apparent throughout the performance, spanning from initial lushness to eventual ardent effervescence. The Loch Raven Reservoir setting is conveyed right away, with an ambient assortment of footsteps, slight wind, and the gentle sounds of birds singing. The keys remain a subdued presence initially, weaving in with sporadic, free-flowing charm. A heightened emotion leads into the one-minute mark before falling into a momentary silence and ensuing elegance. The backing atmospheric ambience persists here, then fading momentarily at the two-minute turn before reappearing with memorable warmth.
Prominent bird-chirping intertwines with the serene acoustic work as the track progresses, culminating around the midpoint into a layered, piano-led emphasis. The alternations between an atmosphere-forward focus (depicting the vastness of the Loch Raven Reservoir) and absorbing piano work make for a consistently riveting listening experience. Prior to the final minute-and-a-half, which concludes with dreamy subtlety, the second half compels in its vibrant melodic flourishes. And the finale, with its caressingly soft keystrokes, is enchanting in its conclusion. Succeeding in both its natural ambience and intricate keys, “Welcome to Loch Raven” is a wholly memorable output from Noah Crist.
—
This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
