San Francisco-based artist OHNomad‘s new album A Fund Manager explores expressive solo-piano composition, blending jazz sensibilities, classical flourishes, and spacious improvisation across four tracks. Composed by Owens Huang and performed by pianist Leon Hsu at Van Gelder Studio, the EP draws parallels between financial decision-making and musical spontaneity, with each piece reflecting on uncertainty, independent thought, and the value of restraint.
“Contrarian” enjoyably sets the EP into motion, thematically insightful in ruminations on what’s required to think independently, while wonderfully expansive in its dynamic piano work. A dreamy, glistening presence expands gradually into strong personality, then moving back into a spaciously sporadic build. The track’s conclusion is especially striking, with effervescent expressions traversing into a solemn fade-out. Ensuing track “This Time is Different” then considers the interaction between innovation and speculation, expanding from subdued beginnings to a wonderful midpoint, where prancing piano layers intertwine vibrantly around the three-minute mark.
Zen-inspired equanimity inspires the subsequent “Stay Neutral,” emitting a bluesy steadiness amidst the more free-flowing piano adornments. Meanwhile, album finale “Stay Neutral Stay Longer” envelops in its embrace of improvisation, gorgeous in its initially lush demeanor. The jazz-friendly, lounge-set charm grows into a fantastic second half, where pulsing chords and twinkling emotionality meld beautifully. Full of musicianship and melodic ingenuity, A Fund Manager is a stirring success of an EP from OHNomad.
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“This Time is Different” 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.
