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Review by Bill Binkelman If one allows merit as a rationale for releasing a career retrospective recording, there are few artists more deserving than pianist Robin Spielberg. She is, arguably, one of the greatest success stories of new age/adult contemporary music, beginning as a true independent artist, driving around to area stores with boxes of her first CD, personally meeting small store owners and slowly but steadily building up a customer base that has led to her being where she is today: thirteen albums released, concert appearance at Carnegie Hall, and thousands upon thousands of recordings sold. In addition, she is one of the nicest and "classiest" people in the business - I don't think I've heard or read anything even remotely resembling an unkind thing about her as a person. As for her talent, well, all you need to know is when I want to compliment a new piano artist in a review, Speilberg is one of the "benchmarks" I use as a descriptive comparison. 'nuff said on that front. memories of utopia is a collection of fourteen (and a bonus remix track) songs, including some new compositions, spanning the pianist's career showcasing her artistic virtuosity and her soulful compositional style, both of which have endeared her to her fans through the ten (actually, now eleven) years she has been recording. The songs range from the spirited and short (under two minutes) "Because of You" to the next song, which is the emotionally rich and complex nine-and-half minute opus "Ireland" to the pensive yet lively album closer "The Nature of Time" which flits across the upper registers of the keys but still comes across as a thoughtful piece. Spielberg's strength has always been her ability to craft honest sincere pieces yet avoid the Hallmark moment faux sentimentality that sometimes creeps into other new age piano players. Some of these songs were newly re-recorded as (previously unavailable) solo piano performances (which is all this CD contains), so even long-time fans of this artist will find that memories of utopia is a rewarding purchase. Speaking of solo piano work, Spielberg is one of the few piano artists of whom I seldom comment "I wish she had added some synth textures." I usually long for a little embellishment, and I doubt that doing so would "hurt" these songs, but on the other hand, they are not lacking either. Two of my favorite pieces here run back-to-back. "In the Heart of Winter" which is atypically cheery at the outset yet retains a feeling of snowy days just the same (the liner notes explain why). Next up, "Dancing in the Quiet Rain" showcases one of Spielberg's fortés, that being the ability to craft pretty and romantic music that is seldom if ever cloying or melodramatic. This song perfectly captures the essence of softly falling rain yet does so without a hint of melancholy. Yet, Spielberg can certainly impart a song with the somber emotions, as she does on "A Change of Seasons." Somehow, though, whenever she writes a song that is deeply personal, such as "Valerie" (for her still very young daughter) or "A Song for Jennie" (written as a tribute to her grandmother, who passed away several years after it was first recorded), she plugs into her deepest and most soulful playing, which makes sense when you consider her inspiration. memories of utopia serves as a most pleasant look back at a talented musician's career for her fans, and likewise would be an excellent introduction to her music for first-time listeners. If you consider yourself a lover of new age solo piano and haven't yet picked up on Robin Spielberg, it's high time you did. Postscript: The last track, the bonus "remix" of "A Change of Seasons" (titled the "Musica Technica Radio Mix") places a pulsing pounding techno beat underneath the song and, believe it or not, it works! I won't say it represents a new direction the artist should head, but I was surprised how cool it sounded. Wonders never cease, apparently! |
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