24

Once again, pianist and composer Alexis Ffrench’s music brilliantly treads the fine line between contemporary music and crossover. Here, Ffrench offers his suite of 24 short works, scored variously for solo piano, strings, percussion and ambient effects, as a way to navigate through the day. “Good Morning” accompanies a first coffee, while “In Flight” portrays a day in full swing. Soft bass and drums underpin the “Golden Hour” of the evening, while the hymn-like “Before the World Sings” conjures those magical moments at early dawn before the next day begins. Ffrench avoids the trap of sentimentality thanks to the sheer craftsmanship and melodic inspiration of his music, and the expressive power of his playing. Our Favourite Track: with its lilting triple metre and hints of folk song, “Blackbird Rising” combines a sense of serenity with a hint of wistful nostalgia.