Lubomyr Melnyk is one of the world’s fastest yet little-known pianists and, since his 2013 album Corollaries finally opened him up to a new audience, the fact that he can play up to 19.5 notes per second has been touted as his defining quality. The effect is of iridescent notes that could be a thousand wind chimes, caught between turmoil and serenity. Melnyk’s titles are often fitting: Parasol sounds like sunshades spinning in the daylight, and Ripples in a Water Scene like ripples in a water scene; the crushingly sombre The Pool of Memories might well induce a pool of tears. He adds acoustic guitar to some pieces, and flute on the final two tracks, which are dedicated to the Amazon. The finale sounds like a spa relaxation CD gone off on an unhinged, psychedelic tangent, as if he’s trying to conjure the elements. While that may not strictly be possible, Melnyk’s truly defining quality is surely the constant tingle that his music leaves in your heart.
