Album Review of A New Kind of Love
Pianist Robin Spielberg Relaxes But Doesn't Excite
What makes A New Kind of Love different from most of Spielberg's other recordings is that these tracks are all original works. The American pianist has recorded five other albums of original piano solos, but for the past 8 years, she has focused on recording folk tunes, film melodies and lullabies.
Picturesque Mood Music
Each of the tracks recreates a memory or a mood from Spielberg's life, suggesting a personal conversation between the performer and listener. "A Walk Between the Raindrops" uses open pedal and pentatonic arpeggios to suggest the raindrops her father used to tell her he dodged whenever he came home in stormy weather. "Picking Flowers" uses spritely trills and dotted rhythms to evoke a group of merry children skipping on a hillside.
A Multitude of Characters and Influences
Spielberg's busy concert schedule has taken her around the world. In 2006, she played in Seoul, South Korea and memories from her trip find their way into this album. "My Memory" and "Winter Sonata" are both derived from Korean culture. The first is a based on a popular Korean ballad while the second comes from a Korean mini-series.
Pets, friends and family also serve as inspiration, appearing in several tracks as musical characters. "The Orange Fox Waits" is about a tabby cat that would spend hours waiting for Spielberg's husband to come home. "Seeing You Seeing Me" celebrates the pianist's friendship with another Robin who, despite living in Germany, has managed to share in Spielberg's life for over 20 years. "Eileen" is a tribute to Spielberg's relationship with her sister, recounting the years they spent distanced from each other before discovering a sisterly bond.
Meditative Music: Relaxing or Bland?
Spielberg's music is perfect for relaxing in the bath with candles and a good book. However, A New Kind of Love is rather homogeneous in tone, excellent if you enjoy fluidly effortless arpeggios and a good deal of pedal, but bland if you enjoy the thrill of a stout, percussive work by Beethoven or Bartok.
There's not really much on this album to make you jump, nothing to make your heart pound (although "This Busy Life" makes a valiant effort at intensity). Granted, Spielberg's overall style is mostly meditative, and this album doesn't stray far from that persona, but it would be more interesting to hear her use less pedal/high registers of the piano and add a little more "oompf" instead.
Sources
Spielberg, Robin. A New Kind of Love. 2008 PlayMountain Music, LLC. (Album Notes).
