If done well, it can be a disarming and therapeutic experience, conjuring thoughts and feelings that would otherwise get lost in the noise of lyrics.
This is the case with Marcel Heah’s newest album, The Run. It’s a deeply beautiful piece of work, with each track elegantly composed. The songs are minimal and stripped back, mostly just piano with the occasional extra thrown in. Sometimes it’s a violin, other times there’s a static, crackling sound, similar to an old-timey radio, evoking nostalgia.
The way the mood shifts slightly in each track – some upbeat, some sad – is due to clever composition, and The Run really does have a way of capturing your attention, even if you don’t think piano music is your thing.
Having said that, the most powerful part of the album isn’t so much the music itself (although it is stunning). It’s more the way that the lack of lyrics allows you to interpret it however you want, and project your own story onto it. This is what makes The Run a truly moving listening experience.
8.5/10
