From November is a natural prequel to For Snow, Alex Kozobolis’ wonderful EP from last winter. The three tracks unfold with gentle precision, and again connect to form a sentence: “Despite the Cold”, “Through the Leaves”, “The Light Will Warm Us Again”. There’s no grandfather clock this time around, although oddly it still seems present, a phantom limb created by pre-immersion in Kozobolis’ music. Instead, the sound effects include the miked keys and pedals and (very) distant conversation and traffic. This type of inclusion has produced a sea change in the way we listen to solo piano music. Once upon a time, such noises were thought to be a distraction and were eliminated in the studio. Today these sounds add to the overall charm of recordings, virtually guaranteeing that they are being performed live.
These three tracks possess a timbre that matches their subject: tender and melancholy, like the falling of leaves, but hopeful, like the morning light. The cover photo was taken on a pruning day, which is also appropriate, reflecting the necessary cut that promotes later growth: a metaphor for onset of the cold season. Kozobolis begins with light, tentative notes, easing into autumn; later in the EP he steps up the pace, as thoughts of fall withdrawal are replaced by those of the returning sun. While it may be too ambitious to expect, a 12-piece series of CD3″s, one for each month, would be lovely to hear; if not, perhaps From November might serve as the autumn entry, For Snow the winter entry, Songs from a Distant Summer (obviously) the summer entry, and Together the spring entry. Has Kozobolis inadvertently recorded an album for the seasons? We believe he has; check it out below. We love this idea, and perhaps the artist will too. (Richard Allen)
a closer listen 