The pairing of painting and music makes this a special little release. The cover art comes from the Barcelona-based artist’s aunt, Conchi Escamilla, the internal art from a pair of other local artists, Adolfo Lozano Sidro and Snorri Arinbjarnar. We miss the days of vinyl, because the hues here are particularly vibrant, a match for the tender, emotive music.
This is the second EP for composer Jaime del Adarve, following last year’s Neu, also on piano and coffee records. Las Horas (The Hours) may refer to the hours of the day, although the EP can be played five times over the course of an hour; “Las Amanecida” recalls the dawn, while “La Quietud” suggests the winding down of the day. The overall theme is a celebration of “goddesses on earth” ~ the women who birthed and watched over us. The woman on the right of the cover even appears to have celestial wings.
“Las Haldas” appears in two versions, one with strings and one without, forming the bookends of the EP. The first suggests lushness, the second intimacy. The art (pictured right) follows suit, a refection of familial love. The child is encircled by its mother’s arms; the two women together form a circle, nearly a heart.
“La Amanecida” is the other stringed piece, rising slowly like the sun before breaking across the plain in declarative fashion. Already at 00:48, the piece seems like a harvest dance. The roofs of the village (as seen below) reflect the sun’s brilliant light, the background houses immersed, the foreground still in shadow. The track settles into a softer ending, paving the way for “La Quietud.”
Can twelve minutes be representative of an entire day? The EP itself is a microcosm. It seems as if the sun has just risen, and yet already it has reached the other side of the sky. Perhaps the artist’s message is that days are short, life is short, and there’s no time like the present to honor those who have nurtured us and made us who we are. There is no sadness here, only joy and a sense of profound respect. An entire album of paired local paintings and songs would be sublime; perhaps this is something we can hope for.
piano and coffee records is geared up for a great year, and this is a subtle yet fantastic start. Their second release of the year arrives only a week after this one; stay tuned for more! (Richard Allen)
a closer listen 