Harald Peterstorfer is an accomplished jazz guitarist who combines charismatic compositional ideas with world-class technique. His most recent studio release stands out as a really good introduction to his sound and style, exploring a wide variety of genres and influences while still retaining a strong connection with the character and mood of contemporary jazz music.
The album actually features 15 songs, and there is also room for some collaborators to join Peterstorfer on a few of these wonderful tunes. The first song, “Iva,” has a haunting, ethereal sound, which features classical guitars diving deeper into some truly atmospheric arpeggios. The song reveals an incredibly wide range of influences, and Peterstorfer plays with passion and emotion. Every note has got weight and there is no over-the-top display of technical frills. It is really all about the power of the composition, and on this song, Peterstorfer’s guitar is beautifully restrained.
The song “Mermaid,” which opens with echoes reminiscent of a siren singing, is one of my absolute favorites on this composition. The first few minutes are cinematic and ethereal, lending the music a very otherworldly quality. The guitar soon takes the main stage, and it moves beautifully, interacting with the vocals and the synth parts, assuming a rhythmic role with its gentle, darker arpeggios. The song “Morning Dew” is another incredible composition. This is a very emotional song that feels like a melody lost in time. There is an ancestral quality to this song, almost like an old folk ballad that has seen so many centuries and has got stories to tell.
The final song of the album is a beautiful track that is titled “Until Forever.” The song combines Peterstorfer ’s trademark gentle guitar arpeggios with some ambient textures that are reminiscent of genres such as post-rock. The ambient textures later fade out slowly, leaving more room for the classical guitars. This song is beautifully sparse and very touching, serving as a perfect conclusion for this masterfully performed studio album. The guitar has a natural sound, which truly speaks about Peterstorfer’s soul and passion.
The album actually features 15 songs, and there is also room for some collaborators to join Peterstorfer on a few of these wonderful tunes. The first song, “Iva,” has a haunting, ethereal sound, which features classical guitars diving deeper into some truly atmospheric arpeggios. The song reveals an incredibly wide range of influences, and Peterstorfer plays with passion and emotion. Every note has got weight and there is no over-the-top display of technical frills. It is really all about the power of the composition, and on this song, Peterstorfer’s guitar is beautifully restrained.
The song “Mermaid,” which opens with echoes reminiscent of a siren singing, is one of my absolute favorites on this composition. The first few minutes are cinematic and ethereal, lending the music a very otherworldly quality. The guitar soon takes the main stage, and it moves beautifully, interacting with the vocals and the synth parts, assuming a rhythmic role with its gentle, darker arpeggios. The song “Morning Dew” is another incredible composition. This is a very emotional song that feels like a melody lost in time. There is an ancestral quality to this song, almost like an old folk ballad that has seen so many centuries and has got stories to tell.
The final song of the album is a beautiful track that is titled “Until Forever.” The song combines Peterstorfer ’s trademark gentle guitar arpeggios with some ambient textures that are reminiscent of genres such as post-rock. The ambient textures later fade out slowly, leaving more room for the classical guitars. This song is beautifully sparse and very touching, serving as a perfect conclusion for this masterfully performed studio album. The guitar has a natural sound, which truly speaks about Peterstorfer’s soul and passion.
