An Ancient Observer

An Ancient Observer

Nonesuch Records releases its second album from pianist Tigran Hamasyan, An Ancient Observer, on March 31, 2017. An Ancient ObserverÂ is the follow-up to Hamasyan's label debut, Mockroot, of which the Guardian said, "A phenomenal piano player, an irrepressible entertainer, a promising experimenter with hi-tech gizmology and a creative world-music composer. Mockroot plays vivaciously to all those strengths." The musician says of his new solo recording, which features ten new compositions: "These songs are musical observations about the world we live in now, and the weight of history we carry with us." Hamasyan will tour the US in February and March, then Europe in the spring; see below for the currently announced dates.

An Ancient Observer's songsâ€”two of which are based on Armenian melodiesâ€”were written over the last four years. Some of the pieces are through-composed and completely written out, while others are composed with ample space for Hamasyan to improvise. Many include vocals layered into the mix. As with most of his compositions, Hamasyan cites a wide range of influences, from Baroque dance to hip-hop, with pedals connected to a synthesizer on a few tracksâ€”while the sounds of his native country also are present, as always.

Hamasyan has returned to Armenia, where his daily life inspired these new pieces: "I gaze out of my window and see the biblical mountain Ararat with perpetual snow on its peak, with electrical towers with wires in the foreground cutting the picture, and satellite dishes melted onto old and modern housesâ€”ancestral smoke coming out of their chimneysâ€”and birds hovering above the trees along with occasional airplane trails in the vast sky. It is a dialogue, this interaction of God-given ancient nature with our modern human achievements," he says. "For me it is an awakening, and a beautiful feeling, to be able to observe the magnificence of this sleeping volcanic giant, which has existed for millions of years and was observed by the Ararat Valley Koura-Arax culture through to the present day citizens of the Armenian republic. I can see and observe the same birds, animals, rivers, and mountains that the craftsman of 4,000 years ago painted on a clay vessel. He was observing the same thing I observe now, and what remains is his or her beautiful work of art."
TOUR DATES

Feb 25-27 Blue Whale, Los Angeles, CA
Mar 1 Royal Room, Seattle, WA
Mar 3 Michelle's Pianos, Portland, OR
Mar 5 Yoshi's, Oakland, CA
Mar 8 Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA
Mar 10 SubCulture, New York, NY
Country USA
Brand Nonesuch
Manufacturer Nonesuch
Binding Audio CD
ItemPartNumber 75597938852
ReleaseDate 2017-03-31
UnitCount 1
UPCs 075597938852
EANs 0075597938852

Country	USA
Brand	Nonesuch
Manufacturer	Nonesuch
Binding	Audio CD
ItemPartNumber	75597938852
ReleaseDate	2017-03-31
UnitCount	1
UPCs	075597938852
EANs	0075597938852

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