Hymn – Little Meister’s (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Little Meister’s music sits apart from the noise and bravado of the pop and rock world, but it also stands slightly separate from the more formal and fastidious realm of classical music. But where the accessibility of the former and the latter’s grace and skill bisect, you find the gorgeous piano pieces he creates.

Like most of the music that Marius Le Fou makes under the Little Meister’s name, Hymn is an understated, spacious, and improvised array of gentle keystrokes and elegant chords, deft notes and delicate arrangements. His is music made in the moment, a spontaneous outpouring inspired by a theme or image, a place or event, a capturing of an idea in sonic form. Again, as is the norm with his work, without the lyrical component to leads us to a set conclusion and just the single-word title for guidance, the listener can interpret the music as they see fit.

The music found here is meditative and calming, built of gentle ebbs and flows of musical waves, one motif lapping serenely against the next, to create just enough change and dynamic to keep the piece moving, but not so much that it is distracting. The Hymn of the title could be anything you want; that is the joy of such an open and unguided approach. For some, it might conjure higher religious connotations; for others, it might have more personal and intimate meanings or it might merely be an interesting title.

That’s the great thing about Little Meister’s music: the intent of the artist can be wilfully and wonderfully lost in translation, and the music taken to heart has a totally personal meaning for every listener who hears it. That’s how you talk to the masses, speak in the language of the heart and soul and let them translate that in any way they see fit.