Capturing and conveying emotion with their instrument is the goal of almost every musician, but it’s also one of the hardest feats to accomplish. It’s a difficult challenge to overcome, but it is one that Michael Gary Dean has risen to on his debut release, Abandoned Pianos, recorded in January 2020 during a residency at the Banff Centre in Western Canada.
The huge number of discarded and “free” pianos on the streets of Montréal provided the inspiration for Abandoned Pianos. It was also a period of Dean’s life where he was getting ready to leave his home in Montréal and establish himself in Europe. The emotional preparation for this impending upheaval, the uncertain outcome, and the knowledge that the journey must be taken anyway, are all feelings that he drew on.
The album is filled with raw moments of reflection and contemplation on the transience of life and relationships. The songs have weight without being heavy and are melancholic yet hopeful, and remind us that there is both beauty and sadness inherent in change.
– Jonny Tiernan
Released July 15, 2020
Composed by Michael Gary Dean
Mastered by Taylor Deupree
© 2020 Michael Gary Dean. All rights reserved.
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