Dustin O'Halloran - 'Piano Solos Volume 2' (Bella Union) Released 27/11/06

Bella Union comes up trumps as one of the fittest talent scout labels of the year with artists such as The Howling Bells, Midlake, Fionn Regan and The Dears under their belt. This release by Dustin O'Halloran is a departure from the guitar-based songwriters and features no songs, no guitars - just a solo piano of instrumental movements in a classical vein which cock a wink to inspiration from Satie, Debussy and Ludwig Van. With richness in it's Eno-esque simplicity, there's music here to sooth the jangled nerves of many a concrete-dweller and offers more comfort than a laced cup of cocoa. The ears that be decided to use two compositions for Sophie Coppola's movie 'Marie Antoinette', such is their sumptuousness.

Each and every track is named an Opus - 'Opus 20' shows the delicacy and intricacy of a tumbling snowflake as Dustin tinkers with the piano, a slow and eloquent movement tapping into pensive currents - ahh! Satie or Sakamoto? Never mind, the easeful grace continues. 'Opus 21' turns a slow waltz revealing the suitability of sound-tracking Dustin's work, and 'Opus 23' casts a spell with beauty and grandeur in its simplicity, Elysian Fields are evinced - an affirmation of the Divine Order that a struck piano can evoke, even as the Empire's fall. The difficult genius Mr Beethoven is brought to mind with the majesty of 'Opus 34' with its melancholic kink, yet proves solid as the oak. 'Opus 28' has the contemporary feel of modern composition as informed by Steve Reich and Michael Nyman, with Dustin bringing more movement to the movement. Sadness and melancholy are evoked by the fragility of 'Opus 35' - like the deep well of the 'past it' trapeze artist who can only sell a dozen tickets to her performance. 'Opus 38' takes a trip to the light fantastic as stellar confluences are imagined.

There are emotional currents with a quality of 'acceptance' are brought to surface by work such as this by Dustin O'Halloran. Things are as they are, because they were as they were. First and foremost 'Piano Solos 2' speaks to the deeper emotions that barely register on the everyday pedestrian-egos radar, but which nevertheless form the streams of life. There's a simplicity and artistry that many ambient artists would hanker for, an imagistic work that lends well to the movies we can create in our heads.