Bart Van Dongen & Richard Van Kruysdijk - One Two Three Four Five [Opa Loka Records]

Set for release via Opa Loka Records on July 13th, 2k18 is "One Two Three Four Five", the new collaborational album effort created by prolific composers Bart Van Dongen & Richard Van Kruysdijk who are focusing on the musical possibilities the piano provides as an instrument within five subsequently named tracks with "One" providing a romantic, tender and slightly kitsch-dripping approach in terms of its overall feel accompanied by a few vintage, atmospheric crackles whereas "Two" presents a tender take on floating, carefully arranged Piano Ambient with a little bit of additional drama and "Three" brings forth 146 seconds of late fall melancholia nicely contrasted by a maelstrom of intense background droning. With "Four" we see the pair of composers explore eerie, crackling abstract territories, mixing seemingly digitally created and modular atmospheres of a dark, threatening sci-fi future with plucked and manipulated piano strings to a well-thrilling effect before the concluding "Five" takes a combination of minimalism and melancholia to the the next level, yet not without the occasional dramatic outburst and a touch of naturalistic Folk vibe coming into play over the course of the albums runtime. Deep!

Album artwork on Instagram!