When I first met my wife, in the summer of 2000, for a long time she held forth about the beauty of the classical piece ‘The Lark Ascending‘ by Vaughan Williams. At that point, I had never heard of it, and seemingly I wasn’t alone, given the furrowed brows of several folk I know who are connoisseurs of that genre when I mentioned it to them. Sixteen years later, this orchestral work regular tops the Classic FM Hall Of Fame as the nation’s favourite. I am not sure as to how and why its stock grew to such mammoth proportions in such a short period, but now it is fair to hail it as arguably the most famous modern masterpiece of its time.
But why am I talking about Ralph Vaughan Williams? Well, simply because I can draw parallels between that work and this one. The very pastoral feel, the searing violin evoking majestic visions of a seabird in full flight, nary a worry in the world, and the intensely emotional power that can be imbued by the tranquillity of solitude.
It’s not only Williams whose work Aukai (real name Markus Sieber) is comparable too either. Similarly, Italian New Age symphonist Ludovico Einaudi‘s ‘Le Onde‘ could certainly be listed as a reference point, though few, if any, of Aukai’s compositions are led by piano.
“This album and project has a lot to do with memories from travel,” says Sieber, “but also memories from childhood and nature. How did the river smell in summer? I wanted to create a sonic space where music guides the listener into some imaginative inner world.” If that was the intention, then this project has been a major success, as the German-born, Mexican-based composer has certainly brought images of my childhood back to me.
Blazing hot, endless summers are conjured up in my mind, with the best, most fondly remembered, carefree days of youth at the forefront. These emotional works, positively dripping with the romance of a bygone past, paint such naturalistic pictures of an innocent reckless abandon that it is impossible not to be moved. Built around Sieber’s personal discovery of, and love of, the Argentinian plucked string instrument the ronrocco, this self titled album is truly mesmerising. It would be unfair to analyse each track separately, for this, more than anything I have heard in ages, demands to be listened to as a whole; a modern classic in every sense.
I don’t know whether Classic FM will still be going in 100 years, and indeed, whether their Hall Of Fame will remain in existence, but if it is, I suspect Aukai’s eponymous album’s trajectory will follow a similar path to that of ‘The Lark Ascending‘. This is gorgeous, compelling music and deserves to be heard and cherished for many years to come.
Aukai will be released on Aukai music on 3rd June 2016.
