Dave Greening – ‘Hypnagogia’ from the album “FORTE.X”
Dave Greening was born in England and moved out to California when he was 26. He has been playing the piano since the age of 6. His music is primarily, but not limited to, improvised piano pieces which fit into the ambient, chill and easy-listening canons. Dave has a little boy, Rio, who is his muse. Greening’s music is evocative, offering us all a chance to take a step back from our perpetually busy lives and let our minds adventurously wonder. The 10-track album, “FORTE.X” is where things truly come to life for Dave Greening and his audience of listeners.
“Forte.x is my first non-compilation album in 8 years. I forgot how good it feels to be behind a piano, and I hope you can enjoy this transcendent mood with me,” explained Dave Greening. “Forte.x is a play on words. Forte for Pianoforte, with an added x to sound like ‘Vortex’. The album is supposed to have a transcendental, open, space vibe,” he concluded.
Regardless of you perceive the soundscapes on the album, one thing that cannot be denied is how it exhibits Dave Greening’s masterful artistry of adapting richly affecting arrangements to solo piano with magnificent results. In some cases, he has added only the barest string and voice accompaniments to add extra tonal dynamics to the pieces. Right from the start of this album there is an intimate, earthy, and elegant atmosphere.
Starting out with “Introduction to Forte.x”, Dave Greening begins to weave his musical imagery while setting the mood. “For Mina and Ava” is more structured and linear, featuring pronounced melodic motifs from the piano, which entice and tease the ear. Further back, the strings subtly stir the emotions. “Hypnagogia” flips the expected sonic template, as Greening takes his piano into denser areas of accompaniment, before returning to the mesmeric tone of his solitary piano on “A Lost Cause”.
“Interlude” bathes in the sonic sweep of shimmering piano chords and notes, which echo with fluidity. This is where the composer, performer, and listener intertwine in what can be described as an immersive experience. “Trileptal” is even more transcendent, as only the combination of strings and piano can be. While some people adore the piano, my enjoyment as the listener is achieved via the pianist.
Luckily, Dave Greening makes the piano resonate to his will, ensuring his delicate and precise playing reaches into the listener’s soul and does not let go for the entire runtime of this album. “Fortitude” presents another haunting arrangement shared by the piano and the strings, and which also introduces a brief R&B styled vocal interlude. “Healing” again puts Greening’s piano at the forefront, where his sensitive keyboard touches and beautiful tones do invoke deep pondering.
“Alone At The Campfire” goes even deeper down the meditative rabbit hole. Here Dave Greening effortlessly creates music that first washes over you, then embraces you, before completely enveloping you. “Resolution”, which closes the album, is another eloquent and captivating piece of music. It is probably the most cinematic styled track on the album, and carries with it multiple moods. Overall, the album “FORTE.X” is graceful, relaxing, yet passionate, and wonderfully flowing with Dave Greening’s spontaneous artistic verve.
