Since laying the foundation for his extraordinary career with the inspiring solo recordings Life and Death (2016), Straight From the Heart (2017) and When the World Ends (2018), Argentine composer, pianist and keyboardist has become a true musical visionary and epic sonic storyteller on par with the great David Arkenstone.
In my review of his 2021 album Epochal – which I deemed a “sweeping, literally breathtaking piano and orchestra work” – I wrote that I wished I was watching an epic movie to accompany his powerful musical narrative of a man surviving doomsday looking for another soul to connect with. Bacoñsky’s expansive, emotionally impactful adventure continues on New World, with the man being reunited with his wife, first experiencing the euphoria of reconnection with her and their long lost son before learning of a secret sacrifice.
The dynamic, ever-evolving drama, written in the liner notes as chapters correlating to each track, reveals the truth about what happened and the fate of the survivors from Epochal. From the beautiful and elegant, then intense and soaring piano and wordless vocal driven opener “Retrovailles” (feat. Munay Anaya) through the gloriously optimistic, soaring feeling of “Hope” (feat. Marcela Bovio), the darker, tension filled battle of “Heart Vs. Mind” and the timeless romantic beauty of “Love Story” (feat. Ambre Vourvahis), Bacoñsky paints his images via a fusion of vibrant piano melodies, sweeping and innovative orchestral grandeur and the very human element of five guest vocalists who help us connect more viscerally to the unfolding narrative.
Truly reflecting life itself, the composer’s vision for this strange and brave new world explores a full range of angst, hope, poignancy, fear and despair – all swirling around the deep love his two protagonists have for one another. The final three tracks in particular show how life can change on a dime, with the lush, majestic joy of “Daydreamer” (capturing the excitement of the man’s reunion with his son and finally having his family back together) quickly giving way to the ominous, haunting “Eye of the Storm” (feat. Ulli Perhonen) when the community rages and the woman’s dark act of sacrifice is revealed.
The final track, the fast paced, increasingly intense and fiery “Everything Ends” taps into the emotions of the man trying to escape the depths of despair over losing his wife so that he can build a future for him and his son in the New World. It’s a truly soul-transforming album which further showcases Bacoñsky’s multitude of musical and cinematic talents. May the saga continue – and may the man and his son find their redemption and hopeful solace – on his next album!
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