Beginning with piano lessons at the conservatoire at only 14 years old, by the end of the 80’s the Barcelona-based composer, Juan Sánchez was honing his sound by playing the keyboard with different bands for a decade.
A five-year stint in London where he studied music and technology inspired his journey into creating ambient instrumental-based electronic music, a skill which serves him well to this day by way of his business at Equinox Sounds.
Deeply inspired by other ambient artists such as Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi, Sánchez eventually worked up the courage to release his debut solo project under his own name. In March of this year, this intention brought forth the single, Rebirth, which then lead to the steady and focused release of seven more singles. As a whole, these eight elegant tracks were then placed together to form his debut full-length album by the same name, Rebirth. Spoiler alert, it is an instant candidate for our 2019 Top Ten list.
“Now that I am starting to see the fruits of my success and change the way I think, I feel that, in some way, I am becoming a new person – I have been reborn…”
This is a very special album. Thus, we have removed our usual review formatting which typically involves sections such as: HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST, OUR FAVORITE TRACK, and IN CONCLUSION.
Why? Because as you are about to experience, this album—more than most—is served best as a singular experience, each track being allowed to blend into the next. Each track energetically setting the table for its follower. There is no favorite because they are all our favorite.
Rebirth opens with the sweetly sad melancholy of keys, giving way gently to Beto, where strings add an utterly stirring depth and emotional character. As keys roll on, there is a feeling of a journey which is simultaneously filled with pain and hope as Heading To Dreamland introduces an ambient underpinning of synth tones.
Awake again, Peaceful Places feels like a space has opened for even the most dangerous journey to become witnessed as safe, as a struggle worth enduring. Do you know what I mean?
The walk becomes a confident endeavor during the solo piano piece, Beautiful Rose, which segues into the deeply intimate All Of Us, where we can hear the man himself gently breath and adjust in his seat as each hammer strikes its string. This is an exercise in patience and faith, a waiting of sorts, for the rest of the message.
Arctic Solitude finds an anxious stride as strings unite with keys once more. The light at the end of the tunnel is near, and we are eager for the experience, but before we arrive, we revisit Beautiful Rose once more, this time with the gorgeous addition of strings. All crucial endings should be delayed in such beautiful ways.
Finally, we arrive. Silent Tears is both vindication of our pain, and validation that there truly are no endings to the process of life. There is always someplace left to go, some task left to do, some love yet to give. There is a confidence here at the end. A knowing. Of what? That is for each of us to decide.
IN CONCLUSION…
We’ve mentioned before how we at The Ark of Music are huge fans of the New Age genre. Juan Sánchez’s debut album, the etheric and beautiful, Rebirth, not only ranks among our favorites, but it did so in one pass—a single listen. In that first listen there was a transfixing experience where the troubles of the day dissolved, and all things were set right for its 34-minute duration. Mr. Sánchez has found a way to remove the fear from danger and all things frightening in this epically transformative body of work. It is to be both congratulated and cherished.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
Some amalgamation of the collective works of Clint Mansel and Yanni…
BELOW: Listen to Juan Sánchez’s new album, Rebirth, and connect with his website and social media platforms. Please support Juan Sánchez by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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