Near The Edge
Of Light, the debut
album by Isadar, a.k.a Fabian Thibodeaux, is certainly something
bright on the Lafayette music scene horizon. New age in Cajun
country is, to put it mildly, an anomaly.
But not only does
Isadar do it different in a place where avant-garde is rarely
appreciated, Isadar does it right. The mostly original piano
solos he performs with no other accompaniments but a few
studio-induced oceanic sound effects rank right up there with the
stylistic finesse of a George Winston. The opening song,
"Jealous Heart" could even be a Winston song.
However, where
Isadar's sound differs from contemporary pianists like Winston and
crosses over into new age is in the surreal effect the album
increasingly takes on. Near
The Edge Of Light
becomes progressively dreamlike and less melodic. Isadar
manages this transgression from melody to dream state without fading
into the la la land that characterizes much Muzak of this new age ilk.
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