David Hicken - Faeries (2008)

After already recording four albums at a very early age, David began getting distracted by the clutter of every day life. Featured in symphonic orchestras and busy teaching piano to his students, his solo music just did not take precedence and was gently pushed aside. Fortunately, 2007 was the year of inspiration and perspiration as David found the time not to release one but two beautiful albums culminating with 2008’s more classically based magical affair Faeries.

Like its two predecessors, Faeries plays tribute to those unknown and unseen entities that surround us. The album begins with the song “Faylinn” and much like the first two discs has a light mix of classical and mainstream New Age themes that made Goddess and Angels so uplifting. But instead of presenting his listeners with “Goddess 2” or “Angels 2” this time around Hicken’s draws a little more on his classical background bringing more variation to the final chapter of his trilogy. Skip forward and check out the faster pace of “Oberon” that allows us to hear David dance and glance over his keys with pinpoint precision. Similar themes are performed on “Lorelle” which once again allows us to observe the lively side of David.

While there are more energetic and upbeat performances on the previously mentioned songs, Hicken’s’ is not heavy handed and continues to deliver his creations with a gentle and caressing tone. Speaking of gentle, the placid and calm delivery of “Nerida” and “Arethusa” is more in keeping with the spirit of his previous albums. That said, either approach is embedded in the warm and embracing performances of this poetic pianist.

The liner notes not only informs the listener of each faeries origin and title but also defines a faerie as “…a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers”. With no disrespect to the two prior releases that stand on their own merit, Faeries is probably the most playful and magical creation of the three. There is no indication that Hicken’s’ has ran out of ideas once again supporting that with the right promotional tools he has the imaginative fortitude to become a major player in his genre.