Jan Felix May - Red Messiah (2018)

'Red Messiah', the debut release from German pianist/composer Jan Felix May sounds fresh and surprisingly different. It bristles with interesting details yet conveys a surprising, unassuming ease. Features special guests, Norwegian vocalist Torun Eriksen and the German actor Christian Brückner.

The cunning mix of classical and modern influences, which range from jazz via electronic music to Impressionism and progressive rock. The young pianist and composer knows how to frame complex music in a way to appeal to a diverse audience from different generations.

This is achieved through several catchy tunes and a modern sound. The well-conceived Gesamtkunstwerk surprises with innovative, sometimes deliberately contrasting facets. Among those are recurring and varying motifs and odd time-signatures. Norwegian singer Torun Eriksen lends her unique voice to two songs, plus there is an atmospheric, narrative ballad, in which none less than Christian Brückner took on the part of narrator.