New York City composer Peter Calandra takes us down a path of relaxation on his latest release The Road Home. With years of Broadway experience under his belt, this album showcases Peter for what he is, a beautiful composer.
If you’re looking for something upbeat, this might not be the album for you. Though if you’re in the mood for something touching and ethereal, Calandra hits that nail on the head. The Road Home plays out like a journey of the mind’s inner monologue. Starting off with “A New Dawn,” the angelic vocals, performed by renowned vocalist Joy Askew, beckon the listener to discover what is ahead. It invites us to forget whatever troubles are currently weighing us down and to start anew, conscious of the moment. Into “Mi Amore” we go, a song that feels like a smooth drive down a sunny highway. Here, Calandra - a Yamaha-endorsed artist - playfully showcases his skills as a pianist. In contrast to the gaiety of the preceding track, “Morning Dove” is a bit more solemn, certainly moreso than the rest of the songs on the album, yet sure to be a favorite among the laid-back piano crowd.
Once again,
“The Road Home” picks the mood back up in a joyous mix of piano and
synthesizer. Being its namesake, this track feels like the very core of the
album. Continuing to wind down the musical road, “Night Into Day” caps off a day’s journey
with an incredibly soothing melody that puts a mind at ease and celebrates the
passing of another beautiful day. Perhaps the most complexly layered of the
tracks, "The Cat’s Eye” plays around with European-inspired accordion and
harmonica sounds and incorporates the use of subtle chimes. Finally, “Points in
the Sky” slows the pace back down again, seemingly for the purpose of
encouraging a final sense of inner peace and reflection.
Calandra’s music evokes a plethora of human emotions and moods. He
aptly displays his understanding of composition by proving that emotive music
is not always about the complexity of a sound but more so about how to convey
an emotion by means of simplicity. In the case of The Road Home, less is more. The Pre-sale is now through 6/30; for sale via Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby on July 1st.
- Samantha Garcia, BEING
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