a r t i s t : Goldmund
t i t l e : The Malady of Elegance
d a t e : 2008
l a b e l : Type Records
c a t : TYPE039
s o u r c e : CDDA
g e n r e : Instrumental
r l s. d a t e : Aug/2008
t r a c k s : 15
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 75,2 MB
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The sophomore album from Type Records' very own Keith Kenniff,
this time under his Goldmund moniker. Simply stunning.
The Malady of Elegance is the second poetic full-length from
Boston-based composer Keith Kenniff, better known to some as
Helios. Taking cues from Corduroy Road Keith again restricts
himself to the piano in conjuring up his humble soundscapes
and again we are pulled into a deep, meditative and filmic
world as the notes glide to a slow, pensive meter. Keiths last
release was the challenging Two Point Discrimination EP,
released on the Western Vinyl label as part of their portrait
series, but where that record was a collection of haunting
experiments in form and sound, The Malady of Elegance sees us
back into the warming, homespun territory of Corduroy Road.
Thats not to say these compositions are upbeat, far from it in
fact, but there are lines to be drawn to folk music, and while
Keith no longer draws on the American Civil War as a primary
influence there is still the sense that the ghosts of old
America haunt the keys.
On top of these references we see Keith tripping somewhat
fittingly into a flickering filmic world somewhat in line with
his taste in European film. There is a delicate narrative on
show throughout the record from the opening hopefulness of
Image-Autumn-Womb through the melancholy of Now to the
sensitive romance of the albums closer Evelyn. Listening to
the record almost creates its own cinematic accompaniment in
the minds eye, and this is simply a testament to Ketihs
incredible talents as a composer.
Fans of Erik Satie, Sylvain Chauveau and Hauschka need look no
further, The Malady of Elegance is a deeply personal
meditation which you cannot help but get lost inside.
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01-Image-Autumn-Womb [03:05]
02-In a Notebook [02:12]
03-Finding it There [03:40]
04-Subtle the Sum [02:00]
05-Threnody [04:41]
06-Now [03:55]
07-The Winter of 1539-1540 [02:17]
08-Ouendake [03:32]
09-John Harrington [06:05]
10-Apalachee [04:59]
11-The Gardener [01:26]
12-Mound Builders [02:51]
13-Gifts [04:14]
14-Clement Danes [04:12]
15-Evelyn [06:55]
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56:04 min