Eric Pan: “Travel Poems Chapter 1: Secret Towns” (2020) CD Review

Eric Pan is pianist and composer with his own singular style, his own way of approaching music. His new album, Travel Poems Chapter 1: Secret Towns, features mostly solo piano pieces, the music here telling stories of people and places, transporting us to different surroundings. The music is enhanced and augmented by found sounds, which lend the tracks a sort of improvised feel at times, like the music is being created and recorded wherever Eric Pan happens to be, like this album just happened to capture it. Ordinarily I’m not a big fan of using sound effects in songs, but it works extremely well here. The tracks are almost like postcards written from different locales, the flavor of the places caught in whatever message was scribbled on the back. This album is the first of three chapters. 

The opening track, “Gare Du Nord,” begins with the sounds of a train moving and a conversation, and the sense of traveling is established before the first note is played. The piano then emerges from that, carrying a serious tone, with an interestingly timeless sense. Beneath it, the sound of the train moving can still be heard, as if the piece were perhaps being played on the train. This track ends with the sound of the train pulling into the station, and we then hear an announcement over a loud speaker, followed by a car driving by. Gare Du Nord is the largest station in Paris. That’s followed by “Periscope Forest,” this one having a livelier feel from the beginning. There is a strong sense of movement here as well, and a sense of urgency, felt in the style of his playing, creating a sort of bustle. Yet the track ends with the relaxing sound of birds. These first two tracks are solo piano pieces.

“Discovery After Dark” begins with what sounds like someone in the bath. On this one, Eric Pan is joined by Nir Sabag on drums, and Hugo Reydet on bass. There is an excitement to this piece, and a strangely romantic element, an enchanting though somewhat coarse beauty. It is interesting how Eric Pan creates a certain flow to this album with the found sounds. For example, while “Discovery After Dark” has the sound of someone in the bath, the next track, “Stranded Awake,” begins with the sound of water dripping from the faucet into a tub (I can’t help but think of that powerful moment in The Rules Of Attraction). And then the sounds from outside are let in. On this track, Eric plays organ, and there is a bright and modern feel or sense to the presentation, like movement through a crowded city. And then, in fact, it ends with the sounds of a city street, a siren in the distance.

Eric Pan then returns to piano for “Majesty Of The Minute,” another solo piece. This one has a late-night feel, a sedate and solitary vibe, a peaceful atmosphere. It’s like a moment that seems to stand on its own, with shades of the past, but untroubled by whatever may follow. In the second half, we begin to hear half of a conversation in the background, unobtrusive but present, which at first seems to help reduce a sense of loneliness, but after a bit begins to have the opposite effect, which is interesting. This track ends with an outgoing phone message. That is followed by “Foot Of The Carpathians,” which has an odd opening, a repeated sound that makes us feel a bit uneasy. But then this piece begins to fill out, and takes some interesting turns. There is a repeated theme on piano that is catchy and kind of delightful. Nir Sabag and Hugo Reydet again join Eric Pan on drums and bass respectively. And though this one feels like being out in a natural setting, it ends with footsteps on a hard floor. 

“Up Jakupica” has more of a playful vibe, and begins against a background of fireworks. There is optimism here, and a youthful quality which is wonderful. And it’s all over so quickly, isn’t it? That’s followed by “Hamstrung,” another solo piano piece. People may be playing outside, but there is a sense of isolation to this track, of being inside, while light and sound streak in through the window, bringing an awareness of the outside world, though our own feelings and thoughts are more critical. Then “Wheelhouse Of Wonder (Welcome Home)” has a bright and cheerful vibe, and a warmth. Its feeling of happiness is strong enough that it should affect you, bringing you aboard. There is also a sense of discovery, and – as with all these tracks – a sense of movement. It features Nir Sabag on drums and Hugo Reydet on bass. This is one of my personal favorites. The album concludes with “Epilogue,” which doesn’t actually include any piano at all. Rather, this short track features the sounds of percussion and children on the street, giving us a strong sense of place.

CD Track List

1. Gare du Nord
2. Periscope Forest
3. Discovery After Dark
4. Stranded Awake
5. Majesty Of The Minute
6. Foot Of The Carpathians
7. Up Jakupica
8. Hamstrung
9. Wheelhouse Of Wonder (Welcome Home)
10. Epilogue
    

Travel Poems Chapter 1: Secret Towns was released on August 28, 2020.