FEATURED ARTIST
*Victor Alexeeff*
Los Angeles, United States
*Classics Unleashed (Cover Album)*
REVIEW
Los Angeles-based artist #VictorAlexeeff released his latest 8-track project #ClassicsUnleashed last month. The project is a cover album of classic compositions by classical legends #Bach, #Beethoven, and, #Vivaldi that offer a unique input from #VictorAlexeef. First up is a reimagination of #Beethoven's 'Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13: I. Grave - Adagio molto'. This piece takes a classic piano piece and adds a full orchestral feel through the weaving of strings and bass notes and percussion. #VictorAlexeeg does not stop there! Adding modern synths to the piece absolutely made all of the difference here! across the near 8 minutes, I must have counted at least 20 different instruments here. I have absolutely no idea of how many stems made their way into this production but I'm sure as hell going to ask! The second track ( A cover of) Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13: II. Adagio cantabile blew me away completely. One thing that I am absolutely warm to is classical music with a modern twist! This is something that many have tried to do, some succeeding but many ruining a perfectly good classic. This, here, is... genius crafted, modern yet nostalgic, and does not miss a trick. Elements of experimental techno, futurism, and the past are perfectly crafted into a mix that defies temporality. Track 3 - Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13: III. Rondo allegro well, what can I say that I haven't already! This is a piece that brings twee sounds into the mix making the piece sound like a fairground theme tune but also brings organ-sounding synths into the equation that provide a gothic, cathedral feel. I've got to say, #VictorAlexeeff is a modern genius! The Einstein of music! 'Symphony No. 7, Op. 92: II. Allegretto' has so much going on without sounding messy. From Bell to medieval-inspired synths to futurism this piece had me gobsmacked in awe. I could imagine this track as a soundtrack to a Medieval dance even though it's so modern! Maybe you're confused by this? Or maybe like me, you're absolutely stunned by futuristic lasers. Perception is a beautiful thing. The next piece is a cover of' Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: I. Allegro molto con brio'. This piece had me emotional as I grew up hearing my mom playing it repetitively from the ages of 2 to 9 on my Great Grandmother's piano (it was one of only two melodies that she knows) It was the first melody that I learned to play as a toddler so I felt very connected and notalgic hearing this. #VictorAlexeeff mixes the old with the new once more playing the classic progression electronically with support from deep bases and futuristic samples. There is also a rock element that lingers between the manuscript hinting that something heavier may be lurking within the album somewhere. I was not wrong! This artist's rendition of 'Violin Concerto in G Minor, RV 315: III. Presto' goes in heavy! I love the heaviness found here! If you're looking for something classical and heavy then this is definitely the perfect match! The penultimate track on this cover album is Bach's 'Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 847: Allegro'. Home to a rushed tempo with an extraterrestrial twist this track reminds me of one of those retro mute 1930s films that contain nothing but imagery and soundtracks. The delay on the synths here offers a compact way of addressing all of the track's space. As we come to the end of this cover album we hear the Baroque era of 'Toccata and Fugue in D, BWV 565: Adagio'. This track is no stranger to film - I've lost count of how many times I have heard it appear in some way. #VictorAlexeeff however, has created something absolutely mesmerizing in his version. Hinting at the original, we get to hear the classic organ synths BUT we also get to hear the composition played in a way that sounds like it belongs in a baseball game! As the track progresses the tempo makes several switches, the bass notes bounce of the high keys and vice versa to captivate the listener in ways that you can only imagine if you take the step into the music for yourself! ##VictorAlexeeff has me sitting here in awe. There are no other words for it. I would love to get into the mind of this artist to find out how these completely different and somewhat (to me), random creative inspirations made their way into this artist's work.