Eric Pan - 2024 - Travel Poems Trilogy Boxset

(99:51; Falling Sea)

Track list:
- Chapter 1. Secret Towns
1. Gare du Nord 2:57
2. Periscope Forest 1:29
3. Discovery after Dark 3:19
4. Stranded Awake 2:49
5. Majesty of the Minute 5:55
6. Foot of the Carpathians 5:45
7. Up Jakupica 1:37
8. Hamstrung 1:07
9. Wheelhouse of Wonder (Welcome Home) 4:42
10. Epilogue 0:44
- Chapter 2. The Night Sea
1. De Lune Mécanique 1:51
2. Loss 1:37
3. The Storm Heaves in the Distance 4:48
4. Oak Island 3:05
5. Teufelssee Tower 5:56
6. Fine Day to Risk It All 3:27
7. On Old Delancey 1:49
8. Noguchi Beach 5:48
9. Turtle on the Moon 3:13
10. Epilogue 1:30
- Chapter 3. There Is No Path Back
1. Sellwood by Bicycle 1:44
2. Sunrise Market 3:26
3. View from a Llama 5:21
4. Sequel to a Memory 5:42
5. After the Whistle 2:22
6. Honey and Spirits 5:51
7. Bright Macedonia 1:12
8. Ladder of Damascus 3:17
9. Twilight Far 5:55
10. Epilogue 1:33

Line-up:
Eric Pan - keyboards
with:
Nir Sabag - drums
Hugo Reydet - bass
C - Bass Chiriboga - drums
Dean Torrey - bass


US based artist Eric Pan was born in Taiwan, but appears to have become settled with having the US as his base of operations, so to speak. He made his debut as a solo artist back in 2020 with the first of the three albums in his Travel Poems series of albums, with the second appearing in 2022 and the third and latest instalment being released now in the fall of 2024. In addition to these albums being available as separate entities they are also available as a limited edition trilogy box set.

The landscapes explored on this trilogy are rather intriguing, as they revolve around various manners in which to mix sampled sounds with music, and in most cases with a standalone acoustic or electric piano from what I can hear. With some forays making use of bass, drums or both of these. On some occasions with cinematic samples used at the start and at the end of these compositions, on other occasions with these sampled sounds appearing as a part of the song itself too.

In many cases I'd describe these creations as mood pieces, landscapes crafted in order to evoke emotional associations. In the case of the creator as musical memories of places visited and experiences he's had while travelling I presume, while the listener has to use their imagination to find the associations that best fits the landscapes explored.

Many of these creations gave me emotional associations towards the melancholic in some manner or other. Loss and longing of various kinds being recurring associations of mine. We do get some creations that revolve around more uplifting moods and atmospheres too though, with the subtly more Latin-flavored 'The Storm Heaves in the Distance' being perhaps the prime example of that. Here we have a trio of bass, drums and piano that drives this song onward in a jubilant and charmingly understated manner and with the emotional associations and resonances being of positive vibes and the joy of life. At least for me.

In terms of style and orientation I guess that classical music and jazz are equally important in terms of what traditions that are explored here, at least that is the perception I have as a bit of a layman to this type of music. Whenever two or three musicians are playing here I'd often describe the song as piano driven jazz I suspect, while many of the more standalone piano pieces strikes me as being just as much inside of the classical realm as they are in a jazz tradition. Being a layman I could obviously be mistaken in that regard of course.

For me this trilogy isn't about style and orientation as such though. It is the manner in which the sampled sounds of people, nature, city sounds and other recorded sounds interact with the music that is the key issue here, and the landscapes explored are by and large cinematic in nature in my opinion. A certain affection for jazz and the piano as a lead instrument in jazz will probably be required in order to enjoy this trilogy, although people with a passionate interest in the piano as a lead instrument will find plenty to enjoy too. Especially those who enjoy a pianist that showcase his more gentle side and subtle modes of delivery on this occasion.

Olav M. Björnsen, October 2024

Links:
https://ericpan.org/
https://fallingsea.com/