Affection & Absence by Carl Liungman: EP Review

by Damien Reid April 12, 2023

April 12, 2023

Affection & Absence by Carl Liungman: EP Review

Carl Liungman is a delightful Swedish pianist who creates stunning pieces with elegance and flair. His EP, entitled “Affection & Absence,” is four beautiful songs filled with atmosphere, drama, and soul. Each layer of melodies is very calming to your senses due to it being entirely piano-based. Thus, let’s move ahead, folks, and discover the musical grace of Carl’s record.

Before getting into everything, I grasped a cinematic element in Carl’s EP and thought of a certain German legend in the film score industry. Hence, it excited me to read about Hans Zimmer being one of the many inspirations for Carl Liungman. Without a doubt, it pays homage to classic film pieces, especially those that instill plenty of drama and emotion. Carl fantastically does this in the opening number “Affection”, a nearly eight-minute-long melody that tells a story between each note. His technique is like a ballet dancer pirouetting on musical notes, which generates an eargasmic sound. Coincidentally, the next track is called “Dancer” and is very moving with a crystal-clear arrangement. It has some connection with jazz piano, especially when the notes change chord shapes.

The last two songs of the EP, “Night” and “Disappear,” resonated immensely. If you enjoy sentimental piano music, then this is for you. Overall, both tracks are meditative experiences in that regard and have a slower pace than the first two. But altogether, it was a lovely cadence to hear and something worth remembering.