I’ll admit, when i first saw that Magdi Aboul-Kheir’s new album was called One Last Dance, i expected something heavy and maybe even tragic. The title sounded like a final goodbye but the moment I hit the play button, i realized there was nothing sad about it, rather it was a celebration of life.
Instead of hiding behind the Orchestra or burying his tracks in thick electronic production, Magdi strips everything down to just a grand piano and the cozy, muffled warmth of felt pianos. It’s incredibly an intimate piece of work and it feels like you’re sitting on the floor while he plays for you alone to listen. It talkes a lot of talent to make something this raw and excellently out together.
Life is full of emotions and it isn’t just one emotion at a time which is something this album understands perfectly. The music constantly moves between different feelings, balancing weighty moments with a sense of pure lightness. One minute, there’s a melody feeling sad and nostalgic, reminding you of an old memory but right as the moment starts to fele heavy, the notes lift up, leaving you with a warm smile.
There’s no doubt that Magdi is an excellent classical piano player, you can hear it in how perfectly he hits every note. That isn’t the only thing that makes this record special, it is the effort he puts into making sure the melody sticks in your head and touches your heart, rather than just showing off how fast bis fingers van move. Every note feels like it was chosen with love, putting real feeling before anything else.
If you’ve been opportune to sit with his other projects, you already know he can do a bit of everything. He has made ambient music, cool electronic tracks and big orchestral music. With One Last Dance, he goes back to the root, It builds on what he started with his last album, The Piano has Been Dreaming but this time around, he plays brighter, more mature and completely confident.
For me, One Last Dance has become the track for stepping out from the screen, taking a deep breath and just sitting with my thoughts. It’s the perfect track to reflect on; comforting, genuine and beautiful from start to finish.
Magdi Aboul Kheir did not just write some nice piano tunes, he created a space to slow down. When the final track ends, it doesn’t leave you empty. Instead, you’re left with a lasting, beautiful sense of peace.
STREAM ONE LAST DANCE:
SOCIAL LINKS:
English