London, 2018 

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Kaleidoscope is Michael Logozar’s latest album, released in the second half of 2018. This project seems to echo the American composer’s previous release—Passage—in its intimacy and strong melodic content. Kaleidoscope dives further more into intimate music—with a focus on the piano as a solo instrument—and is as well a development on Logozar’s strong melodic compositions through a collection of pieces that contrast each other in mood and character, retaining the composer’s wish for serenity through music.

 

While all the pieces of the album are beautifully crafted and performed, some of them seem to stand out more than others. The title track, Kaleidoscope, recalls some of Thomas Newman’s soundtracks. Although a short piece it displays several ideas, turning around the primary impressionistic pattern and contrasting each others. Still Frames stands out for its bright theme that comes through the cloudy melancholic multi-layered pianistic musical idea that suspends through time. Afterglow connects very well with Logozar’s previous album, a reminiscence in the simplicity of the piece. It is based on a single motif that moves through registers, and is at times harmonically supported, and at times left on its own. In the Distance stands out from its romantic arpeggios and feather like melody. The interest of this piece lies in the restraint of developing the initial idea, but rather to leave it float and turn around as the piece develops through time. The Optimist—as its title suggest—adds a sense of hope and positivity to the album. Similarly to most of the pieces in it, it takes turns between a main melodic motif and a contrasting section.

 

Passage and Kaleidoscope represent Michael Logozar’s desire to angle his music in a new direction. However, while the former was primarily focused on the notion of time—and had included a moderate selection of instruments and sounds—the latter displays a broader range of emotions and sensations. Whether dynamic—Sundrops—or lamenting—Afterglow. At moments sensible—Rolling Tides—and at others playful and childish—Marionette. All that is wished for the composer is to keep orientating his music in this direction, as it seems to fit his creativity flawlessly.