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Reviews
• “There is no doubt in my mind that Rich is a very talented individual with a lot of strong ideas. I am confident that anyone who likes and understands piano, will recognize his skills.”
Read the whole review at Your Music Blog
• First to grace the stage, Rich Batsford brings his wispy, lounge and almost lullaby piano talent. His traditional, lo-fi sound provided the perfect start to a chilled evening, almost cooling us down from the humid weather that had been heavily transfixed. ‘Completion’ saw a gentle sway amongst the crowd, as Batsford’s words began to assemble into a romanticised, sophisticated blur, of torn apart love.”
BrumLive
• “a frequently thrilling first solo foray into the studio … Quietly building melody and atmosphere, Batsford appears to excel at gently shaping moods and it’s with the beautifully haunting ‘Namaste’ which the album really comes into its own, mining a seam of melancholy which unites the most arresting tracks here … winding repeated melody patterns into heartbreaking shapes, packing an emotive punch … a rich and varied outing from a talented composer”
Read the whole review at Bearded Magazine
• “Rich Batsford has created a relaxing and at times a profoundly beautiful moment in time for the listener. His timing is impeccable and his melodies are original and compelling. The entire time I was listening to this stunning album I felt a sense of happiness. “Valentine Court” also awakens delicate emotions that enliven the soul. Rich Batsford seems to be completely absorbed in the moment as he plays. His music also has meditative qualities at times and can awaken the heart to beauty. If you love solo piano then this should be in your collection.”
Rebecca Johnson Amazon Top 10 Reviewer
• “a fascinating sampling of Batsford’s musical range and very impressive playing chops … short, delicate, and very graceful, it’s a beautiful opening … a lovely and intriguing piece! … could have stepped out of a dream … a real pianistic workout! … Give it a spin!
Read the whole review at MainlyPiano.com
• “the ultimate aid for subliminal relaxation. Tracks such as ‘Lyndall,’ a short, sentimental piece with a calming lullaby effect and ‘So Steve,’ have a surreal, dream like quality that drifts from one magical place to another…. a stunning debut album.
Read the whole review at The Music Quarter
• “a perfect accompaniment for candelit relaxation … a neo-classical piano record which follows its own vision and passion, combining unobtrusive, soothing textures and hypnotic, complex rhythms”
Read the whole review from Brumnotes
• “somewhere between Esbjorn Svensson and Erik Satie, its very easy to enjoy.”
Mixmaster Morris
• “contemporary pianist virtuoso”
Line of Best Fit
• “emotive classical piano compositions. Playing to a crowd of incredibly-attentive leather-clad metal fans added a hint of the surreal to his set of hypnotic melodies and powerful, booming chords, but this could not distract from the calibre of his musicianship.”
4 Talent Magazine
• “Pianist Richard Batsford mesmerised the audience with beautiful arpeggiated soundscapes”
Whats On in Brum
• “excellent first album …. Steve Reichian music”
Birmingham Post
• “Very meditative, very seductive ambient piano work”
Robin Valk, Radio to Go
• “truly wonderful composer pianist”
The Stirrer
• “one of our favourites, who is musically expressive, highly vocal and will certainly inspire you with his songwriting”
Night Times
• “a true highlight of the Birmingham avant garde scene”
bandweblogs.com
• “really is a great album – you need to check out his stuff if you’re into classical music”
Tom Belte, Rhubarb Radio
• “His listeners approach his music as a way of returning to a state of mind they seek, rather than as a background music for the chaos of ordinary life”
Andrew Dubber – newmusicstrategies.com
• “I played a track at the Big Chill Bar and about ten people came up and asked me what it was”
Mixmaster Morris
• “he’s quietly built a following for his melodic and magical compositions”.
Birmingham Post
• “meditative piano compostions which recall Philip Glass and Michael Nyman”
Bearded Magazine
• They were ably supported here by composer Rich Batsford who combined circling piano melodies and patterns reminiscent of Steve Reich. Each piece brimmed with an inherent sense of poignancy, and there even seemed to be a hint of post-rock in the repeated structures. With most of the material drawn from his album Valentine Court, Batsford created a spectral ambience which made him stand out from other composers. Utterly spell-binding.
Birmingham Post
• Inspired by Philip Glass and Steve Reich, his music displays amazing beauty in repetition and minimalism. Definitely a performer to keep your eyes on.
Evening Mail
• Soothing, meditative piano music … ripplingly calm.
Mike Davies, Brumbeat
