Release: 2006
Label:
Tracks: 2
Ray Sharp’s sophomore album, Eros, is rhythmic, vivid and does not disappoint. A energetic collection of dance, electronica and piano, Sharp’s tracks differ from the mainstream in the best possible way. It’s the kind of music you listen and try to resist the intense urge to move.
The pulse and power are impressive, and the mix of instruments is intelligent without being overdone or repetitive like most electronic music. Each piece is original.
Sharp, who attended UTA from 1998 to 2001, is the music director of Four Day Weekend, an improvisational comedy troupe in Fort Worth. His first album, Exaudio, released in 2003, is an assortment of piano solos. For Eros, he adds to an already staggering talent for the black and ivory keys.
Each track has a central piano core, but Sharp builds up the dance elements and sprinkles in flashes of rock and roll.
The album opens with “Skuza,” which reverberates with percussion over a delicate piano piece. With the first track, the album’s theme is locked immediately. The third song, “Helxis,” gives listeners the first distinction of the acoustic drum, a custom on six of the album’s 13 tracks. The track has elements of jazz with a change in direction every few notes but still maintains the flow and artistry of something well put-together.
Another good track, “Chreia,” erupts from a slow, deep sound to an accelerated medley which ends too quickly.
The album ends with perhaps the best song of the entire album. “Eidyllio” swells with passion and is deliberate, poetic and harmonious.
In all, Sharp’s Eros is worthy of being sampled. It epitomizes a unique mixture of sound and emotion with a fresh approach to a classic instrument.
