“Searching for Colors” by Avinoam Ettun is a contemporary album that defies genre classification. The album features four pieces reminiscent of the four-movement structure of sonata form. In other words, this album is a symphony—a symphony of the new world.
The first movement, “A Tale of Three Balloons,” is a classical contemporary piece that, with its short length, acts as a prelude for the rest of the album by setting the mood. The orchestration of this piece is nothing short of a masterpiece. The use of brass and woodwind timbres to fill the melody line, along with strings to complete the complex harmony, is incredible.
“The World Needs Healing” is the second movement. It starts with a bass guitar and a jazzy mood, and later the solo guitar takes center stage for the first time in the album. The improvised-like section in the middle of the piece features the solo guitar and the saxophone performing a back-and-forth variation on the main theme. Combined with the rhythmic pattern, this creates a jazz-like feeling. With its complex harmonies and a large chamber orchestra, this crossover piece astonishes the audience on many levels—from the form to the virtuosic performance of the instruments.
“Ear Illusion” starts with a piano arpeggio followed by a guitar solo, which brings us back to a more classical style. The soft and clear guitar performance is the main actor in this movement. Accompanied by flute, brass, and strings on the harmonies and counter-melodies, the guitar roams freely but meticulously. The piece eventually transitions to a more jazz-like atmosphere, again crossing genre boundaries, until it ends with the same piano arpeggio.
“Melodically Involved” is the closing piece of the album. It is a soft and somber piece reminiscent of a noir film. The guitar again takes center stage, and Avinoam Ettun showcases his virtuosity by transforming the main theme into different styles within a few measures.
“Searching for Colors” is a contemporary serenade in which the composer does not confine his expressions to a single genre. Instead, he uses orchestration and genre techniques to expand his vocabulary and compose a colorful poem.
No matter your musical taste, “Searching for Colors” will surely have a hook for you. It is an expressive and poetic instrumental album, a contemporary symphony of pitches, timbres, and colors.
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