Hans Christian - Melodiya (2024)

Rooted in a western melodic codex and steeped through decades of musical experiences as producers, composers, and performers, these two German born, US based magicians of melody have given us a new musical treasure with ‘Melodiya’.

The title could not have been chosen any better for the eight tracks on this album, with an effortless dance between Barquee’s enchanting piano lines and Christian’s oh-so-heart wrenching cello performances. The lush orchestrations also include layers of gentle rhythmic pulses, some Indian ethnic flavors, and all kinds of subtle surprises to keep the listener engaged.

To compose such melodic music is not without the risk of sounding too sugary but this music never crosses the line into the profane platitudes that await. Simply speaking, each piece is absolutely gorgeous. The sound quality of the production is outstanding, and the creativity invested in each piece should fully engage any listener who enjoys cinematic music.

And cinematic this music is. Each piece serves as a soundtrack to an imaginary story, with a restrained quality that evokes elegance, contemplation, and imagination. There’s room to breathe in ‘melodiya’, and the music speaks equally well during soft background listening as well as during a focused listening session.