‘Phraxia’ is an evocative and soulful piano instrumental piece by expert composer Nick Pike.
Settle in for an instrumental journey of many emotions as Nick takes the listener through a quite stunning sonic soundscape. As a classically trained composer and a performer with decades of experience playing in a diverse range of bands, he brings a unique combination of soul, jazz, and pop to his compositions. Nick draws inspiration from the works of some of the finest virtuosos alive today, including Nils Frahm, Ludovico Einaudi, and Yiruma.
‘Phraxia’ is the title track of Nick’s third studio album, a 10-track emotional journey through sound. Each track is distinct and self-contained, performed to evoke a particular emotion in the listener. Give the album a listen for yourself and see what comes up!
For this listener, ‘Phraxia’ felt like a playful trip down memory lane, dancing through exploration of all the moments that have made up my life so far. It took me to feeling a range of emotions, without ever feeling stuck or overwhelmed in any one state. At just over 3 minutes runtime, it’s a very efficient use of track time, with no wasted seconds. Every note feels intentional and crafted with the tiniest attention to detail. Nick’s control and range over the keys are admirable. He seamlessly flows from & within harmonies, taking just the right amount of refrains for the sound to develop before moving forward.
This is a great listen for relaxation, focus, or connecting to the flow state. It does not dominate; rather, it gracefully makes a subtle impact on the psyche of the listener before fading out with aplomb.
