Franghiz Ali-Zadeh: Crossings...

I first heard her on her Kronos CD, where she played prepared piano more gracefully than any I’d heard before. There’s more of that here, and better. All essential. You can hear the influence of traditional Azeri music (even if you aren’t familiar with it), but predominant in her music is a sense of ‘reflecting nature,’ something I connect with Takemitsu, which means this music goes nowhere because it is perfect exactly where it is. And despite whatever techniques she may use, this music does not sound avant garde, so those wary of new composers are likely to appreciate it as much as those of us who can’t get enough. (Take note: Music for Piano, the first track, is a fine place to begin and one of the best on the album if you want to hear before spending 13 precious downloads, but the short listening samples are inadequate.) Crossing II is mindblowing (recommended: real silence, good stereo, low light, drugs) and 3 Watercolors (which features a vocal part) is aching, delicate, perfect.

— Darien Valentine, May 14th, 2006.