Plaza Mayor Company Ltd releases Maximilien Mathevon's latest album. Near You tells the beginnings of a love story: the first date, the first weekends, the first holidays, all the excitement and the happiness of being with a loved one...

Over the course of the 8 tracks (32 min, 04 sec) on Near You, composer Maximilien Mathevon does what he does best: takes the human condition, weaves some sort of witchcraft and delivers emotional music that resonates with everyone who has a heart.

Talking about the project, Mathevon said: "For Near You, I sought an atmosphere of serenity, fulfillment and happiness, using orchestral sounds, the softness of the flutes, the nobility of the horns, the scintillation of the chromatic percussions, the sensuality of the cello and the voices. The last track ('The Walk Of The Little Clown Chicken'), a nod to the loved one, uses baby piano and takes the form of a “walk” inspired by Henry Mancini.

These 8 tracks are diverse, yet have a common thread running through them. Personal favourite tracks, 'Holidays' and 'Future', took me back to the '80s with a John Williams-esque vibe.

Once again, as with so many of Mathevon's previous projects, I found myself instantly falling in love with what has been produced. It's engaging, emotive and richly layered.

9

Darren Rea