Alfredo Santa Ana is a Canadian-Mexican composer based in Vancouver. Before the World Sleeps transports us into a contemplative universe not devoid of episodes of greater emotional intensity. The 18 tracks, all delicately crafted by pianist Miranda Wong, have something of the spiritual appeal of Arvo Pärt mixed with the extra fine abstraction of Morton Feldman.
The titles are evocative: Lessons for Oblivion, The Feeling of Forgetting, Prayer to a Vanishing Sun, Snow Dirge or The Last Hymn. If this transports you to a dreamy, inner poetry, that’s exactly what the music will do for you.
A beautiful album of strange and bewitching enchantment. I have to admit I’ve made a magnificent discovery.
