Imaginary Mountains is the powerful new album from Finnish pianist and composer Aki Rissanen, marking a striking new chapter in his ongoing exploration of the piano trio.“It feels more direct and physical, maybe even raw at times. But at its core, it’s still me, just seen from a different angle.” The album’s title refers to the internal, often invisible obstacles we carry, that shape how we respond to the world, sometimes numbing us to its turbulence. “It’s about the emotional terrain that can keep us from fully engaging or empathising with what’s happening around us,” he says. The title is also a quiet nod to Keith Jarrett’s Personal Mountains, a record that left a deep impression on Rissanen early in his career. “I loved how he evoked vast, imagined spaces through his music. In a way, Imaginary Mountains is my own reflection on that idea, landscapes that exist more in the psyche than the physical world.”
Imaginary Mountains is also shaped by deep ensemble trust. Long-time collaborators Teppo Mäkynen (drums) and Antti Lötjönen (bass) are integral not just to the execution, but to the very architecture of the music. “I used to approach the trio as a space for carefully sculpted compositions,” Rissanen reflects. “Now, there’s a deeper trust in the group itself, in what happens between the notes.” Several pieces were developed from fragments and freely improvised interludes, captured in the studio as they emerged. The result is a record that flows with spontaneous energy but is bound by a clear emotional thread. “I hope the listener feels both moved and unsettled,” he says. “Maybe it plants a question or a feeling that stays with them. If it opens even a small emotional door, then the album has done its job.”
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