A creative undertaking rarely comes to fruition in a matter of hours. It can take days, months or even years before a work is finally presented to an audience.
There is always a lingering question: Is it really ready?
In many cases, that lengthy process reflects tender care and disciplined attention to detail, resulting in a more compelling final product.
That is certainly the case for multi-instrumentalist Joseph Hoare and his Jan. 30 release, Wanderings II. Brief but powerful, the project is a resonant expression of guitar and piano music in its purest form. The compositions are simple and clean, with minimal external effects — aside from a touch of reverb and occasional delay.
The two-song release continues a creative practice Hoare began three years earlier with his first Wanderings recording, another pair of instrumental compositions.
For Hoare, who lives and works in England’s East Midlands, the road to releasing Wanderings II was a long one. The songs were recorded years earlier.
“They have been a long time brewing,” Hoare said. “The time it has taken to release them into the wild is intertwined with how life played out for me. I let another voice convince me they were too simple; I doubted them. I parked them. Coming back to them years later, free of that other voice, the doubt lifted. Fresh ears brought the joy back.”
That decision has resulted in a quietly moving work.
“Deep Sea” is a gentle piece, grounded by light acoustic guitar chords and a clean electric-guitar melody. It meanders optimistically and, like the ocean, suggests a sense of vastness.
“Breath” takes on a distinct character, with a heavy, sustaining effect layered beneath solo piano. The piece is emotionally darker than its predecessor and seems to dwell — or perhaps document — the difficulties that surrounded the original creation of the compositions.
Its triumphant conclusion, however, offers a sense of hope. The natural sound of Hoare pressing the piano’s foot pedals during the recording adds an element of grounded comfort amid the somber performance.
Wanderings II is short and sweet. At just under nine minutes, it offers a brief but exceptional listening experience.
A complete Wanderings collection is now available in physical formats, including vinyl and compact disc. Performed on guitar and piano, the works feature unadorned yet affecting melodies that linger with the listener throughout the day — a reminder that true beauty and mastery often lie in simplicity.
