Cwmcarn is an exceptional new album from Welsh pianist/composer (and so much more!), Greg Ryan. The album is named after a lake at a place called Cwmcarn, which is near where Greg lives. The music on the album is mostly calm, so he chose the title from a place that makes him feel that way. All ten of the tracks were composed through a process of improvisation, livestreams and refinement over a period of several years. A wide range of emotions and experiences are expressed in Greg’s music, and I find it easy to get very pleasantly lost in this album! Most of the ten tracks on Cwmcarn are solo piano, but a couple of tracks include cello and/or synth effects.

This is Greg’s fourth album and I’ve very happily reviewed all four! He released his first album, Scribblings, in 2010 at the age of 20, followed by Crossways in 2016 and 28/10 in 2022. In addition to his albums, Greg has released several singles, composed for film and TV projects, played live shows across the UK and USA, led a creative education project as digital artist-in-residence at Tate, made a language inventor with Shakespeare’s Globe and remixed the London Symphony Orchestra’s string section with the help of 300 children.

The album begins with “Fragments,” a deeply emotional piece for piano and cello that weaves together several themes as it tells its story - a great start! “Petals” is a much lighter and more delicate piano solo that overflows with sunshine and joy. The soulful cello returns in “Winter Garden,” although the piece is mostly a bright and lively piano solo that describes the beauty and sparkle of a late-season garden. “Wandering” is a favorite. A piano solo, it could be about exploring an unfamiliar place or about letting your mind wander. There is a sound at the very beginning that could be a door closing, but the rest of the piece is a very expressive piano solo. The bright and lively “Cascade” offers swirling tonal colors that dance freely throughout the piece. “Wondering” has a melody that is strong enough to support lyrics, but none are needed to express the feeling of “what if…?” in this beautiful piano solo. “Lantern” tells a story that feels both poignant and mysterious. If I had to choose one favorite on the album, I think this would be the one. The cello returns in “Arrival,” although, this, too, is mostly piano. The piece begins rather slowly, gradually building with anticipation and excitement. The cello comes in at about the mid-point of the piece, slowing the tempo with grace, and then rebuilding the excitement to the end. As the title suggests, “Parting Ways” expresses loss and sadness, enhanced once more with the poignant cello. The album comes to a close with “Wave,” a bit of musical magic that is much more orchestrated with the piano in the lead. It begins slowly but changes to a lively tempo very early on, becoming powerful and very energetic, and then quieting near the end. It’s another favorite, although I really like all ten tracks!

Cwmcarn will be released on October 30, 2026. It is available to pre-order now on Amazon. More links will be added as they become available. I give Cwmcarn a very enthusiastic both thumbs up!