Life Through Loss reviews
A Closer Listen review
“There’s no grief without love,” writes Garreth Broke. Over the past few years, the pianist-composer has volunteered as a Trauerbegleiter, sitting with those who have lost loved ones and helping them to process their grief. Such a position requires great empathy, and has connected Broke with his own history of losses; one might posit that healing is taking place in the artist’s life as well. The first compositions to emerge from this experience were a series of elegies written for specific people. Now the album Life Through Loss takes the project to the next level.
The album accomplishes two goals at once. It is a reflection of life through loss, tracing the grieving process from its early stages to preliminary peace. Broke concentrates more on sadness than on shock, bargaining and anger, as popularized by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross; still, these emotions can be heard in passing; and the end is not quite acceptance, but the beginning of acceptance. At the same time, the collection seeks to encourage and uplift, using musical empathy as its base. The titles follow a clear trajectory, landing in the final piece on a whisper of hope.
InMusic — **** review
With "Life Through Loss," British-German pianist and composer Garreth Broke releases his most personal work to date. Broke's music navigates the space between contemporary classical and new classical styles, featuring a clear, minimalist piano sound that nonetheless conveys warmth and intimacy. Tracks like "Just Another Day (Without You)" and "What We Shared (Playing Amelie)" capture the conflicting emotions of grief and solace. In "Concrete Bunks" and "Never Enough Time," he reflects on the transience of life and the fleeting nature of shared moments. Particularly poignant are "Bittersweet" and "Photograph," in which he incorporates the initials of his mother's name into the music. Despite its somber themes, the album radiates hope—tracks like "You're In Everything I Do" and the closing "Life Finds A Way" demonstrate that new strength can emerge from grief. A touching album that offers comfort to listeners during difficult times and powerfully conveys the enduring power of love.
der-kultur-blog.de review
“voller Wärme und Intimität, Schönheit, Kontrast und Dynamik. Die Tiefe der Kompositionen entspricht dabei der blendenden Technik. Broke spielt mit Leichtigkeit und Grazie, stets fokussiert und mit großer innerer Kontemplation. LIFE THROUGH LOSS ist ein außerordentliches Album, das allen, die Trauer erleben, hilft, den Verlust in das Gefüge des Lebens zu integrieren.”
(Full of warmth and intimacy, beauty, contrast, and dynamism. The depth of the compositions matches the dazzling technical skill. Broke plays with effortless grace, always focused and with profound inner reflection. "Life Through Loss" is an extraordinary album that helps anyone experiencing grief to integrate loss into the fabric of life.)
