Many will be familiar with pianist Maxence Cyrin’s style without even knowing it, as his superb cover of the Pixies’ Where Is My Mind has been played here and there and everywhere and sticks in your head all day long. Indeed, in several of his albums, Cyrin has been putting his own classical twist on popular hits, from Depeche Mode and Daft Punk to Beyoncé, bridging the gap between current music and a particular French sensitivity to sound that was also favoured by Ravel, Satie and Debussy. In 2015, Cyrin invited us into his realm of dark and deeply melancholic neoclassicism for the first time when he released an album of original compositions, Nocturnes, under the label Evidence Classics. His latest release, Aurora, released by Warner Classics, is a logical continuation. The album is captivating right from the opener Endless Poetry, and the following track Mer de velours (“Velvet Sea”) envelops your emotions entirely as your mind drifts away to the open sea. This album is mature and impresses with its outward simplicity, particularly the compelling Silk, which sounds as if it’s come straight out of a Tim Burton film. With this brilliant release, Maxence Cyrin has well and truly joined the ranks of contemporary piano music masters likes Philip Glass, next to the more spirited Max Richter, Chilly Gonzales and Yann Tiersen. That’s certainly no mean feat. © Yan Céh/Qobuz