‘Because You Asked Me’ is a beautiful recording, a very organic moment of music, simplistic in elements, yet vast and calming in its output. The oboe is not so commonly heard as the leading instrument in modern music, but it’s a gorgeous sounding instrument and is played with great skill and grace throughout this track.
The piano backing piece is a fairly big part of the recording, the playing in this case is crisp and confident and effective and it contrasts well with the gentler, more dreamlike sound of the wind instrument. Both work well together though, and one without the other would possibly be somewhat less captivating. The music is the sort that you can put on for those reflective moments at home, writing perhaps, thinking deeply, staring out of the window on a rainy day. The notes throughout the piece are the sort that conjure up quite a nostalgic array of imagery; films from way back when, a mellow jazz bar, maybe some quieter times. It’s likely that it’s the kind of music that means something quite different to each person who hears it, and that’s the beauty of it in many ways. To each their own in how they receive and experience the sound.
The music takes you on a journey, the melody of the oboe tells a story, and the break towards the middle of the track – when the piano takes the lead for a while – is a moment to let go for a while. It’s a well placed break and, all in all, despite its simplicity, there is a strong and clever use of structure throughout that keeps things interesting, whilst always relevant and fitting. It’s a fairly unique sound and a pleasure to listen to.
By Rebecca Cullen
Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing.
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