This is solo piano music from a classically trained indie-rock
keyboardist who’s toured with Sarah Slean and Small Sins, among others,
and co-founded Major Maker. The wryly titled Pop Music from
Bulgarian-born Kobakov offers mostly instrumental music, except for two
songs featuring vocals and words written by singers: “Carpe Diem” by
Emily Haines (whose Soft Skeleton outfit included Kobakov) and “Loving
Hands” by Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio). The latter is a beautiful,
understated song. Alone at the piano, Kobakov can achieve a gorgeous
understatement or minimalism, but often, almost too often, one begins
to think he goes for pretty, frilly romanticism.
This article appears in Oct 29 – Nov 4, 2009.