The style of music on Kobakov’s first solo classical-piano album is not what one would expect from the disc’s title, Pop Music. Each tune on the 11-track album was inspired by some aspect of Kobakov’s life and brings a level of intensity and emotion that is missing from the majority of modern classical music. While each track perfectly flows into the next, Kobakov is able to separate the emotions on each track and give the listener a new experience throughout the entire disc. The track Tokyo at Night encompasses feelings of chaos and helplessness, while Isolated Incident is a calming melody that would be best listened to while looking out a window on a rainy day. If you want to experience a new kind of music, make sure to pick up a copy.

Published in Volume 64, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 22, 2009)