Alexandra Strėliski presents her new album Néo-Romance (Extended Album)

French-Canadian pianist and composer Alexandra Stréliski released the Extended Version of Néo-Romance, her debut album with XXIM Records.

Néo-Romance (Extended Album) comes with two previously unreleased pieces, “Prelude in Lodz” and “Umbra.”

“Prelude in Lodz” is a deeply personal composition. Stréliski explains that “‘Prelude in Lodz’ is a song of memory. It is an echo of the name of my piano, Lodz, and the Jewish origins of my family name. It was recorded in Paris, untouched, and played in one take by the wonderful Julia Kotarba.”

On “Umbra,” which is out today with a music video, Streliski states:

“‘Umbra’ was the very last piece composed for the project and was finished after most of Néo-Romance had already been recorded. ‘Umbra’ refers to the darkest part of the shadow, but this piece was created to try to put some light in it. It’s now one of my favourite pieces to play live. It started out as the finale to my show, with solo piano, and was made into a collective celebration, based on improvisation. I have so much fun playing it with my wonderful musicians Julia and Natalla Kotarba, and my longtime partner Maxime Navert on synths.”

Listen to Néo-Romance (Extended Album) here.