‘A Kiwi In China’ is the ninth album, that I’m aware of, by prolific
UK-born, Kiwi-based musician/producer Ian Rushton. I’m not sure I’ll
ever agree with Rushton’s idea of taste – I’ve reviewed close to half
a dozen of his albums and find the ideas spread thin, touching on
prog, world music, contemporary classical and most commonly the bland
side of soundtrack work. And here with this new album, well, the
answer to the genre is in the title, we have a Jean Michel
Jarre-meets-Yanni stab at instrumental piano balladry, mixing with
some Asian textures; an album influenced by travel. It’s perfectly
nice in places but all rather somnambulant in its effect. I don’t hear
a lot here beyond naïve music-box melodies and overly polished,
clichéd ideas.

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NZ Musician

August/September 2010