Piano Lounge 1 is a thrill to listen to. Spirited, jazzy, bluesy, romantic, and at times fantastic and nostalgic. From the elegance and intricacy of classical music to the expressive, spontaneous jazz to an earthy hint of folk impression, Piano Lounge 1 consists 12 brilliantly composed and performed tracks with world-building as epic as a ballad, as cinematic as a mood-filled scene, and as intimate as a moment of solitude. So many great adventures blossom from Marcus Sukiennik’s fingertips, leaving you with lingering melodies and unfinished thoughts.

“Atme Steele, heile -, Pt. 3” creates a massive, drastic vibe like the ocean, while “Die Baronin tanzt” sees characteristic staccatos engaging in an intense dance. The variations and repetitions of the theme seem to be in conversation with one another in its vivid sonic storytelling. The piece is so full of personalities and feelings as well as it’s filmic, with romantic trills letting out the sparks of emotions. “Smile Blues” features a fast-paced walking bass. Humorous, laid-back melodies with a lot of wits. Sukiennik’s introspective, moody improv has the same tension and contrast as in his classical pieces. With only two hands and one instrument, he’s wielding a massive jam section of a full band, and that’s not something you can hear everyday.

There’s a special relationship between the pianist and his instrument. Up till “Smile Blues,” you can hear a kind of transparency—at some point, the piano disappeared along with Sukiennik, but these vivid stories, characters, and emotions become the new reality. “Serene Contemplation” is then a thought piece. Taking a break from the palpable melodies, the piece draws listeners deeper into a state of introspection, where the thoughts are inconsistent and spontaneous, massively happening in all directions.

“Ludus S” bounces back to a thematic jazz captivity. Something you’d expect to hear in a piano lounge. It’s flirty, playful and fun. But it’s only just a beginning. “Swinging Vendome” swings in happier with more heart. Intriguing sonic lines that tell an array of feelings. “Andra” sees it deepening even more. The beautifully sensitive ballad slows the tempo down. Charming syncopation meets cinematic impressionism. It’s more about the colors and moods of the chords than being solely about the melodies.

The songs in Piano Lounge 1 have so much soul and story in them that they make you want to live in them forever. “Air Special” concludes the album on a bittersweet note. It’s a celebration of tears and laughters, a beginning to an end. It leaves you in a better place, spiritually uplifted and reignited.