Dorian Wallace – Laeh Su Tel!
8 May 2025 Music Reviews
Drawing inspiration from across the globe, Dorian Wallace delivers a remarkably cohesive and compelling double album of improvised solo piano works. Laeh Su Tel! unfolds in two movements: Psychology in a New Key and A Healing Sound for the People!, each resonating with deep emotion, cultural awareness, and bold musical storytelling.
Wallace’s playing ranges from intensely personal (“Lord Is Coming”) to disarmingly conversational (“The Partisan”) and even stirringly anthemic (“The Message”). Throughout, there’s a sense that he’s urging us toward resilience—that there is, in fact, a way through the noise and turmoil of our times.
Some compositions reach back into the annals of history—“Daloy Politsey” and “Himno Zapatista” evoke revolutionary fervor—but they also remind us of America’s global tapestry. We are, and always have been, a nation shaped by diverse voices. Wallace seems to ask us not only to remember that, but to embrace it fully. The concise yet commanding track “Unity is Strength” encapsulates this spirit perfectly.
A personal standout is “Nivişta Gerîla” (“Amulet of the Guerrilla”), found on the second disc. Here, Wallace improvises over a haunting melody by Şêro Hindê and Mehmûd Berazî. It tells the true story of two guerrilla fighters in love, separated by conflict and distance. Their rare reunion in the mountains rekindles a flame—only for tragedy to follow, as one dies in battle against ISIS. The surviving lover continues fighting in her stead, chasing her ghost through cities she had fought in prior. Wallace channels this narrative with emotional intensity and cinematic depth, making this track the emotional and artistic climax of the album.
Double albums often risk testing the listener’s endurance, but Wallace avoids this pitfall. With its rich range of moods—from buoyant to brooding—and its commitment to storytelling through sound, Laeh Su Tel! stays engaging from beginning to end.
– Marmar tha Midboss, LAG Radio