The Depths By Monica Logani

 

The Depths

By

Monica Logani

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The misty haze of a new winter’s day was born upon our dusty and craggy landscape, and as the sun tried to push the clouds at bay, an announcement was made that would lift the day to unheard of parallels. That glorious statement was that a new Monica Logani album was to be released and called The Depths, one of the finest examples of piano with instrumentation albums to manifest a musical sanctuary ever.

It was indeed very pleasing to see Monica’s name come up on my e mail, our last connection was the breath taking The Long Road some 5 years back, here on this new release the artist has seized the moment and produced something very special indeed. The opening offering is always the best place to start and Dreams of Zagyva is where we begin, and if it is the Zagyva I am aware of in Hungry, I say kiváló! This beautifully moving piano with strings opus almost dances across the ice filled river and into our hearts.

Here is a stunning new release of no less than 14 beautiful pieces, the title composition is abundant in its grace and splendour and of course called The Depths, this flowing musical narrative creates a sense of calm whilst listening, and develops a sanctuary of sound that any listener would feel so very secure within, but the same can be said of that entire album, it is a home of peace filled creations that allow us as listeners to roam in its serenity with total safety.

We can add an acoustic guitar into the mix on this most mystical of pieces entitled Midnight Express, a track that constantly moves onwards through the darkness of the night, in a soft blanket of sound that wraps itself around us.

Within each composition Logani brings a reality of tranquillity that is so poignant and soothing, tracks like the harmonic bliss like Wonder, or perhaps Solitude, with its tempting safe haven of a musical vibration, one could imagine sitting in a log cabin alone watching the snow fall to this track, and having all the time one needs to solve any of life’s issues.

The offering Diamond Gaze is a multi-faceted composition that has a creative healing energy about its compositional structure; it is easy to drift on the wings of time and tide to this so fluent of piano performances.

Offering, which is track 12 on the album, features an electric guitar which opens the musical portal, while Logan’s piano is the master narrator that holds our hand on this most mysterious of final compositions, one that is truly artistic and inventive in all its aspects.

The Depths by Monica Logani is an album containing 14 delightful tracks, an album that has most certainly been worth while waiting for, this album touches many musical genres, we have a wonderfully presented ambience, a sumptuous level of melody, tone and timbre, and a mysterious lilt that will entice any eager listener’s ear. In short The Depths by Monica Logani is the best work of the artist by far, and easily the perfect album to embrace the new year with.

Rainbow By Jeffrey Baker

 

Rainbow

By

Jeffrey Baker

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I freely admit to being a fan of the work of Jeffrey Baker and his timeless piano music, lately I have had the pleasure of listening to and writing reviews for two of his pervious singles in My Heart and Anthem, and here on this latest single release called Rainbow, we have another segment of piano based reveries to drift within.

The New York based composer certainly knows how to manifest a composition that is both beautiful and redolent of the subject matter and the performance at the piano by Frank Martin is one that is equally textured and soothing, and combined with the production mastery of Shambhu, a winning arrangement is sure to be found.

Again one has to state that this composition by Baker has that timeless repose, in an almost multi-dimensional reality of tone and timbre, this energy can also be found on Bakers two previous singles as well, and in my view this makes his creations quite unique and extremely listenable.

We can be very blessed that the music of Jeffrey Baker is amongst us, and in my view he has freshened up the vast genre of piano music, and on this new single Rainbow, we can rest assured that not only another big hit will be found, but our sonic sanctuaries of sound will be appeased and calmed by this beautiful new single entitled Rainbow, by Jeffrey Baker.

Moonlight Poem By Andrea Sertori

 

Moonlight Poem

By

Andrea Sertori

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have had the pleasure of listening to this piece several times today, and it has taken me to a place of calm and peace like none other recently, the artist is the amazing Andrea Sertori, a pianist of great colour and skill, and this composition, a brand new single entitled Moonlight Poem.

The softness of touch on this new creation of utterly divine, so much so, that one could listen to it on repeat and never get tired of its tones, the flowing piano narrative is part of Sertori’s quality skill set, the charming natural drift of vibrancy and tranquillity is very pleasing to the ear and mind also.

There are some clever changes in the middle of the track that are wonderfully performed and executed, and then this gentle ramble of a composition continues, with a similar heart felt warmth that the late but still great Annie Locke used to manifest so well.

This is indeed a magical creation, one only further enhanced by the literally beautiful art work that can be found within. I have a feeling, that without a shadow of a doubt, that Moonlight Poem by Andrea Sertori will find its way into the hearts and minds of each eager lover of piano music, and once there, will never leave.

Shine By Alise Ashby

 

Shine

By

Alise Ashby

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This new song by Alise Ashby is simply the most perfect start to a new year of music that simply anyone could wish for; it is a piano with instrumentational pleasure pit of beautiful music beyond dreams, combining layer upon layers of tone and timbre, and called Shine.

Ashby’s sensitive yet lyrical style floats with the listener on a bed of soothing piano, a veritable pastiche of tenderness of tasteful vibrations, and all gathering together to give us, the ever eager listener, a sanctuary of calm and tranquillity to reside within.

There can be no doubt that Ashby has an ear for the emotive style of flowing piano, and her build and progression on this new single reminds me of some of the classic artists in the new age scene from as early as the nineties in artists like Mike Rowland, or perhaps the ability to manifest a warming cover of serene motifs like the ever brilliant Bernward Koch.

Regardless, this new manifestation from Ashby is one of the most beautiful offerings in this somewhat overflowing genre, and as such I predict a huge hit is absolutely on the cards for Shine by Alise Ashby, and perhaps even more!

Silve-Red Moon By Santiago Trigueros

 

Silve-Red Moon

By

Santiago Trigueros

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The refreshing winds of a new single blew my way today, in the guise of a deft electronic composition called Silve-Red Moon by Santiago Trigueros. I have known of the musician since 2019 and the release of a single back then called Perseidas, but here today we get to take a winter journey through the tonal vibrations of this new powerful and dramatic single.

The genre of electronic music is vast and wide and styles may range from ultra-long form, to Jean Michael Jarre and back, but Trigueros with this rhythm rising new offering has created a sublime musical climax to the year, with an arrangement that just continues to build, progress, flow, then build again, and then flower into a pastiche of colourful crescendos.

Silve-Red Moon by Santiago Trigueros is one of those tracks that in years to come could well become an anthem for many fans of the genre. The piece itself has been superbly played and constructed with percussion, power and poise, and also without the need of bursting into a dance styled manifestation. Silve-Red Moon by Santiago Trigueros should be a huge hit for the artist, and may even be the seminal work that lifts him into new heights in the years to come, it is certainly that good.

Winterfelt Lullabies By James Michael Stevens

 

Winterfelt Lullabies

By

James Michael Stevens

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are many aspects of felt piano; and its characteristics sometimes create an enigma for listeners, a lack of consistency of tone and performance production perhaps, but if you had one pianist to go to for an enactment and an implantation of perfection in the field of felt piano, then I could point to non-other than the remarkable James Michael Stevens, and specifically his brand new album entitled Winterfelt Lullabies.

The opening pieces off this 10 track album is entitled Winterfelt Lullaby No. 1 (Felt Piano), and is in my view one of the most mournful and emotive pieces from the release, in a composition that delivers the tonal energies of this season to an absolute perfection.

We then follow that with the charming Winterfelt Lullaby No. 2 (Snow Angels), this melody has a childlike presence, and one could almost see the excited little one playing snow angels in the whiteness of the landscape with their arms. This is a clever composition by Stevens, offering us a simplistic vibration, but holding a little mystery back as well.

Winterfelt Lullaby No. 3 (Pristine Prelude) is up next, this joyous piece raises the rhythms of the album with its higher style and generally more major key presentations. One can also feel the pristine nature of the track, and the imagination flows to a winter conclusion that is indeed palpable.

The following musical narrative is an interesting one and called Winterfelt Lullaby No. 4 (Phrygian Winter). I thought this name seemed familiar and I was to be proved right, as Phrygians live now in what is called Turkey, the winters there can be cold, but a plethora of storms is usually the recipe, some of which drift our way just south of them here in Cyprus, here Stevens builds the mood rather well, and creates a scenic sound that is indeed redolent of the subject matter and of the empty cold streets of this winter location.

Seems strange writing a winter review sitting here in a sun kissed location, but a short journey behind me into the mountains I would no doubt see the essence of this next track in abundance, and it is called Winterfelt Lullaby No. 5 (Flurries). The artist is such a perfect painter of tone and timbre, and the performance style here is so very evocative of windswept snowy landscapes and lanes from my suggested location.

There is always time for a dance and in this case it’s time for Winterfelt Lullaby No. 6 (Talia's Waltz). A smiling happy energy can be found here and a beautifully fluent presentation to boot as well, whilst on the following musical voyage of plenty entitled Winterfelt Lullaby No. 7 (A Peaceful Snow), we have a vista that is delightfully comforting and heart felt, as the pianist builds a track on a panorama of peaceful intentions and snowy footfalls.

In the deeper snow drifts of the album we will come across a piece called Winterfelt Lullaby No. 8 (Sweet December) and how timely as it is currently the 12^th of that month as I write. The gentle style flows from Stevens’s piano like graceful snowflakes dancing from the grey clouds above, in an almost romantic created winter arrangement.

So we have arrived at the penultimate offering from the album and it is entitled Winterfelt Lullaby No. 9 (Elegance), there is something quite anthem like about this offering that makes it so charming, the tempo is utterly delicious and deeply confident and articulate in its structure, and this also happens to be one of my personal favourites from the release.

Winterfelt Lullaby No. 10 (Snow in the Pines) concludes our journey through this season of festivities and gratitude. Once more James creates the warmest piece of all as his last offering, and leaves the listener in a place of total calm and serenity whilst doing so on the perfect ending arrangement.

Winterfelt Lullabies by James Michael Stevens is a new release that should make its way into the hearts and minds of solo piano fans across the globe, for those fans who also like a mellower and softer touch with regard to felt piano facets, then this is the album for you, it is played with eloquence from a performer who has honed his presentations over many years, and it shows in all its glory here on this wonderful seasonal album entitled Winterfelt Lullabies. 

Winter Faerie By Fred Grenot

 

Winter Faerie

By

Fred Grenot

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There must be magic in the air, as I have written reviews now for two faerie based compositions in the last week. It is so good to see New Age music making a huge come back, as we have seen for the whole of 2024, and who better to join the fray than instrumentalist sublime Fred Grenot, a man who has made a massive splash in the genre since his return.

Fred has a new single out and we can now all enjoy the sparkling tones of Winter Faerie this festive break. I have to say I was delighted to have heard such a classy compositional structure manifested by Fred for this new single, a powerful yet melodic new offering can be found on this arrangement.

When we look deeper into the weave we can understand the flow and touch of tone with relation to the subject matter, and it is simply idyllic, the chimes bring us a seasonal energy, the synths create a slight dramatic backdrop, the angelic vocalisations are harmonically pleasurable, and his work on keyboards is both sensitive but also artistic in a performance that is just short of six minutes in duration.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Winter Faerie by Fred Grenot is going to be loved by listeners and fans alike, and I truly believe that it is some of his best work thus far. So wrap yourself in the delight of new music this winter, and give yourself a big fire side hug with Winter Faerie by Fred Grenot.

Adventures in Space By Paul Speer

 

Adventures in Space

By

Paul Speer

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s been a few years since we all bathed in the sonic delights of Paul Speer’s Sonoran Odyssey, but he is now back, and possibly with one of his most fluent and charismatic releases ever entitled, Adventures in Space  and this driving collection of smooth guitar based reveries is our journey today.

Adventures in Space is a 7 track album packed with graceful textures and cutting edge guitar mastery, the finest example of all in the opening piece called Spacewalk Europa, one that features the simply amazing talents of master pianist David Lanz. The bluesy guitar is joined by Lanz on piano and gifts us a steady forward motion on music, one that reminded me greatly of Medwyn Goodall and his guitar on his release Essence of Magic.

Hard Landing on Nebulon was one of the those tracks that would have you wishing that the inertial dampers on your ship would have kicked in before your helmsman had acted on the blue alert, and landed your ship planet side with a bump! The guitar here was so graphic and told the story beautifully, the guitar effects added a further dimension to this sumptuous piece, as the light percussion created an energy of balance being restored, into the weave of the composition.

The next piece was a real voyage of plenty and called Light Speed Shakedown, there is an intent here that is palpable and forward thinking, whilst the rhythm of the piece is priceless in its flow and energy, the guitar and style of composition reminded me of the late but great classic rock guitarist Manny Charlton from Nazareth, and his piece Expect No Mercy.

The next offering entitled Memories of Earth is a horse of a totally different colour, the keyboards at the opening of this piece floated like a descriptive Genesis album track, and Speer’s guitar was some of the most moving I have ever heard from the artist, when one listens to this amazing composition, you will immediately understand the George Harrison song While My Guitar Gently Weeps. For me this was one of the most stunning reveries from the album.

Ursa Major in a Minor Key is our next musical place of reference, this gigantic constellation, the biggest in the northern hemisphere, and known to some as the Great Bear is a truly descriptive creation by Speer, the symbiotic dance between guitar and keyboards to a backdrop of a sensitive percussion here, is utterly brilliant and wonderfully scene setting.

Our penultimate offering is entitled Graceful Mother Ship and is one of the most powerful manifestations from the release. Its proud tones emphasise perhaps the size of the craft in question, whilst Speers insightful guitar is matched with the soft and fluent keyboards and synths, and in doing so, manifest a huge soundtrack of glistening vibrations, a musical vista so vast perhaps, that the listener can roam freely to enjoy its flavours and its David Gilmour like Crazy Diamond of a performance.

The final piece is called Black Hole Dance Party and this curiously entitled composition ends our voyage through space with the artist. The percussion here as you may expect notched up the energy, whilst Speer’s guitar added a level of speed and tempo like never before, a simply breath taking light speed of a piece with which to conclude the album with.

Adventures in Space by Paul Speer is an electrifying new album that deserves to be respected by all who listen to its contents, its structured narratives are enjoyable, but the presentation, fluency and intelligence of arrangement and performance doubly so. A shout out must also be given to the 2 drummers who perform on the album, Gregg Bissonette and Ron Krasinski, their performances added greatly to the music. There can be no doubt that this is Speers finest work thus far, as every inch of this album flows from one piece into the other with sublime ease, and thus I can see no reason why Adventures in Space by Paul Speer shouldn’t traverse the higher echelons of the charts even at warp 9.99! 

Rejuvenescence By Bryan Quinn

 

Rejuvenescence

By

Bryan Quinn

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There is something about a flute release that creates and manifests many a time worn image, a memory so deep that it still lies hidden somewhere in the heart, thus is the power of the flute, here on Rejuvenescence, composer and performer Bryan Quinn on his debut album travels to musical locations, and explores the tonal narrative of many emotions feelings and moods that spawn from the vibrations created within this fascinating journey.

The opening of this riveting new creation is called Relationshipwrecked, a slow mournful repose gets our voyage underway, on a track that cries into the night for a love now lost and gone forever, only a flute can bring such poignancy.

This is a debut album and the artist has gone full out to explore the various highways and byways of his musical prowess, like the blues composition simply called Blue, where the flute mixes up with crying guitars and a slow seductive drum beat.

Here the listener can find something that will entice them, draw them in, perhaps the mystical energies of pieces like Rumination, a track created by thought for thinkers, or perhaps Introspection, where the thinker takes the thoughts and looks inwards, this track was of course released as a single earlier on this year and still to this day I think it is one of Quinn’s most masterful creations.

Deeper into the weave of the album we find a more upbeat reverie entitled Redemption, a freeing of ones shackles can be felt throughout this sparkling performance, one can literally feel the acceptance of happiness kick in in this fun manifestation.

The penultimate offering from the album would be one of my personal favourites and called Reflection, perhaps because I have personally done a heck of a lot of it over the passing years. Moreover it was the sensitive performance by Quinn that made this piece the highlight of the album for me, the perceptive and caring presentation is one of the finest I have heard from a flute performer for years.

Rejuvenescence is our last port of call and completes our long and deeply moving flute voyage of many mixed emotions with the artist; we have bounced off the bottom of our lake of feelings, drifted in the mid waters of life and sprung forth like a salmon from the cascades of rejuvenation. This new and debut album by Bryan Quinn concludes with the title track that many of us who have been wounded by life and love will resonate with, perhaps heal with and may one day may be able to move on with, a spectacular anthem like presentation on flute can be found here by the artist, one that rounds off the entire album with such style, intelligence and character.

Rejuvenescence by Bryan Quinn has to be one of the most inspiring debut releases of 2024; this is a fine place with which to start a musical expedition, and above all Quinn has used music as a cathartic tour of emotional healing, and as music is probably the only medicine that ever works without side effects, and is the ultimate language of pure truth, his creation of this his debut album is a master stoke that needs to be both respected and applauded, and with that in mind I predict a huge hit for Rejuvenescence by Bryan Quinn. 

Sleepy Fairies By Sonya Haramis

 

Sleepy Fairies

By

Sonya Haramis

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

From the very first note of this brand new single from Sonya Haramis called Sleepy Fairies I fell in love with it. There is just something about it that I cannot help but adore; perhaps it is the simplicity of tone and construction, perhaps it’s the lullaby styled energy, regardless this is a new age release that will flutter by in the night time perambulations of many eager listener with ease.

I am minded of a release many years back (2003) by Llewellyn called Journey to the Faeries, this specific piece has a similar mood and construction, the light padded keyboards, the sweeping but delicate synths, this is indeed one of those singles that will become utterly addictive after hearing just one simple listen.

The essence of a truly good new age composition is creating music on a subject matter that truly says what it does on the can, then hooks the listener in, and soothes the furrowed brow of the musical observer in question, Haramis does this so beautifully on this uncomplicated, but intricate offering.

As we pull inexorably towards the end of 2024 creations like Sleepy Fairies by Sonya Haramis will linger long in the mind, and perhaps even flutter by into the musical thoughts of 2025 too, regardless I personally rate this wonderfully attractive and light hearted reverie, and I have a feeling you will too, this one has chart hit written all over it. 

A Love Beyond Time By David Clavijo ft Budapest Scoring Orchestra

 

A Love Beyond Time

By

David Clavijo ft Budapest Scoring Orchestra

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There is a powerful new single running towards our hearts, and coming across the horizon of our lives with such style and grace, that new work is called A Love beyond Time, and it has been released by David Clavijo as his latest single, and this epic soundtrack styled opus contains the massive skill set of the Budapest Scoring Orchestra.

I have often been a fan of this dramatic genre; Clavijo has created something of film track standard here, and at times reminds me of the work of such composers as Michael Hoppe in its opulent grand nature.

The soft opening of this piece is delightful and gives the listener a brief opportunity to gaze around at this incredible musical landscape that the composer is literally created before our eyes.

Clavijo is a fine instrumentalist in his own right, but now the Spanish born creator of sumptuous melodies has created what may be his seminal work thus far, as this his brand new and breath taking single is about to take the charts by storm.

A Love Beyond Time by David Clavijo performed by Budapest Scoring Orchestra is a movie soundtrack waiting to happen, it’s a moving emotive opus that spills over with love and honesty, and should with ease become a fan favourite within a flicker of a tender musical flame.

Break of Dawn By Ricky Kej

 

Break of Dawn

By

Ricky Kej

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

As the year draws to a close, it is with glee that I end this season with the latest album by 3 time Grammy winner Ricky Kej on my music player, and even more abundant joy as I get to review and give my thoughts on this new breath taking release. As expected Kej brings his A game to the table, and rounds 2024 off with a remarkable new collection of great songs called Break Of Dawn.

The opening piece is fantastic in all its glory, and it is without doubt a total pleasure to see a nine plus minute track as the opener, in these days of micro compositions. Blue Dream though is an opus of grandeur and style, one that utilises the sublime skill set of flautist Ron Korb, and brings forth a stunning composition that will fill you with rising passion.

Break of Dawn is a delightfully colourful and textured release of 9 simply divine songs, like the eastern motifs of track 3 called Spiritual Love. One could with ease imagine a temple in the forest with vines trailing in all directions, as a plethora of birds flutter from the sun kissed trees. This was a splendid example of magical instrumentational music, with added contributions from Manoj George on violin and Ravichandra Kulur on flute among others.

The album is a veritable “weaveworld” of musical layers, sublime touches, mood filled qualities of global surfaces, all coalescing into a pastiche of class and brilliance. Tracks like the rhythmic Moment of Bliss will highlight that aforementioned statement, whilst pieces like Awakened Hope featuring the amazing vocals of Siddhartha Belmannu deliver us into a dimension of sight and sound that is so wonderfully palpable.

The penultimate track off the release is entitled Embers of Time; here composer Kej has arranged this composition so perfectly, that we fall into a graceful oasis of tranquillity via its tone and timbre, and the performance of both Varijashree Venugopal on flute, and the vocals of Gopu Krishnan manifest an ancient energy within the music that is so profound and tangible.

Why not indeed conclude the album with an arrangement called Euphoria, the build and progression here is beyond stunning, and the voice of Sheila Samuel shone like a beacon in the night sky, this was without a shadow of a doubt the most perfect way possible to leave an album of this sublime nature.

Break of Dawn by Ricky Kej is simply spectacular, it’s exquisite production doubly so, whilst the magnificent performances from each musician on the release deserves a large and loud round of applause. Here is an album that should appease fans of both the artist, and those of the global fusion genre with ease, award worthy no doubt, and surely a massive chart hit for Break of Dawn by Ricky Kej is on its way.

Native Flute Journeys 5 By Sandi Horton

 

Native Flute Journeys 5

By

Sandi Horton

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The Flute of Sandi Horton has truly been making waves in the world of instrumental music in 2024, but now as we inexorably move slowly towards the end of that time, the artist has gathered some of her favourite winter based seasonal compositions to release, in this most sparkling of winters.

The joy starts from track one with Sandi’s version of the Christmas classic entitled O Come, O Come Emmanuel, I so enjoyed this rendition that I replayed the track a couple of times before I started to collate my thoughts and put them into words, this has to be one of the most haunting and beautiful arrangements of this piece in history. This new release also contains magical versions of famous pieces like Angels We Have Heard on High, O Tannenbaum, Coventry Carol and others.

Native Flute Journeys 5 is a 12 track release with some wonderfully fluent original structures contained within also, and it is these that I will focus on in this review. On the piece Winter Solstice (Padauk bass F Flute) we have a bliss filled moment of stunning flute to enjoy, Hortons almost meditative style on this track weaves us through the icy lands and lanes of deep midwinter with such style and grace.

Then we have the ambience created by the following musical narrative entitled Mary’s Song, where a higher note can be found, the creation was manifested by the utilisation of a (White Cedar, high E flute) and a more charming musical reverie you would be hard pushed to find.

Finally the next manifestation of mood filled flute is in front of us and called The Trees are Magical. One has to say that the arrangement and musical structures brought into life here by Horton are very redolent of the subject matter, simply gaze from your window at the trees moving in the winter wind, and enjoy this breath taking soundtrack.

Other winter and Christmas classics are included on this album as mentioned earlier, one of the long and lasting musical memories we all have is Greensleeves, and Horton’s version has a gentle, but palpable rhythm, whilst offerings like We Three Kings give us all a familiar reminder of this time of year, however her presentation here is extremely crisp and wonderfully fluent, raising our rhythms and hopes for brighter days ahead.

The project is concluded with the lullaby styled opus of Silent Night, a better way with which to finish an album of this elk you will not find, and a most charming re-imagination of this Christmas classic indeed.

Native Flute Journeys 5 by Sandi Horton is a solo flute based album that anyone looking for positive memories of winter and seasonal cheer should have, it contains 12 tracks of beautifully played flute, and all bathed in a most heartfelt and loving energy, it is certainly a collection of seasonal pieces you would be most proud of in your musical collection, so do yourselves a favour, and ask for a copy of Native Flute Journeys 5 by Sandi Horton to be placed in your Christmas stocking this year, your ears will love you forever.

Imagine By Alise Ashby

 

Imagine

By

Alise Ashby

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I remember 1971 very well; my interest in music had reached past pop and into progressive rock, but my love of the Beatles still hovered like a familiar cloud across a November sky, back in 1971(USA) (1975 in the UK) Lennon would go on to release a single and an album that has become iconic, and called Imagine. It is this journey of legendary proportions we gaze at lovingly today, by one of the finest pianists of her day in Alise Ashby.

Ashby has developed a truly tender performance style, and here on this illustrious composition, she breathes a fresh stream of consciousness into the arrangement, her fluent and gentle presentation will charm the most ardent of Lennon fans, and leave a calming smile across the faces of many a music aficionado.

This is a song that exemplifies peace, love and a fairer world, still something as humans we search for in the darkness of our own fears, but here Ashby with this instrumental version, poses a soothing reminder for us to keep trying. Her skill set as a pianist is one that creates cathartic creations, and on this new single Imagine, one that we all know and love so well, she has done just that, this moment of magical instrumental magnificence will be with ease a massive hit for the pianist as the year of 2024 draws to its final conclusion.

Music For Study And Relaxation By Fiona Joy Hawkins

 

Music For Study And Relaxation

By

Fiona Joy Hawkins

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Many years have passed since I first listened to one of my personal favourite Fiona Joy Hawkins albums entitled 600 Years In A Moment, and now some almost 12 years later a release that probably surpasses even that comes to the fore, and called Music For Study And Relaxation. Fiona is without doubt one of the leading female forces in piano in this day and age, and too see her produce an epic album of this quality fills my heart with joy.

Our voyage starts with the beautiful opening piece called Lake of Contemplation ft Rebecca Daniel.  The strings here are so important, they not only add another dimension into the weave of the composition, but they create a texture that supports the soothing piano from the artist.

Twilight Moment although short form in musical structure, is a track that says a lot with its delicate and reflective performance, one can feel the importance of the time, when one holds back the night to strain one more second from the beauty of the moment, whilst on Flight of the Snowbird we have a cinematic track that could easily be used in movie, the layered strings and piano manifest a symbiotic partnership that is so utterly beautiful.

Music for Study and Relaxation is an 11 track collection of some of the best piano with added instrumentation I have heard for simply ages, for example one can enjoy the hovering intent of the piece Turquoise Interlude, or we can relive the magic of the past on the ever wonderful Blue Dream.  We might want to walk the halls of more mysterious and mystical creations like Calling Earth featuring Sidney Chopin, regardless Fiona Joy Hawkins with Music for Study and Relaxation has built a world of piano based music where there is literally something for everyone.

This quite stunning new release is concluded with the composition 600 Years of Rest ft Riverest, and I feel the circle of time through this track has once more been completed. This is a sublime arrangement to end with, like the entire album one could, and I did, literally bathe within its realms and be eternally happy doing so.

Music for Study and Relaxation by Fiona Joy Hawkins in my view her best work thus far, the soft pastiche of tone, the perfect timbre, and the breathtakingly beautiful compositional structures and multi instrumental performances, all go to making this album for me one of the best in this genre I have heard for decades, I can see this being a massive hit on the charts, and is most certainly award worthy.

Immersion ft Christophe Goze By DM Ascension

 

Immersion ft Christophe Goze

By

DM Ascension

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There is always time for a little chilled vibrational music in the world, and this new single from DM Ascension featuring the talents of the sublime Christophe Goze called Immersion, sets the scene for anyone’s day to be as cool as an October evening. This downbeat and laid back reverie is one fine example of two musicians completely connecting, to bring us ever eager listeners something to bliss out with.

The guitar of Goze has always been a musical tool of multifaceted textures, and here on this new offering the pairing create one of the most laid back tracks of the year thus far. The synths and keyboard work is noteworthy and manifests that chillout mood that one would have been totally at home within any lounge or Buddha bar of the late 90’s.

The combination of D M Ascension and Christophe Goze is simply a winner, and together on this fantastic new creation they have without doubt produced a quality moment of sublime chilled smooth jazz to thoroughly enjoy, and one that I feel will win over listeners and fans alike, and thus a very good chart position should soon follow if there is any justice in this world.

Sound Polarities By Tsode

 

Sound Polarities

By

Tsode

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It must be my lucky day today, the music is flowing fast and free and the beauty of it all is marvellous, this is the second album to review this sunny day in December, and it is a task willingly taken. The musical journey is a release called Sound Polarities and created and composed by Tsode.

The artist has been on my musical radar now for some 8 years or so, but here on Sound Polarities this is truly superior work that is something to be totally proud of, the initial start so much reminds me of early Eno, its gentle reflective sun kissed tones are a fine place to begin and entitled Sound Polarities I.

The more electronic energies are touched within this next offering that also remind me of my old friend Ramsey Gee who used to produce a style of ethnic electronic music for AD records, here on Funny Business Tsode manufactures something similar and fun.

An interesting title is up next and called Kismet, a word describing fate, destiny, by some essence of chance, regardless Tsode has produced something powerful and driving within this composition that reminded me of Robert Miles and his 1998 hit Children, with a slight hint of Jean Michel Jarre into the mix.

We now move to the fluent vocals that can be found on the track entitled A Brighter Love. One must congratulate the artist on this piece, this is a composition that could easily make the Euro song contest, but in all honesty probably is far too good, and one has to also say, this was incredibly well sung as well.

Memories of Ascension Paths started with a soft synth passage and morphed with a slight percussive element into a piece that would have graced any 1990’s Buddha bar or chillout lounge; the floating and easy on the mind vibrations here for me manifest a sublime piece of musical structure that truly needs to be respected.

We move ever onwards towards a piece called The Silk Movement, a leading piano narrative lights our way, whilst a soft pastiche of strings adds texture to the proceedings, it has to be said that this is an extremely artistic creation, I remember Kitaro’s Silk Road, but the tempo here is more thoughtful and most certainly amazingly reflective too.

The intermediate composition is our way finder on the album and of course is Sound Polarities II, but this time the grounding is given to us ever eager listeners with a trance like percussive beat, one that leads us cleverly into the following narrative of Melodies of a Night's Dream feat. Moises Daniel, on a piece that has a sensitive almost lullaby mood to its arrangement.

Venus is our next location, and a vast voyage of musical joy can be found here on this crafted synth based opus, we have a syncopated percussion, a perfect example of electro pop, one that leads the listener on a constant onward motion, perhaps past Venus and into the very space time continuum itself. Where we may find the piano lead track coming next called Sakura, another dance based opus that takes us back to the 90’s.

On the piece Improvisations of Soul there is a tender motif, an almost angelic arrangement that is pristine in nature and texture, whilst on the following musical narrative Time to Run the pace picks up, the energy increases to bring us a piece that had that Jarre feel to it, with even more progressive structures.

One of my favourite subjects to create music about, are the monolithic structures we call mountains, here the artist manifests something quite moving and emotive and entitled The Mountains. We live on a small island that has three main ranges to enjoy, the vastness of the composition relays that epic vista to me with ease.

Interestingly enough the longest offering from the album is called Life and at some 16 minutes plus in duration is one of the longest composition we have ever had from the artist. This for me is a suite of several parts, all of which are utterly sublime and creating an artistic and fascinating musical voyage, with moments of sparkling keyboard and electronic magic, Tsode brings us an epic journey of Life like never before, and has us all held in the palm of his hands whilst doing so. The concluding piece is a remix of track 3 entitled Kismet (EvilSound Remix), which brings our journey to a climax with a stunningly fluent electro pop finish.

Sound Polarities by Tsode is a truly epic release; some 15 tracks can be found within the realms of this new album, and in some ways the release and its contents manage to cater for most listeners musical preferences along the way. Here is an anthology of smart and gifted arrangements from one of the finest electronic musicians of his day, and an album of infectious energy, one that should be supported by all and called, Sound Polarities by Tsode.

A Journey Of Dreams By Paul Adams & Elizabeth Geyer

 

A Journey Of Dreams

By

Paul Adams & Elizabeth Geyer

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

For me this winter has been illuminated and literally lit up, by one of the most beautiful new albums of 2024 called A Journey Of Dreams, and its creators Paul Adams & Elizabeth Geyer deserve a huge amount of respect for bringing to our musical table one of the most ambient, meditative, and blissful albums of the year thus far, and boy, just when we all truly needed it.

This is a 10 track release that proudly starts with the title track and therefore of course called A Journey of Dreams; soft synths lead our way, with gentle vocalisations, one that leads us carefully towards a dreaming flute, our panacea on this musical journey.

This release is heavenly and is a collection of creations that inspire calm, tranquillity and serenity, pieces like the, The Arrival contain a plenitude of instrumentation including Ethnic Flutes, Chinese Hulusi, Sitar, Piano, and Harmonica.

Each and every composition is curated with such a tender attention to detail, and one of my favourite offerings called The Lightness brought a sense of originality like never before, when on 9 seconds in a small bird flew in from through the window of the artist’s studio, and added its contribution to the piece with a chirp.

Another meditative and soothing gift I must highlight is called Drifting; the layered and textured beauty of this piece mesmerized me completely, we now add the instrumentation of the Oud and Dobro, whilst the piano continues to lay level upon level of bliss, in the same was as David Naegele did back in 1982 with Temple in the Forest.

I cannot praise this album enough, this whole project literally took me back to the golden age of new age music with its multi-faceted perfection and musical exploration, the penultimate offering helped that aforementioned statement further and called Somewhere There Is Hope, an old age new age track that will be held in future decades as a timeless reverie of peace, adding the Sitar to the composition Adams and Geyer create just that.

The journey is concluded with one of the most breath taking compositions that you are likely to hear in this genre and called The Reward. The softness of this specific arrangement manifests an almost ethereal energy; Adam’s flute seems to cry across the ageless dimensions of time and tide, and thus give to its listeners a piece that is truly reflective, heart felt and emotionally touching, all of this can be felt within this concluding creation.

A Journey Of Dreams by Paul Adams & Elizabeth Geyer has to be one of my personal favourite albums of 2024, and as we draw the closure of this year, we can honestly look back and say that this has to be the best work of the musical duo with ease, and with my heart on my musical sleeve, my personal favourite album of that time too. Albums of this grace and beauty do not come around that often, so I urge you to embrace A Journey Of Dreams by Paul Adams & Elizabeth Geyer, it is without doubt one of the finest examples of multi-instrumental new age music ever.

When The Sun Has Legs By Chrissie and Steve Sheppard

 

When The Sun Has Legs

By

Chrissie and Steve Sheppard

Written by

Andy Rogers

 

Chrissie and Steve Sheppard are of course well known as the owners of One World Music Radio and as show presenters. Steve is also famous for his expertly crafted music reviews, while Chrissie is an expert in holistic therapies. For the last few years they have also been recording and releasing their own brand of music. Steve has long been a fan of “New Age” music and Chrissie loves flute based music, so it was inevitable that their music follows that course, albeit with their own unique stylings.

The new album from Steve and Chrissie is called When The Sun Has Legs, a phrase popular on Cyprus (where they live), that refers to when the sun shines from behind clouds and causes shafts of sunlight to fall from sky to ground in an almost biblical way. Apparently Steve and Chrissie had been out for the day, making their way home during a storm that suddenly cleared with the appearance of sunshine behind the clouds. Suitably inspired, once home they went immediately into the studio and this entire album was completed in one day.

The six tracks on the album take us through a day which starts out sunny and calm, descends into a fierce and wild storm then clears to leave us once again in sunshine by a calm sea. The first track Peaceful Harbour is a quiet morning as we hear the sounds of harbour life around us, gentle sea and seagulls with distant church bells. The music reflects this with an almost ambient feel: held notes with a lead instrument that sounds almost like a harp – very evocative and calming.

We find the title track up now, When The Sun Has Legs, here you can feel the day changing. The sun has gone behind the clouds. Rain is starting to fall as the music becomes darker and more intense. The volume of the music increases as the track ends with rippling piano leading us into track 3 Before the storm here Chrissie’s flute is very much to the fore, hovering over Steve’s ambient keyboards and increasingly menacing rain and thunder.

By track 4 Storm Front we are well and truly in the throes of a violent storm, the music has a darker texture now, ambient chords with recurring musical motifs all battle with the sounds of crashing waves, wind, rain and loud thunder-claps. Eventually the music fades into the distance leaving just the sounds of the storm taking us into track 5 Aftermath. The storm slowly recedes leaving a ghostly-sounding choir that is slowly joined by keyboards and flute before suddenly a voice appears with an almost operatic feel… there is a sense of the worst being over as we are once again down by the sea with gentle waves and seagulls.

Track 6 Clear Skies opens with church bells, the message being all is calm once again; Chrissie’s flute drifts over a backing track that gains an increasingly more positive feel to the mood of the music as it progresses. The flute returns over an accompaniment of gentle strings and bright effects before the church bells increase in intensity and the track fades out leaving the village to return to normal now that the storm has passed.

When the Sun has Legs is an impressive album - it manages to capture the feeling of a stormy day really well in just sound and music – if you like your New Age music to be evocative of nature and have a slightly ambient feel then you could do a lot worse than give this album a listen.