One More Day By Shervin Boloorian

 

One More Day

By

Shervin Boloorian

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The world is full of deeply introspective music at the moment, whilst there is nothing wrong with that at all, it does make a change to be gifted a song to write about that has a lighter touch to its vibration, as we take in the latest single from the artist Shervin Boloorian entitled One More Day.

There are several references that I will mention later but to introduce the song we have an arrangement that pairs acoustic textures with a warm, comforting vocal delivery and succeeds brilliantly, its tender tonal delight manifesting a warming and comforting ambience of sound.

One More Day is an indie-folk, soft-pop single by the Iranian-born singer-songwriter and sound artist Shervin Boloorian, and is part of his upcoming EP called Unbroken. The likeness to artist like Mitten is evident, the soft pastiche of notes and tone and the soothing vocal narrative brings about a certain familiarity of sound.

The song itself balances sombre themes with bright, folk-tinged melodies, creating a piece that feels both uplifting and poignant, it has that energetic structure about it that makes it one of those pieces that you just can’t stop listening to if you tried.

Could the song in fact serve as both a tribute and a source of comfort for listeners navigating their own feelings of loss and reflection? The juxtaposition of an uplifting arrangement with a more sombre intent is certainly crafted and clever, this is not an easy task to do at all, but the skill set that the artist uses here is similar to the imploring nature that Cat Stevens used to use on tracks like Peace Train, a serious theme, created in the most attractive and uplifting way.

There can be no doubt that One More Day by Shervin Boloorian is going to take the attention of the fans of both folk and new age pop genres and rightly so, here is a panacea of music that is thoughtfully produced, beautifully presented, and mindfully created, and thus all good things must be on the musical horizon for One More Day by Shervin Boloorian.

Muse of Winter By

 

Muse of Winter

By

James Michael Stevens

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There can be no pianist around today that is as prolific as James Michael Stevens, I have an abundance of albums by the artist, but time after time and with each passing release, that astounding quality is always there. And this stunning production of brilliance we see here on this latest topical release called Muse of Winter, emphasizes that statement.

Even here in Cyprus we are having our coldest winter since our arrival in over 10 years, so this winter muse is in full operating mode indeed, and tracks like Arioso Semplice ease us into the project. In practice, it tells the performer to play in a gentle, flowing, expressive way, without too much ornamentation or dramatic emphasis, whilst keeping the phrasing natural and straightforward, this Stevens does with his usual skillset.

The more dramatic Blue Falls is now upon us, the sensitive touch ushers forth images of a chilling yet beautiful landscape, one emphasised by the artists colourful performance on piano, whist on tracks like Forever Sunset a shorter form is explored, with all the delicate essences of the fading light of a January evening.

The mastery of piano performances can be found on show here on Peaceful It Flows, the smooth transitions from notes to chords is manifested with a perfect touch and tempo, whilst on Reflection at Winter Lake, one of my favourite compositions can be found, there is something so mournful about this track that makes it stand out, yet even then the phrasing of Stevens performance lifts it up, to turn out a somewhat tranquil and peace filled narrative at its conclusion.

Silence in the Moonlight is another colourful creation that literally gleams across the room, begging to be played, again Stevens manifests an interesting juxtaposition of tonal delights, by adding a little empathic energy into the song, creating a moody piece that literally seems to slow down to give the listener more space.

We move with joy into the second half of the album, to a piece entitled Snowflakes in the Night, there is a wonderful symbiotic sense being played out here with repeating motifs talking to each other, a gentle yet nurturing musical narrative indeed.

On The Gentle Snow we have a track that for me brings back memories of childhood and days of winters past, there is a charming ladder of tone that Stevens explores here that illustrates the gentleness of the snow as it falls, sadly the likely hood of me seeing snow again is remote, the only location here in my country that one might see it, is on our Troodos mountain range, and Mrs S, would not allow me to take her on that trip if I begged her, so thanks you James for taking me vicariously on a snowy journey through this beautiful piece.

Then Came a Swan is a stunning reverie, swans are indeed a dichotomy, a veritable contradiction of clumsiness out of water, and utter beauty in it. Here through this sparkling presentation, the artists bring us the latter, whilst on Water Lilies a more lyrical narrative is explored, a composition of great quality and depth, almost like it was being musically manifested by the great Claude Monet himself, who in his lifetime produced over 250 paintings about Water Lilies.

The penultimate piece is entitled Winter Sky, here the artist treats the listener to one of the most reflective pieces of his career, with a deep and searching offering that builds upon a solid minor foundation, to exemplify such a chilling vista.

The concluding musical manifestation is Winter Soliloquy, again the deeper notes and darker chords start the offering. In music, a soliloquy means a solo passage that sounds like a performer is “thinking out loud.” Here to end the album, James Michael Stevens concludes it with a brilliant textured piano based musing of thoughts, and sums up the entire project brilliantly whilst doing so.

Muse of winter by James Michael Stevens is a far deeper and more reflective album than you might expect from the composer, but given the subject matter you would expect that. Here the exploratory nature highlights the realities and beauties of this most chilling season. This is classic Stevens, an artist who will never let his fans down, a must buy release indeed, and certainly and one that is likely to rise high in the charts, for Muse of Winter by James Michael Stevens.

One and Only By Extasis

 

One and Only

By

Extasis

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

One of the most interesting pieces of music has come my way, and does somewhat emphasise my journey through life, and my life on the island of love, Cyprus. One and Only by Extasis is a song about believing in yourself and wanting better. Was it not William Faulkner who once said “Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do, do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors, try to be better than yourself”?

Here Extasis the artists manifests something remarkably different from his usual new age styled arrangements, and bathes us with powerful instrumental motifs to raise our energies towards our goals. The intent is set perfectly in this piece that recollects a halcyon moment in time for the artist, and so it should, his rise to fame here on One World Music Radio has been nothing less than spectacular.

Using piano, various pads, and an assortment of instrumentations, Extasis conquers the instrumental genre with this vibrant new release, packed with passionate textures and tones, flowing with an unbridled lust for life. One and Only by Extasis is the go to piece for raising those energies towards those goals, and lifting up those possibilities towards becoming realities, this one is a guaranteed hit. As Maya Angelou who once said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”. 

Blossoming of Ancient Beauty By The Bentley Project

 

Blossoming of Ancient Beauty

By

The Bentley Project

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

For those of you who had the good sense and discernment to purchase the last album from The Bentley Project called Kind As Shade, you will now be delighted to hear another release is on offer from the fantastic duo of calm and serenity.  The group consists of Theresa Bentley and Mark Bentley, and the contents are some of the most heavenly you could ever wish for, just what the word needs right now.

The album contains 9 lush tracks of new age instrumental music, its suitability for relaxation, reflection, and contemplative listening is at its very apex of musical brilliance and tonal core here. Tracks like the opening piece Realm of the Crystal Room, a composition so ethereal in structure and arrangement it is the perfect start to any album of this elk, and at times reminding me in context of the Uk’s new age band, Runestone from the 1990’s.

The delightful refrains on pieces like Breathe, literally allows the listener to soak in the music, whilst offerings like Labyrinth of Love add a further layer of a Celtic influence into the overall narrative of the composition, a veritable journey of music from ancient times can be found here.

Sun on My Face however is a guitar fans haven with a beautiful presentation from Dino Pacifici on this offering, in an almost Mark Knopfler style of performance, whilst the harmonic resonance of the following narrative entitled Blossoming from Ancient Beauty, is atmospheric and new age‑inspired music, blending ambient soundscapes with acoustic and modern textures, into an almost title track of an arrangement that is utterly beautiful.

The stringed element of the following piece End at the Beginning, manifests a tone of yesteryear, and glimmers of sun kissed reveries through the canopy of trees in an ancient woodland, in a Richie Blackmore styled performance, whilst offerings like Give Me Life have that empowering anthem styled motif, and a delightfully slow build to an inventive structure of crafted intelligence, the vocalisations here lifting the composition to new heights.

The penultimate offering has one of the most beautiful titles ever and called Lost in the Water Garden, there are several aspects to this slice of instrumental genius, its meditative qualities, its soothing narrative, and its restorative tonal delights, make this one for me, a go to track from the album.

We conclude this release with another wonderfully titled offering called Sanctuary of Dreams, when I first heard this I was taken back to the start of the century, 2005 to be exact and a release by the artist Llewellyn called Journey to Our Dreams, this is a pure harmonic conversion of transcendent beauty, experiencing dreams and journeys but being safe and secure in a sanctuary of sound whilst doing so, a genius move, and a composition of utter style to complete the album with.

Blossoming of Ancient Beauty by The Bentley Project is an album that I would personally recommend to all fans of ambient new age instrumental music, it’s up there as one of the best from any decade and Theresa Bentley and Mark Bentley should be applauded for bringing it to our ears, and to the world. Here is an album that is a rock bottom guaranteed hit, and I believe award worthy as well, and called Blossoming of Ancient Beauty by The Bentley Project.

The Wishing Well By 2002

 

The Wishing Well

By

2002

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

For me personally 2002 are the very top of what we lovingly call the New Age music genre, even on a recent poll they narrowly came in behind Enya at number 2, and she doesn’t even class herself as a new age artist, for me it’s always a delight when a new album is on offer, here is a band who have stayed true to their cause over the years, and have never once failed to bring their audience and the world a quality release, and here on this brand new album gifted to the world in 2026 called The Wishing Well, we have another slice of the beautiful musical pie, one lovingly baked over the years by the Copus family, and laid before us on our table of tonal dreams and delights.

Overture: The Restless Heart starts our onward journey in a proud keyboard synth styled opus that is as grand as the highest mountain, and as deep as the darkest ocean. The swirling keyboards gift us a sublime scenic view of the voyage ahead for the band, with traditional stylings wrapped in a fluent blanket of sound, also featuring guest artist Keyreel Raskolenko on violin.

If ever you wanted an artist to create something meaningful and full of emotion, you would need to look no further than 2002, and here is that very piece right before you, and called Three Wishes. This song is beautiful, but it has a mysterious lilt to its proceedings, perhaps just a hint of something deeper in the weave of the explorative musical narration, one that is gloriously cinematic and proud of it.

On Twilight we are treated to something quite beautiful, in fact I would go as far to say transcendent; a light childlike narrative is explored in a gentle cohesive way, the harp and guitar combine to add a wonderful juxtaposition between the strings, keys and lush ethereal vocals.

The very opening tone of The Spiral of Heaven, brought a mood of a possible star trek into the offering, the ancient energies of the past and long before were mixed beautifully into the weave of the piece, the strings sublime and the orchestration as moving as you could ever wish for, another cinematic offering with utter ease is played out here, the gentle pristine keys usher forth something quite breath taking and scenic.

Dream Chasers is solidly back on home turf for the Copus family, that signature harp and orchestration with flowing guitars is there on this wonderful new age ride of a track, add in the flute and you have the original sound of 2002, and that chase through this lush galaxy of sound is upon us all.

I’m often moved by the textures of moonlight and the orb that sits proudly in our night skies, and on Moon Lore we explore that in more detail. Lunar deities in many cultures personify the moon, such as the Greek goddess Selene, the Roman Luna, or the Hindu god Chandra; here 2002 manifest something as redolent of the subject matter, with wispy keyboards, dream like vocalisations, and a veritable lullaby of peace as the overall dynamic.

A Safe Harbor takes us to a sanctuary of sound that is both calming and secure in its port of restful seas, the drift here for me was the heavenly vocals that floated on the crisp ocean waves of tomorrows destiny, reminding us all that the seas of life, as well as of water, are meant to be sailed too.

As we flow into the deeper parts of this musical lake called The Wishing Well by 2002 we arrive at the bankside of a piece called On the Wings of Angels, and in doing so manifesting one of the most powerful compositions that has been brought to the world in years. Flowing guitar, harp and orchestrations are added to by flutes and string sections, in a deeply moving oasis of sound, in an ethereal and angelic composition like no other could ever possibly do.

Our penultimate piece is entitled Bellehaven, ok so I just had to research this, and I found out it was the location where 2002 first began their musical voyage back in 1992, from that early inception magic was made and still is, but this light hearted reverie is a tip of the hat to their sparkling first footfalls as the band, and how glad are we that this happened.

We conclude the album with the piece called Savitri's Dream, with its own steady progression this song feels deeply special, and the symbiotic tonal energies create moods from decades ago, with elements of the past present and future all rolled into one. Here on this last track is what 2002 are all about, lush soundscapes, glorious ethereal vocalisations, and dramatic and magical chord changes, on what has to be the most sublime ways to end an album ever.

The Wishing Well by 2002 is an album that any musical aficionado will not want to miss, this is the band standing tall and on their own ground proudly, and in doing so producing one of the finest new age instrumental music albums of the decade thus far. The Wishing Well by 2002 is a stunning new release, a solid rock bottom guaranteed number one, and should be award worthy easily, here is a release that simply cannot be denied and is an absolute must for everyone.

Flute Dreams By Diane Wheeler Dunn

 

Flute Dreams

By

Diane Wheeler Dunn

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Flute performer and composer Diane Wheeler Dunn is back with a brand new single entitled Flute Dreams, and this beautiful reverie of solo flute is just the tonic for this cold January day. I fondly remember her single Mystery in the Mist which won best flute single at the One World Music Awards in 2021, here some five years later Dunn reveals a new project of soaring and inspirational flute to the world in Flute Dreams her latest single.

Her flute melodies are slow, spacious, and expressive, often accompanied by gentle atmospheric textures, this new single though expresses a more elevated sense of energy, and whilst it still deeply meditative, it offers the willing listener a bed of uplifting tones to enjoy. The tonal delights here are something to be truly grateful for, I currently have the song playing on repeat now, and each time it’s a fresh and almost invigorating experience.

The rising energies of her performance on this latest single remind me of early Deuter and his more vibrant style, as on his release, Like Wind through the Trees from 2002. That empowering fluency is there for Diane on this supreme presentation, and one that I believe will lead the artist to more success on the charts, for Flute Dreams by Diane Wheeler Dunn.

The Narcissist BY Sean Christopher McGee

 

The Narcissist

BY

Sean Christopher McGee

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

When I first listened to this piece I was completely taken back by the beautiful lush production quality, here we have a track called The Narcissist by Sean Christopher McGee, which could easily be the main theme for any movie of a similar subject, but Mc Gee is such a master at suspenseful composing, even though that isn’t obvious from its tentative start, and the delicate piano passages and alleys it now lead us down.

In today’s world we are faced with one major narcissist, maybe even two, sadly both are powerful dictators, where a false self, built on image and superiority is created through control. Narcissism is widely understood as a defence against vulnerability. The term "narcissist" has its roots in ancient Greek mythology, specifically the tale of Narcissus, a handsome young man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.

The aforementioned statement is played out brilliantly with the performance by the artist, its gentle reoccurring haunting melody, counterpointed by a moving back theme of dark shades and pastels, powerful strings and sections of deep tone and timbre that manifest an almost godfather styled opus of an arrangement.

The opening of the piece is something quite remarkable, the delicacy of tone and timbre is amazingly moving and mysterious, and this softly drifts into a stringed segment akin to the violin of Sherlock Holmes standing by his window in the gas powered lighting of the day. The movements coalesce and amalgamate into one of the finest build and progressions I have heard from this style of composition for quite some time, whilst the coda is also rather clever, and dances with the piano to seemingly drift off into the fog bound streets of another century entirely, leaving us with a few tentative notes to hold onto at the conclusion.

The artist is well known for New Age and instrumental music, often featuring piano, ambient textures, and cinematic qualities, beautifully juxtaposed in the weave of an arrangement, and here on this brand new single he has manifested one of his finest works to date, something indeed to be extremely proud of, and one that leaves me with no doubt that The Narcissist by Sean Christopher McGee will turn out to be another huge hit for the composer and is a timeless reverie that is also award worthy as well.

The Beach of Lost Souls By Chrissie & Steve Sheppard

 

The Beach of Lost Souls

 By

Chrissie & Steve Sheppard

Written by

Andy Rogers

There is some wonderful music coming from Cyprus at the moment! Hot on the heels of the recent superb single release from Steve Sheppard “Helios Rising” comes this beautiful new single “The Beach of Lost Souls” featuring Steve Sheppard along with his wife Chrissie Sheppard. 

Chrissie & Steve Sheppard are of course the owners of One World Music Radio and as such are keen to promote the work of new and/or lesser known musicians. They are also steadily building a reputation as fine musicians in their own right and have released many singles and albums over the years, each one seeming to take their musicianship to new levels of excellence and this new single, The Beach of Lost Souls is no exception.

Starting with the atmospheric sounds of breaking waves and the toll of a church bell we are immediately transported to a quiet beach at sunrise. Soft music played on synthesizer and gentle piano leads us on into the piece and onto the shoreline. The effect is of waiting in limbo, the music hovering in a kind of soothing musical suspense – it really is quite magical.

After a while there is a distinct change in atmosphere… the bells toll briefly once again before the music assumes a slightly more dynamic chord sequence as if the waiting has come to an end - and indeed, suddenly the whole mood changes and the piece ends with the sound of birdsong as dawn arrives and we encounter bright sunlight and the lost souls have moved on. 

Chrissie & Steve Sheppard tell us that this piece was inspired by a photo taken some 13 years ago that made them think of “The Beach of Lost Souls” with spirits wandering on the beach, waiting to ascend into the next realm. They have captured that mood perfectly on this single and anyone who likes the more atmospheric and ambient aspects of New-age music will love it. 

Helios Rising By Steve Sheppard

 

 

Helios Rising

 By

Steve Sheppard

Written by

Andy Rogers

 

Steve Sheppard is of course a man of many talents…not only is he the co-owner of One World Music Radio (along with his wife Chrissie) and an internationally respected writer and reviewer of all kinds of music, he is increasingly being recognised as an accomplished musician in his own right.  

Steve’s early releases were as a guitarist but as time moves on he has increasingly used keyboards supplemented by sounds of nature and his new single, Helios Rising continues in that vein to great effect.

The single starts with beautiful held atmospheric chords played on a synthesizer that take you instantly to a deserted beach watching the sun rise slowly into a clear blue sky. The synth is then joined by the softest of piano soaked in reverb and echo – the whole thing is fantastically atmospheric as the music slowly moves forward yet always calm and soothing

The music gains intensity and passion as the day starts to get warmer and the sun climbs higher into the sky, yet always keeping that sense of peace and tranquility …Finally we return to the sound of those sustained chords and gentle piano we heard at the start as the piece moves to an end… 

Living on the island of Cyprus, Steve has a great interest in the myths, legends and deities of Ancient Greece and tells us that this composition celebrates Helios, the ancient Greek god of the Sun, along with the sunrise & sunsets that the Mediterranean is justly famous for.

Make no mistake, Helios Rising is a very accomplished release that takes Steve’s music to a whole new level. In my opinion definitely his best release yet and is bound to become a firm favourite with anyone who loves the gentle side of New Age music. 

Lakeside Pastels By Suzanne Herman

 

Lakeside Pastels

By

Suzanne Herman

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have always rated Suzanne Herman with being one of the rare artists within the realm of the vast ranks of the multiple piano genres, not just because of her prowess on the keys, but also for her sublime ability to paint pictures with tone and timbre. I remember her single Penguin Parade, a single inspired by her Antarctic experience; simply put she can take a situation or a location and make it come to life musically with consummate ease.

On her latest release Lakeside Pastels we have an idyllic solo piano composition with expressive, gentle melodies, ones that flow across the horizon, only to drift back later into view, in one of the most heart-warming reveries of the time; her style here is somewhat redolent of the late but great Annie Locke from the UK.

This song touches my very soul; I spent many a day and hour by lakes with my father, but here, contained within this new single are the tones and structures that once more manifest those evocative, calm landscapes and reflective moments for me personally, my father was also a painter and this song for me describes the softness of nature’s palette perfectly.

What Suzanne has created here is one of the most peaceful, cinematic listening experiences I have heard, one to be embraced in times of stress and worry, where the listener can play this track on repeat and enjoy the mood over and over again.

The award winning composer and pianist is indeed best known for her original solo piano music that blends expressive, soothing melodies with evocative imagery inspired by nature, travel, and life experiences, and with Lakeside Pastels she has probably created her most mellow and ambient work thus far. She in my view is one of the rare piano performers of her day, who are artistically and technically gifted, and she earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University to prove my point entirely.

There can be no doubt that Lakeside Pastels by Suzanne Herman is one of those tracks that will remain timeless and much loved, and as such I predict a huge chart placing for this new release, with utter ease, this is one that needs to be embraced as its beautify is palpable.

Shadows of Seasons Past By Orchestra Indigo

 

Shadows of Seasons Past

By

Orchestra Indigo

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Orchestra Indigo (Rick Randlett) is fast becoming one of the finest composers of instrumental music in the modern era. I have watched his evolution unfold before my eyes through tracks such as Evening on the Esplanade (2024) and the more recent Walking Among Ghosts. However, with this brand-new single, Shadows of Seasons Past, he has truly struck gold—delivering what I consider to be his finest work to date.

The overall aesthetic quality of the music is deeply atmospheric, melodic, and evocative, fitting seamlessly within the ambient and new-age instrumental genre—music that naturally invites introspection and conjures vivid imagery. While past compositions have blended piano, synths, and orchestral textures to paint sonic scenes of seasons, memory, and emotional landscapes, this release feels especially poignant. When one gazes upon the artwork accompanying the track, the artist presents a haunting reverie: a home once filled with laughter and warmth, now transformed into a silent monument of memory - an echoing shell haunted by its own past.

Rick Randlett, aka Orchestra Indigo, doesn’t just knock it out of the park with this new single—he loses the ball entirely. Shadows of Seasons Past is not only worthy of a number-one spot but also deserving of awards. Through richly layered keyboards and synths, Randlett emphasizes ambient textures, evocative melodies, and contemplative moods with remarkable emotional sensitivity.

With such textured skill and heartfelt expression, this release is destined to resonate deeply. Shadows of Seasons Past by Orchestra Indigo is an absolute must-have and, without question, one of the finest works of its kind I have ever heard.

Rumination By Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

 

Rumination

By

Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The longest piece from the release Chaotic Hypnotic is the vast opus called Rumination, now released as a single. There was something about this track that I loved, It wasn’t until my second spin that I noticed a sense of rhythm that was hidden deep within the weave of the arrangement too, also the slow build here was juxtaposed brilliantly with the inventive work of both artists, one was never quite sure where this creation was going, but for some reason the ambience it created made that question almost irrelevant.

Here is an offering that one could leave on repeat for hours and not notice, that state of aforementioned ambience was a mixture of artists like Laraaji, from his Ambient 3: Day of Radiance album back in 1980, the guitar manifested memories of Steve Hillage and Rainbow Dome Musick from the year before, in one of the most complex performances from the duet of Hanslik and Moniz.

Without doubt one of the most emphatic states of bliss can be found here for electronic ambient and experimental music fans the globe over, a sonic sanctuary of harmonic convergence that one would never wish to leave perhaps, and as such I believe this to be destined for the top 5 of the charts with absolute ease, as we applaud the latest single from Hanslik & Moniz Experiment called Rumination.

Lament for a Lost Cup of Tea By George Pendred

 

Lament for a Lost Cup of Tea

By

George Pendred

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This is an interesting new single by George Pendred and based around a simple but humble cup of tea. Lament for a Lost Cup of Tea may seem like a whimsical musical tale, but it is in fact much more, as any British person would tell you, it is a symbol of calm, offering someone a cup of tea during a time of crisis is a classic British way of providing support, creating a moment of calm, and a chance to "regroup". The ritual of "putting the kettle on" offers a pause and a return to normality when things are going wrong.

Here though Pendred builds a narrative on his flute that is totally addictive, a soft imploring start, percussive intelligence builds, and is soon joined by a global styled, almost Reggae bass line, one which manifests a delicious rhythm to the track. Pendred is well known for his expertise of a perfect build and percussion within his music, and it certainly shows here on this multi-faceted and layered new single.

This one is without doubt a hit in the making, and leaves me wanting to reach for a cup of Earl Grey as I listen. Vibrant, smooth and delightfully rhythmic, a guaranteed hit is on the cards for Lament for a Lost Cup of Tea by George Pendred with ease, now please excuse me whilst I just put the kettle on.

Moments in Time By Lisa Cullum

 

Moments in Time

By

Lisa Cullum

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Time has started drawing near to the closing of another year; as such I usually see a plethora of albums taking a reflective look at the year gone by, here however Lisa Cullum gifts us an new album where musically she captures seven moments in time, on a release that is simply beautiful and idyllic.

Moments in Time is a moving release packed with some of the most sensitive piano with added instrumentation you are likely to find, like the opening offering entitled Leaving, a memorable piece that drifts in the midst of a yesterday still longingly remembered, the reflective nuances here are some of the most beautiful, whilst on the proceeding musical narrative we have a textured ambience that gifts the listener a sanctuary of piano, on one of the best compositions I personally feel the artist has thus far created on the gem called Interlude.

Beginnings is a softer tale woven into a bed of sound that is deliciously ambient, where the cello adds a flavour to the overall tapestry of the track, whilst on Distance there is a postulation of tone and timbre which is rather creative, one that ushers forth an intriguing and well woven arrangement into an almost cinematic conclusion.

Deeper into the weave of this collection we find Hope, a truly reflective moment in time can be had here, a track where the listener can dive in to literally feel the waves of unbridled emotion behind the structure of the composition.

The penultimate piece is called Change, this smart once again cinematic styled opus hovers with intent, the sound of a cello manifests a mournful repose, whilst the uplifting performance by Cullum on piano offers up a powerful juxtaposition of mood and style, one that shows us the way from the darkness and back into the light.

The conclusion to this colourful album comes with the track entitled Endings. Here the listener will indeed find a piece that is so redolent of the subject matter, that it opens the gateway to peace for the listener on the final coda of the composition, in a track that is a perfect concluding narrative as you would ever wish to find.

Moments in Time by Lisa Cullum does exactly what it says on the can and gifts the listener seven moments of her arrangements since 2020, much emotion and feeling is tied to this collection of piano based reveries, it is an album that is tender reflective and heart felt, and one that should resonate with the vast legions of fans of any piano genre across the globe.

Bone Envy By Aleksandra Takala

Bone Envy

By

Aleksandra Takala

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It had been quite some time since I had heard from the artist Aleksandra Takala; the last time our musical paths had crossed was back in 2021 with another classy instrumental album called In My Own Time. This new release takes us towards the end of another year of our time on this Earth, but Takala has gifted us an early present with a truly eclectic album that is simply heart-warming and beautiful.

The opening foray is a track called Windswept, a  classic new age styled instrumental keyboard narrative can be found here in the early emergence of the track, but it builds to much more, a vibrant beat and an addictive repose from minor to major and back, makes this track so palpable from the California based neo-classical, new age musician.

A delicious Scottish vibration flows through this next offering called The Highlands. The early strum gifts us that notion, and this track and her performance style started to remind me of another now retired new age artist in Al Conti. Here Takala utilises her usual piano based start and builds perfectly, building melodies that function as conversations and expressions of feeling, with orchestral textures built into the weave, manufacturing in this case a perfect Celtic dance like refrain, on one of the most energetic tracks from the album.

Awaiting the Outcome is our third track on this 7 piece release and has elements of Oldfield’s Tubular Bells and a dramatic crescendo all built into the first few moments of the song. The build and almost suspenseful composition matures with a growing intensity, in an almost progressive rock style melee, this has to be one of the most fascinating pieces from the artist ever, a cross combination of Genesis meets New Age, in one of the most powerful and emotive offerings from the album.

We move into the latter half of the album now with the shortest piece from the release called Missing You. This keyboard driven narrative pursues another emotional roller coaster of a ride and achieves it brilliantly, with some of the most haunting piano in the middle part of the arrangement.

The brilliantly titled El Rio Del Tiempo (The River of Time) is up next, and with its Latin flavours, offers up much to the listener to enjoy and roam around in its corridors of time and tide with, this is a spectacular instrumental manifestation, again one of superior flavours and textures. Here is a narrative that is redolent of the subject matter, with haunting vocalisations and a steady build and purpose in its ranks; here one will find a cinematic offering of a growing eminence and style.

A percussive timbre starts our journey on this long form opus, one that is our penultimate offering from the album and called Dance of Joy. A track that builds like Emerson Lake and Palmers version of Abandons Bolero, but has that lush classical element that manifests something truly special, this suite of cleverness weaves a tale of passion and power, with heavy over tones of classically inspired reveries, which should come as no surprise as the artist holds a college degree in classical music theory, performance, and composition.

We now arrive at the last offering from the album and this one has some amazing elements within its entirely original constraints. Never have I heard a song that mixes a prog Jazz styled Soft Machine influence, with disco pop of the late 70’s, the last few moment of funk were a real treat, and show the utter range of artistry from Takala. I have to admit this is one of the most enjoyable endings to an album I’ve ever heard, and called Latina Fantasia.

Bone Envy by Aleksandra Takala is the very epitome of a musical release that literally has something for everyone, so many genres and borderlands of music are crossed here its unbelievable, but they all work. I must say this is one of the finest instrumental music albums I’ve heard this year, and I have a feeling that a number one spot awaits Bone Envy by Aleksandra Takala, it’s that good. 

Aeralyth By Sylion

 

Aeralyth

By

Sylion

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are many inspiring electronic musicians out there today; I’ve been so inspired by the revelation of electronic music over the last few years that even I have joined its ranks, however listening to this new single by Sylion entitled Aeralyth, makes me realise just how far there is still to go, as this work of art is some of the best I have heard since Jarre gave us Oxygene.

This remarkable new offering from the artist is extremely powerful, fluent and deliciously smooth, its electronic vibe reminds me of both Geigertek and Glenn Main, its pulsating rhythm and percussive elements provide a true driving track of great quality.

On a personal level this is a sublime performance by the artist, one of remarkable quality, speed and intent, and as such I see no reason why Aeralyth by Sylion should not be a massive hit on the charts, and perhaps even an award worthy single as well.