A Brave New World By Steve Sheppard ft. David De Michele

 

A Brave New World

By

Steve Sheppard ft. David De Michele

Written by

Andy Rogers

When it comes to music Steve Sheppard is a man with feet firmly on both sides of the fence: he is of course the co-owner of One World Music Radio (along with his wife Chrissie) with many years’ experience as a radio presenter and as an internationally renowned writer & reviewer of all kinds of music. Lately he is becoming increasingly well-known as a maker of remarkable music.

Steve has been playing and releasing his own music for many years; early releases were primarily guitar with the addition of a subtle keyboard here and there. Of late Steve’s music has matured superbly with some wonderful keyboard work both on his own releases and also when accompanying his wife Chrissie’s flute orientated releases. This new release, A Brave New World, is a musical collaboration between Steve and David De Michele and is a giant musical leap forward, taking Steve’s music to new dimensions.   

Steve describes the track as being “cinematic” and that is certainly how it feels to me. Starting with a slightly menacing opening orchestral sequence in the key of A minor, it isn’t long before strings and woodwind take up the next section of the single with a tune in a major key giving a very positive feel. A running harp-sounding motif comes next to lead us further into the work as we move to the middle section of the piece. The orchestration here is superb, a beautiful use of strings with a flute that hovers above it all as a piano plays a short, quiet repeated figure to great effect. The music comes to an emotional climax before the piece ends as it began, back in the key of A minor as the strings take us to the coda at the end of the piece.    

A Brave New World is easily the best yet from Steve Sheppard. The input and assistance he has had from David De Michele has clearly inspired Steve to reach new musical heights. This single is going to fly and deserves to do very well. If cinematic / neo-classical / new age is your music of choice, then this superb single is one you should not miss! 

Standing Near Infinity By Michael Whalen

 

Standing Near Infinity

By

Michael Whalen

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The prolific Michael Whalen is back with another new album, but this time it is in his guise as a fine electronic musician; you will doubtless remember the outstanding Imaginary Trains album released back in 2022 our last voyage into the world of EM for the artist album wise, and this new release is a reminder to all that within the heart of this superb artist beats the emotional vibrations of a synth and keyboard wizard, on his latest release Standing Near Infinity.

This 10 track album starts off in the same way as you might expect a 1980’s James Brown song might begin in its very early inception, the funk is strong in this one, which soon morphs into a fast, fluent and upbeat composition called In The Open Air. Here is a TV theme waiting to happen, but what a breath taking start!

Whalen’s expertise in music is off the scale, which is of course is what you would expect from a two-time Emmy Award winner whose career spans more than four decades. The following narrative entitled Love, Unspoken is a prime example of his prowess as an electronic music artist, the pastiche of tones notes and pads in this dramatic, and it has to be said quite moving opus is sublime.

However my personal favourite from the album would be the following composition called Out Of Body, this crossing genres offering ticked all the boxes, mixing startlingly good keyboard work with a rhythmic percussive element, perhaps even structured as a contemplative ambient journey of sorts, this incredibly brilliant composition was an utter delight, from EM to chill out and beyond, and reminded me in style of the British electronic music artist Geigertek and his track Leaving The Garden. One also has to applaud Michael for creating a sublime piece of music that is near on eight minutes long in these days of micro arrangements of mere seconds, this is so gratefully received.

As One is our next port of tonal delight; this is denser harmonically, with richer synth layers and stronger melodic anchors, the overall feel builds into an almost progressive rock narrative, but pulls back into a rhythmic tapestry of repeating electronic motifs, and clever keyboard melodies.

So to my favourite part of the album, the does what it says on the can segment, as Whalen brings us to the doorway marked Standing Near Infinity the title track. The glorious keyboard chords in this are literally scene setting and deep, long reverberant soundscapes can be heard as the piece builds dramatically but not overwhelmingly at all, its onwards steady progression would mark this as another one of my personal favourites from the release.

The curiously entitled The Sky Opens Its Eyes starts at a rapid pace, guitar sounds pick up the tempo and the keyboards and vocalisations even further, literally like the sun is rising on a new glorious day. This arrangement and its layers could almost be an anthem for better days ahead. Whilst on tracks like Soft Geometry we have a horse of a different musical colour, creating a hypnotic opening foray and building into something quite profound and moving during its middle phase, and with ease establishes a feeling of spaciousness and wonder, with elements of a Vangelis Blade Runner mood in its textures.

The Space Between Hours is a tapestry of insights and timeless motifs that highlights how sensitive Whalen is to a really good creative style, the almost talking synth is so mournful yet inspiring, and the percussive build and progression reminds me of the works of UK Electronic musician Andy Pickford.

As we drift into the loving arms of our penultimate offering we are gifted a track from the artist entitled The Inner Flame, the opening harmonies here building in a more new age style of media, the base and foundation of the track is soon found, and a soft onward progression on keyboards is brought to our attention in an almost Eno/Harold Budd moment of sublime magic, after that the heights this amazing piece takes us is to a cinematic level in a sublime Coda.

The concluding tale told is called Driftwood, Whalen’s final pieces are musically something to behold, and this track won’t let you down this time either. There is also a quite clever shift from the heavier inception, to a much more modern and rhythmic onward melody, once more mixing the electronic fluency and the floating keyboard narratives together beautifully, for a splendid final chapter of the album.

Standing Near Infinity by Michael Whalen is the third part of a musical voyage that started from Sacred Spaces, to Imaginary Trains and to here, on the edge of infinity. This is a stunningly well produced and performed release, but one that also needs to note the entire album is incredibly open and easy to listen to for any fan of truly good, expressive and melodious electronic music, so how dare I say anything else than this has to be another number one chart hit on the horizon for Standing Near Infinity by Michael Whalen.

String Dreams By Dieter Spears

 

String Dreams

By

Dieter Spears

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

In the growing world of instrumental music there are many artists like myself, who are crossing genres and being truly inventive with their compositions and arrangements, this can be said for Wayfarer Music Group owner and artist Dieter Spears, his brand new album is a veritable scrapbook of his adventures and journeys around the US as a photographer.

The thematic breakdown begins from the very first piece called Across the Plains; this exploratory track is a shining example of truly good instrumental music utilising guitar, percussion, and synths and a palpable bass, making for a perfect starting composition to this fine journey of sight and sound.

The entire album is a cornucopia of musical delights, like the following narrative entitled Timezone Lounges; I have been in a few of these myself over the years, there is something full flowing and fluent about the progression on this piece, which offers an almost Berlin style electronic backdrop to a largely guitar driven creation.

In The Shadow of Castleton fascinated me, the opening segment reminded me of the mood that opens Shine on Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd and would be one of my personal favourites from the album, the build here is deep and mood field, the intent here is on mood, pacing, and emotional atmospherics.

Then comes my favourite track from the entire album called Back Porch Morning Coffee, and the somewhat mournful guitar reminded me of Scottish progressive rock artist Ali Ferguson. The use of pause here combined with the interesting hovering synths brought an easy on the ears, yet deeply reflective composition to drift within, this is one I could easily leave on repeat or indeed have a coffee to in the early haze of a summer’s morning in June.

Desert Sunset Shimmer creates a musical tale for right now for me, as the temps rise in the middle of a summer’s day in the Mediterranean, one can see that heat shimmer dancing along the horizon of time and tide. The electronic mastery and percussive elements here add to Spears guitar, so let’s give a mention to drummer Gary LeGere who features heavily on this amazing powerful release.

Nestled just over the half way marker is the track Lullaby Breeze, and is the most ambient offering from the album, an arrangement that is almost meditative and hypnotic in its content, the deep resonating bass is beautifully juxtaposed with the lighter electric guitar of Spears.

Riding The Dragon is our next musical location, here we find a far more upbeat tale told by Spears, the keyboards in this piece manifests a trickledown effect, whilst the bass drives the engine room with the percussion on this powerful forward thinking narrative of instrumental genius.

We now move into the deeper waters of the album with the following voyage of plenty as we arrive at the piece entitled, Mahone Bay Memories feat. Stephen Davis. This is a memorable piece and an almost hovering narrative which strangely reminded me of one of my pieces called Sea Salter Marsh with the similar guitar sound, in this instance provided by the aforementioned Stephen Davis.

When Trees Became Mountains is our penultimate offering from this 10 track release, this would turn out to be another favourite of mine, the pacing of the guitar sounds and lead on this piece were incredibly moving and almost took me back to a sound and style I used to hear in the ‘90s, again that hovering synth work can be found here, one that brings such mood and colourful textures.

So we reach the final and concluding narrative from the album and it is called Chasing Dusk, the energy here is on the hurry up, and reminded me of UK artists like Andy Pickford and Michael Shipway at times. This flying last creation if more rock based, and its tempo somewhat suggests the title of the track is hurriedly being achieved, once again, this is a fine example of someone choosing the right track to end the album with, in a stylish and powerful coda.

String Dreams by Dieter Spears is a clever play on words, and indeed a clever album; I have always had a lot of respect for Dieter, I should have, my first album takes me back to 2012 and called Le Carnavale Du Macabre. Here on String Dreams we have an exploratory tale of a voyage of an artistic endeavour taken, and each and every track on the release has that fresh energy of excitement built into its full flowing narrative, one can see with ease that Dieter Spears is going to have a big hit on his hands with String Dreams, and he certainly deserves to achieve that too.

Snow Dance By Antonija Pacek

 

Snow Dance

By

Antonija Pacek

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It seems somewhat nice to write about a winter themed track in the beginning of yet another hot summer here in Cyprus, so it’s a bonus to get this opportunity. The fluent piano of Antonija Pacek has been on my radar for a couple of years now starting in fact back in ‘24 with Goodbye Heike, and now we are gifted a really moving new single called Snow Dance.

Antonija Pacek has that touch that is very rare to find, as soon as she touches the piano magic is made, it is as if the keys and the stars all align at the same time, in a glorious melting pot of piano magic. Her style is emotive and deeply thoughtful, this is the style of piano that I particularly like to listen to, something with thought and heart and thankfully over two and a half minutes long!

Snow Dance is a flowing piano composition; it’s a moving ballad of tone and timbre and has a wonderful construction, so much so that within the piece one could easily imagine a chorus and a vocal segment that could be written for it. The pace is soft, but full flowing and the narration of the musical composition is a heartfelt and imploring narrative.

One can sense a hit in the making here for the artist, and I am sure that this is a timeless reverie that will be loved and adored by not only the artists fans, but from the legions of instrumental piano followers across the world, who will be all too happy to add Snow Dance by Antonija Pacek to their playlist of choice.

On the Up By Doug Wyatt

 

On the Up

By

Doug Wyatt

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Jazz music is all the better for the latest single from Doug Wyatt called On the Up, this follows hot on the heels of his brilliant album release called Days of Gypsy Nights, as the jazz pianist is once again in full flow on this quite pacey composition, and it’s electrifying tonal delights are a pleasure to float within.

Doug’s impressive talents on piano are added to by the multi-instrumental nature of the track, with sax, bass and drums, all added into this lush mix of a piano-driven, jazz fused opus. One has to applaud Michael Rosen on tenor saxophone for what in my view is a transcendent performance throughout.

The song created before the world went totally crazy, in the new year of 2025 and is an extremely clever jazz narrative, posing a crafted juxtaposition whilst the title suggests a more optimistic emotional direction that life could take, there is an underpinned tale of concern and anxious moments ahead, regardless this brand new single is a story well told by the artist and performed sublimely.

For me Wyatt has produced the perfect jazz lexicon here, it is a veritable glossary of moods and musical integrity, with top notch performance also from Marcello Pellitteri drums and Joseph Lepore on double bass. This is the perfect jazz single fitting into the psyche with ease of the jazz and instrumental music fan, and should be a big hit within the charts it sits within, full marks indeed to Doug Wyatt and On the Up.

Nyumba By Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley

 

Nyumba

By

Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

“Nyumba” means home in Swahili, and this new single from Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley brings two forces of musical nature together to bring us something literally spectacular. It’s been a while since I have heard the voice of Miriam Stockley Adiemus and AO Music being but a part of her massive career. I remember Carlos Garo from last year with his Mystical Origin album, and his stunning and wondrous ability to be a fluent multi-instrumentalist of great quality, now add in an African choir from Nigeria and magic will be created.

The powerful and textured opening is like the sun rising on a brand new summer’s day, the combination of the choir, the percussive elements add a somewhat emboldened opening to this ultra-creative composition, on what is an utterly vast oasis of a sun kissed arrangement.

This single is just short of 4 minutes in duration, but covers so much in the time allotted, and the composition itself is akin to a four part structure of truly majestically crafted music, one that is powerful, influential, atmospheric and intense at times, all of this and more can be found on one of the best produced singles I have heard this year with ease, I must also give a quick mention to Indian bansuri flautist Srini who also appears on the single.

Nyumba by Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley is perhaps a reminder to us all that our home, our Gaia is scared, perhaps one that is our own scared space of balance and inner power, and for me this has to be the most compelling piece of work I have listened to this year with ease.

Eventide By Rick Sparks

 

Eventide

By

Rick Sparks

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The music of Rick Sparks has been a source of constant relaxation and great beauty over the years I have been musically invested into it, it started way back in 2014 and an album called Endless, and since that time the artist has penned some utterly transcendent releases, here today some 12 years on from that release, we dive in deep with his latest album called simply Eventide.

There is literally nothing to dislike about the instrumental music of Rick Sparks, the artist at least gives us solid 5 to even six minute compositions to fall in love with, which thankfully bucks the trend of the 90 second creation nonsense. The title track Eventide for example would be one of my personal favourites from the album, some superb keyboard and synth pad work bringing us the listener something so redolent of the subject matter.

Then there is such beauty to be found on the pristine arrangement called The Presence of Love, this in parts reminded me of a combination of David Sun and Mike Rowland from back in the day, whilst his last single Mykonos still resonates deep with in my heart, its soothing narrative is a relaxing moment of great colour, whilst compositions like Sea Wind still haunt my mind in the best possible way with its very gentle onward progression.

Eventide by Rick Sparks is a 10 track album packed with textures and tapestries of tender tones and vibrant colours. We indeed find another lush offering at the half way juncture with the creation A Time to Heal, this piece has such a delicate and tender touch to its manifestation, one could not help but be enchanted by the string section and the slowness of progression here.

I have yet to go to Spain, but it is on my radar, until then I choose to travel vicariously with Rick as he performs the piece Barcelona Nights, a piece that builds slowly, but from a place of wonderment and depth of timbre, one of the finest compositions from the album for its creative interplay between and the keyboard notes and synths.

Dream Rain holds the listeners attention and manifests a sense of anticipation and expectation, this is a clever explorative composition that seems to hover around us, whilst the piece Every Hope happens to contain the title of the longest track off the album at over 6 and a half minutes long, a slow tempo and a careful movement highlighted by some very pleasurable vocalisations and synth work.

The album is a master work of texture and consistency, and is a fine example of musical uniformity, pieces like Give to the Winds Your Fears is a beautiful paradigm of such a soothing chronicle of tonal delights in its pristine and almost lullaby nature. Whilst the concluding tale to be told is entitled A Quiet Heart, here Sparks is the is the invigilator, as he brings together a multiplicity of sounds, pads and keyboard structures, to gift us one of the most prolific pieces from the album to end with.

Eventide by Rick Sparks in my view is probably one of the best albums the artist has released thus far, many who really know me, know I never say those words as a throw away. The tempo and heartfelt intent with this release is so plain to see and feel, it is a collection of 10 pieces that are designed to leave the listener utterly in a state of bliss and peace at its conclusion, which is why this album is going to be a huge chart hit, and is certainly award worthy for Eventide by Rick Sparks.

Caribbean Sunset By Jennifer DeFrayne

 

Caribbean Sunset

By

Jennifer DeFrayne

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Pianist Jennifer De Frayne is back with another new single from her forthcoming album Soul Love, this tasty musical morsel is entitled Caribbean Sunset, a colourful pastiche of musical energies that highlights the locational narrative of the composition. Its’ also fairly topical for me as I will be heading out that way this coming January, and I will indeed be enjoying something of a plethora of the subject matter of this song.

A rhythmic creation can be found here, one incredibly redolent of the subject matter and packed with supporting musicians who in their own right are legends in the new age music industry. This is a heart-warming piece, I would recommend pulling up the art worked and listening to the track whilst doing so.

Jennifer has produced some superb singles lately with You and I and Finding You also coming, like this one, from the forthcoming album Soul Love.  This new single has that touch that creates a warm sense of peace and tranquillity, De Frayne’s piano is the chief narrator and fluently brings this deeply attractive offering together, whilst manifesting a cornucopia of multi-instrumentation. This is a guaranteed hit and a piece that will calm and ease the listener into a state of peaceful bliss, and called Caribbean Sunset by Jennifer DeFrayne.

Sunset at Shaw's Cove By Janice Lacy

 

Sunset at Shaw's Cove

By

Janice Lacy

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Following up from her pervious single Beside You,  Janice Lacy is back with another new manifestation, this time the textures and the colours of this rainbow of music drift across the listeners palate in such a beautifully way, so much so, that one can’t but help be entranced by this new single entitled Sunset At Shaw’s Cove.

Lacy includes the twin towers of brilliance in this lush composition, with Jill Haley on English horn and Eugene Friesen on cello, two maestros in their own right, and here on this new creation by Janice they lift the arrangement into what could easily be a film score standard of a creation.

Locational compositional creations are just my bag of joy, as I create music myself from the inspirations I see as I travel my country of Cyprus and the world at large. Here Lacy turns artist and literally paints with her piano, whilst the horn and cello assist in this lexicon of magical tonal colours.

The listener would do well to note the soft and steady tempo, this gentle performance allows each and every one that will have the good sense to purchase this single, a few moments in time to just sit and be in a location of their choosing that brings them as much joy as this one does for the artist.

This is a top quality performance by all concerned, and of course produced by Tom Eaton and the legend that is Will Ackerman. This is why I have no doubt that Sunset at Shaw's Cove by Janice Lacy won’t just be a big hit for the artist, but a piece of timeless music that will ease the woes and sufferings from each and every one who listens to its graceful cathartic vibrations.

Kissing My Memories Good Night By Dreamscapist

 

Kissing My Memories Good Night

By

Dreamscapist

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This wonderful early summer afternoon was spent in utter bliss listening to the track Kissing My Memories Good Night, by Dreamscapist aka Paul Headon, interestingly enough I featured this track on one of my radio shows recently and the listeners absolutely adored it, especially the longer version of the two at well over 11 minutes, so thankfully we are talking long form here folks and long may it shine.

I spent 5 listens in a row to this track and found it incredibly easy on the ears, beautifully gentle on the mind body and soul, as you would probably expect from a composition with a title like Kissing My Memories Good Night, but it is also very meditative as an arrangement, and as an electronic ambient musician myself, this slice of genius by Paul is much appreciated.

Then after my 6^th play it came to me, that beautifully layered rising and lowering of synth tone, the mood filled oasis of wonder, that vast soundscape of tonal delight, reminded me greatly of a softer, more tender version of a composition from the year 2000 called Cumulonimbus, from the UK synth master Kevin Kendle on his Clouds album.

I would recommend this piece to anyone who loves ambient music, this is a fine example of an artist who clearly plays from his heart to yours, and allows the track to start, form, flow and naturally end, absolutely top marks indeed go to Kissing My Memories Good Night, by Dreamscapist aka Paul Headon, and with ease is my favourite long form ambient single release of 2026 thus far.

Carousel by David Lanz

 

Carousel

By

David Lanz

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I must admit to have been shocked when I realised just how long my musical relationship with David Lanz had been going on for, I can take you back to 1983 and a release called Heartsounds, let’s not forget I am a European, and back then the internet wasn’t a thing, yet still the music of the master of new age piano found a way into my heart, lets fast forward some 43 years later as I sit enjoying the tones of David’s latest and I must say brilliant creation called Carousel, and it is an utter gem of an album indeed.

The opening piece is proudly the title track Carousel, I appreciate it when musicians do that, it’s like saying here is my title track, my inspiration, and I love my musical child. Here Lanz performs one of his brightest tracks for some time in a rapid tempo, here is a flourishing piano narrative that contains fun, happiness and a great energy as well, this piece was also a released as a single earlier on this year.

The other single from the release is called La Fontana; I don’t know what it is, but I love fountains, the progression of notes on this piece were particularly impressive, ever climbing and cascading, and at that peak Lanz adds a classical motif like a strawberry on top of the cream moment. La Fontana is so elegant and graceful its one of those feel good pieces that you simply never want to end.

On Aria Nova we have that classic Lanz phrasing and melodic beauty, the fluency of this one piece also is enough to inspire any new pianist on to even greater heights, it has a certain energy about it that simply begs to be listened to.

Carousel by David Lanz is a masterwork of 11 delicious tracks from new age music’s finest ever pianist, one can hear David roll back the clock on this next memorable and moving opus called April Ayre. This track screams classic Lanz; however there is a sense of underpinned freshness and rejuvenation within the notes of the track that makes it so very palpable.

The short form fans of solo piano get a rare treat now from the middle placed piece called Summer Ayre. Here is a deeply energetic and emphatic composition, and even though its duration is just 149 seconds long, it makes its sun kissed point beautifully.

However one of my personal favourites is up next and called Autumn Ayre, I found this specific creation deeply moving, and I going to stick my neck out here and rate it as one of David’s most beautiful manifestations for many a year. The repeating motif and the proud tonal tale told here are some of the finest I have heard from the master, and one that will resonate in my mind’s eye for as long as I can breathe.

We conclude the seasonal narrative with December Ayre, as you would expect Lanz manifests something deep and chilling, this is both melancholic and also reflective, but in a way that allows the listener a journey of their own through the icy fields of Decembers cold and barren plains, one has to pay particular note to the emphasised performance on the heavier notes, ones that build a compelling winter tale of time and tide.

I have always thought that David’s music is like a gentle caress, something that we all need and not afraid to embrace it, on Sonata Reprise we have that gentleness and tender tonal tapestry, mixed with more emphatic moments, but always leaving the listener feeling safe and secure whilst doing so.

The rapidity of this track called Home At Sea creates a somewhat energetic juxtaposition for the listener to enjoy, however as up-tempo and creative as it is, one could easily see the control that Lanz has over the musical tiller, in this exciting short form narrative that can be found in the deeper waters of the release.

The penultimate track from the album is called Waves of Gold, the fluency and sweeping performance here has a beautiful sense of rhythm within its construction. The symbiotic waves, melodious vibrations, and the sculptured piano performance for me, make this one of the most crafted and wonderfully composed and played pieces from the release.

The concluding tale told by David is a more full bodied offering entitled In the Fullness of Time. This is a dream like reverie to utterly enjoy; each of us has a moment like this song hidden away in our own memory palace, something so redolent of the best bits of our lives, which are an unwoven tapestry of charming natural beauty and love.

Carousel by David Lanz carries a theme across the album that is nostalgic, and allows childhood memories to evolve, seasons come and go and pass, imagination always remains, and however emotional our memory is, it is always fondly remembered, with Lanz’s polished melodic piano style he makes the experience of listening a sheer joy of unadulterated pleasure, which leaves me to predict with ease I have just listened to one of David’s finest releases for a decade. Here is a release that will top the charts and win awards, and one would do good to remember that a deluxe version containing 2 bonus tracks, of this release can be purchased from the artist very own website, that’s certainly something you cannot miss out on as we close the book on Carousel by David Lanz.

Reflections of Japan By Christine Brown

 

Reflections of Japan

By

Christine Brown

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have been following the music of Christine Brown for an amazing 15 years now, since the release of her album The Wishing Well back in 2011. However I must say that this locational based album truly captivated me to the extent that I rate this to be her best work thus far.

The opening piece is called Whispering Cherry Blossoms, like the entire album this piece is more about atmosphere and emotional texture, and her soft yet breeze blown piano narrative is a rhythmic delight to enjoy, its rich texture and tonal delights are a total pleasure to bathe within.

This is a 13 track collection of some of the finest examples of solo piano music around, offerings like the crisp yet melodic Echoes of Kyoto have a sway about them that is absolutely addictive and moving. Roots and Wings is another slice of solo magic that has a memorable feel to its energy, and again a sway to its mood that makes the piece literally palpable.

One can safely enjoy this album with the certainty that instrumental solo piano is safe and in the hands of some great artists, and Christine Brown is a leading light in this strange 21^st century, pieces like the charming Garden Waltz doesn’t just have that mood of the dance, but a spring texture to the flowing tapestry that emanates from the instrumentation.

There is always a great opportunity to manifest some fantastic moments of melancholia when the subject matter of a musical piece has rain in the title, Sakura Rain offers up that moment and it is grasped by some of the most passionate of performances by the artist.

There are also pristine moments of great beauty on the album too, like the charming and incredibly sweet opus of Maiko Dance, however my favourite track from the entire release would be the utterly beautiful Soul of the Keys, this heart rendering song, has so many textures in it, it is an utter delight to just sit within, moments of imploring tonal cries, segments of quietude, and a soft and melancholic melody made this for me the stand out composition from the album.

Shorter narratives like Bamboo Breeze and Quiet Rituals gift the listener almost cinematic black and white movie energy to the proceedings, with some outstanding performances on both by Brown, at times almost touching the hem of the classical piano in the structure thus created.

Beneath Fuji's Gaze is another memorable piece that explores a locational narrative, a slow melodic movement and a reflective mood can be found here, whilst on Ancient Reflections a lighter feel can be heard and touched, and a defined eastern motif heard within the arrangement, one that whilst subtle adds to the overall flavourer of the track.

The penultimate piece reminds me of my home in Cyprus and our range of monoliths in the distance behind my location, and called Mountains in the Mist, this is an explorative offering that I adored, and was another one of my personal favourites, the dramatic flow here was perfect and not too overwhelming, but enough to allow one to get caught up in the moment, mountains always do that to me, I have literally just got back from the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, and I hear and feel music, this is exactly what Christine is giving us all here, and it is so empowering and inspiring.

The concluding tale is called Path of Tranquillity and is simply the most idyllic offering with which to finish the album with, a calm repose, and a gentle look over the shoulder at the journey thus travelled. Reflections of Japan by Christine Brown is in my view the artist’s best work so far, this is the most melodic album I have heard from her, every single track is strong with colours and textures, this is a tale well told by one of the finest female pianist alive today, as such this has to be a top ten album with absolute ease.

An Embodied Heart By Fred Grenot

 

An Embodied Heart

By

Fred Grenot

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There has been something about the recent works of Fred Grenot recently that has caught my attention, the beautiful layered synths are there yes, the textures are full and flowing, indeed, but the tempo and mood is so deep and slow it’s like watching the wind in a mighty oak tree, or a summer tide wash up upon the beach of an alternate dimension. That depth and vastly slow movement is here on what I rate as Grenot’s best release of all time called An Embodied Heart.

This composition is the very epitome of what really good new age music should sound like, a gentle movement, a healing vibrancy, and all cooked together so beautifully in a slow cooking pot of great musical taste and texture. This is 6 and a half minutes of utter bliss and a good investment in your wellbeing, and it can all be found right here by listening to this opus of great beauty.

Fred has been likened to one of the grand masters of new age music in Chuck Wild, known to most as Liquid Mind, one can see why with the soft and healing vibrations, and subtle and cathartic tonal changes, that is certainly not a bad thing to be seen as one who stands with such a luminary as him. However Fred has not stood still and accepted this musical likeness, I truly believe he is carving a lush canopy of genius all by himself and ushering in the era of meditative bliss and harmony, just when the world needs it the most.

So when you listen to An Embodied Heart by Fred Grenot, listen to it not just because it’s nice or its soothing and relaxing, yes its all of that, but please enjoy the sheer depth of the keyboard and synth work here, this new single is without doubt the future of new age music as we know it, and a sure fire hit with ease for Fred Grenot and An Embodied Heart, and without a shadow of a doubt total award worthy.

Never Lose Hope (Reimagined) By Matias Bacoñsky

 

Never Lose Hope (Reimagined)

By

Matias Bacoñsky

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This is a fascinating new single from Matias Bacoñsky called Never Lose Hope (Reimagined), the sheer volume and depth that this new composition exudes is literally impressive. The artist has been on an ever fascinating arc of discovery through his works since Life and Death back in 2016, since then everything he touches is heartfelt and poignant and deeply moving, he is therefore back with another powerful new arrangement entitled Never Lose Hope (Reimagined).

From the off the piano instigates a careful narrative filled with trepidation and concern, but there is an underlying sense of something else being birthed within the deeper weave of the music, it is the one thing that on this currently greed riddled and nasty world, we seek the one thing that we hold high above the hate, and that’s hope.

Here perhaps Matias Bacoñsky is offering up an anthem for a comeback to express that not all is lost, the piano is the masterful force that narrates this film score potential epic, whilst the orchestration and ethereal vocalisations raise the energy of the piece to its highest possible level, as we are treated to one of the most powerful opuses he has thus far created.

Bacoñsky is known for his emotive performances, but here on this new single he may be offering up a symphonic gesture that could speak a thousand words in one musical moment, this is exactly how any good instrumentalist should build and progress a composition, and as such I predict another chart hit for Never Lose Hope (Reimagined) by Matias Bacoňsky. 

Nocturne By James Michael Stevens

 

Nocturne

By

James Michael Stevens

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

My music relationship with James Michael Stevens surprisingly only goes back as far as 2020 and an album called Italian Preludes, Nos. 1-8 - Solo Piano. This seems somewhat remarkable when you consider that some 55 albums later I am delighted to find I am reviewing the most prolific recording piano artist on the planet known to me once more, with his latest soothing release entitled Nocturne.

I don’t know how James does it, but to his credit time and time again he produces something utterly beautiful and tender to listen to, and with Nocturne that pattern continues unabated. The start is a familiar playing ground for the artist as he mixes his major and minor to create a loving composition called Sleep My Love.

Dreamy Nights and Candlelight is a favourite of mine and probably of yours as well readers and listeners of sublime piano based music, there is a gentle increased upscaling on this offering that is fascinating, and the mood it creates is very redolent of the subject matter.

The next composition has a decided mournful repose, but a picturesque one never the less and called 'Neath a Lydian Sky. The Lydian mode is a major-scale-based musical mode distinguished by a raised fourth scale degree, giving it a bright, ethereal, and slightly unresolved sound, and James has it perfectly depicted on the cleverest of compositions from the album.

This next piece felt and sounded somewhat familiar to me, a slight nod to a classical piece I have heard before in the past perhaps, but I still just can’t quite pick out in my mind’s eye, regardless of my memory lapse, this is a stunningly beautiful offering called Musings at Purple Shore, one that offers much to be enjoyed, in what was without doubt one of the prettiest performances from the entire album.

The trickling musical narrative and tonal structures on this next track were some of the crispest I have heard for many a year on the piece Misty Stream, the fluency was a delight and the dreamy chord changes equally so, once again the artist dances with light and shadow on this stylish track.

Nestled in the centre of the album is the composition called Midnight Iris, there was a beautiful dualistic reality forming within the weave of this piece, one that cleverly interplayed with a tone and timbre, giving us a symbiotic mood of music, from the garden to the piano bar and back.

Elegy at Sunset Forest has that delightful regal energy about its composition that you just can’t help but like, this splendid proud performance is like watching the sunset through the trees of the aforementioned Forest, being part of that very experience with the musician yourself whilst listening.

The next track has some interesting nuances with its structure and called Waiting in the Shadows, the melody on this specific offering is utterly outstanding and beautifully crafted, manifesting wondrous juxtapositions of major and minor with utter glee.

Our musical boat has arrived in the deeper waters of the release where we will find the offering entitled Blue as the Midnight Hour. Almost blues, almost jazz, almost a lullaby, perhaps all three but then one can hear within this attractive musical narrative something special taking shape from the place of the heart called love.

The penultimate offering could be described as one of the more reflective offerings from the album, but Stevens is so good at switching to that mode that any of the aforementioned tracks could perhaps be described like that, this one called Somewhere a Serenade is particularly homely and heartfelt, and very warming to listen to.

The concluding tale of tone and timbre is entitled Dreams of Yesterday, a truly easy on the ears piece with which to finish the album with indeed. With the flowing styled arrangement and the thoughtful structures, this parting gift was the perfect end to what once again has been another delightfully heart-warming album from the artist.

Nocturne by James Michael Stevens is one in a long line of quite amazing solo piano albums by the artist, but his ability as a pianist and a composer is so good, he always keeps his fans and listeners in the land of piano love. When a new album is on offer, a warm smile always crawls across my face, because the peace and tranquillity that follows is always remarkable, thus I predict another solid hit is on the cards with ease for Nocturne by James Michael Stevens.

When We Meed Again by Curtis Macdonald

 

When We Meet Again

By

Curtis Macdonald

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are few artists who have been so consistent over the many years I have been following them musically as Curtis Macdonald, he has been in the industry for some three decades, even from my first album of his Shadow Crossing in 2002, time and time again he produces upmarket classy work and never fails to satisfy the need of really good instrumental music fan with a tender mood, and this new single continues that lengthy legacy and is called When We Meet Again.

The first few opening bars are a symbiosis of keyboards and pads as the direction of the track kicks in, then percussion adds its rhythm to the proceedings and another TV theme is in the making, there is something about Macdonald’s music that always makes you feel like you have been given a warm hug.

The tender onward progression is a delight, and the tonal backdrop and pads offer an almost 90’s feel to the proceedings, this calm yet moving reverie is like visiting a scrapbook and gazing fondly over all the years of laughter and joy that have flowed between the cracks of time and tide.

Curtis Macdonald is in the foreground of this new movement now called New Age pop without a shadow of a doubt, and long may he remain so, and I think therefore that When We Meet Again will add another notch in his musical belt, and a truly good chat position along the way. 

You can find out more here: https://ampl.ink/GlpMo

More Now Everywhere by Andy Mitran

 

More Now Everywhere

By

Andy Mitran

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have been in rapture for years with the releases of Al Jewer and Andy Mitran, my first taking me all the way back to 2003 and the album Two Trees. They produce some of the finest, what could be, and sometimes more than often is alluded to is, as some of the best contemporary instrumental music on the planet in this modern age of ours, but when they go solo that effect doesn’t change one iota, as we are about to dive in deep with Andy Mitran and his solo album More Now Everywhere.

The opening piece of this 11 track release is entitled Shape Shifting, here you will find some of the most dreamy keyboard working you could ever wish for on this oasis of a composition, however one of my personal favourites would be the following offering called Ocean and Sky, with a fretless base and electric piano, magic is made here in a track that reminds of their joint release in 2018 called Transmigration.

That floating feeling stays with us on another favourite of mine called Atmosphere, the synth and guitar combo here, produced for me another incredibly palpable track, one that would stay in your mind for the whole day and take up residence, and in parts reminded me slightly of some of the more ambient aspects of the UK’s synth supremo Kevin Kendle at times.

With tracks like the effervescent Breakers, we have a charming driving offering, adding in a rhythmic drum, whilst on offerings like Emergence, room and space can be easily found for the listener, the delicacy of the harp here added an extra layer of calm, while the brass contained within offered a balanced composition one slowly becoming aware, in the most patient track off the release.

To See is nestled in the middle part of the album and has a truly ambient texture to its compositional structure, whilst Isolata adds a little extra rhythm and guitar into the mix with consummate ease, the synth work here is also clever and crafted well to fit with the overall theme. 

The next track is a far differently styled piece, and I’ll think I will feature it in my smooth Jazz show next month, it is called Memory Road, this is magical, a walking bass starts us off and then a smooth jazz fused piece drives us home with delicate pertinent synths, and a stunning guitar performance from Kraig McCreary, made this piece for me one of the stand out tracks from the album.

In the deeper waters of the release we come across a globally infused creation called More Than Once and this thrilling arrangement of instrumentation manifests something quite enthralling, and utilising a frame drum, talking drum, udu, guiro, Chilean bombo, marimba, synths, guitars, strings, reeds, brass, and acoustic bass, now this is what you call the ultimate multi-instrumentational offering.

The penultimate narrative is entitled The Woven Path, this is where everything becomes interconnected, it is with ease the most spiritual piece of the release, with the ethereal sounds and soothing keyboard, which sets us up perfectly for the final chapter of the album entitled The Last One, how appropriate indeed, this clever and relaxing instrumental composition narrated by a commanding piano concludes things perfectly for the listener.

This is a special album, one can tell with ease that this entire collection of superior instrumental music comes from the heart centre of the musician, and he has to be applauded for that, he also cites one of our personal heroes in his final comments when he says, and I quote, “Lastly, I want to thank Eckhart Tolle for the valuable lessons about the power of the moment and creating a significant change for the better in my life”. I can only add to that saying More Now Everywhere by Andy Mitran is a guaranteed hit, and Andy you are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. That is how important you are!

You and I By Jennifer DeFrayne

 

You and I

By

Jennifer DeFrayne

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The second single release from sublime pianist Jennifer DeFrayne is now upon us, and is from her exciting new album Soul Love, which is coming in June. This piece of piano magic is called You and I, a lush and colourful creation that utterly signifies that she is back upon the music scene in a big way, and this tapestry of tonal delight is the bed that we can drift along to in these early summer days.

You and I contains the skill sets once more of her team of superb musicians in their own rights, and the combinations by such artists like Charlie Bisharat on violin and Jill Haley on English horn offer much indeed, as do the others on the piece that with ease raises the bar of beauty for this composition specifically.

The song itself is a smooth carpet of fluent tone and timbre that drifts across the horizon like a sailing ship at sunset, always present, but always steadily moving forward, the mixture of strings and piano here is undeniably creative and deeply moving.

From the inception of the track, one is held and comforted within one of the artist’s warmest piece of all time, the symbiotic impassioned manifestation is beautifully played, and DeFrayne on piano is really finding her way in this brave new world of instrumental music that is now upon us all. You and I by Jennifer DeFrayne isn’t just a guaranteed hit, it is a musical panacea to cure your woes and stresses, and gifts you several minutes of joyful bliss.