Her Eyes (Reimagined) By Michael Regina

 

Her Eyes (Reimagined)

By

Michael Regina

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It is so important to be impressed from the very first notes of listening to a new composition, album or single, does it grab your attention, well this one did most certainly. I first came in contact with the music of Michael Regina back in 2018, sadly a few months after the original album from where this track originates from called New Day, but I was incredibly impressed to hear this new carefully crafted composition called Her Eyes (Reimagined). In my view a classy instrumental track indeed.

The beginning is brilliant, the sound of wind and a soft piano purposed start, so gentle and reflective, adding then in the keyboards, and a synth back drop for a calming effect, build and progression, beautifully layering and creating a lush soundscape, and ever onwards this piece would go, similar in style to New Age artists like Timothy Wenzel.

The track would continually build and progress cleverly until the middle stages when a powerful percussive beat joins the fray and manifests something truly dynamic for the listeners to enjoy. There is also a Celtic lilt to this single that is quite palpable and deeply enjoyable as well.

Here we also learn why it’s better to use the term (Reimagined) instead of remastered, the latter is more of a technical term, and what Regina has done here is to bring a whole new level of atmospherics and dynamism to this new project, by manifesting more of a cinematic and soundtrack feel to the arrangement, and in doing so making this a sure fire chart hit in the process for Her Eyes (Reimagined) by Michael Regina.

On The Edge: Contemporary music for Guitar and Piano By On The Edge Duo

 

On The Edge: Contemporary music for Guitar and Piano

 By

On The Edge Duo

Written by

Andy Rogers

We get a lot of music of all kinds sent to us here at One World Music Radio. Once in a while we receive an album that is totally unlike any other – an album that maybe defies all our usual conceptions of musical styles. This album, “On The Edge: Contemporary music for guitar and piano” by On The Edge Duo is one such album.

On The Edge Duo consists of two outstanding classical musicians: Italian pianist Fabio Afrune and guitarist Francesco Di Giandomenico, a talented musician best known for his work with the Spanish/South American music duo the Sator Duo. What makes this album so different to other releases in the Contemporary Classics field is the very little used pairing of Guitar and Piano.

One of the most interesting things about the album is the conscious decision to include only works by living composers. The Duo chose contemporary works from Annette Kruisbrink, William Bland, Adrian Andrei, Stephen Goss & Giorgio Mirto. Four of these recordings are world-premieres and three were written for or dedicated to the duo.

Make no mistake, this is not chocolate box, easy listening, background music like that made by some classical crossover artists, this is music that requests you to stop and listen to it properly. It varies widely in mood from lively almost aggressive to tranquil, quiet and pastoral, often in the same track.

The first piece is “Snippers” by Annette Kruisbrink, a Dutch classical guitarist and composer with over 300 compositions to her name. This receives its world premiere recording here: Snippers is a real shape-shifter to open the album with - a lively opening with an almost flamenco sound gives way to a calm interlude only for the pace to pick up again and drive the piece forwards. The piece continues to move forward with the guitar and piano interacting almost as though each is wanting to take control of the music in various changes of tempo, until at the end when we reach the crescendo, a reflection of the flamenco sound we heard at the start of the piece.

Next is “Kindred Spirits” by William Bland, an American composer primarily known for his piano sonatas, chamber and orchestral music; this is not only another world premiere, it is also dedicated to the Duo. It has 2 distinct sections: Part 1, Dragon, is lively with dynamic block chords shared between the two soloists as they take turns ramping up the musical tension. Part 2, Pastorale, could not be more different to part 1. This is a really lovely piece of music, a rippling piano supplies the perfect backdrop to a beautiful lead guitar line through a piece of music that truly lives up to its name. Pastorale by name, pastoral by nature.

The third piece, “Six danses de Transylvanie” is composed by Romanian composer Adrian Andrei. It has six separate movements, the shortest of which lasts 39 seconds and the longest 1 minute 58, so the whole piece runs for just over 7 minutes. To my ears if you were to substitute a lute for the guitar and harpsichord for the piano it would have the feel of something from the 15th or 16th century in the way the way the pieces are constructed and combined to form a complete cycle. This is just possibly my favourite section of this very intriguing album and once again is a world premiere recording and dedicated to the duo.

The penultimate work, “Intermezzi” is by Stephen Goss, from Wales and consists of six mood pieces or descriptive musical sketches.. Moto Perpetuo, Bagatelle and Ballad are more uptempo with strong forceful playing by the soloists: Nocturne, Serenade and Lament are, as their titles suggest, more calm and quiet in mood, a work of great contrasts, beautifully played by these two virtuoso musicians.

The album ends with “Introduction and Bridge of Lights” by Italian guitarist and composer Giorgio Mirto. This wonderful piece (dedicated to On The Edge Duo) gets its world premiere here. Both soloists are on top form here. It starts with a beautiful tranquil section (the Introduction) before picking up pace for the Bridge of Lights section of the work, a fantastic and fitting end to the album.

This is a difficult album to summarise but for anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary classical music, or even if well played acoustic music is your choice, then this album should be on your radar. It is not by any means an instant or “easy” album. It needs to be heard properly and it repays repeated listening. Yes, it is “On the Edge” but sometimes a trip to the musical edge to try something new brings its rewards. This is truly one of those times.

Mridhangit By Rahul Mukerji

 

Mridhangit

By

Rahul Mukerji

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Today I crossed paths with one of the most interesting albums I have come into contact with for decades, as I dive head long and deep into the world of Mridhangit by Rahul Mukerji. This album is the very epitome of crossing genres and probably best viewed thus as guitar-led progressive rock, jazz fusion, Indian classical percussion, and global influenced release, or in short global fusion, regardless this is a masterwork of utter brilliance.

We can drift to and fro with the space time continuum of musical genius too, as at the very start of the album we find the track Mr. Sinister, this so reminds me of old Led Zeppelin when my old friend Hossam Ramzy once performed with them. This is a slow carful start building up into one of the fastest climaxes on a track of this elk I have heard for ages.

The deeper tones of Bheja Fry hit my senses with all the muster of an ocean tide in winter, fierce but all consuming, here Rahul Mukerji makes his guitar literally talk, this is a deeply interesting offering, I could swear I could hear a bell tone in this piece like in the Undertakers theme music in WWE, which added a great overall effect to the piece and perhaps a more playful and restless piece is indeed found here. The title itself is colloquial Hindi, while the music mixes Mukerji's guitar language with bass and tabla.

Another of my personal favourite pieces is the following narrative called Twelve Ganeshas featuring Ruben Rubio on bass in this fluent and fast paced smooth jazz rock styled opus. Praveen Sparsh's mridangam interacts with guitar, drums and bass, creating a strong jazz vibe and a delightful refrain to listen to at any time of the day.

The piano at the very start of this next offering begs to create the inception of a very different composition indeed, a soft mellow start that gets more agitated and powerful as it builds and called Enjoymaddi. So much so that from the 1:30 part, the juxtaposition of the piano and guitar manifests something incredibly artistic and powerful, elements of an upright bass and piano soften the palette, but the overall feel is more like jazz fusion than straight rock. I would rate this as one of the most cogent and complex tracks off the album entirely.

A horse of an entirely different colour can be found on the very globally fused Mridhangit, the fretless bass and the entire instrumentation based manifestation, especially the lush textures of Rahul Krishnam of tablas, if I could pin point one track that speaks for the whole album as the releases main concept it would be this very creation, as it should be being the title track, it is utterly captivating, the vocal style and artistic nuances shown with regard to it, make this a stand out offering.

Kalli Penn is next on our hit list of rock greatness and globally fused brilliance, this one takes me back to 1999 and an album by Santana called Supernatural, that fast fluent guitar based vibe was and is there, and played and performed in a very similar style indeed. This is sublimely groove-oriented and colourful, with keys and percussion supporting the guitar. The instrumentation gives it a distinctly ensemble driven character, but the guitar of Rahul Mukerji flies fast and free just like Santana.

Well into the latter half of the album we can find a piece called Funky Pakora, featuring Emi Romero on keyboards and the amazing Dylan on clarinet; once more the deep keyboard vibe and the funky beat and slap bass of Rafael Freitas make this easily a piece that could land in the world of Jazz funk and indeed reminds me of very late ‘70’s Level 42.

Dushtan once again creates new sounds and territories to cross, bathed in a Zeppelin global style, one can enjoy a truly heavy slice of rock majesty that is incredibly powerful and ethnically influenced, however the tonal structures of the guitar remind me more of that of Richie Blackmore in his Rainbow era. The heavy global influence here makes this easily the fastest tempo piece on the album, its heavier and more dramatic, the violin, keyboards and percussion broaden the guitar-rock foundation of the overall narrative of the track.

The mysterious elements on guitar at the start of the track called Rahu and Ketu give us probably our most rhythmic sounding offering from the release. The driving guitar here elevates it into almost a rock anthem of sorts, then the track pulls back like the tide and allows for another smooth build and progression, a piece at well over six minutes gives the music more room to develop. The title references the Hindu astrological concepts of Rahu and Ketu; percussion becomes especially important here in this fast based treat of plenty.

The penultimate track off the album is the piece Four Seas, the gentle piano start is a delightful sea change for both artist and listener in this more new age beginning, this is a sensual offering and a more spacious fashioned piece, featuring piano and mridangam alongside the guitar, bass and drums as the engine room of the composition.

Mutabor could easily be a film soundtrack it is that good, and what a great way with which to end the album, the build chords on guitar at just over the minute were some of the most emotive I have heard on the release, and in some ways reminds me of essences of middle eastern music I have heard on my travels, the Dudek being the instigator to this climatic slice of multi-instrumental work of genius.

Mridhangit by Rahul Mukerji is without doubt one of the most enjoyable listens I have had for absolutely years, this is also the most original work I have had the good pleasure to immerse myself into, and I applaud everyone and everything entirely on the release. I would urge anyone who loves truly good instrumental music of any flavour to give this a spin, especially if you are a prog fan; you are going to fall in love with it, just like I have today.

Cloud Dance By Chrissie Sheppard

 

 

Cloud Dance

 By

Chrissie Sheppard

Written by

Andy Rogers

Chrissie Sheppard, along with her husband Steve are certainly riding the crest of a musical wave at the moment. Steve’s latest album (the truly excellent “Mansuria, planet of the Gods”) was a collaboration with David De Michele: For her new single “Cloud Dance” Chrissie has also worked with David to produce a single that is not only musically surprising but also that takes her exceptional flute-work to new heights.

Do you remember those warm sunny days when, as a child, you would lay on the grass and watch the clouds, marvelling how they changed shape as they drifted across the sky? This was the inspiration behind “Cloud Dance” and this joyful yet reflective single will transport you back to those times.

The track opens with the sound of wind-chimes and birdsong as Chrissie’s flute draws us in to the garden… some beautiful complimentary keyboards join the mix as the sound becomes fuller and a female voice with more strings appear. The mood alters slightly as the music changes to a minor key with Chrissie’s flute harmonising not only with the keyboard but also, intriguingly, with itself (perhaps double tracked?).

It is at this point the Cloud Dance begins – a gentle rhythm leads us on and into the dance as it gains intensity… A voice once again sings a short refrain as Chrissie’s flute, propelled by the rhythm moves us forward. Eventually the drums fade slowly away and we are left with just Chrissie’s flute, a quiet keyboard line until right at the end we are back where we began with the sound of the wind-chimes.

“Cloud Dance” impressed me greatly – Chrissie Sheppard is taking her music in a new direction and this collaboration with David De Michele is yet another musical step forward for an artist whose music evolves with each new release. An excellent release that deserves to do well.  

Purity By Eric Tingstad

 

Purity

By

Eric Tingstad

Written by

Chrissie Sheppard

 

GRAMMY Award-winning artist Eric Tingstad has returned with his latest single, Purity — a beautifully crafted arrangement centred around themes of childhood innocence. Having followed Tingstad’s storied career for years — from his iconic collaborative albums with Nancy Rumbel to his acclaimed solo works like Southwest and Badlands — I find this latest offering to be an exceptionally versatile and mature addition to his extensive discography.

Purity is a masterclass in acoustic minimalism. While the single’s gentle, fingerstyle delivery may seem effortless on the surface, maintaining a listener’s undivided attention through such a stripped-back arrangement requires a rare level of compositional mastery. It is deceptively difficult to create something this clean yet deeply engaging, a testament to Tingstad's refined skill as a storyteller through the strings of his guitar.

As you listen, the track naturally evokes vivid imagery of a young child at play, sitting quietly without a care in the world. In today's fast-paced environment, the music serves as a poignant, much-needed reminder for all of us to just pause, slow down, and avoid taking the complexities of daily life so seriously.

Purity is a universally accessible, beautiful piece of music that can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. It is poised to perform exceptionally well on the contemporary instrumental charts, appealing not only to fingerstyle guitar enthusiasts but also to anyone who simply appreciates finely crafted, tranquil music. Highly recommended for long-time fans and casual listeners alike, this track deserves a permanent spot on your playlist.

Helping Hands By Shambhu

 

Helping Hands

By

Shambhu

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This inventive new single from Shambhu may at first appear to be a simple easy on the ears piece when first listened to, but within the weave of the narrative it touches many emotions, points to emotive references, and also provides the listener with a backdrop, and reflective nuances, and all in 158 seconds, this crafted new offering is called Helping Hands, something we all need from time to time.

The strum start is as gentle and tender as you can imagine, while the piece unfurls like a petal, 50 seconds in the first major change occurs on a track that features acoustic guitars, bass and Dobro, and this is the first time that he performs on a custom-made Oracle Guitar crafted by master luthier Todd Johnston.

The uplift on that aforementioned mark breeds a moment of deep emotional healing and reflection, whilst constantly moving onward, in the same way and style, that US instrumentalist Holland Phillips used to do back in the day. The picking of notes and constant strum, breed beautiful layers of warmth and tenderness.

Shambhu is one of the finest contemporary instrumentalists of his day, and here on this new single he proves that to be the case with ease, this is one of those singles that once you have listened to it once, you just can’t stop, there is so much to enjoy from its happy refrains and pleasant heart felt tenderness, and what fan of acoustic guitar wouldn’t love to have this brand new single called Helping Hands by Shambhu.

A Sky That Knows Our Names by Terry Lee Nichols

 

A Sky That Knows Our Names

By

Terry Lee Nichols

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It seems almost unbelievable that some 10 years ago my musical relationship with Terry Lee Nichols would begin, amazingly so almost exactly to the day when Terry would release his album At Peace Beneath the Shade of My Father's Tree, from then onward our eager ears have been treated to a fantastic array of great historical narratives, and today in 2026 we greet anther new masterpiece of an album called A Sky That Knows Our Names.

This amazing project is a 10 track release of great power, beauty and genius, in his beautifully layered information that comes with the album Nichols quotes one of my many heroes in Carl Sagan, I will to begin this narrative with a quote from him "The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of star-stuff” he would also note that "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."

This for me brings me great comfort that when I die, my passing from this planet will reconstitute into the great green recycling plant in the vast realms called the cosmos.

The level of musical prowess it takes to achieve an album like this is immense, listen to the opening piece for an example, a mesh of rhythm jazz, a percussive delight emphasised in a globally infused manner, with some of the most fluent and attractive vibrant piano from Nichols to boot, there are many other instrumental magicians on this album, all of which will get a mention at the conclusion of this review, but here on The Celestial Traveler, one of the most vibrant starts to an album of all times can be found.

The following musical narrative is deeper and more introspective and called In the Beginning, Light Danced. One should pay homage to one of the most remarkable vocals performances I have heard on an album for decades from Rebekah Eden who with Terry literally take this emotional and powerful composition to heights unfathomable. Perhaps Laurence Kraus summed this up perfectly when he emphatically indorsed Sagan by saying “One of the most poetic facts I know about the universe is that essentially every atom in your body was once inside a star that exploded. We are all, literally, star children, and our bodies made of stardust, if ever a piece of music was destined to be a soundtrack for that truism this is it.

Eden continues her powerful vocal march on this next offering entitled Hadean Fire, in fact even more so, and with ease that I would say this track is transformative and transcendent and emphatically powerful, certainly life changing and deeply moving, it is important to note that the Budapest Art Orchestra bring home the deeply passionate soundtrack and orchestration on this track and the entire album, but here on this piece, the strings alone create a blissful juxtaposition of tone with Nichols piano, one that paints the picture of the beginning of Gaia some 4.54 billion years ago.

This album is literally the history of everything Earth wise, as we near the half way juncture we come across Snowball Earth. One can feel the darkness and the cold descend on and around us, but from ice comes water and from water life, perhaps best expressed by scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi when he said that "Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." Here Nichols starts the construct with a hovering narrative and manifests one of the most beautiful piano performances to bring the listener one of the most attractive codas to a creation of his ever.

The Dawn of Life is also our half way marker, perhaps as far back as 3.5 billion years ago is the oldest widely accepted fossil evidence of life that appears, including microbial mats called stromatolites. Here is another favourite piece of mine as everything so delicate is brought to life from the pen of Nichols, and one can revel and enjoy the harp also of Hanna Rabe, before a fade and another utterly transcendent piano presentation from Nichols, one that will lift the roof with its supreme fluency and blissful majesty.

The very essence of everything comes from the abundance of Devonian Dusk, it is a wonderful illustration when the earth could have been truly called green, this is another beautiful composition, but for me it emphasises just what a talented and artistic composer Terry Lee Nichols is, the piano of the master here is breathtakingly lush and utterly transformative.

On the next track we have a horse of a different colour entirely called Babel, this is a clever arrangement indeed with its fast paced segments, perhaps illustrating this alleged mythical building being built, the hint of sounds and words forming illustrating the very beginning of words as we know them today, the entire track reminded me of something that Tim Burton might use in one of his movies, but the ethereal soundscapes and pauses were another brilliantly layered ethic, in a truly clever piece indeed.

We draw to the darker waters of the release where we will find a crystalline offering called From Stone We Built the Sky. Nichols piano is the chief story teller here, the core of the piece and of course the album, the multi-instrumental nature of the track allows for a wonderful example of build and progression, and a sublime coda to be weaved within the last few minutes of this remarkable piece.

The penultimate offering from the album has the most amazing vastness of quality to its structure, and called In Grateful Silence. This starts in such a reverential and meditative way, and at the 1:40 minute mark, the piece expands further with the inclusion of a Nichols piano into the most ambient and reflective offering from the album, perhaps illustrating that humans are inclined to assume that events are caused by intentional agents. This tendency can make it natural to infer gods, spirits, or a divine intelligence behind natural phenomena, regardless this has to be easily the best three minutes and 37 seconds I have spent listening recently.

We finish with the concluding narrative of A Sky That Knows Our Names, which of course is the title header of the album; this lush and creative movement is like a dance in energy, perhaps the dance of life itself, this contains a momentary slice of a peaceful reverie, perhaps to take us once again into the mind, and recognise that all that we have learned on a last final and concluding composition, simply amazing.

A Sky That Knows Our Names by Terry Lee Nichols is a landmark album and with ease the artist’s best work thus far, so let’s credit the following musicians for their exemplary work Dave Manington – upright bass, Dan Waldron – English horn, Guadalupe Ravenos – scat vocals, Hanna Rabe – harp solo, Joasia Cieśłak – cello, Katrina Penman – flute, Larry Aberman – drums and percussion, Nick Bisesi – flute solo, Rebekah Eden – vocals, and of course the Budapest Art Orchestra.

This is a release of superior quality and I doubt we will hear the like of something so grand again, A Sky That Knows Our Names by Terry Lee Nichols, is a standout legendary release for the ages that sums existence in 10 specially hand crafts tracks of pure genius, if this doesn’t get to number one, there is something wrong with the reality we live in.

Desert of Crystal By Fiona Joy Hawkins

 

Desert of Crystal

By

Fiona Joy Hawkins

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have great memories of pianist Fiona Joy Hawkins, back in 2013 when One World Music Radio was first starting, we interviewed her about her outstanding 600 Years in a Moment album, a release we still love to this day, now let’s skip forward 13 years and we can enjoy the fact that all those years later, we get to dive deep into her latest offering called Desert of Crystal, and what a fine collection of musical arrangements it is.

Starting the ball rolling is the breath taking opus of Desert of Crystal, this is one of my favourite pieces off the album and as a title track it is both powerful and emotive, I particularly like the slight pull back and then shift into a more powerful presentation, like sailing to the shifting sands of a desert, and performed with delicacy and precision.

The next piano narrative has a wonderful repeating theme within its construction which reminds me of my old friend David Lanz in style, this onward progression across the keys is incredibly palpable and called Running on Joy. With the next piece flowing freely after it, we are treated to a lush and fluent offering called Portrait of a Waterfall, this is beautifully played with some key moments featured within that make the overall narrative shine with a radiant tonal delight.

On Escarpment Dreaming there is a darkness that is demonstrable in its almost classical like performance; an element of mystery invokes a moment of a clandestine meeting occurring perhaps, for me this was yet another one of my personal favourite tracks from the release, gifting the listener and cinematic moment of piano drama to enjoy.

Our next port of musical call is To Meet (Yu Jian) a famous Chinese Taiwanese song from the movie "Turn Left, Turn Right".  This flowing melodic structure is incredibly pretty and leads us into the following piece called Falling (Twin Peaks Theme) I can remember years back watching this show on television and Fiona’s version is actually remarkable compared to the original theme by David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti.

Forgiveness has a tinge of memory caught in the web of a past mistake, one that plays haunting memories, and perhaps the forgiveness needs to be done by oneself! Regardless, this is a truly beautiful offering, one that contains such a mournful disposition about its construction, yet its melodic line offers us the one thing we all desire, hope.

On the composition Twilight Moment one can detect a soft segment being explored, and then a certain familiarity is found within the weave of the composition that is so fluent. The soft yet confident approach here builds something quite heart-warming to bathe within.

A similar creation comes up next and called Calling County Clare, here Fiona flows with the moment and brings forth a lively yet tempered piece with an even paced tempo and a bright and happy overall refrain, whilst on Sonatina in D Major Op.36 No.6 – Rondo Fiona shows her prowess at the classical musical genre with a perfect presentation of the Muzio Clementi piece from 1797.

Our penultimate offering is one of the most moving and emotive pieces for the release, anyone who lives in a hot dry country, like I do, will understand it perfectly, as by the end of July and early August we are usually petitioning Zeus with a Prayer For Rain ourselves. This is an amazingly powerful offering spawned from the first few drops of music, which is a quieter overall narrative, but a very impressive offering indeed.

This final piece follows on perfectly from the last offering and called Tolling of the Fire Bell, again something we dread around this time of year and for another couple of months yet, we had a wild fire only yesterday, but thankfully our troops in Cyprus, they managed to quell it, here Fiona Joy Hawkins pours her heart into a tragic offering I remember from a few years back, based on the same subject matter and manifests something deeply moving and heartfelt.

Desert of Crystal by Fiona Joy Hawkins is an album that fans of the piano genre will adore and worship, it contains 12 tracks, 10 of which are original, and each and every piece is hand crafted to maximise a quality performance in all aspects, whether they bring back memories or give one solace and peace, one can rest assured that Desert of Crystal by Fiona Joy Hawkins will be chart bound sooner than later, and a truly good chart place should be on offer for the artist as well.

Embraced By Janice Lacy

 

Embraced

By

Janice Lacy

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The soothing melodies of another Janice Lacy track pour over my senses today and it sees my musical soul fall literally in love with a pastiche of piano and instrumentation called Embraced, she is joined by Grammy® winning artists Charlie Bisharat on violin and Eugene Friesen on cello, thus bringing the listener a thoroughly delicious piece of piano based instrumental music to enjoy.

Using multi-instrumentation is a wonderful thing when you literally have two shining stars from the genre, and here on this wonderful new single they add so much to the overall narrative of the composition. Lacey’s style on this piece is multi-faceted and offers up musical reflection and tenderness, the combination of cello, violin and piano at this tempo is sublimely beautifully in all of its radiant textures.

The slow and tempered start radiates a feeling of a warm hug, so much so, that when the violin enters the fray a certain delicate posture is manifested, the cello gifts the listener a deeper tone of reflection, and the slowness and symbiotic approach of the composition gives the listener an experience that is similar to watching a summer tide roll in over the sandy beaches of an moody coastal location.

The peaks that Bisharat’s violin and depths of Friesen’s cello juxtaposes are masterfully fluent and craft fully created, offering the listener a fragrance of a tone and timbre like no other before it, and one to remember forever, surely another huge hit is on the cards here for Embraced by Janice Lacy.

The Space We Share By Louis Colaiannia

 

The Space We Share

By

Louis Colaiannia

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It was good to hear from Louis Colaiannia again, for a short time he was one of our presenters here at One World Music Radio, and to this day I still have fond memories of the first piece of music I received from him entitled The Next Stage, back in 2013. From then until now Louis has always presented his fans with some top quality music, and here on this new single called The Space We Share he has continued that theme with ease.

There is something quite ambient about this new single of his, so far to say that it creates a vast oasis of space for the listener to fully appreciate the overall narrative of the composition, one that can be felt most poignantly at the 1:30 minute mark, the track literally pulls back and breathes and then slowly manifests into something utterly glorious.

The Space We Share by Louis Colaiannia is a multi-instrumental haven of utter beauty, moving segments of great exquisiteness and charm, followed by flowing ambient tonal directives, and then a build to a tempered crescendo, which I must say I absolutely adore about this new composition.

Without doubt I can put my hand on my heart and state that in my opinion The Space We Share by Louis Colaiannia is the artist’s best work thus far, and I wouldn’t mind betting that a top 5 slot in the charts will be achieved; this is instrumental music at its very best.

Serenity by Anaya Music

 

Serenity

By

Anaya Music

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It seems a life time ago since I first came into contact with Anaya, it takes me far back to 2016 and an album called Eternity. Skip forward 10 magical years and one can have the delight of witnessing her grow from a beautiful and flourishing instrumentalist, to a new age soundtrack singer-songwriter that manifests such deeply and personal movie like soundtracks and compositions that resonate firmly in his modern era of music we have all had to embrace in 2026.

Serenity is a 12 track album that is one of the most beautifully produced releases of its day, with delicate and empowering vocal structures and full flowing symphonic arrangements like the opening piece called Galactic Journey. Following narratives like the title track Serenity offer up an angelic pathway of tonal beauty, one that also has a beautiful eastern oriental feel to its cadence.

The album is written and produced entirely by Anaya; the arrangements utilize Yamaha keyboards alongside advanced digital production tools like Songer AI Orchestration. Pieces like Celestial Galaxy and Celestial Reverie are prime example of the aforementioned enhanced quality of orchestration, the latter though contains some of the most poignant and brilliant piano from Anaya that I have heard for many a year.

Tracks like the distant Faraway offer solitude away from the crazy world that surrounds us, with once more flourishing sublime keyboard and piano work with added percussion, as well as Enya like harmonies, whilst offerings like the mystical Echoes of Serenity, bring the listeners attention to a more acoustic opening that has all the hallmarks of a soothing folk like reverie.

In the latter half of the release we have several masterpieces of instrumental magic like the track Embrace which could easily be a soundtrack for a movie, and then one of the shorter but prettiest pieces off the album called From the Heart, a symbiotic piano and orchestrated slice of instrumental genius.

The gentle guitar based opening of Strings of Emotion gifts us something soothing to enjoy, playing homage to music in all of its delights, whilst the concluding three pieces follow on a certain theme and are called Whispers and Silence, the shortest cello based and piano assisted narrative, Whispers of Harmony, a deeply moving and wonderfully orchestrated pastiche of piano and cello, and finally into the concluding tale told by the artist called Whispers of the Strings, a clever track to end with, and utterly anthem like in its compositional structures.

Serenity by Anaya Music is a modern example of what can be achieved by utilising keyboards alongside advanced digital production. Anaya as an artist has grown immeasurably, and her keyboard and piano skills alone on this release are a pleasure to swim with, as such I can see Serenity by Anaya Music obtaining a very healthy chart position indeed.

Returning to Our Orbit By Tom Moore & Mike Clay

 

Returning to Our Orbit

By

Tom Moore & Mike Clay

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The paring of electronic musicians Tom Moore & Mike Clay bring us a new single called Returning to Our Orbit, six years after the release of their album Beyond our Orbit, and I still remember writing about it to this day. The new single is a proud slice of electronic mastery from both musicians, as they manifest something that is vastly becoming more popular, thanks to shows like Stranger Things, this new creation is a fine example of EM, and a beautifully created instrumental narrative that flows endlessly and builds and progresses with such a simple and most pleasant ease.

The slow deliberate start is a master class of build and progression for any budding electronic musician; the synths manifest a constant onward tonal discipline that is utterly undeniable in its Berlin Style vibration, whilst the keyboards also build upon that in a way that artists like David Wright and Thom Brennan have done before them.

The creative and artistic notes that drive the piece wend their way through the narrative portraying for us an inevitable return to a home world perhaps, we can then enjoy the 4 minute marker when the orbit has been achieved, the entire piece breaks with the engine room, and orbiting thrusters are used to navigate the remaining journey, in one of the cleverest conclusions to an electronic composition that I have heard for quite some time.

Returning to Our Orbit by Tom Moore & Mike Clay is a beautiful example of two musicians performing from a place of excellence, and in doing so bringing to the audience and the EM fan base, one of the most compelling singles of its style this year with utter ease.

At Every Turn by Suzanne Herman

 

At Every Turn

By

Suzanne Herman

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Of all the female pianists around, one that I constantly enjoy hearing from is composer Suzanne Herman, her use of reflection and the more emphatic tonal structures truly give off a resonance that sometimes is lacking in some piano performers, and now here on her latest album At Every Turn we have a collection of utterly sublime piano based offerings to enjoy at any time of the year or day.

The opening piece on this 10 track album was a single back in ‘24 and is the quite breath taking Where Oceans Meet, here lays a proud and empowered offering that embraces the very energy of the ocean, Suzanne’s steady progression on this track is something to be admired.

It does seem rather strange writing about this subject in mid-July, but A Christmas Sky is our next offering, again a single released in ‘24 and is a reminder of the happier times of those most cold winter nights, and the darkness and cheer to come, this is a pretty piece from Suzanne, one performed with a lot of memories looking over the shoulder no doubt.

First Glance our next offering is an interesting new composition for me, it has a somewhat tentative tone, but one that seeks to gain attention, there is a delicacy I really like about this offering that I find deeply attractive, especially the comforting coda to conclude the tale. Which leads us nicely to the shortest track from the album at just under three minutes, a piece called Clear a Path, regardless this happens to be one of the most flourishing piano narratives off the album and one that you really don’t want to skip over.

Released in ‘25 as a single A Graceful Splash is our next port of musical interest, the tempo of this composition is utterly delightful, it’s like a piano lullaby, lulling one into a gentle caress of peace and simplicity, this is also performed with such grace by the artist that one could let it play on repeat and not notice.

I remember this specific track as a fun single release earlier on this year and called Penguin Parade, for those of us that have seen actual penguins in real time; they do give of an amusing gate and energy when on land, but dynamically graceful and a fine example of evolution when in the water. Here Herman captures that essence and more by bringing us a truly light hearted but enjoyable creation.

Sojourn would turn out to be one of my personal favourite pieces from the album; it had a mournful repose that I enjoyed thoroughly, it had a powerful refrain at times that drew the listener in, and softer segments that had such an emotional and moving tonal construct, that I might go as far to say that in my view this is one of the finest creations I have heard from the artist.

The deeper darker waters of this river of tone are up next and called Like None Other. There is much about this flourishing narrative that reminded me at times of my old friend David Lanz, that lyrical narrative, the softer segments and the very melodious moments of piano magic that can be found on a truly excellent solo piano manifestation.

The high notes that begin our penultimate offering usher in a piece that is truly mesmeric in proportions and called No Darkness. This complex narrative may seem simple, but to construct a minimalistic arrangement like this and holding it constant is a lot harder that you think without compromising the entire song, brilliantly done indeed Suzanne.

Our final refuge from this crazy world is called An Inspired Silence, there is an almost regal sense or energy to this final and concluding offering that is somewhat palpable, without doubt it is the steady progressive tempo, but this anthem like final creation is the idyllic offering with which to part ways with the listener, and leaves them utterly satisfied.

At Every Turn by Suzanne Herman is a solo piano album that the genre has needed for some time, and a huge thank you to the composer for manifesting an album where only one of the tracks was less than three minutes long, bravo indeed. The release is utterly beautiful and at times very moving, the artist’s heart felt and meaningful style is so listenable, and everyone who listens to this sublime album should find something they like with ease on, At Every Turn by Suzanne Herman.

Can't Find My Way Home By Carbe and Durand

 

Can't Find My Way Home

By

Carbe and Durand

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

You know those moments when you have heard something and you can’t just pick out where you heard it before, but it’s there hiding in the annals of your mind, this is one of those. Then the light came on as Carbe and Durand gift us Can't Find My Way Home originally done by the band Blindfaith back in ‘69 if I remember correctly. Back in those heady days of the hippie era, performers like Clapton and Windwood were just starting their accent to glory.

Here Carbe and Durand, a duo I have loved for many years, give us their own version and the performance is breath taking and also live, Can't Find My Way Home is a classic song from Windwood and rated as probably the best ever rock folk song of all time, and indeed Clapton also plays acoustic guitar on it to, here the duet of Carbe and Durand breathe new life into a legendary song.

There can be no doubt that this is a superior version, and a crowd pleaser, the balance that Lisa and JP find is so symbiotic that its breath taking to just listen to, and it’s no wonder their legions of intelligent fans are treated to such mastery every time they perform or release a song, acoustically this is outstanding and a fine example of a perfect combination of the twin powers of instrumental genius, which leaves me in no doubt that Can't Find My Way Home by Carbe and Durand is going to be a massive chart hit with utter ease.

Waiting For Today By Victor Towle

 

Waiting For Today

By

Victor Towle

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Victor Towle describes himself as a Zen guitarist providing chill instrumental new age music, for me this is quite an accurate description, his creations certainly do have a meditative quality about them that bring a somewhat delicious layer of peace to the cadence of the day, and here on this brand new single called Waiting For Today we have such an item of calm and serenity.

The very opening of the performance on this new single is incredibly relaxing and soothing, manifesting a tone that is very easy on the ears and mind, allowing the listener to bliss out into a bed of fine notes with string touches and strums.

The entire arrangement is beautifully layered with some of the most excellent finger style guitar and melodious structures, along with some creative chord structures, especially so at around the 1 minute 20 second mark, with lower strings strums and a beautiful memory pack a reflective segment, one that also contains a few sensitive harmonics as well.

Waiting For Today by Victor Towle in my view, is one of the most artistic and creative creations of his career thus far, and for me that journey started in 2020 and Colorado Zen. Note also the slowing coda and sensitive conclusion to the single which in itself was also noteworthy. So it’s quite easy for me to state that this brand new single should bring a lot of success for the artist and a healthy chart position as well, for Waiting for Today by Victor Towle.

Healing By Monster Taxi

 

Healing

By

Monster Taxi

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Monster Taxi is the alter-ego of Miami music producer and keyboardist Jason Klein, I have been following his delightful pastiche of musical mastery since 2025 and the release of the single back then called Japanese Onsen, but the history of the artist goes back much father, however today I get to take a listen to Healing from the composer and enjoy the smooth tonal picture it paints for the listener.

The soothing key to start this journey is a timbre, so perfect and delightful, and indeed it sets the fluency backdrop for the entire project. The keyboard structures and chords provide an interesting soundscape, one of a simple delight, and a structured onward movement of sound that has fluency and rhythm that is both potent and enjoyable.

There is also a sense of memory and reflection built into the weave of the arrangement, that while it is subtle, it is indeed noticed by a keen ear, perhaps a look over the shoulder at lessons learned. There are some specific changes in the arrangement to that are craft-fully manifested, the 2:03 marker, a clever transition into a more electronic mode and back into the steady onward rhythm again, a seamless segue of musical prowess indeed.

Healing by Monster Taxi is indeed a fine new instrumental creation, one that fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy, but there is a sense of relaxation and a soothing tone that also floats within the narrative of this very cleverly crafted instrumental composition, and one that is so utterly charming, a new single, a new energy, and a new hit for Healing by Monster Taxi.

Dark to Emerald By Sylion

 

Dark to Emerald

By

Sylion

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Taking a moment to pause, I came across a wonderful single today called Dark to Emerald by Sylion. This pause for musical reflection stood in my mind’s eye and I bathed sonically in its realms for a wondrous six plus minutes of great beauty, in a composition that I rate as one of the best new age singles I have heard for years.

The slow gentle start reminded me of the 90’s new age classic material we were used to getting from artists like Medwyn Goodall and Phil Thornton back in the day, but as the composition picked up, and the strings and keyboards began to operate symbiotically, I found a wonderful pastiche of fluency that would birth something more soundtrack in nature and intent.

The arrangement is carefully curated and masterfully put together, so much so that as we reach the half way juncture the entire piece becomes almost regal to behold, angelic at times, but also breathtakingly powerful and moving, thanks to the vocalisations and powerful Kerani like motifs.

There is everything to love about Dark to Emerald, its onward march is like a force of nature from the Elven forests, its drum beat the percussion of the planet itself, and the symphonic fluency manifests a sublime new single, one that I am convinced should reach a very high chart position and possibly more.

There are many artists around at the moment that might do well to take a look at this release, some take instrumental music too lightly, and pray to the mighty algorithm by producing quantity instead of quality. Here Sylion shows them the way, producing a perfect example of new age instrumental music, with not only a perfect performance, but a crafted composition which deserves all the plaudits it gets, this is a master work of build and progression, along with care and attention to detail, and as such I rate this as a fine example of what can be achieved with a little time and a little musical love, full marks indeed to Dark to Emerald by Sylion.