Mists of Time By Andrew Colyer

 

Mists of Time

By

Andrew Colyer

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I first became aware of the work of Andrew Colyer back in 2018 with a Christmas release he had at the time, but time never ceases its onwards march, and now I am elated to be reviewing his latest offering in 2020 called Mists Of Time, an album I would say holds its new age roots as close to its heart as mine.

This is a true journey through music, one that touches many pathways on route to its conclusion; the beginning is the short form cleverness of the scene setting Rain Notes: Storm. A beautifully picturesque performance on keyboards here draws the veil on our journey wide open.

The intriguing musical narrative entitled Oliver's Journey is now upon us as we walk a path of almost ambient minimalism in nature, personally this is just what I adore, a free flowing natural composition that seems to drift from the subconscious mind and can be known from time to time as genius, the journey of Oliver must certainly have been an interesting one.

The vast quality of this next composition is as equally delightful as the last, and called In Alex's Orbit. There is a lighter more sensitive approach to the arrangement that created a multi-textured musical platform to really enjoy, built into the weave is a light sense of movement; the joining percussion was beautifully manifested with a timely sense of a symbiotic energy as well.

On Climb, the intensity of the performance is evident and strikingly crafted, Colyer on piano manifests something quite clever here on this piece, a slight hint of a Jazz ethic mixed with notes of new age and the sublime fluency of a solo piano narrative, utterly enjoyable indeed and one to put on repeat without doubt.

This next offering would be one of my favourite tracks from the album, it is entitled Strings of the Ocean, the symphonic gestures and string work here were so delightfully descriptive, especially for someone like me who lives by the sea, the soft nature of the natural sounds added to the energy of the arrangement too. The keyboard and drifting musical nuances were simply idyllic, and drew a fine narrative for me of time passing in a memory filled package of life, a truly splendid composition indeed.

At the half way juncture we come across a remastered piece entitled One Thing. The gentleness of performance here was so soothing to bathe within, and the overall nature of calm and serenity that I drew from this composition was something I never wanted to leave.

As we take our first tentative steps into the second half of the album we come across a mysterious and intriguing number called Rain Notes: Forest, akin to the opening piece here, we once more have a track that sets the scene nicely for the latter part of the release, and remarkably well too, as the sounds and keyboard work create such an exciting mood.

A Thoughtful Moment, I adore that title as I have many of them, I can gaze across the skyline and fly with the memories of the past, not attached to the pain, but remembering all the lessons learned from an objective perspective. The performance on piano here is one of a wonderfully ambient nature, and could easily be the sound track for the mental perambulations just mentioned.

The Celtic motifs here were much appreciated as we head into the longest offering off the album entitled Ghosts of Aberfan. One must applaud Colyer’s performance here, it was utterly sublime, the first time of listening I drifted off into a haunting reverie, the second time I was totally encapsulated by the presentation, the third time I was at last able to construct this narrative to reveal my thoughts on what is an outstandingly crafted and well played offering.

From the world within, we move to the realms above with Moons Of Jupiter, the manifestation of an astral mood here was simply beautiful, it’s dreamlike and extremely vast overtures birthed more than enough room for the listener to float within, this is fluent piano at it’s very best, one that created such a descriptive presentation for me personally as well.

The penultimate track off the album is entitled Overcoming, Colyer builds an offering here that has ambient constructs, but also a sense of a story being told within the confines of its musical development. For me this was yet another piece and a performance that had a deep level of intensity and purpose, and easily one to listen to again many times over.

Our last glorious opus is called Serenity, a fine title and a splendid ending musical arrangement, one that will leave the listener feeling fulfilled and respectfully grateful of the musical sojourn they have just taken, and of course a crafted way to  conclude the album, with such a stylish ending composition.

Mists of Time by Andrew Colyer has to be one of the best new age albums I have had the honour to review in this ugly year of 2020, the images that the music created within my mind’s eye were a release all of their own, the performance, the compositions and arrangements along with the musical narratives, were an endless moment of musical magic that I truly never wanted to leave. Give your heart a total treat and purchase this album, you won’t regret a second.