Sound Condition By Nicholas Gunn

 

Sound Condition

By

Nicholas Gunn

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I last had the pleasure of writing a review for a Nicholas Gunn album back in 2020 for a release entitled Pacific Blue, I was stunned and amazed by its beautiful content, and I am even more so, with this brand new offering entitled Sound Condition today in 2021.

Our journey literally unfolds with the first opus, Unfolding is our official pathway to a musical heaven that is lush colourful, and breathtakingly beautiful, the layered keyboards and elevated sounds of Gunn’s chilled creational vibes are without parallel, and a perfect scene setter.

The track Shine follows and creates a natural feel to the proceedings, one could, for example, allow the imagination to flow and see a wonderful forest of full green trees that seem to smoothly drift down to a pale blue ocean of sound. The guitar and keyboards here are sublime at creating a tropical mood, but one so calming and tranquil that I would be proud to play it by my pool and simply bliss out for the afternoon.

Alina Renae features, on a few compositions of grandeur, the first is Angels, a rhythmic percussive start opens a vocal pathway for Renae to offer up, a smooth, heart felt and emotive track; listen to the hook on the chorus, and the melodic refrains, it would make this an ideal single in its own right.

On Sound Condition the title track, Gunn proves beyond doubt his skills as not only a musician, but also as a producer are vast, here is a track that would reign supreme in the chill out genre for years I’m sure, its vibe and tranquil intent would endear it to film makers far and wide, this is simply glorious.

There is a wonderful eastern ethic about this next track that I simply adored; the title of the piece is My Body Is A Temple. A perfect flute floats through the glades of cherry blossoms, and sets the scene not only for something quite startlingly beautiful, but also deeply meditative as well, this would be one of my top tracks off the album

As we move into the second half of the album we come across Broken feat. Alina Renae. The keyboards of Gunn and the transcendent vocals of the singer manifest a symbiotic partnership that is highly addictive to listen to. Once more a memorable chorus lifts our energies and allows us a moment of reflection, one that can nicely be found in the narrative of the song.

The next track was fascinating and entitled Language, the mixture of a chilled dance vibe, partnered with a slice of Jean Michel Jarre, this one created a truly intriguing moment of musical magic for me, again another one for my playlist of choice as we welcome in a wonderful early spring in here in the Mediterranean.

Just Us is track three of four that features the classy talents of Alina Renae, there is a passionate feel to this song that makes it so delightful to listen to, and the manifestation of a serene backdrop of sound keyboards and synths by the masterful genius of Gunn, makes it ever more special.

I adore it when the cadence of a day seems to just Flow. A tenuous link maybe, but true none the less, the flute and careful percussive narrative here is amazing, but Gunn’s expertise and incredibly intelligent work on keyboards and synths seals it for me. The tone has a wonderful ethnic flavour, one that drifts into a vast new age styled dimension, utterly stunning with every note played, and another big favourite of mine.

So we arrive at the last doorway to this truly great new release by Nicholas Gunn, it is called The Promise, and for the last time this includes the vocals of the outstanding Alina Renae, the result here is the ultimate single, a perfect ending piece of an album or even a concert, this is absolutely anthem like in content, which leads me to offer up just one word, wow.

Sound Condition by Nicholas Gunn is one of those albums you really never want to end, and you may well have to leave it on repeat with ease for a second time or more, it is that good. Nicholas Gunn just keeps on getting better and better, with each keystroke this artist creates the sort of musical magic that one needs in one’s life right now more than ever, if Sound Condition by Nicholas Gunn isn’t nominated for an award, then there is really something wrong with the music business.