A Blueprint for Life By Michelle Qureshi

 

A Blueprint for Life

By    

Michelle Qureshi

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It can never be a bad thing to start a week off with a review of a Michelle Qureshi creation, and this Monday I had the good fortune for that to happen, as I now delve in deep by falling into an eternal sound now known to me as her latest release, A Blueprint for Life.

Early on this year the artist released Open Window as a single, here we can gladly listen again as it takes pride and place as the opening piece off the release. So listen to Michelle’s graceful refrains, push open the window and listen to the sounds of the day unfurl, watch the hopeful sunlight cause shafts of dusty rays across the cadence of the day, and purely enjoy being in the moment. Qureshi in my view is one of the best ambient acoustic guitarists in the world today, and it is hovering manifestations of utter beauty like this one that make that a reality.

We go willingly now into the gentle arms of a delicate guitar creation called Hidden Lines. This is classic Michelle Qureshi, creating a world around her music, one that is so deeply immersive and incredibly attractive; one can with ease just float on a bed of calm whilst listening to this quite pristine composition, and also another single from the release.

We can follow that up with another favourite of mine called Spiral Staircase, the textures, timbre and tone are all layered perfectly, to once again create loving images of a time when all seemed to be bathed in a moment of perfection, by climbing the staircase our view increases, and as such we can see a bigger picture; this is one of those delightful opuses that you will find yourself clicking repeat to many times.

Like the opening offering, Hearth has a homely feel to the composition, we can feel safe and calm within our own sanctuary, and in a way this is one of the most wonderful things about Michelle Qureshi’s music, she manifests such ambience and crafts qualities of tranquillity and tone, without ever having to leave your home, this very track for me is an anthem for gratitude, listen also to the multi-layered aspect of this piece, and the performance that is manifested within, is exceptional and blissfully serene.

Our concluding offering is entitled Elevations; I found this to be deeply moving and heartfelt. This tapestry of sound hovered like a late October afternoon, one that holds onto every shimmering ray of sun kissed hope, it is a song of gratitude and peace, and it is simply the most idyllic arrangement with which to end the release with.

A Blueprint for Life by Michelle Qureshi is an album that gives pleasure to my day; I am a home bird, and adore the sanctuary of my space, here with Qureshi’s classy compositions I can enjoy an album that for me represents the energies of happiness, ambience, tranquillity and the tender reassurances of a peace-filled environment we call home. This is without doubt the artist’s most ambient work for years, and as such it will be a constant on my musical playlist of meditative bliss.