Radiant Gratitude By Ryan Judd

 

Radiant Gratitude

By

Ryan Judd

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It is strange, I sit here at sunrise and listen to this amazing new single by Ryan Judd called Radiant Gratitude; this composition has the energy of a hopeful new morning within its construction. This is a piece of tranquillity that continues the theme of an acoustic healing guitar that Judd is now becoming very well known for.

The soft pastiche of synths hovers with the mournful repose of a late autumn mist, whilst the performer plays notes and plucks strings that seem to have a stunning texture all of their own, which in turn, leaves one in no doubt that this soothing style of acoustic performance is quickly taking Ryan Judd to a legendary status within its ranks.

On Radiant Gratitude the artist has manifested a tempo that is rich in texture and as delicate as the first petal of spring. Here lays another new arrangement that takes the listener on a cathartic journey, and concludes by leaving them in a serene meditative state that they will indeed feel most grateful for. Radiant Gratitude by Ryan Judd is beautifully brilliant and utterly peaceful; it is another piece of the jigsaw that is the rise of restorative and therapeutic music.

Dreams of Eden By Diane Wheeler Dunn

 

Dreams of Eden

By

Diane Wheeler Dunn

Written by

Chrissie Sheppard

 

Diane Wheeler Dunn is back with another new single, Dreams of Eden, a piece that I found deeply meditative to listen to, as her flute took me on a journey on dream clouds to a distant and far off land somewhere in another dimension.

Dunns performance as always is outstanding, in a piece a found hypnotic; a solo flute that relies entirely on the artist, no backing tracks or other sounds, just a solo flute and the intention of the musician to tell the tale and the dreams of another location, that of Eden.

Now I suggest, if you have the time, you go to Diane’s YouTube Channel and watch the very apt video that has been created to go with this release, it really does help take you on a magical journey to Eden, especially for those who find it difficult to visualise.

This is an amazing new release by Diane Wheeler Dunn, one that I feel is her best ever and one that she should be extremely pleased with. So if you love good music, then you are going to enjoy this one, a huge chart hit is definitely on the cards for Dreams of Eden by Diane Wheeler Dunn.

Vivid Dreams By Piano Lilium

 

Vivid Dreams

By

Piano Lilium

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Dreams are such an impactful subject to deal with, and even more so, to try and explain the machinations of the mind as it tries to solve the unsolvable can lead too much confusion on waking. Here in this expressive solo piece Piano Lilium tries to manifest that aforementioned feeling into music, and I must say I think succeeds brilliantly.

Vivid Dreams by Piano Lilium has a pace to it that is very much like the turmoil we find ourselves in, when in the dream state itself, this is superbly composed with quieter segments, then as things ease as dreams always do, change occurs, as indeed does this fine composition, the breath taking moments are now matched with a colourful melody, and concludes with a coda that is simply undeniable and almost climatic.

This is one of the most exciting solo piano pieces I think I have heard for ages, the energy is simply palpable and the entire composition is a roller coaster ride of emotive conditions, as such I have a feeling that fans of this genre are going to adore Vivid Dreams by Piano Lilium, and as such it should gain a really healthy chart placement.

A Place for Dreamers By Francis V

 

A Place for Dreamers

By

Francis V

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

A new name for me, but a great place to start as I get to take a listen to and review a new body of electronic work entitled A Place For Dreamers by Francis V, a fourteen track mega work created by the Italian percussionist and composer, one that spans and crosses many genres, and self-described by the artist as a work that explores self-discovery, isolation, and boundless imagination.

The opening piece is rightly called Prelude and is a fine gentle introduction to our voyage of plenty ahead, this is quickly followed by Dreamers, and this features the classy vocals of Kelly Rose Moncado, for a wonderfully fluid starting song of quality, one with a slightly funky beat.

The next offering had a slightly mysterious feel to it and called Fish Out of Water, this smooth offering had a really chilled vibe to its creation and one could see it being a hit within that genre, with its textured percussion and delicate synth work contained within.

A powerful and moving track can be found next and entitled Beauty and Resistance; the minor nature of this offering is truly appealing and builds beautifully throughout the arrangement, reminding me slightly of the work of the UK’s Andy Pickford at times.

We now edge ever further to the centre of this project and as we do so we arrive at a piece called Devotion. One has to applaud the artist as each and every composition thus far has a unique quality that is so very pleasing to feel. Here one can perhaps detect a slight world music vibe to the composition, one mixed with a classic contemporary instrumental feel, and the inclusion of the spoken word sample by Steve Jobs and Secrets of Life was clever indeed.

The more emotional elements are also here in the opening of the piece entitled Every Moment With You, one that quickly expands its narrative into a more dance like prose, which perpetuates the offering and added to by "Qwinn" Brittany McQuinn, which in turn flows into a delicious middle placed arrangement called Finding Yourself in a Better Place, this would be one of my personal favourites from the album, reminding me of the days when the chill out genre gave us such musical gifts like the Buddha bar collections.

The Drowned World ushers forth our journey into the latter half of the album, and in doing so heralds one of the finest pieces off the release with its neo-classical over tones and exciting electronic and percussive persuading energies; this could well be a superb track for a future documentary, it has that cinematic appeal to its construction.

As we drift into the reverie that is Beyond the Horizon we come back in touch with the sumptuous vocals of Kelly Rose Moncado, a song that takes us over the impending horizon and onward to even more curious musical landscapes, such as the following offering entitled Walking Away, one that at its early inception reminded me of my track Wisteria House, but soon changed direction into a more anthem like, and darker composition.

Lost in Space, continues the deeper theme, one that strikes a delicious moody refrain and teases us with its smoothness, but one that also contains the haunting vocals of Myleene Gaye to add an extra layer of craft and cleverness into the proceedings.

Another change of course can be found in the more keyboard orientated composition Disconnected, a track that combines so many musical influences from smooth jazz to electronica and trance, that the entire composition becomes incredibly addictive.

Our penultimate piece is called Tarkovsky, a rhythmic pastiche of tone and timbre, and the final concluding part to this far reaching and vast album is entitled Endless, and is by far the longest track off the album by some length at just shy of eight minutes. However the piece itself is eerily ambient, deftly ethereal, and with ease one of the most inventive tracks I think I have heard to conclude an album for many a year, this is certainly one to take in many times over.

A Place for Dreamers by Francis V is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most fascinating albums I have listened to in months; this is a release that you will be glued to; just to perhaps listen to where exactly it is going to go next. This extremely artistic new compilation of quality tracks should be sort out by fans of multiple genres, and as such it may well have a few happy months of musical glory of the charts. 

Lost Love By Chris Sarantakis & Andy Georges

 

Lost Love

By

Chris Sarantakis & Andy Georges

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It is so very nice to review a very classy world music track such as this, one that contains Bouzouki and guitar as well, this is music that we here in Cyprus bathe in, the passion filled structures of this brand new single will fill you with a desire to fly quickly to a much warmer Mediterranean country perhaps, but it will certainly have you reaching for the repeat button many times over.

There can be no doubt that Sarantakis and his Bouzouki are symbiotically joined, and after hearing this new single you will doubtlessly find that the doors of quality world and global fusion music, are forever wedged open and wide, and just waiting for your musical embrace.

The power and emotion in this new single entitled Lost Love are very palpable, deeply moving and redolent of a land where the passions of such love are fiery and full of a constant craving. The rhythm and vibrancy of this duet is stunning, both guitar and Bouzouki are played with such intensity and an ache in the heart to be heard, this is without doubt one of the most desirable global fusion singles I have heard for quite some time, performed by two musicians who clearly know there genre, and as such, Lost Love by Chris Sarantakis & Andy Georges should be a massive and addictive hit for the duet.

Hybrid - Part 1 By Lorna James

 

Hybrid - Part 1

By

Lorna James

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s back to the piano for prolific composer Lorna James, this time with a little added instrumentation the artist paints with tones and manifests a gentle repeating motif that is both desirable and calming, in her latest single.

Hybrid - Part 1 has a wonderfully uplifting energy about its construction, the fluency of performance is even more attractive in its ever present up lifting tempo, and it’s shining sunrise of a melody that permeates itself throughout the entire composition.

This short form musical narrative is like a journey through nature itself; one could with ease imagine the early hours of a late autumn morning, and the glory of a damp yet radiant sunrise approaching, the reflective and main body of the composition also works incredibly well together, and as such I see no reason why Lorna James with Hybrid - Part 1 should not have yet another chart hit on her hands.  

Katharsis By Fred Grenot

 

Katharsis

By

Fred Grenot

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It has been said that the power of music is a cathartic healing modality, it can help heal wounds of the past and assist in creating a foundation for a brighter future, music has that power and much more, it is the only language in existence that always speaks the truth, and this great beauty of truth is exactly what Fred Grenot has created here on this latest single entitled Katharsis.

Since his return to the music business, Fred’s manifestations have been nothing more than remarkable and utterly stunning in every aspect, this fluent new opus entitled Katharsis continues that narrative, the flowing peaceful synths bathe our senses with a tranquil vibration that is akin to lying in a warm gentle ocean, and allowing the curative waves to wash over you.

Fred’s music isn’t just good, it isn’t just wonderfully serene, yes he has aspects of Chuck Wild’s Liquid Mind, but he also has a special caring blend of musical intent that will one day see him rise into the higher echelons of healing ambient music like no other before him, and soulful, peace filled compositions like Katharsis, will be those beautifully tender arrangements that will help get him there. 

Onward to Christmas By Michael Regina

 

Onward to Christmas

By

Michael Regina

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I must say it is nice to hear an original seasonal song and with Onward to Christmas we have a new piece that lights up any festive tree. The energy of this new creation by electronic musician Michael Regina is a shot in the arm for the music styles that we hear at this time of year, something bright, smooth and uplifting is now in front of us.

Through its percussive beat and consistent tones, this new single literally breathes life into the usual weary Yuletide music market, the keyboards repetitive narrative marches us forever onward, and gifts the listener a sense of something exciting approaching.

Onward to Christmas by Michael Regina is a bright new offering by a musician who is really becoming quite prolific in the manifestation of quality tunes, one may find touches of an 80’s style within this latest piece, perhaps this might inspire memories of fond times past, regardless Michael has brought to the world at a time most needed, a little cheer with this new seasonal holiday composition called Onward to Christmas, and as such, it deserves to be a bit of a chart hit. 

Coventry Carol By Shere Fraser & Manuel Galán

 

Coventry Carol

By

Shere Fraser & Manuel Galán

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There have been many versions of the Coventry Carol over the years and in my view it is a much underrated arrangement, however this is the brand new single from Shere Fraser & Manuel Galán, who have not only raised its profile by manifesting a truly warm offering, they have given to the world a piece that will doubtlessly be shared on my seasonal playlists this December in Coventry Carol.

Spanish composer, acoustic guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Galán, presents a wonderfully fluent and mood filled performance on the acoustic, one at the very opening segment reminded me of Blackmore’s Night in style, whilst Shere Frasers flute is ever present and creates the main narrative of this much over looked 16^th century carol, one that was once performed in Coventry in England as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors back in and around 1392/3.

Coventry Carol by Shere Fraser & Manuel Galán is in my view one of the best duet releases of this specific carol I think I have heard, its symbiotic partnership of tone and timbre gift the listener a pleasing aged feel and a sense of mystery going forward, and as such they should be very proud of their achievements in recreating this Christmas classic to such a very high standard.

O Come All Ye Faithful By Annie Locke

 

O Come All Ye Faithful

By

Annie Locke

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I can’t express enough how nice it is to write the words Annie Locke, yes, the pianist is back, and with a heart-warming rendition of a very famous seasonal carol, O Come All Ye Faithful, a creation that has been ascribed to many authors over the years and as far back as possibly 1604. Here the pianist brings the whole mood of the carol up to date, giving it that inimitable Annie Locke touch of great colour and warmth.

From the very first few notes Locke makes this composition her own, by offering us a combination of gentle and robust vibrations, this beautifully flows into one of the most fluent and attractive versions of this carol I have ever heard; the artist has always had a way of building on a solid narrative and like a musical sculptor, constructing charming like nuances that are literally palpable.

O Come All Ye Faithful by Annie Locke is what Christmas was waiting for, this magical uplifting rendition is the brandy upon the pudding, and the snap in the cracker, Annie has done it again, and her charming new release can take pride of place on your seasonal playlists as the star on top of your musical Christmas tree.

Stratospheres By Eric Heitmann and Patrick Zelinski

 

Stratospheres

By

Eric Heitmann and Patrick Zelinski

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The latest album by former football star Eric Heitmann is now out, and it contains some of the most delectable piano and multi-instrumentation ever, his partner is musical genius Patrick Zelinski, a true supremo of a guitarist of all styles and flavours, and this mammoth journey of instrumental craft is entitled Stratospheres, which is our voyage of delight today.

The opening track is a very descriptive composition called Highland, the gentle strings and guitars pave the way for a magical moment at just over two minutes, as Zelinski’s classic rock guitar breaks into a Celtic styled opus, in what has to be said a breathtakingly clever start and almost Floyd like in intent.

The 7 is a mysterious and deeply woven track that hovers in the mists of musical time, the keys of Heitmann manifest a textured pastiche of tone and timbre to the composition, that in turn become its base and musical foundation, whilst the airy guitar from Zelinski floats in and around this most intriguing arrangement with a delicate joy.

We move to an enticing piece entitled Tavern Tale, once more that Celtic feel is there as the two musicians seem to drift into a past filled with broad oak trees and green valleys; this reminded me of the instrumental works of artists like Blackmore’s Night, but with the added uplifting percussive energies of others like pianist Matias Bacoñsky, regardless this is a truly addictive composition.

Wonder is our next port of call; this floating harmonic resonance of a track is beautifully composed and manifested into our realities with great care and tender creative skill, the soft compositional structures and melodic instrumental tapestry’s, build a piece that is both a pleasure to swim within and to drift off into a reverie with.

We edge ever closer to the mid-way segment with one of the most inventive tracks I think I have heard for quite some time entitled Among the Willows, the power and intensity here and the added whistling segments reminded me in parts of the heady days and Sergio Leone and Eastwood with a Fistful of Dollars, the pace of this creation was amazing and one that could easily be released as a single with some great success I would say.

Time for a truism, as it is always darkest just before the dawn, here on that very piece called Dark Before Dawn, we are gifted a heartfelt and deeply moving opus by the duo, one that does indeed highlight that 30 minutes or so we see each day before the beauty of another morning arrives, the symphonic gestures here were utterly emotionally sublime, a track of great texture and harmonic bliss.

Skies of Elysium is our next doorway of musical mastery. Homer once said of Elysium as a place where “No snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain, but ever does Ocean send up blasts of the shrill-blowing West Wind that they may give cooling to men” a pure paradise indeed, and this track is a testament to that aforementioned statement from the writer, tranquillity in all its aspects is created in this heavenly like composition by both artists.

We float into the open arms of this next piece entitled Trail of Redemption ft Ryan Dimmock on violin, and what a wonderful creation my ears have witnessed, an amalgamation of fluent strings, powerful piano and Gilmour like guitar from the amazing Patrick Zelinski, its music like this that constantly gives one hope that instrumental music is safe and well in the hearts of those who truly care.

I always get excited when I get to the title track, and as you can imagine I am now bathing in the masterpiece called Stratosphere. The title track is the perfect canvas for any artists to make a statement of fact and intent, and boy have they done so on this crafted manifestation. The slow and lovingly played piano of Heitmann is simple delicious, while the deft and intelligent build and progression we now move within is nothing less that spectacularly beautiful.

We now edge ever deeper into the darker waters of this great album with an acoustic beginning to a track entitled First Light. The construction of a song depicting this time of day has to take its time, and our artists do this perfectly, with a sense of artistic perceptive skill, and with the knowledgeable nuances contained within in, all of which brought back memories of a little remembered Roger Waters album called The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. 

Graviton Fields, is up next and for those who are unsure of what this is you need to watch Star Trek. Once more, one has to say through some incredibly stylish keyboard, synth and instrumental magic; the artists have brought to life the region of space surrounding a body in which another body experiences a force of gravitational attraction. Adding the guitar into the mix adds a movement, percussion and crescendo manifest a sense of speed and intensity as never seen before on one of the most ingenious tracks off the album.

I have heard a Heitmann capture my musical heart before on piano, and here he is, doing it again on the penultimate track off the album called Moonlit Echoes. Through this beautiful performance one could with ease imagine sitting on the roof of your home in the middle of a summer’s night and just watching the stars above, something I have done many times in my life, and I think this somewhat emotive track could have easily been the soundtrack for that event.

Our concluding musical narrative is Banners of the Lost ft Amy Wallace. This final parting gift from the artists is film score standard and has to be one of the most powerfully moving songs I have heard to end an album this year, Amy Wallace’s vocalisations and the symbiotic partnership with the orchestration were simply the best way ever to leave this quite stunning new album.

There can be no doubt that on Stratospheres by Eric Heitmann and Patrick Zelinski I may have just heard my album of the year, this in my view is a master work of stunning brilliance, it is an album that will rivet you to the spot, it’s a release that will demand to be listened to, and if in the 80’s you were a fan of David Lanz and Paul Speer, then you are going to fall head over heels in musical love with Stratospheres by Eric Heitmann and Patrick Zelinski.

I Wish You Peace By Cadence Spalding

 

I Wish You Peace

By

Cadence Spalding

Written by

Andy Rogers

 

As Christmas becomes increasingly a time for rampant consumerism, greed and cynicism, it is all too easy to forget what it is all supposed to be about, so it is refreshing to have this new single from Cadence Spalding, “I Wish You Peace”, that looks towards the true meaning of Christmas along with a wish for Peace on Earth (and wouldn’t that be a good thing right now?)

The single starts with a rush of excitement… Christmas Bells and a lush orchestration that I would describe as “Festive” and “Euphoric” before we get almost choral voices singing a Hallelujah refrain that returns at times throughout the track.

To give the song that traditional Christmas & Winter feeling the verses feature such familiar phrases as “Cold winters night”, “stars shone bright”, “Snow on the ground”, “a child is born”, and of course the angels who are there to “Wish you joy and wish you grace, wish you peace just like Christmas Day!”. So well put together and performed is this single that those familiar phrases come through without feeling like Christmas Clichés, which is not easy to do.  At the end the angelic chorus fades off into the distance and you are left feeling uplifted and full of the Joy of Christmas.

A wonderful Christmas single that truly evokes the Spirit of Christmas.

They Came From Afar By Richard Dillon

 

They Came From Afar

By

Richard Dillon

Written By

Andy Rogers

Christmas music can be tricky to get right if you are to avoid sickly sentiment or rampant commercialism.  This new single from Richard Dillon, “They Came from Afar” manages to convey the magic of Christmas while avoiding the obvious pitfalls.

It opens with the sound of wind and distant thunder … the music then comes in as the weary travellers approach; The music has a Middle-Eastern feel to the instrumentation with gentle percussion and the tune (to my ear) has the feel of the old Christmas carol “On Christmas Night” that really helps set the mood of the piece.

A short pause and then the music acquires a new, processional feel… you can almost see the wise men and their entourage as they approach across the desert and pass you by on their quest to follow the star … Gradually the music fades away as they go on their journey until at the end all that remains is the receding percussion and the return of the desert wind.

Another excellent single from Richard Dillon that captures the mood and deserves to do well in the charts.

 

River By Antonija Pacek

 

River

By

Antonija Pacek

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Those who know me well will know of my love of rivers, it seems somewhat ironical that I should retire to a country in Cyprus that has none, until winter comes that is, and then the fall flows from the mountains to the grateful lands below, hopefully.

However I have many great memories about rivers, they are the masters of time, and will remain so throughout our lives. This new single from Antonija Pacek highlights my thoughts, her prowess on piano on this piece is quite beautiful, and we can hear from her keys the trickledown effect of the water, the slowness and then pause of the currents, and then through the melody, the richness of a quickened flow once again.

River is a colourful and emotional offering from her hands and mind; this is a quite beautiful reverie that you will be able to listen to many times over as the years fall by, and this timeless mastery of piano by Antonija will be your release from stress and frustration, as you listen to this picture book performance and know that despite all that happens, still the river flows. 

A Light in the Dark By Antonio Miguel Pérez

 

A Light in the Dark

By

Antonio Miguel Pérez

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There is nothing the world needs now more than hope, hope that our fears may fade, hope that love wins over hate, and hope that lights up the entire world in a rhapsody of peace and respect, this brand new single by Antonio Miguel Pérez may well offer all of the above with its all empowering narrative entitled, A Light In The Dark.

The moving orchestration and powerful piano set the direction of this deeply commanding composition; this is a movement of the ages, a rally cry of future possibilities, and of course the aforementioned hope, the string sections are always going to lend a little retrospectivity into the proceedings, and the composer manifests that perfectly.

A Light in the Dark is an arrangement that illustrates our deepest desires for a peaceful life, and the emotive segments of the dance between both piano and orchestration in a symbiotic pastiche of brilliance, is truly compelling; this one has to be a big future hit for the creator, and maybe even a track that needs to be taken seriously for the big or small screen.

Shanti Noel By Paul Avgerinos

 

Shanti Noel

By

Paul Avgerinos

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The world of New Age music is never quite complete without a little Paul Avgerinos; this delightful composition I am featuring within this review is from the album of the same name and entitled Shanti Noel. The whole of this soothing album is 14 tracks of new and classic seasonal offerings, each given the care and attention to detail by the master creator himself; strangely enough both Paul and I are the same age, but just miss out on identical birthdays by some 6 days, myself being the older, but the music that Paul produces here is some of the most blissful for an ambient seasonal period you are ever likely to find.

Shanti Noel as a composition is just under 8 minutes of serenity, with some electronic mastery and layers of synths that spread across the fields of calm and peace like never before, there is no doubt that this album is likely to calm any seasonal household this winter. Avgerinos layers textures of ambience upon one another on this offering in particular, to radiate a level of tranquillity to this genre that may have never been seen, or should I say, heard before.

Shanti Noel by Paul Avgerinos is a heavenly collective of no less than 14 tracks and this incredible new arrangement is for me the highlight of one of the most remarkable ambient compositions of its style for ages.

Winter Lullaby By Michelle Qureshi

 w

Winter Lullaby

By

Michelle Qureshi

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The ambience of this new single by Michelle Qureshi is palpable and called Winter Lullaby; she has taken the subject of winter and created a realm of rebirth through her music with the most gentle of hands at the helm. The softness of her musical palette is utterly beautiful and each textured tone, a vibrancy of bliss and calm.

Qureshi now has to be the most ambient guitarist on the planet that is constantly producing high quality material to ease the listener into a dimension of pure peace and serenity, she has been one of my go to artists for years now and honestly she just keeps getting better and better.

Winter Lullaby by Michelle Qureshi highlights the importance of nature’s halt, death and rebirth; both the keyboards and guitar build a perfection of tranquillity and tenderness like never before, this is a fine example of how to manifest layer after layer of stillness, thus portraying the very essence of winter time itself, this is simply perfect in every way and a song that deserves to be saved to as many playlists as physically possible.  

The Magic of Christmas Joy By Julia Thomsen

 

The Magic of Christmas Joy

By

Julia Thomsen

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This brand new seasonal offering by Julia Thomsen is a light in the dark for us at this time of year, her stunningly beautiful creation called The Magic of Christmas Joy reminds us that this time of year can be as cathartic as it can be challenging for us all, but above all, it has to be a happy time, and that is exactly the energy that this new single brings to my heart.

Julia is fast becoming very well known for not only her skills on the piano, but of one who composes absolutely glorious neo classical manifestations, ones that literally make the hairs on your arms stand up, The Magic of Christmas Joy is one such arrangement, soft palettes of musical colour are added by some of the most magical emotional orchestration you are likely to hear.

The gentle narrative of this composition makes it so very compelling and deeply moving. I have said this before, but Julia’s music truly needs to find its way into the heart of the soundtrack genre and onto a movie quickly, it is that good.

I must also give a shout out to Shere Fraser who plays flute on this piece, Julia told me that Shere had always wanted to collaborate with her on a piece of music, and it was wonderful to finally have this happen.

So while you are unwrapping your presents this year, please make sure to add The Magic of Christmas Joy by Julia Thomsen on your seasonal playlist of choice, it will utterly enhance the experience, and leave all with a sense of Yule bliss.

Journey Through the Seasons By Julia Thomsen

 

Journey Through the Seasons

By

Julia Thomsen

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s been a pleasure over the last few years to sample compositions and arrangements by Julia Thomsen, she was an artist that helped us through the pandemic years, and now she closes the year 2023 out with one of her most breath-taking creations yet called, Journey Through the Seasons.

This is so very beautiful, the combination of her piano and orchestration is sublimely manifested and produced, this is a true feel good offering that leaves you with a sense of happiness at its conclusion.

Listening to Journey Through the Seasons makes me wonder if some insightful movie director may have a touch of good sense and include this in their film; it would create such an idyllic moment.  Julia Thomsen has grown exponentially in her range of compositional structures and fluent manifestations, and here with Journey Through the Seasons I hear an empowering yet sensitive narrative being played out.

Thomsen has created the perfect year ending moment with this new single, and as such I can see no reason why the artist shouldn’t now have a huge hit on her hands because of it. 

Holiday Wonders By Ante Svircic

 

Holiday Wonders

By

Ante Svircic

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s that time of year, yes its winter and as such a whole host of holiday seasonal material will be falling from the musical clouds above like snow from a looming cloud, many will melt away until next year, however some, a few, will rise above the rest and offer many opportunities for the artist to expand on further.

Here on this latest single Holiday Wonders by composer Ante Svircic, here the artist has done just that by manifesting a multi-faceted creation that could fill many realities, the gentle mysterious tones of this new offering could be used for example on a new Netflix holiday seasonal movie, the magical properties of this new release could well fit into many television series at this time of year, or it could be part of a cheer filled musical playlist of your choice.

Holiday Wonders by Ante Svircic is a clever release by the composer; it’s a thrilling, sparkling sleigh ride of a composition to enjoy, its cheerful topical melodies will be a constant this season of good will and in doing so will elevate up many a seasonal playlist with its light hearted energies and reveries.

Across A Veiled River By Anantakara

 

Across A Veiled River

By

Anantakara

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This latest release by Anantakara has to be the most detailed and in depth work ever by the artist, the title of this new wonder work is Across A Veiled River, and contained inside are 9 simply amazing and fascinating works of electronic wizardry; I’ve always been a fan of the musicians work, but this album seals the deal for me.

We can start with the gentle openings of the first track in Nothing Really Ends, a soothing first few moments soon morphs into a rhythmic pastiche of tones and colours, whilst pieces like All Those Days Down There highlight the creators artistic flair and deliberate patience, as we are gifted a near on 8 minute opus of build, progression and mysterious wonderment, the syncopation of the synth work here is utterly sublime.

We can also listen to the keyboards in piano mode on tracks like Forgiven Not Forgotten, a track that reminds me of early Al Gromer Khan without of course the sitar in parts, and then compositions akin to the addictive and tentative Feeling Safe In This Rift, a beautifully arranged and produced golden nugget of textured electronic mastery.

The penultimate offering is a track entitled Letting Go, Finding Light, again the artist explores new musical narratives and manifests an offering that drifts on the warm winds of the western oceans, and floats in and out like the tides of time itself, this is one of those tracks that you will find yourself coming back to many times over, maybe to catch all those wonderful electronic nuances you missed the first time around.

The concluding musical narrative is the deep waters of the piece entitled The Other Shore In Sight. A track that contains a lighter energy of sorts and in an almost chill out vibe style, this piece then experiments and explores, and then creates a gentle coda with its final parting.

Across A Veiled River by Anantakara is in my view the artists best work thus far, each composition is created in such depth that it demands to be listened to with a keen ear and an open mind. Here is an album with sumptuous textures, and crafted artistry, a very classy work has been created here indeed, and any electronic musician fan or even musician should be proud to have Across A Veiled River by Anantakara in their collections.

Dream of Angel By Victor Birkan

 

Dream of Angel

By

Victor Birkan

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This new single by Victor Birkan has to be the most thought provoking and deep compositions thus far by the artist, but with the title of Dream of Angel who would have thought it. One peak at the art work that comes with the single may give you some idea of the reflective and emotive energies behind this new composition.

Birkan plays with a slow but steady tempo, setting the scene, drawing the picture, and creating profound and deep rooted moods, this is Birkan at his artistic best, the passion flows strong within this release, and I think listeners will be attracted to it because of the poignant musical structures that are developed here.

There is also an underpinned sensitivity within this arrangement that is also very appealing, its heart felt sentiments drift from the pianist’s keys like a late autumn sunset, and then hover around the listeners senses begging to be acknowledged, which allows me to say that in my opinion Dream of Angel by Victor Birkan is some of his best work thus far.

Joy to the World By Jamie Bonk

 

Joy to the World

By

Jamie Bonk

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The music of Jamie Bonk has been in my life as a European radio host since 2012 and the album Necessity, but the artist has been plying his trade for far longer; however I get to review his first new Christmas music in a decade, since the release of The First Noel back in 2013, and it has to be said it is one of the most charming of arrangements of Joy To The World I think I have ever heard.

The whole piece is given a total make over, and beautiful over laid vocals can be heard drifting over the snow tipped mountains of a lush and textured orchestration. Jamie’s signature acoustic guitar of course is a huge part of the composition, and one must say that his performance on it is very uplifting.

This well-known Christmas piece is now a single, and as such its potential to go all the way is real and very tangible. The overall construction and quality of this piece is incredibly attractive and has a popular quality feel to it, one could imagine with ease Jamie playing it live over this festive period, and that experience ending with a rapturous applause, as there can be no doubt that Joy to the World by Jamie Bonk is the perfect of placements on any Christmas playlist this winter.

Friendly Planet By Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

 

Friendly Planet

By

Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The new offering from Hanslik and Moniz is a prime example of electronic music meets guitar, the resulting compilation of tracks is a superbly crafted Avant guard, almost new electronica and ambient work of genius.

Friendly Planet is a collection of totally addictive arrangements; the title track opens the release and this is but one of six fine portraits of skilled brilliance for us all to enjoy. The mixture of synths and guitar here gift us a combination of music that is literally a selection of works of art in a musical gallery to be admired, the entire composition sets the scene for the unfurling of pieces like Channelling Siri, a track that even though just over 4 minutes long, reminded me of US electronic musician Forrest Smithson in content and style.

The crafted textures of the next offering On Shore Eddie, were so light and ambient and easy to dive into, it was a true pleasure to listen to, especially the fine guitar work by Moniz in the early stages of the composition, those string based moments of magic were matched amazingly with an incredibly hypnotic electronic keyboard performance, one that was almost John Carpenter in style at times, and yes, this would indeed be my favourite piece off the release.

As we take a tentative foot inside the second half of the album we come across a track that is a work of art within itself, and called We Are Your Friends. I found a defined energetic elevation here that was most attractive to listen to; this offering was for me the very real essence of the album, and the experimental nature of this track was deeply fascinating, as both synths and guitar formed a symbiotic partnership here that was incredibly addictive.

We find ourselves knocking on the door to the penultimate offering of the album called Meadow. This piece had a certain mysterious quality about its construction that I found most appealing, and there were certain aspects of the guitar here that worked so beautifully with Hanslik’s keyboards and synths.

This set things up perfectly for the last offering, the short form composition of Drifting gave us the conclusion to the project and done so cleverly that it could have easily been expanded time wise, but would turn out to be a text book finish, allowing us, the ever eager listener to exit what has been a wonderful journey through the realms created by the artists Hanslik and Moniz.

Friendly Planet by the Hanslik & Moniz Experiment is one of those albums you can sit and watch the day go by to and feel totally fulfilled by the experience; for me it was a talented collection of classy electronic and guitar performances, some incredibly inventive and personally for me being a guitarist, at times quite inspiring, I would love to have a go at creating something like this. If you wish an album to enthral you and fascinate you many times over, then you really need to buy Friendly Planet.

Calaboose Islands By Mike Hans STEFFL

 

Calaboose Islands

By

Mike Hans STEFFL

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I always appreciate the music of other electronic musicians; it always pleases me to hear their creations and then draw inspiration from it. Here Mike Hans STEFFL has produced one of the most exciting and certainly most moody albums, with the release of his latest work entitled Calaboose Islands.

The perfect prison was, and I imagine still is, a concept that a judiciary system seeks to purvey to its populace, taking the criminals out to a far flung region and leaving them there, almost like a nature version of the French oubliette. Here the artists paints an interesting musical juxtaposition of the then and now, incarceration and natures reclamation of land over time.

This is a superb electronic music album, filled with mood, thoughtful textures and exciting symbioses, from the ever so mournful opening piece entitled Makronisos, a track with a heartfelt refrain and a deep moving arrangement to pieces like Asinara, the longest piece on the release, and is a dark pervading tones of a mysterious and introspective nature. Mike Hans STEFFL produces a crafted intelligence on synths and keyboards that offers up a duality for us to explore through his music.

This wonderful 7 track collection of shadowy works is a sublime collection of electronic genius, the artist even raises the energy and rhythms on tracks like Con Dao, which then swirls into incredible levels of musical uncertainty, this is truly quality material, if you are a fan of artists like Thom Brennan or Steve Roach, then you are going to adore this great album.

There is nothing to dislike on Calaboose Islands, it’s an electronic music fans Narnia, and while the long form opus of Pianosa drifts on the four winds of yesteryear, the ever inexplicable and deeply perplexing halls of Alcatraz conclude our custodial voyage, with a vibrant powerful and imposing slice of electronic wizardry.

Calaboose Islands by Mike Hans STEFFL is a fine example of top quality electronic music, the keyboard and synth skills are sublime, the creativity and artistry doubly so, the musician also has a wonderfully pronounced imaginative flair, thus opening up the genre of electronic music with a berlin style, to become more accessible to all.  Calaboose Islands by Mike Hans STEFFL has been one of the most enjoyable electronic music albums I have listened to this year; I see big things on the charts for this most profound of albums.