Heart Bridge By Shambhu

 

Heart Bridge

By

Shambhu

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Take a musical instrument, take the finest in the land to play it and magic happens. I first felt this way when I heard the flute played both by Deuter and Nigel Shaw; I feel this way now whenever I listen to a Shambhu composition, and the sheer tapestry of calm and tranquillity that emanates from his guitar.

His latest single is called Heart Bridge and one can cross this with ease by embracing the lush colours, moods and consistencies of this quite mesmerising creation, and from the strings of one of the most creative and peace filled instrumentalists of his day.

From the very first note on this brand new offering serenity was achieved, it’s also the backdrop and the surrounding ambience that one feels from a composition of this elk too, and we can watch the notes that are literally caressed from the most willing guitar, and be in awe.

The structure is so lush that if it had been 10 minutes long I would have still be lost within its beautiful realm of calm. If you are one who seeks sanctuary from a crazy world, I would recommend anything by Shambhu, but especially this new and quite charming guitar reverie called Heart Bridge, this is a cathartic journey of instrumental majesty that everyone should have in their collections.

Helen's Willow Wind & Friends By Helen's Willow Wind

 

Helen's Willow Wind & Friends

By

Helen's Willow Wind

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I think Helen's Willow Wind holds a rare and possibly unique title in releasing two debut albums at the same time; I have already reviewed her solo album called Notes From The Heart, so go and check that out, today I am taking a voyage of plenty with a remarkable collection of fine melodies on the second album, Helen's Willow Wind & Friends.

This is an 8 track creation that contains some of the best new age instrumentalists around, and joining Helen of manifesting one of the most compelling flute albums I have heard for a while, the opening foray finds none other than Randy “Windtalker” Motz, himself a flute performer of great skill and passion, but on synths and keyboards this time, and in doing so adding a whole new layer of tone to the offering, A Study of Intonation and Undulation.

Exploration ft Sherry Bunch is up next, and this mesmerizing piece could be turnabout is fair play as Helen features on her RAV drum to Bunch’s deft and stylish performance on flute, I remember this one in the charts last year and it was a soothing and healing music narrative of a composition.

An old friend returns on the next offering When Caves Sing and features none other than Lady Bird, the artists parrot, who indeed gifts us a fine performance, whilst this next opus features one of the finest flute performers of his day in my view, in the legendary Timothy Gomez, on the composition Northern Lights Wind, this is a stunning reverie, a true dichotomy is explored as we juxtapose the cause and effect of the Northern Lights themselves, Gomez is supreme on his trusty flute, whilst Helen’s drum poses a lush melody to enjoy.

Time Is a River ft Jim Bellows on drum is a truly meaningful composition, whilst the flutes of Helen draw us to this moment of poignancy. Bellows rhythm is a reminder that a river always flows, unceasing, unabated by time, always onwards, this is a beautiful piece as a dedication to a dear friend now gone, the heartfelt sense of that creation is also not lost on the following one called The Dream, a sublime slice of flute magic that not only contains the talents of the aforementioned Gomez, but also the multi-instrumental skill set of Tommy Graven into the mix as well, in a totally blissful slice of instrumental magic.

We now draw into orbit of the penultimate manifestation from the release and this gem is called Out There, Lady Bird in Outer Space, she is back folks, and beaming into a home near you, the sheer enjoyment one can have by having a pet (or as I call them) a family member upon one of your recordings is simply great, our dog has been on our radio shows many times, and his contributions add a certain organic flavour to the proceedings!

It’s time to take on board our concluding piece and this magical moment features the illustrious Timothy J P Gomez once more on the offering Conscious Meditation. This fluent and charming manifestation is simply idyllic, and leaves one with a true meditative energy, the breath work, the drum and gentle flute, creates the best ending creation on an album you could ever wish for.

Helen's Willow Wind & Friends by Helen's Willow Wind does exactly what it says on the can, and features a whole host of multi-talented flute performers and instrumentalists alongside the artist herself. This release is an artistic and creative collection of wonderfully orchestrated compositions, showing many sides to not only the musicians skill sets, but also her abilities as a composer too, it’s a celebration of all that is good in the world of flute and instrumental music, and one that should yet again see Helen and her friends back on the charts.  

Notes from the Heart By Helen's Willow Wind

 

Notes from the Heart

By

Helen's Willow Wind

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Never has a title been more accurate, as this music is without doubt from the place of truth called the heart. Helen’s Willow Wind has been on my musical radar now for a couple of years, and ever since the release of A Call to the Divine back in 2022, a track that also appears on this debut album, since then the flute has called to her constantly, and here for us to enjoy is her first personal album of 12 sublime tracks entitled Notes from the Heart.

The album is a deeply soothing musical narrative in its entirety, and one that starts with the gentle and respectful opener entitled End of Summer Lament, a mournful glance over the shoulder at a season past, it’s strange for me this one, as our autumn will not start until October.

Helen has that touch of sensitivity to make her flute sing such tender tones on the solo piece A Call to the Divine, she produces a musical prayer of great tenderness and respect here, whilst on tracks like Out There - Lady Bird in Outer Space, and we have a horse, or should that be a lady bird of a different colour, this is a really fun track with some superb spacey effects that come courtesy of her parrot, this is most certainly a track that I hope will live long and prosper.

Short form musical narratives are also catered for with the compositions Divine Call Answered, When Caves Sing, the natural textures of Convergence, a special sanctuary of water on Mournful Rain, and the harmonic conjunction of one amazing creation called Above And Beyond, each of these have their own personal story and add much to the overall manifestation of the album.

Once the penultimate track is reached we have attained a level of tranquillity that is most soothing indeed, and we can enjoy that through the refrains of the arrangement called Time Is A River, a soft pastiche of serenity that is so beautifully played on her flute by the artist, the hand pan drum a symbiotic choice without doubt is added to the mix.

Now I must say this makes a pleasant change as the longest composition from the album is our concluding piece and called Drumming Rain, this is a clever call from the artist as the listener has plenty of time to simply float with the hand pan, and enjoy the reverie that it brings, this instrument is very entrancing and so is this track.

Notes from the Heart by Helen's Willow Wind is one of two, yes two debut album releases given to the world by the artist on the same day, more about the other in an alternate review, but here on Notes from the Heart we have an album that is filled with serenity and calm, and one that enhances feelings of peace and tranquillity, and that cannot be a bad thing, this is going to be an album that will be embraced by all as an instrumental album of great quality, and as such a truly exceptional chart position should follow for it.

Calming Colors by Bernward Koch

 

Calming Colors

By

Bernward Koch

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I cannot believe that the artist has created no less than 16 albums in his career, and this one Calming Colors being the latest. Bernward Koch has been the master of new age piano with instrumentation for simply ages, in fact my first album from him dates back to a release called Walking Through Clouds from 2005, I remember it well, today though sees the release of a brand new endeavour called Calming Colors, and it is this musical voyage of serenity that we now traverse.

The opening foray is entitled Distant Bell, it reminded me of an instance from only yesterday, whilst in my pool I listened to a distant bell from one of the countries churches chime, it’s a sound I love, not for any religious circumstances, I just love the feel of the sound, it reminds me of summers past. Here Koch adds a little flair unto a piece that is so transcendent and colourful and for some strange reason reminds me of a Procol Harum performance by Matthew Fisher.

The following musical narrative is called Solemnly, the gentle almost humble presentation on keyboards by the German composer is akin the new age compositions of the past, one that artists like the late but great Philip Chapman used to present us with back in the 90’s, while compositions like Meadow Dreams gift us a pleasant and almost childlike place of peace and solitude to revel within, whilst ghosts of a happy past play in timeless reveries of serenity and calm around us.

Koch’s brand of instrumentalism is what I was brought up on in the late 90’s as a presenter on local radio, being one of the first radio hosts to introduce such music to a pop driven audience, creating a sanctuary of sound therefore is a personal thing and tracks like Sunny Fields manifests moments of happiness and cheer with a delightful array of beautiful tones and vibrations, this is yet another idyllic reverie of yesteryear, when summers were longer, hotter and sunnier, or so we thought, but the presentation confirms our willing confirmation bias with some of the most pristine piano as of yet heard on the release.

Children's Lullaby is something a lot of us can remember from our pasts, those days we thought would never end, now seem like grains of sand upon a distant shore, gone into the past forever more, this charming lullaby though will no doubt remind us that although those moments will never come again, we still have them stored in our hearts.

A change of tone here as we reach the half way juncture on a piece called Windy Walk, many of these I have undertaken, and one must say that Koch has all the elements perfectly in balance for this composition. A slight trepidation can be found here, an excitement of sorts, and a determination to succeed and enjoy the process; this specific piece almost reminds me in part of the Eno brothers on their last album, strangely enough named Mixing Colours.

The line from US poet Robert Frost sums up this next track when he writes “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep” There is a little solemn motif here that is so appealing to the listener on Forever Green, its depth is like an endless forest, and combined with that there is also a sensitive Celtic refrain that hovers along with the melody, it is one that demands not to be forgotten, in my view this one track highlights for me why Bernward Koch is one of the world leaders in this genre, on a piece that could easily be used in a television series or a movie.

Time now to lie back on the hillsides lush grass and just allow yourself to have a Little Daydream, here lies a song that is so very emotive and deeply moving, that one can literally feel the hairs on the arms stand to attention whilst listening to this incredible reverie. The flow, the slight dramatic ethic, the full and rich performance that elevates and draws back, makes this a stand out track from the album.

So we’re heading there now, into my favourite season of the year as we see the Autumn Light ahead of us. This is a gorgeous creation from the artist, manifesting both memory and present beauty. Summer has ended, but we can now enjoy the changes that a rebirth contains, the colours of the leaves as they fall to the ground, the softer pastel textures of the days ahead, it is all here on one of the most expressive and artistic tracks from the album, this for me also could well be a musical soundtrack for British poet John Claire when he wrote “I love to see the cottage smoke, curl upwards through the trees, the pigeons nestled round the cote on November days like these” on his work Autumn.

Title tracks are always a moment of excitement for me, this is the grand stage that all around it has been built and here on Calming Colors we have a majestic, textured tapestry of calm and tranquillity, a magical moment when all coalesces into a carpet of musical history. This is Koch at his very best, manifesting a passionate offering, yet still holding the performance, one that seems to be rooted in the classical, close to both his heart and yours, a stunning composition indeed.

We have amazingly arrived at the penultimate creation and another personal favourite of mine called Sweet Solitude, I used to revel in my solitude, oh to be alone, to be the creator of my own destiny, those were the days of my past, those times when I needed a sanctuary away from the madness of chaos, and a track like this would have helped back then, as a soft and gentle energy is manifested here, whilst a little reflection is allowed and created in an almost enchanted way by the artist, this is without doubt music to allow oneself to sink into, and then rise from your own ashes if needed.

The concluding offering is entitled Walk On The Beach and has the rare addition of a light percussion and an ever onward rhythm within the mix of the arrangement, a fluent offering that has a Hotel California mood to its construction as well, whilst Koch allows himself a moment of an immersive band experience, with a classy multi-instrumental conclusion to the album.

Calming Colors by Bernward Koch has to be one of the most artistic and colourful releases ever by the artist, this new album is rich in its textures and comforts us through its tonal structures, and leaves us at the conclusion feeling fully satisfied and pleasantly happy. You simply cannot fault the master of new age music moods, here is an artist who has been there and done it all, and still with each passing year, manages to pull ripe musical oranges from a most willing tree, and then put them all into a basket and create an album that literally tastes as good as it sounds. Calming Colors by Bernward Koch is a total must for all serious music lovers, and for those who seek a sanctuary away from the madness of the day.

Upper Atmosphere By Ed Herbers

 

Upper Atmosphere

By

Ed Herbers

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The depth of a truly good space music album is its ability to allow the listener to roam freely within and without, to create no boundaries, only a vast oasis of sound that can be a galactic sanctuary for all who wish to immerse themselves within it. Ed Herbers has done just that on this latest release entitled Upper Atmosphere.

This 12 track collection of wonderfully picturesque compositions starts its journey off with an opener called Cruising Altitude, a perfecting starting place for our musical mothership, rising tones of powerful and insightful synth music takes control of our elevation, a dark rumbling echoes in the backdrop of an inky space time continuum.   

I’m blessed, I have two amazing friends who manifest magical electronic space music in my life, in David De Michelle from the US and Kevin Kendle from the UK, and elements of both of those music supremo’s can be found within the confines of this new release, the floating narrative of Exo’s is a fine example of the purity of a truly good arrangement of this elk, mix that with the following creation named, Something Is Out There, which gives us a question that is still unanswered, but is tantalisingly closer than ever before, the deeper tones here manifest an environment where the imagination can make anything come into reality.

I don’t know how I would ever imagine the feelings that a Spacewalk must bring, it’s like walking on the very edge of the razor of life itself, here Herbers manifests that mood brilliantly with a higher elevation of tone, bringing into view an energy of palpable excitement and trepidation, this classy composition allows us infinite listeners to drift into the open arms of the delicacy of a piece like Points of Light, or into the ethereal soundscapes of the almost Vangelis like Stratosphere, regardless this is an album that has it all.

There is moodiness about our penultimate offering which is called The Overview Effect; this cognitive shift allows us to see from a different perspective a view of great beauty to a transcendent level. This has to be one of the most powerful compositions on the album and one I loved dearly, if this track had been ten minutes long I would have still pressed repeat, it is simply stunning, and the performance from Herbers on synths is a work of utter electronic genius on its own.

The concluding piece is a fresh mix of track 9, and is called Splashdown (Accordion Mix), this adds a whole new layer to the original manifestation, one that gives it an edge and a sense of completion.

Upper Atmosphere by Ed Herbers is one of those albums you really do not want to miss, especially if you are a firm fan of all things space like me, or you just like truly good electronic space music, also just like me. It’s an album with fluent and elegant performances, mixed with a passion from the decades of looking up at night and wishing on a star, and as such it should be a huge hit on the charts, and maybe more!

Devotion By Rick Sparks

 

Devotion

By

Rick Sparks

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Rick Sparks has been a leading new age instrumentalist for many years, each passing composition, each single, each album that is gifted to the world by this stunning composer always lives up to the very high standards of calm and serenity set long ago, and here on this new release entitled Devotion, that doesn’t change a single jot, in fact the commitment to travel to the tranquil shores of calm are reached with utter ease, and perhaps in a peace, as of yet not seen before.

Devotion is a release of pure charm and serenity, the title track is very much a soothing reverie, with layered synths, beautifully lush chords, restful harmonies and pertinent chimes, I think this is as close that Sparks has ever got to creating music for a movie segment, as it is harmonic, ethereal and quite moving.

We drift ever slowly down the stream to this next attractive arrangement called River of Peace. I used to find great solace from rivers, the slow steady onward movement, and sometimes the placid nature of the surface is all that is needed to find an enchanting respite. Here on this composition Sparks creates music for that aforementioned statement, one that flows with a passion, with a sense of purpose, a river of calm, a river of life, a river of peace!

The third of the six pieces on the release is the keyboard based reverie entitled My Refuge, this one I found particularly fascinating, there was a truly emotive minor nature to this arrangement that made the whole composition so appealing, but then one that the artist took control of and rowed our musical boat into the more the amiable banks of sensitivity, whilst the angelic vocalisations reminded us of our journey thus far perhaps.

The Sacrifice is our next port of call and this entrancing opus is indeed an alluring arrangement, once more colourful textures are created by the master of tender tones and timbre, a captivating safe harbour is found residing within its musical arms

On the penultimate offering Be Still and Know, we perhaps have a piece of musical awareness right before our eyes. There is without doubt a pleasantness here that is so undeniable, one that makes this manifestation so compelling, and at the same time so enjoyable, and it is called Be Still And Know. This is with ease the most meditative slice of genius from the album, and great comfort and peace can be found within its hallowed halls of musical plenitude.

We round up our voyage with the artist with the concluding offering called The Road Home; this one in particular has a real essence of the classical within its construct, and reminds me of my personal favourite composers of all time in Vaughan Williams, whose pastoral romantic exploits of The Lark Ascending still to this day fill me with an emotion that is unabated. This extremely classy composition would in my view make an excellent single, it is uplifting, has a beautifully melody, a perfect reflective hint of emotion just when needed, and is the idyllic end to a very accomplished release.

There can be no doubt that Rick Sparks is one of new age music’s finest instrumentalists, his multi-faceted compositions are always a sonic bath of quietude just when its needed, and each track of this incredibly soothing release will give much comfort and contentment to each listener who has the good sense to embrace it, another masterful hit therefore must be on the cards for Rick Sparks and Devotion. 

Lone Birds on the Mara By Lis Addison

 

Lone Birds on the Mara

By

Lis Addison

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This is a moment that is special, a tick of the clock that can be stopped for a short while to feel the ever growing ambience and reality of true life that is always around us, via the refrains of this beautiful new single entitled Lone Birds on the Mara by Lis Addison.

I adore the self-description that Lis uses to describe herself and her art by, as a musical alchemist, never has a truer word been written, and it’s been a delight for me to have been able to have listened to her albums and music collections, since the release of Crown In The Sky in 2013, indeed the new age music industry has been all the better for her being in it.

Here on this brand new offering Lis creates a special arrangement of ambience and tranquillity with her new manifestation entitled, Lone Birds on the Mara, and whilst I have never, as of yet been to this continent, I can do so vicariously with the artist, thanks to this simply amazing composition.

This idyllic mixture of delicate tonal percussion and natural sounds of the aforementioned birds, is a blissful pastiche of colours and textures, Addison’s pitch perfect vocalisations equally so, the keyboards that caress both a major and minor refrain, do so with such a tenderness and serene quality.

Locational music is a truly special genre and Lis does it so well, pull up some images of the Mara on your computer and listen to this at the same time, it is a sublime experience, one I am certain that will be embraced by the listeners, her fans, the charts, and possibly even more, this is new age music at its very best.

Check out the new single now: https://lisaddison.bandcamp.com/track/lone-birds-on-the-mara

Starfield By Michelle Qureshi

 

Starfield

By

Michelle Qureshi

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The depth of this latest single entitled Starfield is incredibly palpable and introduces us once again to a magical instrument, which is the flute of Michelle Qureshi. I have long been a fan of her ambient structures and here on this new offering we see that in abundance, a compositional creation of an incalculable vast cosmos, and the myriads of star fields that reside within it.

The floating aspect of this track reminded me of my time in various planetariums across the world, that moment when all goes dark and the light show begins, and we are gifted a truly magnificent spectacle of an endless space above and around us, it is so humbling.

Michelle’s flute manifests that perfectly, and we are presented with a piece of music that would have gone well on many starlit skies in places of zero light pollution, fortunately for us we have many here on our island, and this very music would indeed be the perfect soundtrack for that event.

Personally I rate Qureshi as one of the finest ambient artists of her time and her style, she doesn’t just compose the music, she both feels it and allows it to consume her, this is why her powers of musical creativity are so compelling, as they are literally felt and brought into a musical reality that is so exciting.

Starfield by Michelle Qureshi is a hit waiting to happen, and one that I am sure will be embraced by her fans and those who like their music to literally draw them a locational narrative that is utterly real, and then leave them an immersive experience to enjoy.

Silent Alchemy By Kate Jaconello

 

Silent Alchemy

By

Kate Jaconello

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Today sees the return of an old friend, one that I have not seen in person since our visit to the Tate Modern in London back in 2011, but never the less, it is so good to see the musical return of one of the brightest stars in instrumental new age music in Kate Jaconello, and with a sparkling new single called Silent Alchemy.

Kate’s musical career would bring us Earth and Sky in 2011, an album that would bring much colour, style and grace into a then flourishing genre. I remember it well, then a few single releases, they were rare in the genre back then, and now some 9 years or so later, she has embraced the now flourishing singles culture, with one of the most sensitive and beautiful pieces of the year thus far.

Her touch reminds me of neo-classical composer and pianist Kerani; her compositional structures have that textured and stylish craft that David Lanz became famous for, but here on Silent Alchemy we have a proud new tapestry of tone and timbre that is literally transcendent in all of its components, from its gentle symphonic background, its emotive melody, and its smooth and heartfelt note progression.

If Kate ever wanted to remake her mark in the world of new age instrumental music, she has certainly knocked the ball out of the park with Silent Alchemy, fluent, sensitive and deeply touching, and whilst we’re at it, a guaranteed mega hit and perhaps even more is in the making.

Momentum By Javier Márquez

 

Momentum

By

Javier Márquez

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are times an album will float into your life with all the harmonic grace of a feather from an airborne dove, a release filled with peace, tranquil beauty and a sublime nature that makes the listening experience so very heart felt and emotional. That occurrence has just happened with the arrival of Momentum by Javier Márquez, a release that may well be one of the most outstanding of 2024 for me.

I have listened several times to this album, it’s something that truly has to be done, I wanted the experience to be immersive before I reached for the keyboard to start writing, and I am so glad I did, tracks like the stunning Resilience filled my musical heart with an abundance of colour and joy, the convergence of an ethereal bliss was brought to a new height by the charming vocals of Julie Elven, with Pablo Cano on electric guitar also creating great charm, and in doing so adding much to the multi-instrumental mastery of Márquez.

The Spanish born composer and musician is a breath of fresh air to the music business, and Momentum a release that should be praised for its utter quality, like the track Duermevela which is a fine example of that prowess, however the highlight for me on this piece was the amazing work of one José Manuel Posada "Popo" on fretless bass, that segment is worth multiple listens.

I liken this release to an album I have loved for years called Pictured Within, by the late but great Jon Lord, it’s completely different in its musical compositional structures and style, but creates such a deep and emotional response, as did the aforementioned album. Listen to track 3, as yet another segment of emotive bliss called Quietude can be found here, the arrangement is reflective and serene. The Gito Maletá piano was a thing of great beauty, whilst a sublime idyllic sense of solemn peace could be found in the Armenian duduk of Márquez.

As we approach the half way juncture we find the title track, this slice of creative genius is yet another moving musical tribute of high class contemporary music, and called of course Momentum, there is a soothing pastiche of classical overtones within this track that is so beautiful, whilst the energies of the new age genre float across the cumulus clouds of textured harmony, with such lush contributing performances within its frame as well, from the operatic styled vocals of Clara Sorace, to the sensitive tones of Daniel Sáez on cello.

I cannot state just how deeply touching this release truly is, each composition is so poignant and powerfully stirring in its arrangements, like this following narrative called Balada das ondas, a piano reverie so tender, whilst a more global fusion shaped composition could be found on the piece Pulsar, whilst the instrumental elegance of Márquez was in full flow, a remarkable performance on percussion by Javier Rabadán on percussion was something truly captivating.

The deeper waters of our musical boat ride now take us into the fluent canals of absolute musical loveliness with the piece When we leaving home, the fretless bass is once again there, but the convergence of tone between guitar, piano and duduk created a ballad so heart felt and romantic in its overall nature.

The penultimate offering from the album was with ease the most fascinating I have ever heard from the artist and called Éphémère. Now I happen to speak French, so I recognised the word as meaning, lasting for a short period of time, in fact with this slice of percussive mastery some 3 minutes and 26 seconds in total, a huge tip of the hat can also go to Iván Ruiz Machado on double bass. I have heard some great jazz performances relating to this instrument, but this one was doubly inventive, and artistically presented music for percussion and bass indeed.

Our final arrangement now takes centre stage and is called Under no flag, the acoustic guitar here was as blissful as a summers day in early June, whilst the     entire reverie created by Márquez had a slight Jazz element to its construction, one could just fill their realities full of one of the finest instrumental offerings off the release, a superb concluding creation by the artist indeed, and what a great way to end the release.

Momentum by Javier Márquez is one of the most magnificence albums I have had the pleasure to review this year, every inch of compositional creation and structure, each exquisite performance, and the delicious quality of production makes this release for me one of the best in this style, I have heard for a long while. Prepared to be moved, uplifted, calmed and enthralled, this is an album that has it all, and whilst doing so it creates for each and every listener, a sanctuary of soothing sound to willingly escape into.

Angkor Wat By Ron Korb

 

Angkor Wat

By

Ron Korb

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have now listened to this new single from Ron Korb entitled Angkor Wat several times, and I think if truth be told it will be several times more over the months and years ahead; this is a perfect example of a timeless reverie, one that brings solace, calm and tranquillity to the senses, so why should that ever end.

On this new creation Ron plays a bamboo woodwind called a Pie Pook, created for him by Cambodian master flutist Yim Saing on a visit to the country. The tones and timbre that are created here are stunning, today I have allowed myself to get lost within the composition and I’m very pleased I did so, a fine energy of tranquillity and serenity seemed to descend upon me, and whilst doing so it created a lush garden of meditative bliss to enjoy.

The vibrancy of this new single is something to behold, it magically creates images of deep green forests and ancient temples that are hidden by the ever encroaching vines and woodlands. This is a superbly textured performance by Korb, on a piece that reminds me of artists like Deuter on tracks like Amida from his Buddha Nature album.

There can be no doubt that Korb is a master of his art and over the years has proven himself so, here on this new single Angkor Wat he shows both his humility and his mastery, by manifesting a sublime new solo woodwind (Pie Pook) arrangement, one that I think will be embraced totally by fans of both the New Age and Flute genres, and as such a big hit could well be on the cards for Ron Korb and Angkor Wat.

YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJg05e4cWGk

 

Spotify Link https://open.spotify.com/album/1H5yutHGJxqlxxNDWV8PMz?si=LpfNJtmXQMmoPvADbAwg8w

 

Aphrodite’s Rock By Steve Sheppard ft. Chrissie Sheppard

 

Aphrodite’s Rock

By

Steve Sheppard ft. Chrissie Sheppard

Written by Andy Rogers

 

Steve Sheppard lives with his wife Chrissie on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean and the influence of the island with its beauty, myths and legends runs through Steve’s music.

Aphrodite’s Rock, Steve’s current single, is based on the tales of Aphrodite in Greek Mythology and uses sounds from Aphrodite’s birth-place and features Steve’s atmospheric keyboard work along with flute and vocalisation from his wife Chrissie.

Opening with sounds of nature and a strummed bouzouki we are then transported to the beach with gentle waves, soothing keyboards and an ethereal flute (courtesy of Steve’s wife Chrissie). The sound of footsteps takes us slowly along the beach as Chrissie’s vocals merge seamlessly with sounds of beach life and nature, an intriguing mix of ancient myth and the reality of life in the 21^st century, before we end our visit to Aphrodite’s Rock with gentle piano and flute.

Steve’s music is of course inspired by the new-age and ambient genres which he has been listening to for more years than he would probably wish to count, but make no mistake, his own brand of music is utterly unique. This new single is compelling and pulls you in to hear more. Once again Steve Sheppard has taken us on a remarkable and intriguing musical voyage of discovery. 

Sacred Waters By David Lanz & Kristin Amarie

 

Sacred Waters

By

David Lanz & Kristin Amarie

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I had the pleasure of watching a video of this new single on a recent visit to the residence of David and Kristin, it was stunning to view such a smooth beauty roll out before my eyes, and one that encapsulate my senses too, Sacred Waters returns to our musical table, the unbeatable partnership of David Lanz & Kristin Amarie, with a new exciting cinematic release of great quality.

It is always good to see the fruits of ones labours come to fruition, especially when it is as musically profound as this new release, and the growth of neo-classical music across the world is amazingly vast in proportion, and now awaits its comforting refrains with glee. David Lanz is one of those artists who can just look at a piano and magic happens; in fact the piano to Lanz is akin to the wand of Harry Potter, which I have just realised makes Kristin Hermione Jean Granger!

When you add in the compositional creative genius of Kristin Amarie you are always going to be totally destined to witness a brand new mega hit, this offering doubly so, as I rate the soft string sections, the pastiche of calming notes from the artist, and the wondrous crescendos that smash against the rocks of musical fortitude, as being some of the best that Lanz’s has ever manifested.

Simply put, and one has to be brave here, this piece is a master work like a Cristofori's Dream waiting to happen, David and Kristin have produced a compelling cinematic musical manifestation of emotive courage and beauty here on Sacred Waters, and now we’re waiting for a movie director to salute that moment, and feature it on a new blockbuster of choice, either way this is going to be a huge mega hit.

Growth By George Pendred

 

Growth

By

George Pendred

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have had a fascination for the most mysterious sounds of flute based instrumentation for decades; I think this started with the reverie of Gheorghe Zamfir’s theme for the 70’s movie Picnic At Hanging Rock, this lead me further into the welcoming arms of flute performers like Terry Oldfield and Deuter, and now it seems George Pendred.

However, there is a truly delicious flavour here that explores that vibration of mysterious things even further on Pendred’s latest sing Growth. The inquisitive opening seeks its way, or perhaps Growth, then its explorative narrative builds ever onward into more complexity and fluency.

By the mid-way section of the piece a rhythm is fully formed and the additional keyboards and piano give a wonderfully haunting energy to the overall theme of the composition, one that once it achieves its goal, disappears gently into a coda of completion

Growth by George Pendred is a fascinating new single from the artist, it’s one of those songs that hooks you into its tale, and doesn’t not let you go, you will not be pressing skip on this one, Pendred has built a perfect platform here on Growth, a single that should indeed take residence in the charts, and possibly in the minds and hearts of the ever eager listeners too.

Solitude By Bryan Quinn

 

Solitude

By

Bryan Quinn

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Debut singles are a time of nerves and letting go, as musicians we tend to be perfectionists, and fear what others make think of our efforts, so letting the music go, is akin to allowing your child, for the first time, go to the shops on his or her own.

Here Bryan Quinn delivers his debut single for flute and guitar to all, it is called Solitude and is one of the finest examples of a entrance single in this genre, I have in my time, heard many artist be too cautious upon releasing their debut release, but here Bryan allows his muse full access to his memories, emotions and artistic palate, and it works brilliantly.

There is a depth to this single that is rarely found from this genre, clearly the mood created is letting go of past events and possible trauma, and in doing so finding a sanctuary of oneness, otherwise known as much needed Solitude, Quinn through his instrumentation and compositional structures, manifests this perfectly.

This is a beautiful example of instrumental music that truly means something, and from an open heart perspective too, which allows the fluency of the composition to simply flow with grace and humility.

It is also good to see that Bryan performed the guitar, bass E flute, mid E flute and bird calls on a high E flute, and is in fact the master of all that he creates, as such I truly believe this is a special, and more than likely a cathartic moment for the artist, that point will be well received by the listener, and as such a huge hit could well be on the cards for Solitude by Bryan Quinn.

Evening Song for Woodwinds and Strings By 4 Bar Café

 

Evening Song for Woodwinds and Strings

By

4 Bar Café

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

4 Bar Café is a unique project created by composer Michael E. Schofield, and within my collection I have a plethora of singles released from 2023 onwards, and each of them show a growth and a progression to a fascinating level of quality of compositional structure, so today his latest single arrived on my desk entitled Evening Song for Woodwinds and Strings, and it was a most pleasant neo-classical voyage indeed.

The strings to start the piece are simply sublime and set the scene in an instant, the imagery one draws from a title is rarely executed with such precision as on this new single by the artist, the mood is a steady andante, we can indeed glance from the soft pastiche of a summers evening, and take a moderately slow walk through nature with the strings and woodwinds as our musical partner.

The compositional configuration is one that reminds me of the music of friends, in what is still called to this day, chamber music, this style of composition has a great intimacy about it, indeed pieces in this style are created for a small number of instruments, and the artist has done that beautifully here and captured that aforementioned intimacy with such grace and purpose.

I have a very real sense that Evening Song for Woodwinds and Strings by 4 Bar Café could well be the artists biggest chart hit thus far, and should be a sought out recourse for fans of this ever growing neo classical genre.

Deep Currents By Douglas Morton

 

Deep Currents

By

Douglas Morton

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The genre of piano is one of the biggest in the music business, its sheer size and monolithic proportions are incomparable, so to stand out in this realm you have to have something unique to give a totally spoilt audience something of an exciting alternative, Douglas Morton with his latest album Deep Currents has done that and doubly so, with one of the finest examples of ambient piano I have heard this year.

Make no bones about it, this is a huge body of work created by the artist, some 23 compositions can be found within this piano dimension called Deep Currents, and it is very easy to get lost in the wake of its piano tide, and get swept away on one creation after another, like the opener Art’s Tune, a dedication no doubt, one that gets pride of place as the beginning of our journey.

There are many moments of ambience to be found within the blankets of soft tonal structures here on the album, like the abundant flow of Decisions, a track that seems to be caught in the preponderance of the moment, but creates a compelling narrative to move onward, or the creative and memory filed opus of Downhill, one of those compositions that you find yourself enticed by, a slow but convincing alignment of notes can be found here.

The shadow lands of emotion are captivated brilliantly on the work Beyond Tears, whilst a more upbeat energy gifts us the track Necessity, and thus ushering in a change of mood within its compositional formation. There are also offerings of great texture and colour on the album; I would point to both Summer Gray and the brilliant Stillness for those moments of musical delight, the latter would turn out to be one of my personal favourites, and a sublime example of ambient piano if there ever was one.

The anthem styled, almost folk like structure of tracks like Never Ending, or the artistic creativity of another favoured piece of mine in The Bridge are happily on offer for the listener, the latter an idyllic day out in nature, over the bridge and far away into freedom, a quite beautiful composed piece indeed.

There can be no doubt that Morton has manifested something most pleasurable here with this album, and while the never ending construct of The Path becomes our intriguing penultimate offering, the fluent and charming reverie of Untold concludes our journey of harmonious piano, and does so with such grace and charisma, a sublime ending indeed, one of great character and tenderness.

Deep Currents by Douglas Morton is a veritable cornucopia of ambient piano delights; never has a massive album like this encapsulated my thoughts and imagination so much, and whilst doing so relaxed and soothed my senses in its halls of atmospheric mastery. For me this is solo piano at its very best, creative, artistic, thoughtful and reflective, what more could you ask for, as such a huge hit must be on the cards for Deep Currents by Douglas Morton, and moreover if you are a fan of piano in all its guises, then this album must be winging its way to your collection or playlists at all costs, it is indeed that good and under no circumstance be missed.

The Sketchbook of Max Ernst By Walter Holland

 

The Sketchbook of Max Ernst

By

Walter Holland

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I get to listen to many genres of music as my days roll onward, many styles and much instrumentation; however one of the most unique albums that I have had the greatest pleasure to listen to this year has been The Sketchbook of Max Ernst by Walter Holland, this is by far a superior work of art by an artist who delves deeply into the realm of art itself, mixing the perfect juxtaposition of guitar and electronic music in a weave of sheer class.

The opening piece is called The Marriage of Heaven and Earth and what a wonderfully grand start indeed, the base of the piece reminds me of Floyd with such a depth of guitar and keyboard mastery, one entwined within the compositional structure of the offering. A powerful processional manifestation can be found within this arrangement, one that builds with such power, but has an element of grace too, added to that abundance the German spoken audio was idyllic “Du Bist Jetzt” (You are Now).

The following delicious electronic narrative is entitled The Beautiful Season, natural sounds abound here in an almost jungle like backdrop of sound and mood, whilst Hollands electronic technical prowess forms the basis for what could be described as one of the most ambient constructs off the release. The painting by Ernst was actually created in 1925, and was part of the blossoming surrealist movement, and is certainly worth a gaze whilst listening to this track perhaps.

The following manifestation is filled with colourful imagery and called Of This Men Shall Know Nothing. Two years earlier than the aforementioned Beautiful Season work, Ernst would execute this piece, and if I remember correctly this is still located at the Tate in Liverpool England. Of This Men Shall Know Nothing has a blissful floating new age feel to its construction, and in style reminds me of the work of US electronic artist Forrest Smithson in its space like ambience. The smoothness of this track is also an idyllic pleasure; one could literally drift in its ever abundant arms for an eternity.

We now move into the deeper waters of the release where we will find the composition The Elephant Celebes. This creation is of an even earlier time dating back to 1921, and within it we can perhaps see elements of Dadaism too. The transitional flow of the tone and timbre here is sublime in creating waves of sonic bliss, ones that drift up to the beach of tomorrow, kiss the sand and retreat into the haze of yesterday; this is utterly encapsulating and one of my personal favourites from the album, the organ segment toward the latter half of the piece was simply emotive and breath taking.

The King is Playing with the Queen, our penultimate piece is now upon us with its regal tones. This slice of electronic wizardry is based on a sculpture this time, where we see the chess piece of little moves, the King, playing his own game whilst defending the Queen. There is a cadenced objectivity here that is so delightful, the rhythmic pattern flows with grace and passion, but the piece itself matures into a more complex arrangement, much like a game of chess, a game of many possibilities, but the overall aim is not to lose.

Our concluding musical narrative is entitled L'Ange du Foyer, (Fireside Angel) ou Le Triomphe du Surréalime, is with ease the most powerful and deeply moving pieces from the release, and a rare political statement in art by the artist, symbolism from this raging bird like creature highlighting the wave of fascism flooding across Europe, and created in of course 1937. This is a level of mastery of electronic musicianship that you are ever likely to hear; the repeating motif in a Berlin style is a constant reminder to us, the flowing synths heart felt and emotive coda never to be forgotten.

The Sketchbook of Max Ernst by Walter Holland is without doubt one of the most superior works of musical art that I have listened to this year, beautifully choreographed and sublimely performed, its intelligent and musical inspired constructs pay a great homage to the master of Dadaism and Surrealism in Max Ernst. For me this was a voyage of total pleasure, as I gain great gratification from these styles of music and art, and I’m reminded of the work by William Neal from the UK, who, although thought of as abstract in style, created the iconic art work for Emerson Lake and Palmers Tarkus album, in my view some similarities can be found within the works of Ernst.

The Sketchbook of Max Ernst by Walter Holland should be a much sort after resource for all fans of truly exceptional electronic music, this is an album that embraces its subject matter meaningfully, and in doing so makes it even more accessible for everyone, and an album of great quality can indeed be found here and surely a big hit on the charts too.

Watercolors By Mark Barnes

 

Watercolors

By

Mark Barnes

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The music of Mark Barnes has been on my musical radar ever since 2008 and the album called Awakening, it’s amazing to think 16 years have passed, and now I have his latest release before me called Watercolors, and with each step on the musical ladder Marks compositions and collections have just got better and better with each passing measure.

This latest creation is totally blissful and offers the listener a multitude of peace-filled havens with which to find a musical sanctuary from, including the beautiful opening piece Watercolors, the title track, and how pleasing it is to see this bright and colourful narrative as the opening offering on the album.

Watercolors is a 12 track album filled full of textures and soothing manifestations, a veritable tapestry of calm can be found here, like the explorative  Holston Valley Days, or the charming refrains and reveries of Water Lily, or perhaps even the romantic touch of the track Poetry in Motion.

This whole album reminds me of some of the classic keyboard based new age manifestations from the 1990’s; such fond memories can still be found there. One of my favourites here is a track that was released as single early on this year in While the Forest Sleeps, a dramatic fluent and moving opus of sound, and such a profound melody as well, and it can all be found on this stunning offering.

Mark has been touching some amazing melodious arrangements lately, tracks like Under the Sea, a gentle and pristine tale told by a delicate keyboard motif, or, and here we go again so please excuse me, another favourite of mine in House by the Sea, this one is perhaps personal as we live in a house near the sea, and every morning I wake to watch its lapis oceanic qualities drift across the horizon, this I rate to be one of the most attractive tracks that Mark has ever created.

The tones alter with this next piece called Seasons Change, we’re heading that way now as we reach the middle of August, and my favourite season of autumn will soon be upon us. There is a memory tinged aspect to this track that is so pleasing, it is as if we are literally watching the season move from one state to another through the music.

Next is a composition paying homage to French artist and Impressionist Claude Monet, also one of my favourites to gaze upon, the smoothness of this manifestation was lush, clear, and amazingly coloured in all aspects of tone and timbre, this is without doubt a track that its contents are so palpable you could literally touch it.

As Édouard Manet once said “Still life is the touchstone of painting” if that be so, then this track from Mark must be the soundtrack for that genre of art, this track is so expressive, so charming, and one has to adore the change in tempo, the softness of touch, and the tapestry of calm it provides the listener.

I remember Don McLean once singing about Van Gogh, here Barnes takes that further and delivers one of the nicest tributes to the great painter I have heard, with a slight dramatic flair, a touch of style and elegance, and a melody that will hold a moment tight and never let it go on the track Vincent, our penultimate offering from the album.

I love what Mark has done here musically, bringing our attention to art through his art of music, and he has done it so well. Mark Barnes is without doubt an accomplished instrumentalist that seems to grow in stature musically with each passing album and each passing year, and I have a feeling that Watercolors could well be another huge hit album for the artist and deservedly so.