Melodiya By Hans Christian & Thomas Barquee

 

Melodiya

By

Hans Christian & Thomas Barquee

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Today one of the foremost musicians in the new age music industry joins forces with an artist known for his standing in the industry, as a sublime producer, and a splendid pianist too, as Hans Christian and Thomas Barquee create a symbiotic presentation that we shall remember forever called Melodiya.

There is something about this album that is deeply felt and passionately created, the melodious tones of the opening piece called The Gift is a fine example of this instrumental prowess, a smooth, yet reflective opus of sound that takes me back to the early years of new age music.

Melodiya is an 8 track album of splendidly beautiful compositions, with textured tapestries of magic in pieces like The Promise, and the uplifting vibrancy of the ultra-harmonious Persistence of Time, a track filled full of blossoming expectancy.

This is a bliss filled release, one charming track after another unfolds unto oneself, with compositions like the midway piece called Opalescence, a track with a delicious bass and a splendid percussive rhythm, and this would indeed be one of my personal favourites from the album.

The piano of Barquee drifts us into a track entitled Your Heart Remains, and upon it sits Christian’s supreme skill set of a multi-instrumentalist, gifting us a compelling moments of guitar and fretless bass on an arrangement that is both soothing and filled full of loving warmth.

The deeper waters of the album gifts us a more reflective nuanced moment of music on the piece That One Thing, whilst the penultimate offering of Do We Remember seems to hold an anthem like feel within its constraints, it builds and constructs musical sensations that are packed with such a melodious reality.

The concluding manifestation is called An Echo's Soul, this curiously entitled piece reminds me greatly of an old friend of mine from the UK in Phil Thornton, as bass and guitar are used here to create such a backdrop of mood and sound, and this final creation takes us on a calming journey with its ever onward motion and posture.

Melodiya by Hans Christian & Thomas Barquee was a delightful voyage through the realm of deep melodies and lush musical constructions of a multi-instrumental nature, and one must say, some of the finest I have heard for quite some time. Melodiya is a release that fans of instrumental new age music will not want to miss, the textures, tones and overall nuances are utterly delightful, and if justice is to be served, Hans Christian & Thomas Barquee should garner a good chart position and perhaps even more for Melodiya, it is superb.

Warriors of Light By Radhika Vekaria

 

Warriors of Light

By

Radhika Vekaria

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It was very good to hear from Radhika Vekaria again, her music has created a plethora of tonal mastery over the years; she also has an impressive list of people she has worked with in that time, and her cultural heritage has brought her much colour and opportunity in her time. Warriors of Light is her new stunning album; one that will raise every single hair on your body it is so moving and hugely powerful.

We start with Asato Ma Sadgamaya (Purification Prayer), as we set our intent, as we focus our energies from the shadows of fear and into the cleansing light of truth. Vekaria’s vocals here reach the deepest part of our being with her imploring narrative, one that leads perfectly into the following composition called Liberate (Maha Mrityunjaya).

Before we can assist in helping liberate others, we must first set ourselves free. Liberate (Maha Mrityunjaya) is that track, that musical moment that leaves the listener with such a emotive response, such a genuine feeling of determination is grown at this juncture of the journey, and on a track that is so wonderfully composed, created and produced, it would indeed make a sublime single on any chart.

Kali, seen as the deity who delivers Moksha or the aforementioned Liberation in the previous track, is one of the main figures in Hinduism, the goddess that destroys evil to protect the innocent.  The rhythmic pastiche here is captivating, a veritable dance of freedom to the masses can be found in one of the most compelling offerings from the album.

Release Your Fears (Jaya Jaya Durge Ma), is our location of spiritual enlightenment, this is a truly vibrant almost pop styled arrangement from the artist, one that demands attention and contains some fascinating chord structures, elevations and rhythmic projections. The message is well made and indeed realising one’s own a fear is the only path that can be taken that will eventually lead you to success.

As we step over the half way marker on our voyage of inner education we come across a piece entitled Aganitha Tara (The Dance of Countless Stars). Here lies one of the most vibrant and fluent creations from the album, a composition filled with lush eastern beats, measures and cadences, this is one of those tracks that you will find yourself coming back to time and time again.

We can now knock on the door of our musical gallery and find the main canvas, the tile track, Warriors of Light. The mysterious beginning of tone and timbre is palpable and compelling; Radhika’s spoken words are an illumination of significance and this meditative construction one of my personal favourites from the album.

Hanuman Chalisa (feat. Shashank Acharya) is up next, now I mentioned the meditative qualities of this album before, but this specific track doubly so, this also happens to be the longest manifestation from the album at just short of 9 minutes. This 40 stanza ode to Hanuman gifts us insight, and talks about the strength, generosity, and intelligence of Hanuman.

So we have drifted into the ethereal realms of our penultimate offering called Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram. There is something deeply melodic in this track that I love, the piano here too is sublime in creating an extra dimension of tone into the proceedings, this is a fine example of a devotional song, one that I believe was popularised by Mahatma Gandhi back in the day.

Our concluding composition is entitled Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu (Peace Prayer). I believe this is one of my wife’s favourites, and we have a version of this by Grammy winner Paul Avgerinos and friends. Here Radhika adds her own depth, passion and compassion into this Sanskrit mantra, this is a powerful offering, one that I also support in its plea of, “I wish peace and happiness to all beings, may my actions and behaviour contribute to others in a way that brings peace and happiness”.

Warriors of Light by Radhika Vekaria has to be one of the most compelling and enjoyable albums of the genre I have heard for simply years. Radhika creates wonderfully warm vocals, ones that are so enchanting and gracious in there tone and timbre. From production and presentation to its cultural instrumentation, Warriors of Light by Radhika Vekaria is an album that merits the respect it will no doubt get, and to be graced by awards that it most certainly deserves.

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.