Arcadia By Kevin Keller

 

Arcadia

By

Kevin Keller

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have always examined the power of music, I have always listened with such openness and intent to its many and varied forms of beauty, and still it amuses me that as an atheist I adore Gregorian chants, devotional music and other compositions and tones of other mythological voyages, that abound in this glorious tonal world, here on Arcadia, Kevin Keller brings us a tone and timbre of various medieval creations, but with a modern spin, and one must say, it is amazingly brilliant.

Arcadia is a fluent 8 track release with many artistic musical endeavours, but instead of going towards the folk aspect of the middle ages, his manifestation utilizes the stunning talents of vocalist Sofía Campoamor on lead vocal, with stunning keyboard motifs, and classy reverberations on many of the pieces.

One of my personal favourites would be the opener entitled Arcadia 1: Et vidi caelum, and on the more sombre Arcadia 3: Me solum me invenio ft Sofía Campoamor, a creation that would emphasise a soft gentle vibration, this is one that literally shines upon a musical horizon like the dawning of a new day.

The release also contains some explorative tracks like Arcadia 4: In tenebris, it gifts the listener a more ominous feel to revel in, a darker tone and timbre can be felt here, one of a more mysterious nature, which in fact gets deeper the further the keyboards drive the narrative, especially the coda, which is delightfully dark!

The listener will truly be enthralled and encapsulated by this beautifully produced album, tracks like the steady onward rhythms of the piece Arcadia 6: In equo fugit, another favourite of mine, explores the more exciting tales of an escape at night on horseback, the beautiful juxtaposition of instrumentalism and vocals here is simply outstanding, and a guilty pleasure to behold.

Our voyage concludes with a blissful final gift called Arcadia 8: Veni intus, a soft lullaby styled narrative that sweetens the taste even further, where one can imagine the soft pillows of a blissful sleep reign supreme.

Arcadia by Kevin Keller is an exceptional album, a release of outstanding natural beauty; the contributors contained within are also to be applauded and are: Sofía Campoamor on lead vocal, Danya Katok soprano, Katherine Wessinger soprano, Wendy Baker  soprano, Sarah Zun violin, Angela Pickett on viola and Laura Metcalf on cello. The redoubtable Plainchant creations are composed by Sofía Campoamor too, and this entire compelling release is composed and produced by Kevin Keller himself, in one of the most stunning styled albums in this elk I have heard for years, as the power of music transcends everything.