Dreaming Under the Banyan Tree by Randal L Meek

 

Dreaming Under the Banyan Tree

By

Randal L Meek

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It is always a pleasure to listen to acoustic guitar music; it was my very first instrument as a teenager, which seems like an awfully long while ago, but one that I often reflect upon time and again. Randal L Meek first came to my attention back in ’22, just when we were crawling from the wreckage of the pandemic, and it was a beautiful respite for me at that time, however he is back once more with a brand new album four years later called Dreaming Under the Banyan Tree.

The album itself is 12 tracks inspired by Maui, Hawaiian landscapes and brought to life by the amazing Imaginary Road Studios and the living legend that is Will Ackerman, along with Tom Eaton who mixed and matered the album at his Sounds and Substance Studios. The opening piece is a warm and enriching offering that is utterly transcendent and called Maui no ka 'oi, I can relate to this track having immigrated to the island of Cyprus some 12 years ago and life changed in the most positive of ways ever, and still does so to this day. This is a beautiful way with which to being our journey, a sweet and loving track indeed, and one that contains on second guitar the mighty Jim Kimo West.

Petals Falling is our next port of musical calling, I fell in love with this one when I first heard it, there was some so very emotive yet ambient about this track, that it created a musical safe haven in my mind that I never wanted to come back from, add in the amazing flugelhorn of the immortal Jeff Oster and magic is made, the deliciously slow coda was also a beautiful thing to behold as well.

We drift now to a piece called Ha'iku Breeze, this slow paced, easy on the ears piece is one of those gentle walking along the coastline offerings, that you just cannot resist and one of many tracks that features the angelic vocals of Noah Wilding too.

There is a subtle change of guitar magic in the next piece called Whisper, an arrangement that is enhanced by a stunning piano on the offering, which I believe is played by the incredible Tom Eaton, add the cello of Eugene Friesen and you have a symbiotic composition of great quality and style, Meek has really composed something utterly special and deeply moving on this track, this piece seems to contain an underpinned narrative of a juxtaposition of loss and life in the weave, with the reflective nuances being truly felt.

At the mid-way juncture we find the track Papaya Salad, this is a song so much like my island paradise here, full of rich promise, warm sun and lapis oceans, with fresh fruit that grows and falls everywhere. Note the fretless bass of Tom Eaton here and of course the exotic musical delicacy of a Charlie Bisharat violin. Following this luxurious offering we move to Hokule'a a moving tonal arrangement about a journey and a boat and then utter peace, Meeks guitar here drips of contemplative magic.

The beauty of this next track is incredible and for some reason reminds me of the Black Sabbath track Fluff, I bet you never expected me to say that, but acoustic Randal L Meek, meets acoustic Tomi Iommi here on this offering. The overarching reach of this track embraces the word peace with a warm embrace on a superb performance by the artist.

This 12 track collection has some amazing qualities to it and on the track The Road There, we ae gifted a slow paced reverie of great quality, one that brought Meek to the attention of the wizard of Imaginary Road Studios himself, the pacing here is idyllic and something to utterly enjoy.

'Ahihi Bay is up next and contains the symbiotic genius of the ukulele via John Curtis, and Premik Russell Tubbs on flute, this mixture of a multi-instrumental flavour is incredibly attractive, and is a composition that draws the listener in to a world of beauty, calm and serenity, something that I understand completely.

In the deeper weave of this magical carpet of music we find a more reflective offering called Drifting, however this track has a meditative quality to its construction that is undeniably brilliant, with Ackerman joining Meek and the returning Oster and Wilding, this has to be one of the most spiritually fulfilling offerings from the release.

The penultimate track from this classy album is called Lost; I doubt there is a single person on the planet who hasn’t felt this feeling once or twice; here Meek explores this emotive aspect of life with the skill set up of a Charlie Bisharat violin supporting him in the most uplifting of ways, reflection and inspiration in one beautiful track that reminded me in content to another guitarist from the US in Robert Linton.

The concluding tale told is this almost long form opus called Dreaming under the Banyan Tree, and at over 7 minutes long we have a title track that includes natural sounds, this is a tonal voyage about nature and resilience, it could be a striking metaphor for our human experience and offers us something that we all need every day, hope. This is a beautiful concluding narrative, simply and perfectly made for the job of ending what has been a green and lush voyage of musical genius of Randal L Meek, note the Hopi drum from Will Ackerman on this track as well.

Dreaming Under the Banyan Tree by Randal L Meek is a delightful release, one filled with a deep sense of peace and contentment, it is an album bathed in the gratitude of being able to live in such a charming environment, I relate to that entirely. Here we have a meditative calming collection of beautiful acoustic guitar based reveries, that highlight the very best in acoustic instrumental music in this modern age, if this doesn’t get to number one, then there is no justice in the world.

After The Gold Rsh By John Gregorius & David Vito Gregoli

 

After The Gold Rush

By

John Gregorius & David Vito Gregoli

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

What do you get when you combine the talents of two of today’s finest multi-instrumentalists and allow them free reign over your senses? well magic is made. A breath taking and refreshing global look can be found at the end of an overarching contemporary music genre moment, that is brought into full focus by listening to the latest release called After The Gold Rush by John Gregorius & David Vito Gregoli.

This 5 track release is a smooth instrumental collection of fresh, new and fascinating creations with the ever talented duet, from the very first track called Moving Across Land we are gifted a progressive and ever onward composition that reverberates around the fretless bass and dances with the percussion in a beautifully rhythmic opening offering.

One of my favourite tracks from the album is now upon us and entitled The Gentle Glide To Freedom. The is a delicious and gentle ride to a freedom of tone and timbre, the softness of touch here is simply idyllic, the delicate percussion and guitar for me, all go to make up one of the stand out pieces from the release, one that has a touch of reflection built nicely into the weave, also note the acoustic guitar in this track it is so beautifully played.

The Power Of Myth is a subject I was only having a discussion about yesterday in a meeting, it has such a strong pull on our ways of thinking and beliefs, but with regard to the context of this song one can feel a sense of palpable care being taken within the weave of this quite emotional offering, the bass and guitar manifest an emotional juxtaposition for us all to enjoy.

Now if you have never heard this track before, where on earth have you been! Originally released by Neil Young back in 1970 this classic composition is given a breath of fresh life from the multi-instrumentational genius of John Gregorius & David Vito Gregoli. The fretless bass and guitar replace the harmonics and vocals stunningly, and the rhythmic pastiche of percussion adds further weight to the conclusion, that this may well be one of the best instrumental versions of this song ever.

Our final piece which concludes the release is called Upending, once more the guitar is transcendent and multi-layered, when the bass kicks in the entire piece gains a foundation and sings with the duel guitars in one of the most soothing ending final offerings I have heard for quite some time, the added soft keyboards and percussion bring much to the table also on this final arrangement.

After The Gold Rush by John Gregorius & David Vito Gregoli is a thoroughly enjoyable listen, the inventiveness of the art work contained musically within this release is outstanding, the recording and production doubly so. It’s well cited that these artists are well known and musically respected as classy multi-instrumentalists, but this symbiosis of sound gives us all that and more, a pleasurable experience to bathe within as instrumental magic is created by listening to After The Gold Rush by John Gregorius & David Vito Gregoli.

Feels Like Happiness By David Wohl

 

Feels Like Happiness

By

David Wohl

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The familiarity of David’s performances takes me back over the years to other new age pianists like Winston, Lanz and others, here David Wohl is back with another absolutely jam packed collection of heart-warming tunes and melodies, and this time around the release is entitled Feels Like Happiness something I think most of us really need right now.

This vast 15 track library of songs is an ocean of tone and timbre worth exploring, from the lyrical Irish Memory, a short form narrative inspired by perhaps a lineage to the island of green and rolling hillsides, and then on to what would turn out to be my favourite track from the album called Nearly Autumn, this was multi-layered, with hints and moods of mystery and reflection painted sonically within, the melody was one of the best I have heard for decades and the performance double so, with touches of power and sensitivity both perfectly matched.

The cheer filled Feels Like Happiness is up next, here we have classic new age piano that flows from the hands of the pianist like an early spring rainfall, pouring through mountain rocks, fresh and ever abundant. Whilst Yellow Roses is a horse of a totally different musical colour, naturally flowing, but technically brilliant and effortless in its energies, submitting a technique to be both admired and enjoyed.

Clare Island Sunrise takes us back to Ireland, for those of you who unaware of its location, County Clare is located in the province of Munster in the Southern part of Ireland, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west. This attractive Celtic tale is woven with both reverences to the past and fluent textures, in what is a stunning piano presentation.

Another of my personal favourites is up next and called Awakening Path, there is something quite mindful about this track that seems to create a lush symbiosis of past and present within the weave of the overall composition, its slow start is highlighted by an increase of purpose and an ever onward style to embrace the future, a clever track minded.

Call Me From Amsterdam is a delicate yet wonderfully romantic ballad, it’s akin to a musical segment during a movie perhaps, most certainly it might remind the listener of a song that they have heard from a TV show, there is something quite expressive about this track in the same way with which Billy Joel was on his hit single Leningrad.

When we reach the half way juncture we are gifted a track called Freedom River, I had to listen to this particular piece three times before I felt I understood its tale, and even then it might well be different for each listener, for me it was a track to pause and reflect on, perhaps to drift gently down the stream of life too, going with the current instead of against the flow, in a narrative that felt more like an old hymn of hope.

Morning Light is one of those upscale tracks that you cannot help but like, it’s one of those ease like Sunday morning pieces you can listen to whilst getting your day going.  This moves us to a glorious voyage of solo piano called Mountain Lake Aire, this is another beautiful offering, one so carefully created and respectfully played by the artist, if David could play with colours, then this pastiche of tone and timbre would be the most colourful crayon in the box.

The next offerings slow build and insightful context captured my imagination and called Kiss of the Moon. It would be easy for me to wax lyrically about the subject matter being reflected through the music, which of course it is, but it is much more than that, this somewhat simple progression is the most ambient piece from the release, and for Wohl to hold back like this was even more impressive.

And if You Should Ask reminded me of my days as a global traveller, whilst one airport from another is pretty much the same, I remember the last time I ever went to the states (2010) and listened to a pianist in the bar playing this style of composition in the lounge at Atlanta Hartsfield, full flowing, easy on the ears and mind, and just a sweet captivating lyrical tune to ease you into your environment of choice.

On the piece Snowmelt we have a drifting tonal delight that seems to flutter and disappear with the chilled winter wind of late February, then at the half way juncture of the piece, it feels like spring has arrived with its more full flowing scale and uplifting narrative that comes forth from Wohl’s piano.

We conclude the album with a couple of short form tales, the first called Was That Us? A soft yet palpable arrangement that has some delicious fuller and louder segments along with the more sustained base of the piece, and finally our last tale from the piano of David Wohl can be told and entitled Hotline Bling, this could easily be adapted for a song and in the current climate would probably do well as a pop song, however under these circumstances it is simply a crafted way indeed to leave the project.

Feels Like Happiness by David Wohl is a truly classy album of 15 superior solo piano tracks, Wohl’s mastery is the ability to paint tonal pictures with every arrangement on this album, and the prospective listener can be assured that this happens with ease on one of the best solo piano albums I have heard this year called Feels Like Happiness by David Wohl. 

You can find the album at the following links:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/feels-like-happiness/6781060689

https://open.spotify.com/album/6ME2MkSqiWzupySpwTfn9c?si=ztx82VlCStmoyICYq8jjIw

Soft Winds By Theresa Bentley & Dino Pacifici

 

Soft Winds

By

Theresa Bentley & Dino Pacifici

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Question, what is it you get when you mix the styles and talents of Theresa Bentley & Dino Pacifici, the answer is something quite magical in music. Theresa from the Bentley project has been on my musical radar since last year and has made quite a huge impression, while Dino Pacifici has been recording music for as long as I have been in radio, some 30 years nearly. Together, this duet have taken us back in time to the golden days of new age music, and as such Soft Winds by them will no doubt find a special place in the hearts and minds of those, who like me adore this genre.

The journey literally starts with the utterly beautiful Embrace the Mist, here Pacifici and Bentley manifest a piece that reminds me so much of 90’s UK band Runestone and pull me back to those halcyon days of classic new age music. With a sumptuous guitar, and a delicate but heart felt harp from the artists, building upon a narrative of the mist of life, and navigating its corridors of uncertainty.

I am lucky enough to be involved in a deeply romantic relationship, and as such this track means a lot personally to me and called Shared Breath. Theresa’s talents are spread far and wide on this beautiful offering on harp, piano, voice, and synth, this is also one that reminded me in depth of the music of artists like US new age composer Rick Sparks at times, with its calming and soothing nature being at its very core.

The following offering is entitled Sigh in the Night is another delicious symbiosis of sound and tenderness, here Pacifici comes into his own on the composition with some of the most transcendent acoustic guitar you would ever wish to hear. The overall narrative of the arrangement for me was deeply sensual as well, and reminded me at times of another legend of the genre in Medwyn Goodall.

Tranquil Eyes, and I quote from the liner notes, is a true story, “Of a 4 year old tranquilized girl (for her safety) and the saving relationship of her mother helping them to escape war traveling over water” firstly how sad is it that at this very moment this occurrence is more than likely occurring on a daily basis on our war torn world, and as a society of human animals living on a small planet in the vastness of the cosmos, we have yet to learn to tolerate each other and say NO to more wars. Musically this is a heart rendering opus that combines natural sounds and a distinct element of mystery into its weave, this time Mark Bentley joins with classical guitar and Gwendolyn Bell on oboe, on one of the most moving creations from the release.

The interesting musical tale of The Ancestral Chain is up next and here is a piece that seems to float through and past many genres in an incredibly clever and rhythmic way. One must state that the fretless bass of Pacifici here is sublime and reminds me in style of other performers of a similar instrument to that of Eugene Friesen and David Vito Gregoli. The onward driving piano and percussion manifest an almost tribal beat to the proceedings which is incredibly palpable.

So we arrive at the title track, nestled nicely in at track 6 on the release, this is a sweet musical creation, one that hovers on the borderlands of brilliance and floats into the pathways of musical genius, as one of the most prime examples of truly classic new age music you would ever wish to find, and called of course Soft Winds, reminding me at times of the band 2002 and the UK’s Llewellyn and his Journey to the Fairies album, huge tip of the hat here to Bentley for her sublime performance on harp, truly one of the best in the genre.

Glimmers (instrumental) is our next port of musical delight, synth composer JJRD joins the duet on this incredibly ambient offering, and this symbiotic manifestation between three talented and stylish composers brings a peaceful moment to the listeners, this could easily be an hour long and you would have no problem drifting off into a blissful sleep with it on in the background.

The penultimate offering is entitled Poetic Solitude, with its incredibly mellow and slow tempo it is the perfect deep seated last but one performance by the artists. This is something that I can now relate to with happiness, being comfortable in one’s own energy is as equally important as when you are with others in theirs. This angelic and ethereal composition is one of the prettiest from the release, Theresa’s vocalisations on this one single offering are an utter tonal delight, and something you will want to hit repeat on for certain.

The album concludes with the spoken word edition of the aforementioned track Glimmers, which contains the spoken word of Miss Charlie and poems by Audrey McCalley and Theresa Bentley, in one of the tender moments of the album, and simply the most delightful way with which to conclude the release.

Soft Winds by Theresa Bentley & Dino Pacifici is one of those rare albums you really must have, if you are a fan of the new age music genre your collection would not be complete without it, contained within are some of the finest examples of truly excellent instrumental music, and a drift back in time to the golden days of new age music regardless of where you live on earth, and some of the most relaxing music I have heard for many a year, and called Soft Winds by Theresa Bentley & Dino Pacifici.

Remembering Fireflies By Orchestra Indigo

 

Remembering Fireflies

By

Orchestra Indigo

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s only been a few years since I have been blessed with my first piece of music from Rick Randlet aka Orchestra Indigo, I remember it well back in ‘22 and a release called Farwell To Memories, since then I have seen Rick grow and flourish and expand his musical horizons, his ability to manifest good compositions and make them great is something remarkable for an instrumentalist, and here on his latest album called Remembering Fireflies he does just that and more.

This is a glorious 12 track album that starts with a charming musical narrative called Summer Nights, Long Ago, now I have only ever seen fireflies once in my life on a brief visit to Oklahoma, it was a thrill to see something so brief but beautiful, and this track is so moving and redolent of the subject matter, fluent and peaceful and almost transient in its energies.

The title track Remembering Fireflies, watching these creatures is fascinating, In Native American beliefs, the firefly totem symbolizes hope, joy, and illumination. It encourages individuals to unleash their skills and talents, attract the right partner, and keep their dreams valid. The firefly's light is seen as a guiding force, helping individuals find their way through life's challenges and achieving personal growth and success. For me this delicate track is an exact tender embodiment of this gradually emotional offering, and simply one of the best title tracks I have heard for ages.

Distant Lightning is a deeper piece with a reflective essence that cannot be denied, the strength of the piece increase’s like a distant storm, you know it’s there, but its approach is slow. The exceptional keyboard skills by Randlet here give us space to enjoy the ambience provided, with a thematic musical lead to follow as well.

The next offering continues the ambient structure and reminds me in some ways of the US instrumentalist Carl Borden in content; however the harmonics and symphonic adjustments manifest something more and the hook in the track is so utterly beautiful and totally encapsulating, on the track Evening Mist.

This mid placed track is so gleeful; there is something about Childhood Friends that is so heart-warming, I no longer have any left, but those memories are still there and they linger on those long hot summer days of innocence and fun. For me this track reminds me of that energy, and musically I would say this piece specifically reminds me of the US artist Rick Sparks with its ultra-loving tenderness.

We’re here, Star Gazing, do you remember gazing up in the unpolluted skies and gazing at the constellations, for me is an anthem of those times when I used to lay on the roof of my fathers shed and look up at them with wide eyes in wonder, the hovering synth in the back of this piece continues the tenderness of touch, and the keyboards create an almost classical narrative in a similar style to Pachelbel’s cannon.

The chord progression at the start of this next track Forbidden Places, reminds me of something from the ‘90’s, but as of now I have yet to pull It from the labyrinths of my tattered and someone what ancient library of my mind, but regardless, this is ambient magic and utterly beautiful, the pacing and slow progression is idyllic, then it came to me in a flash, and that aforementioned mental blockage would reveal to me that this beautiful piece was very musically like early Kevin Kendle from his Eventide album.

Sharing Dreams is a musical course change, moving into anthem mode with an overall gentle onward narrative by Randlet’s keyboard, and his sweeping and flowing synths manifesting a safe and calming musical environment for the listener. Whilst on the piece Keeping Secrets I found I could actually sing Elton John’s version of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds to it for some bizarre reason, I know, your dear music writer is weird, but it was fun, this careful composition though is a hovering arrangement that manifests a safe and secure musical landscape.

One of the most powerful pieces from the album is the following arrangement called Last Breath of Summer. I still remember the last days of my childhood and this composition would have suited it perfectly, somewhat sad, ever so reflective, and the string sections manifesting a tear in the eye as innocence fades into the oblivion of adult hood, perhaps Lewis Carol said it best when he wrote of Alice “So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again and all would change to dull reality”.

Final Goodbyes is our penultimate track, again anyone who goes through life will understand beginnings and endings of a personal nature are very hard to deal with, sometimes awkward and sometimes emotional, this last but one piece from Rick seals this perfectly on the plate of musical farewells. A misty eyed composition that is wonderfully composed and is actually rather clever as it contains a majority of sadness in its core element, but also a vague anticipatory tone of hope too.

The one constant in all of our lives is the love of our lunar orb and on The Mystic Moon, we have a superb parting gift of a composition that is a mixture of pleasing keyboards and confident and charming synth structures in a classic new age styled framing, if I had to choose one track as a single from this album this would be it.

Remembering Fireflies by Orchestra Indigo is a tender album; it is packed with 12 sensitive memorable opuses of which each manifestation is a tale all in its own right. Randlet is fast becoming known as one of the foremost new age instrumental musicians of the current age, and albums like Remembering Fireflies should be sought out by anyone who wishes to bathe themselves in a sanctuary of tone and timbre, and reminds them perhaps, that you and are like the birds in the trees, life is for living, and living is free.

A Brave New World By Steve Sheppard ft. David De Michele

 

A Brave New World

By

Steve Sheppard ft. David De Michele

Written by

Andy Rogers

When it comes to music Steve Sheppard is a man with feet firmly on both sides of the fence: he is of course the co-owner of One World Music Radio (along with his wife Chrissie) with many years’ experience as a radio presenter and as an internationally renowned writer & reviewer of all kinds of music. Lately he is becoming increasingly well-known as a maker of remarkable music.

Steve has been playing and releasing his own music for many years; early releases were primarily guitar with the addition of a subtle keyboard here and there. Of late Steve’s music has matured superbly with some wonderful keyboard work both on his own releases and also when accompanying his wife Chrissie’s flute orientated releases. This new release, A Brave New World, is a musical collaboration between Steve and David De Michele and is a giant musical leap forward, taking Steve’s music to new dimensions.   

Steve describes the track as being “cinematic” and that is certainly how it feels to me. Starting with a slightly menacing opening orchestral sequence in the key of A minor, it isn’t long before strings and woodwind take up the next section of the single with a tune in a major key giving a very positive feel. A running harp-sounding motif comes next to lead us further into the work as we move to the middle section of the piece. The orchestration here is superb, a beautiful use of strings with a flute that hovers above it all as a piano plays a short, quiet repeated figure to great effect. The music comes to an emotional climax before the piece ends as it began, back in the key of A minor as the strings take us to the coda at the end of the piece.    

A Brave New World is easily the best yet from Steve Sheppard. The input and assistance he has had from David De Michele has clearly inspired Steve to reach new musical heights. This single is going to fly and deserves to do very well. If cinematic / neo-classical / new age is your music of choice, then this superb single is one you should not miss! 

Standing Near Infinity By Michael Whalen

 

Standing Near Infinity

By

Michael Whalen

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The prolific Michael Whalen is back with another new album, but this time it is in his guise as a fine electronic musician; you will doubtless remember the outstanding Imaginary Trains album released back in 2022 our last voyage into the world of EM for the artist album wise, and this new release is a reminder to all that within the heart of this superb artist beats the emotional vibrations of a synth and keyboard wizard, on his latest release Standing Near Infinity.

This 10 track album starts off in the same way as you might expect a 1980’s James Brown song might begin in its very early inception, the funk is strong in this one, which soon morphs into a fast, fluent and upbeat composition called In The Open Air. Here is a TV theme waiting to happen, but what a breath taking start!

Whalen’s expertise in music is off the scale, which is of course is what you would expect from a two-time Emmy Award winner whose career spans more than four decades. The following narrative entitled Love, Unspoken is a prime example of his prowess as an electronic music artist, the pastiche of tones notes and pads in this dramatic, and it has to be said quite moving opus is sublime.

However my personal favourite from the album would be the following composition called Out Of Body, this crossing genres offering ticked all the boxes, mixing startlingly good keyboard work with a rhythmic percussive element, perhaps even structured as a contemplative ambient journey of sorts, this incredibly brilliant composition was an utter delight, from EM to chill out and beyond, and reminded me in style of the British electronic music artist Geigertek and his track Leaving The Garden. One also has to applaud Michael for creating a sublime piece of music that is near on eight minutes long in these days of micro arrangements of mere seconds, this is so gratefully received.

As One is our next port of tonal delight; this is denser harmonically, with richer synth layers and stronger melodic anchors, the overall feel builds into an almost progressive rock narrative, but pulls back into a rhythmic tapestry of repeating electronic motifs, and clever keyboard melodies.

So to my favourite part of the album, the does what it says on the can segment, as Whalen brings us to the doorway marked Standing Near Infinity the title track. The glorious keyboard chords in this are literally scene setting and deep, long reverberant soundscapes can be heard as the piece builds dramatically but not overwhelmingly at all, its onwards steady progression would mark this as another one of my personal favourites from the release.

The curiously entitled The Sky Opens Its Eyes starts at a rapid pace, guitar sounds pick up the tempo and the keyboards and vocalisations even further, literally like the sun is rising on a new glorious day. This arrangement and its layers could almost be an anthem for better days ahead. Whilst on tracks like Soft Geometry we have a horse of a different musical colour, creating a hypnotic opening foray and building into something quite profound and moving during its middle phase, and with ease establishes a feeling of spaciousness and wonder, with elements of a Vangelis Blade Runner mood in its textures.

The Space Between Hours is a tapestry of insights and timeless motifs that highlights how sensitive Whalen is to a really good creative style, the almost talking synth is so mournful yet inspiring, and the percussive build and progression reminds me of the works of UK Electronic musician Andy Pickford.

As we drift into the loving arms of our penultimate offering we are gifted a track from the artist entitled The Inner Flame, the opening harmonies here building in a more new age style of media, the base and foundation of the track is soon found, and a soft onward progression on keyboards is brought to our attention in an almost Eno/Harold Budd moment of sublime magic, after that the heights this amazing piece takes us is to a cinematic level in a sublime Coda.

The concluding tale told is called Driftwood, Whalen’s final pieces are musically something to behold, and this track won’t let you down this time either. There is also a quite clever shift from the heavier inception, to a much more modern and rhythmic onward melody, once more mixing the electronic fluency and the floating keyboard narratives together beautifully, for a splendid final chapter of the album.

Standing Near Infinity by Michael Whalen is the third part of a musical voyage that started from Sacred Spaces, to Imaginary Trains and to here, on the edge of infinity. This is a stunningly well produced and performed release, but one that also needs to note the entire album is incredibly open and easy to listen to for any fan of truly good, expressive and melodious electronic music, so how dare I say anything else than this has to be another number one chart hit on the horizon for Standing Near Infinity by Michael Whalen.

String Dreams By Dieter Spears

 

String Dreams

By

Dieter Spears

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

In the growing world of instrumental music there are many artists like myself, who are crossing genres and being truly inventive with their compositions and arrangements, this can be said for Wayfarer Music Group owner and artist Dieter Spears, his brand new album is a veritable scrapbook of his adventures and journeys around the US as a photographer.

The thematic breakdown begins from the very first piece called Across the Plains; this exploratory track is a shining example of truly good instrumental music utilising guitar, percussion, and synths and a palpable bass, making for a perfect starting composition to this fine journey of sight and sound.

The entire album is a cornucopia of musical delights, like the following narrative entitled Timezone Lounges; I have been in a few of these myself over the years, there is something full flowing and fluent about the progression on this piece, which offers an almost Berlin style electronic backdrop to a largely guitar driven creation.

In The Shadow of Castleton fascinated me, the opening segment reminded me of the mood that opens Shine on Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd and would be one of my personal favourites from the album, the build here is deep and mood field, the intent here is on mood, pacing, and emotional atmospherics.

Then comes my favourite track from the entire album called Back Porch Morning Coffee, and the somewhat mournful guitar reminded me of Scottish progressive rock artist Ali Ferguson. The use of pause here combined with the interesting hovering synths brought an easy on the ears, yet deeply reflective composition to drift within, this is one I could easily leave on repeat or indeed have a coffee to in the early haze of a summer’s morning in June.

Desert Sunset Shimmer creates a musical tale for right now for me, as the temps rise in the middle of a summer’s day in the Mediterranean, one can see that heat shimmer dancing along the horizon of time and tide. The electronic mastery and percussive elements here add to Spears guitar, so let’s give a mention to drummer Gary LeGere who features heavily on this amazing powerful release.

Nestled just over the half way marker is the track Lullaby Breeze, and is the most ambient offering from the album, an arrangement that is almost meditative and hypnotic in its content, the deep resonating bass is beautifully juxtaposed with the lighter electric guitar of Spears.

Riding The Dragon is our next musical location, here we find a far more upbeat tale told by Spears, the keyboards in this piece manifests a trickledown effect, whilst the bass drives the engine room with the percussion on this powerful forward thinking narrative of instrumental genius.

We now move into the deeper waters of the album with the following voyage of plenty as we arrive at the piece entitled, Mahone Bay Memories feat. Stephen Davis. This is a memorable piece and an almost hovering narrative which strangely reminded me of one of my pieces called Sea Salter Marsh with the similar guitar sound, in this instance provided by the aforementioned Stephen Davis.

When Trees Became Mountains is our penultimate offering from this 10 track release, this would turn out to be another favourite of mine, the pacing of the guitar sounds and lead on this piece were incredibly moving and almost took me back to a sound and style I used to hear in the ‘90s, again that hovering synth work can be found here, one that brings such mood and colourful textures.

So we reach the final and concluding narrative from the album and it is called Chasing Dusk, the energy here is on the hurry up, and reminded me of UK artists like Andy Pickford and Michael Shipway at times. This flying last creation if more rock based, and its tempo somewhat suggests the title of the track is hurriedly being achieved, once again, this is a fine example of someone choosing the right track to end the album with, in a stylish and powerful coda.

String Dreams by Dieter Spears is a clever play on words, and indeed a clever album; I have always had a lot of respect for Dieter, I should have, my first album takes me back to 2012 and called Le Carnavale Du Macabre. Here on String Dreams we have an exploratory tale of a voyage of an artistic endeavour taken, and each and every track on the release has that fresh energy of excitement built into its full flowing narrative, one can see with ease that Dieter Spears is going to have a big hit on his hands with String Dreams, and he certainly deserves to achieve that too.

Snow Dance By Antonija Pacek

 

Snow Dance

By

Antonija Pacek

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It seems somewhat nice to write about a winter themed track in the beginning of yet another hot summer here in Cyprus, so it’s a bonus to get this opportunity. The fluent piano of Antonija Pacek has been on my radar for a couple of years now starting in fact back in ‘24 with Goodbye Heike, and now we are gifted a really moving new single called Snow Dance.

Antonija Pacek has that touch that is very rare to find, as soon as she touches the piano magic is made, it is as if the keys and the stars all align at the same time, in a glorious melting pot of piano magic. Her style is emotive and deeply thoughtful, this is the style of piano that I particularly like to listen to, something with thought and heart and thankfully over two and a half minutes long!

Snow Dance is a flowing piano composition; it’s a moving ballad of tone and timbre and has a wonderful construction, so much so that within the piece one could easily imagine a chorus and a vocal segment that could be written for it. The pace is soft, but full flowing and the narration of the musical composition is a heartfelt and imploring narrative.

One can sense a hit in the making here for the artist, and I am sure that this is a timeless reverie that will be loved and adored by not only the artists fans, but from the legions of instrumental piano followers across the world, who will be all too happy to add Snow Dance by Antonija Pacek to their playlist of choice.

On the Up By Doug Wyatt

 

On the Up

By

Doug Wyatt

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Jazz music is all the better for the latest single from Doug Wyatt called On the Up, this follows hot on the heels of his brilliant album release called Days of Gypsy Nights, as the jazz pianist is once again in full flow on this quite pacey composition, and it’s electrifying tonal delights are a pleasure to float within.

Doug’s impressive talents on piano are added to by the multi-instrumental nature of the track, with sax, bass and drums, all added into this lush mix of a piano-driven, jazz fused opus. One has to applaud Michael Rosen on tenor saxophone for what in my view is a transcendent performance throughout.

The song created before the world went totally crazy, in the new year of 2025 and is an extremely clever jazz narrative, posing a crafted juxtaposition whilst the title suggests a more optimistic emotional direction that life could take, there is an underpinned tale of concern and anxious moments ahead, regardless this brand new single is a story well told by the artist and performed sublimely.

For me Wyatt has produced the perfect jazz lexicon here, it is a veritable glossary of moods and musical integrity, with top notch performance also from Marcello Pellitteri drums and Joseph Lepore on double bass. This is the perfect jazz single fitting into the psyche with ease of the jazz and instrumental music fan, and should be a big hit within the charts it sits within, full marks indeed to Doug Wyatt and On the Up.

Nyumba By Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley

 

Nyumba

By

Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

“Nyumba” means home in Swahili, and this new single from Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley brings two forces of musical nature together to bring us something literally spectacular. It’s been a while since I have heard the voice of Miriam Stockley Adiemus and AO Music being but a part of her massive career. I remember Carlos Garo from last year with his Mystical Origin album, and his stunning and wondrous ability to be a fluent multi-instrumentalist of great quality, now add in an African choir from Nigeria and magic will be created.

The powerful and textured opening is like the sun rising on a brand new summer’s day, the combination of the choir, the percussive elements add a somewhat emboldened opening to this ultra-creative composition, on what is an utterly vast oasis of a sun kissed arrangement.

This single is just short of 4 minutes in duration, but covers so much in the time allotted, and the composition itself is akin to a four part structure of truly majestically crafted music, one that is powerful, influential, atmospheric and intense at times, all of this and more can be found on one of the best produced singles I have heard this year with ease, I must also give a quick mention to Indian bansuri flautist Srini who also appears on the single.

Nyumba by Carlos Garo & Miriam Stockley is perhaps a reminder to us all that our home, our Gaia is scared, perhaps one that is our own scared space of balance and inner power, and for me this has to be the most compelling piece of work I have listened to this year with ease.

Eventide By Rick Sparks

 

Eventide

By

Rick Sparks

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The music of Rick Sparks has been a source of constant relaxation and great beauty over the years I have been musically invested into it, it started way back in 2014 and an album called Endless, and since that time the artist has penned some utterly transcendent releases, here today some 12 years on from that release, we dive in deep with his latest album called simply Eventide.

There is literally nothing to dislike about the instrumental music of Rick Sparks, the artist at least gives us solid 5 to even six minute compositions to fall in love with, which thankfully bucks the trend of the 90 second creation nonsense. The title track Eventide for example would be one of my personal favourites from the album, some superb keyboard and synth pad work bringing us the listener something so redolent of the subject matter.

Then there is such beauty to be found on the pristine arrangement called The Presence of Love, this in parts reminded me of a combination of David Sun and Mike Rowland from back in the day, whilst his last single Mykonos still resonates deep with in my heart, its soothing narrative is a relaxing moment of great colour, whilst compositions like Sea Wind still haunt my mind in the best possible way with its very gentle onward progression.

Eventide by Rick Sparks is a 10 track album packed with textures and tapestries of tender tones and vibrant colours. We indeed find another lush offering at the half way juncture with the creation A Time to Heal, this piece has such a delicate and tender touch to its manifestation, one could not help but be enchanted by the string section and the slowness of progression here.

I have yet to go to Spain, but it is on my radar, until then I choose to travel vicariously with Rick as he performs the piece Barcelona Nights, a piece that builds slowly, but from a place of wonderment and depth of timbre, one of the finest compositions from the album for its creative interplay between and the keyboard notes and synths.

Dream Rain holds the listeners attention and manifests a sense of anticipation and expectation, this is a clever explorative composition that seems to hover around us, whilst the piece Every Hope happens to contain the title of the longest track off the album at over 6 and a half minutes long, a slow tempo and a careful movement highlighted by some very pleasurable vocalisations and synth work.

The album is a master work of texture and consistency, and is a fine example of musical uniformity, pieces like Give to the Winds Your Fears is a beautiful paradigm of such a soothing chronicle of tonal delights in its pristine and almost lullaby nature. Whilst the concluding tale to be told is entitled A Quiet Heart, here Sparks is the is the invigilator, as he brings together a multiplicity of sounds, pads and keyboard structures, to gift us one of the most prolific pieces from the album to end with.

Eventide by Rick Sparks in my view is probably one of the best albums the artist has released thus far, many who really know me, know I never say those words as a throw away. The tempo and heartfelt intent with this release is so plain to see and feel, it is a collection of 10 pieces that are designed to leave the listener utterly in a state of bliss and peace at its conclusion, which is why this album is going to be a huge chart hit, and is certainly award worthy for Eventide by Rick Sparks.

Caribbean Sunset By Jennifer DeFrayne

 

Caribbean Sunset

By

Jennifer DeFrayne

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Pianist Jennifer De Frayne is back with another new single from her forthcoming album Soul Love, this tasty musical morsel is entitled Caribbean Sunset, a colourful pastiche of musical energies that highlights the locational narrative of the composition. Its’ also fairly topical for me as I will be heading out that way this coming January, and I will indeed be enjoying something of a plethora of the subject matter of this song.

A rhythmic creation can be found here, one incredibly redolent of the subject matter and packed with supporting musicians who in their own right are legends in the new age music industry. This is a heart-warming piece, I would recommend pulling up the art worked and listening to the track whilst doing so.

Jennifer has produced some superb singles lately with You and I and Finding You also coming, like this one, from the forthcoming album Soul Love.  This new single has that touch that creates a warm sense of peace and tranquillity, De Frayne’s piano is the chief narrator and fluently brings this deeply attractive offering together, whilst manifesting a cornucopia of multi-instrumentation. This is a guaranteed hit and a piece that will calm and ease the listener into a state of peaceful bliss, and called Caribbean Sunset by Jennifer DeFrayne.

Sunset at Shaw's Cove By Janice Lacy

 

Sunset at Shaw's Cove

By

Janice Lacy

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Following up from her pervious single Beside You,  Janice Lacy is back with another new manifestation, this time the textures and the colours of this rainbow of music drift across the listeners palate in such a beautifully way, so much so, that one can’t but help be entranced by this new single entitled Sunset At Shaw’s Cove.

Lacy includes the twin towers of brilliance in this lush composition, with Jill Haley on English horn and Eugene Friesen on cello, two maestros in their own right, and here on this new creation by Janice they lift the arrangement into what could easily be a film score standard of a creation.

Locational compositional creations are just my bag of joy, as I create music myself from the inspirations I see as I travel my country of Cyprus and the world at large. Here Lacy turns artist and literally paints with her piano, whilst the horn and cello assist in this lexicon of magical tonal colours.

The listener would do well to note the soft and steady tempo, this gentle performance allows each and every one that will have the good sense to purchase this single, a few moments in time to just sit and be in a location of their choosing that brings them as much joy as this one does for the artist.

This is a top quality performance by all concerned, and of course produced by Tom Eaton and the legend that is Will Ackerman. This is why I have no doubt that Sunset at Shaw's Cove by Janice Lacy won’t just be a big hit for the artist, but a piece of timeless music that will ease the woes and sufferings from each and every one who listens to its graceful cathartic vibrations.