Openings By Shambhu feat Leo Steinriede

 

Openings

By

Shambhu feat Leo Steinriede

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Shambhu is a well-known guitarist of sublime quality and calm, each and every composition is created with care and attention to detail to give the listener a total moment of pleasure, here today on this brand new single entitled Openings he combines his skill set with that of young guitarist Leo Steinriede to brings us a combination of electric stringed magic.

Openings from its early inception, has to be one of the most chilled reveries I have heard this year with ease, the duet of electric guitars, something we’re slowly getting used to in the new age music genre these days, eases the listener into the day and beyond an horizon of blissful peace and tranquillity.

This new single will be released on the next Shambhu album called Reflections in this coming September, in the meantime, those with an ear for serene musical pleasures will delight in this imploring and meditative bath of soft sounds and resonating vibrations.

It is so good to hear this mixture of guitar reflections and shadows, the music itself seems to float like a misty sunbeam dancing into an open sky from an errant summer cloud. In the way that Fleetwood Mac brought us Albatross back in the 1970,s shocking the world with an instrumental guitar hit single, I truly believe that Openings by Shambhu feat Leo Steinriede in 2024 will also take the charts with a charming smile of confidence, and itself become a song and perhaps a beacon of pure tranquillity for any listener, this composition has not just got hit written all over hit, but possible awards too.

Coastline (The Solo Version) By Ryan Michael Richards

 

Coastline (The Solo Version)

By

Ryan Michael Richards

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I remember with great fondness the release of Ryan’s album Experiences back in 2014, and I can hardly believe it possible that 10 years has passed and here we are once again listening to the best track off that album and now in 2024 his latest single, a solo guitar version this time and called Coastlines (The Solo Version). Ryan Michael Richards is back and that is so good to both see and hear.

I love coastlines, anyone who lives by the ocean such as we do, will completely appreciate this great solo acoustic guitar composition, here Ryan gifts us an opportunity to walk gratefully along the long coastal line, watching the birds drift by on the thermals, seeing and hearing the tides caress the shoreline, and watching the sun kiss the lapis waters below, all this and more can be found on this sublime recording from the artist.

This is one of those pieces of music that will remain timeless, unforgotten and much loved, Ryan’s guitar picks the way ahead on this song, and we can feel the gentle onward movement through the arrangement, one can also literally take pleasure from this musical vista of peace and tranquillity created by the artist.

A gentle loving song can be found in Coastlines (The Solo Version), a simple blissful melody, one filled full of appreciation and gratitude, and as such this one will be totally adored by lovers of truly good music, and acoustic aficionados across the globe too.

Colors By Hiromasa Kobayashi performed by Ivajla Kirova

 

Colors

By

Hiromasa Kobayashi performed by Ivajla Kirova

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There is always a little time to kick back and enjoy the musical sanctuary of a new artist to you, this is my mood on this sunny Wednesday in July, the heat of the summer rages outside, but within my cool studio I can listen to the fascinating and very charming piano presentations of Hiromasa Kobayashi, performed by Ivajla Kirova, and this latest release entitled Colors.

From the very first reverie called Purple, we have one of the most chilled Jazz styled lounge tracks possible. I remember fondly spending many hours in Atlanta Hartsfield Airport listening to a piano player perform songs like this, and while his dollar jar increased in paper money, bliss was found in its much needed ambience. Here I feel I am not too far of the mark, a tale is being told by a very classy performance indeed, perhaps one of wishes unfulfilled, but still very colourful in its textures.

The next track is called Blue and is indeed a composition of a totally different colour, one that reminds me of our journeys out on the boat here in mid-summer, the repeating motif and flowing movements perfectly depict the lush lapis ocean below.

This is without doubt one of the most fascinating piano based albums I have come across for a few years, this next track highlights that statement, we open the piece Orange and are delighted by its soothing and tasty contents, there is a gentle folk styled narrative in the arrangement, and a delicious level of gratitude too, perhaps the colour of a western sunset is beheld.

We now move with such style and grace to out next composition called Green, which just so happens to be one of two favourite colours of mine, this piece abounds with the reveries of spring in all its glory, Kirova’s presentation flows with the abundance of nature and all it brings to this wondrous globe, her pristine touch is cleverly created, one that manifests vistas of excited dragonflies and butterflies on one of the most graphic arrangements on the album.

Yellow is utterly delightful, it’s a fluent composition of a great textured quality, one that I enjoyed immensely, there is a certain eastern influence within the vibration and timbre of the composition that is charming, a certain regal mood to the offering can also be found here, something full and rich in tonal pleasures, and it is delightful.

When I think, the first thoughts about the colour White are usually that of snow, something that is very rare in my country of Cyprus, unless you go high into the mountains of course, but the artist’s portrayal of this colour, her delicacy of touch and her awareness of tone, remind me at times of piece Snowflakes are Dancing originally Debussy, but later also performed by the electronic wizard Isao Tomita, a beautiful melodic and reflective energy can be found in this sumptuous composition.

We move now into the dark realms of the night for this last but one creation called Black. The shadowy vibrations of dark alleyways reverberate within this fascinating offering, one that builds and progress with such a dramatic flair, I also wondered if this could be used in a movie segment of that ilk. This melodramatic power piece is one of my favourites, with its many twists and turns, its alternating pace and tempo, in fact we could well be watching an old black and white film unfurl before our very eyes, in all its theatrical glory.

The last manifestation from the album is called Red, this passionate piece has a certain texture and vibrancy from a location just over the sea from me, from its glorious performance one can visualise vast desert lands, and its inhabitants wondering like nomads across its plains to the monolithic pyramids ahead, then pausing from this sublime presentation to cool and rest at a grateful oasis, a wonderful last dramatic offerings, and a very clever and crafted way with which to collude the project.

Colors by Hiromasa Kobayashi and performed by Ivajla Kirova is a breath taking pastiche of solo piano passion and fire, its dramatic corners and alleyways have constant surprises in store for every listener, and must at all costs not be missed. Here is a fine pianist indeed, one not afraid to show her full tapestry of undeniable talents on the piano to an ever waiting world; as such this is a thrilling ride of musical enthusiasm, so grab your ticket now, and be ready to be enthralled.

Afterglow By Kevin Kendle

 

Afterglow

By

Kevin Kendle

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Ever since 1992 I have been enthralled with one of the finest electronic music performers the world is ever likely to see, yes ok, I’m being biased, but over the years and the albums gone, I think Kevin Kendle is right up there with the giants, he has proved himself time and time again. That 1992 album was called Watermusic and Kevin will be the first to admit his music and its production has come a long way since then, now with the arrival of his latest release Afterglow, we have a moment to stop, breathe and enjoy, one of the most beautiful albums I have had the pleasure to listen to for decades.

The opening offering is lush and coloured and called Firelight, it reminds me of those lazy hazy days of mid-summer, the flame of a candle that keeps those pesky bugs at bay, and the vastness of the cosmos above us all. Kevin’s relaxed synth pads and delightfully layered tones say it all on a beginning that is so soothing to the soul.

I can truly appreciate this piece; I live on an island where every sunset is angelic and utterly encapsulating, this next offering takes that and emboldens it further and its name, Sunfall. The cascading tone and timbre here reminds me partly of Meditation 1 by the great Laraaji, here is a piece crisp yet tranquil, uplifting yet serene, and flowing yet dreamy, simply put Kendle’s performance here is perfection.

Twilight sums up this album perfectly, the long drawn musical narrative and soothing synths create a piece that would be perfect to drift off into a dream to. Kevin’s keyboards on this melodic and charming offering really do hold the listener close and tenderly, this whole track ushers forth a level of heart felt musical love like no other.

The chime at the start of At Dusk is so delightful, the piece itself is full of rich flavours, but its healing properties are so very palpable, here is the most meditative manifestation I have heard from the artist in a long while, and I adore every second of it. The repeating motif builds, and as we listen we fade into a peace filled reverie of total calm.

Skyglow is a track that reminds me of tones and vibrations passed; its floating narrative here is so redolent of artists like Tomita, but even more so, Kevin’s old friend Iasos. Fortunately for us Kevin has produced a tempting long form track of just over nine minutes for us to enjoy.  If we listen to this track carefully one can drift off into a timeless space of great tranquillity, and it may even remind us of his days as Aetherium and albums like Healing Gold.

Allow yourself to breathe into this next segment of great beauty called Below the Horizon. Now I must state that at this point I had to quickly save my work as I had lost myself totally in Afterglow, trust me that is an easy thing to do, so with that done and a sigh of relief given, I fall arms open into this next piece called Below The Horizon. With its angelic like harmonics and its space like tones, we can be literally amazed at the level of serenity this artist can create, a track of utterly imperturbable energies indeed.

Our last but one reverie is entitled Strange Light, this piece reminds me of past meditations I have done, the harmonic convergence and the lush atmospherics contained within are simply breath taking, whilst the concluding offering, which is proudly the title track Afterglow, tops the whole project off with a level of class like none before. Afterglow is the ultimate meditative long form opus of just over 11 minutes, and is simply addictive to bathe within its sonic soothing narrative too.

Afterglow by Kevin Kendle is the album that we have all be eagerly awaiting, and upon its arrival it certainly didn’t disappoint, in fact, as ambient albums with a penchant to manifesting a healing vibe go, Afterglow has to be one of the best I have heard this century with utter ease, it is a release that will please all that have the good sense to purchase a copy as soon as they can, this has to be an award winning album surely.

On The Road To Windham By Jim Kimo West & David Vito Gregoli

 

On The Road To Windham

By

Jim Kimo West & David Vito Gregoli

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Anything that falls from the Vito tree these days is simply magical, and here is the master instrumentalist once again, with one of the finest slack guitarists on the planet in Jim Kimo West, are ready once more to please and gifting to us ever eager listeners a new single called On The Road To Windham.

Without a shadow of a doubt any reader or listener who knows anything about contemporary instrumental music will instantly recognise the title, and it is indeed one that pays homage to the mecca of greatness and wonderment known as Windham Hill Records.

Many have walked through that door, many are our on-line friends right now, and most of them leave changed, grown, advanced in their musical states, perhaps beyond what they could have possibly imagined. Here both Jim and David create with their guitars and associated instruments a new single that has a sense of respect of this theatre of greatness, and a passion for all that it has brought to the world of music.

On the Road to Windham by Jim Kimo West & David Vito Gregoli, is a timeless classic that will be much appreciated by fans of Will Ackerman’s beloved theatre of dream. I am sure too that he will enjoy the clever acoustic guitar refrains and nuances, the extremely classy fretless bass, and the ever onward progressive creation that should be streamed by the bucket load and called On The Road To Windham. Here is a rock solid hit if ever you heard one, and one of the finest acoustic based singles released this year with ease.

Spirited Away By Russ McRee

 

Spirited Away

By

Russ McRee

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The latest single from Russ McRee lies upon my desktop, contained within this file is a short form acoustic guitar narrative with a rhythmic percussion, which when combined gives us a song called Spirited Away, and once manifested becomes one of the most addictive compositions of its type I have heard this summer.

The slow but ever onward musical narrative moves us across the bridge of our dreams, and into an alternate reality where the energies of the day have started winding down, and the world has moved on.

The style of performance on guitar here is simply compelling; I have listened to it some 6 times in a row now and I still find clever little nuances hidden within, some that remind me of The Eagles and segments once found within the realm of the Bob Segar Silver Bullet Band, with its charming acoustic reverie and its rustic mid-western charm.

For me this is a solid gold hit, a song that you will take you to the dusty highways and plains, or perhaps down to the crossroads, which and whatever you choose, this explorative guitar with its beautifully played notes and progressive structures will always be with you, and as such I must predict a hit for Spirited Away by Russ McRee, and award it the most addictive guitar based piece of 2024.

As The World Falls Down By Carbe and Durand

 

As The World Falls Down

By

Carbe and Durand

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Well it’s not often you get asked to review a song written and composed by the one and only David Bowie, but as the dynamic duo of Carbe And Durand have released As The World Falls Down from the movie Labyrinth as their latest single, I get that opportunity.

The paring of these two artists have brought us some amazing music over the years, even their own version of another hero of mine in Ozzy with their rendition of Crazy Train among others, but here on this Bowie classic both Carbe and Durand are at the optimum power, creating a smooth backdrop to this memorable ballad from 1986.

J.P’s guitars have always been a class above many others and here on this new single he once more teams up with his symbiotic partner, the amazing Liza Carbe on vocals and bass, and magic is made. The whole single is close to the original, but one has to say that a little Latin flavouring and styling has been added to give it a more romantic feel.

Here is a hit single in the making, a guaranteed composition that will soar up the charts and give the duo of beautiful vibrations a much need oasis of respect, many will remember this song from the decades past and probably like my wife they may well be a fan of the movie Labyrinth too, as such I would easily recommend getting a copy of this new single, it will fulfil a need, it will slide most aptly into you musical scrapbook of musical memories never to be forgotten and retain a place close to your heart called, bliss.

6/8 Time By Denny Rauen

 

6/8 Time

By

Denny Rauen

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

To listen to a guitar in full flow is like watching a vast lapis ocean move in and out, back and forth, creating yearning tides, indeed as Geddy Lee from Rush once sung “I learned to lay my fingers across the wires, and to turn the keys to make them sound differently. As I struck the wires with my other hand, I produced my first harmonious sounds and soon my own music!” (2112)

This I did myself, I have 3 guitars upstairs that cry out for attention and thanks to the inspiration garnered from this album, they will indeed get that this coming autumn. The first piece off this delightful album is called Soloed, it is a sublime start to the release, one that draws a peaceful narrative and a calming spirit.

6/8 Time by Denny Rauen is a picture book of an acoustic guitar journey from the artist, it is a sketchbook of time passed and musical joy found, and also as a tip of the hat to the past, like the song Leonardo, it may be short, but it’s very sweet and honours the master De Vinci, plucking his first notes on his Lute, perhaps in his own Kithara moment.

This album is wonderfully crafted by a man who clearly knows his trade and is in love with it, this 9 track release is evidence of that love and passion, on pieces like the deep and mood filled opus of Silo Echoes, and onto the charming refrains of the youthful Skipping Stones, sun kissed memories can be found in all, as we live our lives through this ever changing corridor of life.

There is a little folk mood that drifts across the horizon of the penultimate offering Little Creek, another delightful redolent memory bathed in some of the finest note picking I have heard for a long, long while. 

We even had a special moment of love and time and tide, as we listen to a piece well known and long adored in the amazing Greensleeves, a composition also much appreciated by the artist’s mother around Christmas time too.

The entire album is a master class of acoustic guitar genius, listening to a musician of this calibre should be enough to inspire any lapsed player like me, and totally enthral any musical aficionado on their journey of perfection in music.

6/8 Time by Denny Rauen is technically outstanding, colourful and wonderfully textured, it is also a very pleasing musical journey of much calm and serenity, one that any seeker of a sanctuary of much needed peace would be more than happy to find and enter, this album should be a huge hit in the charts, and perhaps even loved enough to receive an acclaim from the pundits of musical tone and timbre.

Sonic Landscape By The Song Gardeners

 

Sonic Landscape

By

The Song Gardeners

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

What the world needs now more than ever is The Song Gardeners, their music, the lyrical overtures of peace and love are without doubt a commodity we desperately need to wipe away the fear, miss communication and utter gullibility that seems to be spreading around the globe like a wild fire in July, truly good honest uplifting and positive music like Sonic Landscape can make a difference, and if each of us embrace music such as this, the noise and confusion within our minds can change too.

That aforementioned statement is well catered for in this opening song entitled Present a fine example of musical instructions on how to think far more clearly and, critically, and whilst doing so in the Present, the song itself is should be a constant mantra for us all.

This collection of eight previously released singles should be sought after post haste, especially one of the best new age pop singles ever released in Send Love to Everyone Heal the Divide, this would have worked well in the 60’s and 70’s with ease, whilst offerings like the inspiring More of This with its electro funky beat and percussive Sympathy For the Devil opening hit the spot beautifully.

This is an album you simply cannot go wrong with, all the hits are there, for me it was great once more to bathe myself in the sonic soundscape of tracks like April Sky, a release that reminded me of my youth and the hours I used to spend alone under the galactic vastness, this song is also a perfect example of the genre that we now New Age Pop.

Within concludes the album release, one that I personally hope will be a huge success for The Song Gardeners, I have much respect for them and what they are trying to achieve. Within is in fact the perfect ending track, after all if we cannot be true to ourselves just what hope do we have of being so with others.

Sonic Landscape by The Song Gardeners should be given more attention than any of the news channels on your TV, as at least the information contained within the album is real, honest, true and packed with integrity.

Corrie Dunn and Mary Gospe should be applauded for their efforts in general, but even more so for the release of this their new album, its fluent and powerful messages and musicianship drift across the landscape of all that is utterly splendid musically speaking, and hopefully for the ladies of empowerment, that not only a chart hit is on its way, but awards are to follow in its wake also, this is easily an album I can honestly recommend.

New Kind of World By Top Shelf

 

New Kind of World

By

Top Shelf

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Fortunately for me I have spent time in Jamaica, at the birthplace of the all mighty Bob Marley and in the land where music is the one constant that the country can rely on, here Top Shelf have produced a vibrant new Reggae based album that has elements of both Rap and Ska contained within, and it is a most compelling release indeed.

The culture of Reggae music as said to me whilst in Montego Bay by a fellow musician was “Mon you have to feel the vibe, feel the rhythm, and be heavy on the bass” thankfully all that and more can be found on New Kind of World by Top Shelf, especially the opening piece Wake the Lion, a pulsating opening with all the aforementioned styles and traits found within.

This 12 track album is literally a summer compilation of smooth vibrancy, especially like beach hits such as The Solution and the classic Rock Steady, the start is so Marley it’s delightful, then the happy dance styled motifs kick in with a full flourishing production, and some craft fully clever guitar by Korey Ross.

The more brass and piano based offerings like Omw give us a tempting juxtaposition of tone, while songs like Sunshine State (feat. CootDog & EMCEE RADIOACTIVE) is exceptional in its party styled elements, and then offerings like Bumpy Ride will fill that desire for a little more undeniable rhythm and bass, the vocals and styling here are breath taking from Carter Lane, add to that the mixture of a classy symbiosis of minor and major refrains, and you have my favourite track off the album.

The project is concluded by the final gift of the piece Struggle; once more a perfect vibe can be felt and touched, while the total essence of Reggae music is saluted in the most respectful of ways, and of course is simply the best way with which to leave the album.

A big salute must also go to the champions of tone, the band itself Top Shelf, with sublime and classy presentations and performances by Carter Lane on superb lead vocals, Korey Ross lead guitarist, and the lord of cool string touches, the king of the engine room Chad Goodin on bass, his crisp and rhythmic partner Drew Nicoll the drummer, let’s hear it for Gabriel Winter keyboards, Phillip Goldie on the sultry sax, and of course we must not forget Achilles Poloynis gifting us some almighty trombone.

So one must give up the respect for New Kind of World by Top Shelf, this album must be without doubt one of the best releases this summer and an album that should be spun more times that a spiders web this August. If you wish to fill your life with some very cool reggae vibes this season, then you really must avail yourselves with a copy of New Kind of World by Top Shelf as soon as you can, then hit the beach, crank open a Red Stripe and enjoy!

Camelot By Richard Dillon

 

Camelot

By

Richard Dillon

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Alfred Lord Tennyson once lyrically wrote “On either side the river lie, Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro' the field the road runs by To many-tower'd Camelot” and there is something about this brand new single from masterful Richard Dillion that draws a compelling narrative about that very location, and quite rightly called Camelot performed by Neil Patton.

Dreamy days of summers long past haunt the green woods and forests as we walk in the tonal footprints of another brilliant new composition from Dillion. Patton's tender touch on the piano is akin to an August breeze blowing across the face of a loved one.

This single is not just a great work of solo piano, it is incredibly descriptive, with a posture, power and intensity all of its own, and then contained within the already strong musical prose, comes a sensitive segment that is both deeply touching and steeped in ancient energies.

Camelot is also multi-faceted; I found a serene sense of ambience within this new offering, the juxtaposition that this offered when partnered with the more robust and regal tones made this for me ultra-special, this could indeed be one of the finest arrangements that Richard Dillion has manifested, I certainly adore it.

Breakfast with My Best Friend By Richard Dillon

 

Breakfast with My Best Friend

By

Richard Dillon

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Richard Dillon has produced some quite breath taking pieces over the years, but here on this new single called Breakfast with My Best Friend he produces a much more laid back style as the title would suggest, here is a light new composition that will ease you into any new day ahead with a sumptuous ease.

The term easy like “Sunday morning” is probably over used, but in this instance is a good example to use, the smooth and incredibly chilled tones created here by the artist are utterly delightful, one can imagine with ease the sun kissed day about to start, and two friends relaxing on the balcony watching the day move up a gear, whilst sipping a cooling drink and perhaps consuming some of the nicest jam on the most delicious fresh toast.

There are light Jazz elements here by Dillon, these are also wonderfully added, they paint an overall descriptive narrative of the most pleasant of early morning moments, this is one of those tracks that whilst reasonably short in duration, one could leave on repeat and not even notice.

The gentleness of the piece itself is utterly addictive and most pleasing to the senses and this is why I believe that a hit is one the way for Breakfast with My Best Friend by Richard Dillon.

Smiles on the Way By Victor Birkan

 

Smiles on the Way

By

Victor Birkan

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s always pleasing to me when a new single from Victor Birkan arrives on my desk; this one is especially pleasing as it is a light, cheer filled reverie of solo piano called Smiles on the Way. There is also a sun lit melody here that is as equally delightful, and most certainly very pleasant on the ears, heart and mind.

Birkan is often described as the king of Felt, but here he gifts us a wonderfully flowing example of his stylish performances on a standard piano composition, and it works beautifully.

His flourishing style and colourful gestures on the piano are crisp, well performed and craft-fully produced; it’s great to hear the artist in an abundantly bright mode, lifting our energies with his full flowing musical narrative, and raising the rhythms of a very passionate performance.

Smiles on the Way is a composition worth a listen and if you’re a fan of piano based music that has a story to tell, and a vibration that is both addictive and passionate in its compositional structures, then you need to make this brand new single part of your collection or playlist as soon as you can, one can pretty much predict that this new offering will burst into the charts, and will also be very well received by the genres legions of adoring fans.

Resilience By Jim Gelcer and David Vito Gregoli

 

Resilience

By

Jim Gelcer and David Vito Gregoli

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The very opening of this new single entitled Resilience by Jim Gelcer and David Vito Gregoli was a wonderment all on its own, bringing to me visions of old movie segments and tales told in books, long torn and dusty, there can be no doubt that this new offering by the artists is a composition of utter quality and depth.

There are so many things to enjoy here on this textured instrumental journey that it’s difficult to know where to start, perhaps the simply delectable Auracle hand pan of Gelcer, an instrument that is as colourful and soothing as a sunset in late September.

The vast array of tones created a pastiche of purpose and colour like none before, and offered up images of a heat filled desert where little survive, but still do, whilst the guitar segments, Oud, synths, and that oh so amazing fretless bass, still gift me images of that mountain ridge on the edge of the western deserts of mid world, where the man in black went, and the gunslinger followed.

How many images can a piece of music sum up, its simply idyllic and beautifully produced at all times, the combination of the instrumentation reminded me of artists like the Uk’s Phil Thornton, a long standing contemporary new age instrumentalist, and even more so the stylish US duo of Al Jewer & Andy Mitran.

There is no doubt Vito and Gelcer have found the magic formula here and created one of the most scenic instrumental singles I have heard for decades in Resilience. This one must be part of your musical collection as soon as you can, and of course a huge chart and an award could soon be on that dusty horizon too for Resilience by Jim Gelcer and David Vito Gregoli.

Radical Expressions By Craigology

 

Radical Expressions

By

Craigology

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

If you ever wanted to listen to an impressive instrumental offering that is piano based, then you need to look no further than the latest single from Craigology called Radical Expressions, this power piece has all the flow and intention of a soundtrack for a TV series, and one to be thoroughly enjoyed by the listener.

The pronounced keys at the initial stages of this piece set the scene immediately, whilst the oncoming rush, and one has to say commanding percussive element, took the whole song to a totally different level, one of extreme excitement and intensity.

However my personal favourite slice from this sublime new single was at 1 minute and 23, where a delightfully melodic pull back of dominance can be found in a simple delicious segment, after that a symbiotic and very balanced sovereignty of sound, could literally be seen dancing with Craigology’s softer alter ego of tone.

This in my view is the artist’s best work so far; he has built on previous successes and is slowly developing his style into what could be called soundtrack quality, and as such I have a feeling that Radical Expressions is going to be looked upon favourably by the listeners and indeed the charts. 

A Sense of Distance By Holland Phillips

 

A Sense of Distance

By

Holland Phillips

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

As an instrumentalist Holland Phillips must be one of the finest in the world today, his thoughtful and sometimes reflective compositions always allow one a momentary pause within life’s busy schedule. His music has been a part of my life now for some nine years and more, and it is a simple delight to travel with the artist again on another mollifying musical voyage of plenty, and this time around called A Sense Of Distance.

There is much to love on this new release, one I believe that has brought the very best out of Phillips again, and how pleasing it was to see the first track referencing a subject that I recently qualified educationally with in Greek Mythology, as we listen to a son of Zeus and his mortal wife Danaë on a track created by Phillips called Perseus Rising, a gentle and thoughtful keyboard based composition indeed to start this voyage.

The album is jam packed with splendid treats, one of which is the quite brilliant Through the Rabbit Hole, this somewhat darker creation builds with a sense of mystery and imagination and the possibility of getting lost in a world of confusion, whilst in my view Holland has found the perfect piece in Bittersweet, this is the artist from the days of Save The Dance and Serendipity, it is so good to hear this reflective connection again, sublime keyboard structures that for some reason take me back to the 90’s in compositional structure.

Offerings on this 10 track album also include the enigmatic Behind the Veil, the gentle almost Phil Thornton styled New Age opus called Enchantments, and of course the simply breath taking title track A Sense of Distance, with that mixture of piano and electronic vibrations in a mixture of a calming sense of reality.

It is always a pleasure to review and of course listen to a Holland Phillips album, and within its latter extremities one can find offerings like the uplifting and self-empowering musical narrative of Flying Solo, with slight hints of late 1960’s music and its crescendos of sublime perfection, or you may like do delve much deeper and into moving opuses of intensity like the film score styled Hope Remains.

The vibrant penultimate offering is called On Whistlers Ridge and gifts us as the ever eager listener a moment to cast a glance over a vast landscape of what seems infinite space, in a track of keyboards and light percussion, which must be the most visual piece from the release.

We sadly end this musical journey with the artist and as we do so he gifts us one last musical present entitled For the Love of it. This is perfection, the tone and vibration of the keyboard’s sums up this beauty of an album with succinct ease, and leaves the listener with a sense of complete satisfaction, at its conclusion.

Well it has been so good to see the master instrumentalist back in the seat, and once more producing sublime and quite brilliant new compilations of classic contemporary instrumental magic, I personally could listen to this album for hours on end, and will probably do so, thus I am in no doubt that this truly good release should be a part of your lives as well, therefore I believe that A Sense of Distance by Holland Phillips should not only be a huge chart hit for the artist, but also one that may make some headway in the world of musical awards, it is simply that good.

Time Will Tell BY Waterworks Junction

 

Time Will Tell

BY

Waterworks Junction

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have had a year of amazing growth in music reviewing, only this week alone I have Rock, Reggae, Solo Piano, New Age Pop and Jazz albums to write about, now I can add the genre of Americana to that list, I am truly becoming totally eclectic in my prose it seems. Today though I’m taking a journey out to the mid-west, something I did way back between 2005/10 for real, and along my side on these vast dusty freeways, is the vibrational mastery of the band Waterworks Junction and their latest album Time Will Tell.

Whilst on I:35 we used to listen to the radio change its various bands on our trip, the flowing textures of various country stations would past by into an afternoon haze of lonely Buffalos and Cowboy poetry. Here we start our musical voyage with the opening track and proud title piece Time Will Tell, after listening to this album several times I must admit it is quite addictive and I have to say that this is my personal favourite from the release, the tempo allows us to embrace change, to move at a fluent speed and its multi-instrumental nature an utter delight to enjoy, if ever there was a single waiting to happen then Time Will Tell is most certainly it.

Through backwater towns and vibrant cities we travel, and as we come across Something About You, a track that is as fresh as a Kansas sunrise in July. The vocals of Gab Howarth are outstanding and will continue to be throughout the entire album, and in part remind me of my old friend Holly Montgomery, the banjo and steady rhythm within the spine of this piece is something to revel in.

The crisp acoustic guitar that starts the next offering entitled River Of Hope, is a more traditional glance at the Americana styled gaze of loves lost and found, and under a red autumn sky life begins again, the piano and harmonica combine a delicious symbiosis of both blues and country, and it makes me want to reach for my harmonica instantly. Add to the weave the Gospel styled choir and we can now truly say we are hovering in the Deep South with a peaceful intent, and just to prove I listen to every second of an album before reviewing, I really appreciated the quiet and very gentle little acoustic coda at the end of this track.

This next offering takes me to a state I have been to several times and we can travel now on those West Texas Plains. The steady percussion, the dreamy slide guitar and acoustic combination sets the scene perfectly, as indeed does the original sounds of the train, with all this combined you have made it to the location vicariously through music, for fans of this style of song, you might liken this specific piece to one of the greatest bands of all time The Eagles and their song Peaceful Easy Feeling.

I Go Knockin' is a rousing little powerhouse of a piece that is utterly addictive and brings a little American folk into the mixture of musical mastery too, whilst tracks like Renew My Faith give us a song that has to be one of the most moving I have heard this year, note the harmonies, the imploring lyrics and that reflective minor mood created, this is a fine example of a quality song that also could easily be a single, or perhaps the last dance of the night?

So let’s take a break at Waterworks Junction, whilst in Ponca City Oklahoma I remember opening my window on a hot summer day and hearing the train horn, I watched for what seemed like ages as the train and its cars rolled by, here a similar event occurs, but one with a more energetic affect. This is a truly classy instrumental piece with some original life sounds contained within; its speed and intent are the most original of all moments combined with the trumpet and harmonica, that eventually gift us all a dancing a happy gig across those dusty plains.

Time to fire up the engine and put some more coal on this bonfire of passion and fervour, this can be found in the almost obsessive arrangement called ...And When You Fall. Whilst on tracks like The Promised Land, we can feel a real mixture of soul blues and even rock on this spirited piece, this should be another show piece track and one that the chorus that for some reason reminded me of Bon Jovi and their huge hit single Wanted Dead or Alive.

We move ever deeper into this fascinating album, and as we do so we come across a little Mike Ian magic with the song This I Do Not Know. The smooth performance and crafted duet vocals from both Howarth and Ian are something to take great pleasure in. Whilst the great driving creation with some stunning chord changes comes next and called I Know Not. The structure of this piece alone is sublime; I adore the drift from major to minor in the same way with which Christopher Cross did with his classic Ride with the Wind.

We can see the end of this musical rail road ahead now in the distance, but before we arrive at the buffers lets enjoy You Come And You Go, a song that has a delightfully paced beat, a vibrant violin and sumptuous vocals, this track has an addictive energy about its build and progression, but also a tempting and thoughtful reflective mood about its overall composition.

The soulful vocals of Gab Howarth can be heard on this the penultimate offering entitled The Best That I Can. Her voice has power, intensity, tenderness and a tone that is so simply heavenly to listen to, this last but one song gifts us a moment of contemplation before we complete the project with the last track called Whisper Your Name, this final creation is a summing up on the musical journey taken with the band, and simply the most perfect way with which to end this compilation of greatness.

Time Will Tell by Waterworks Junction certainly took me back a few years both emotionally and musically, those days of travelling the freeways and highways of the Midwest will always remain in my mind, and more importantly it is quality albums like the aforementioned Time Will Tell that will keep it there, this isn’t just a good album from the Americana genre, this is a superb release that actually crosses many genres.

So hats off right now must go to the following who contributed so much to this project in Rob Paparozzi and Billy Patterson on harmonica, Tamara DeMent Gillece on a sensual violin, the mood filled cello of Elizabeth Mendoza, Bob Ferguson and his scene setting trumpet, and of course Nick French on accordion and vox.

So please do yourself a favour right now by availing yourselves of a copy of this fantastic new album Time Will Tell by Waterworks Junction, a release that has in one stroke made the genre of Americana much more assessable to the entire globe, albums of this elk and quality don’t come around too often, so please and embrace that curiosity that lies within you and get a copy now!

NOVAE By Jacquelyn G. Kleine

 

NOVAE

By

Jacquelyn G. Kleine

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are few instrumentalists that thrill the senses and create a level of excitement on the cusp of a new release, Jacquelyn G. Kleine is most certainly one of those musicians, and now we gladly see the release of a brand new single from her, one steeped in the a wonderfully fluent mysterious tone and called NOVAE.

It is always a pleasure to hear Jacquelyn’s work; the mix of a sonic background and a soaring flute works wonders for the imagination, however a deeper trail will be found on this new manifestation, one that contains a real tribal energy about its construction.

The depth of this new single is palpable, its flavours distinctly ancestral, the distant drum throughout this single is deftly created and gives an effect of an event in process somewhere within the vast woodlands of nature.

Kleine’s flute is always impressive, but this matched with a symbiotic background synth structure is simply breath taking, all three corners are perfectly balanced and as such magic is created.

NOVAE by Jacquelyn G. Kleine is yet another in a long line of sublime arrangements brought into this world by the artist, she is without doubt a sonic painter of sound, and her tapestries of tone especially on this new offering are so visual and bathed in an enticing energy.

I have no doubt that this new single is going to be another huge hit for the artist, as it appeals to a cross line of genres, with a world global influence, the new age music fans among us, and those that adore that primal energy flowing with an abundant ethnicity in their music, if you fit into any of those descriptions, then you will be more than willing to grab a copy of NOVAE by Jacquelyn G. Kleine as quick as you can!

Finite Space By Chris Meyer's Alias Zone

 

Finite Space

By

Chris Meyer's Alias Zone

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It has been a pleasure to spend a few hours in the far outer reaches of my musical galaxy with Finite Space by Chris Meyer's Alias Zone, it has somewhat restored my faith in long form electronic music whilst doing so, and kindly reminded me of some of the great albums that have passed my way on my journey through the tone and timbre of the space and electronic genres.

So we have a release with 4 tracks, three of those can be called long form with tracks ranging from 19 minutes plus, to just over 26 minutes, I can confirm now I got totally lost in this album, and a whole day could have gone past and I would have been stuck in the inner dimension of Chris’s Alias Zone, quite willingly.

The opening piece if a soft and delicate slice of space styled music mixed with a little global fusion, which added somewhat to the flavour and called is Premonition. This is a blissful place to start indeed, but it does however remind us of the fateful Apollo 13 mission, the spoken word audio from ground control spoke volumes, whilst the tension built with a subtle perception, akin to an ever growing storm on a darkening horizon.

There is so much to like on this next piece entitled Ash Tree Window, it is a vast creation of vibrant tones and colours, and shifts its aspects to create a swirling composition that has an addictive quality to its musical embrace. If you are like me and you’re old enough to remember the first cold war, you might remember listening to Soviet transmissions on the radio, contained within this composition one can be heard trying to contact a Russian space communications base, the electronic wizardry here reminds me greatly of the EM artist Dhyanam, mixed with the ambient structures of Laraaji and his 80’s Day of Radiance album.

We now drift into the continuum of Sputnik’s Ghosts, once more we look back to a month and a few days before I made it onto the planet in 1957, and the launch of the globes first Satellite by the USSR. This piece is beautifully crafted and contains a quite clever energy of expectation and wonderment, the flowing electronic tones and spoken word news audio all adds to the great drama of the piece, and flavours of Vangelis drift on the ambience of time within this marvellous long form opus of around 22 minutes.

The longest offering from the album is called Nightfall: Kyiv, today this song could have many connotations, here the artist with a little help from Ukrainian artist Maks Histibe and his field recordings of the current conflict explores them further, bringing the idiocy of war into a reality for those of us who it has never touched. It’s also at this point that we must tip the hat of respect to one Richard Bugg whose hyper acoustic flute adds such a beautiful distinction to the overall narrative. This is a deeply moving concluding musical creation, one that reminds us all of the most precious gift of life we all lead, and to be grateful for each day, each hour, or each minute of peace we can touch.

Finite Space by Chris Meyer's Alias Zone is a perfect example of top notch electronic music with an added twist of a global infused manifestation of sublime quality. This has to be the finest for me this year with ease, I defy anyone to press play on this album and not be totally immersed by the experience that follows.

Here is an album to step through the Stargate with, allow the senses to drift with the tones and timbre of each creative composition, and enjoy each bliss filled second as albums of this elk do not come around that often, as such one has to say that Finite Space is a total masterpiece of a release and it should indeed by the musical panacea to elate the hearts and minds of electronic music fans the globe over.

Stardust By Alise Ashby

 

Stardust

By

Alise Ashby

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

For me Neil deGrasse Tyson said it all when he stated “There are as many atoms in a single molecule of your DNA as there are stars in the typical galaxy. We are each of us, a little universe, we are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle.” How beautifully put is that, and in this new release by Alise Ashby, her music and piano performances shine like the yellow dwarf that sustains our lives on her new release Stardust.

This seven track piano based release is like a breath of fresh air in the vast realms of the global piano collective, this is a collection of beautiful tunes and soothing melodies that I thoroughly enjoyed and drifted within for many hours, the opening piece in particular brought me great tranquillity, this gem is entitled Morning Light and is a blissful start to an album of this splendour.

The following offering is another sanctuary of serenity and called Reflections in A minor, this is exactly the style of piano that thrills me, that Lanz styled dip into the minor realm of piano matters can be found here, and in my view is one of the most exquisite pieces from the release, one that I believe could be featured in a movie with ease.

Many moments of pure clarity are here as well, like the utter honesty and heart on the sleeve moment of tracks like Open to Love, a more sumptuous melody you will not find, and the pristine natural sensitivity of the piece Twilight, a rhythmic offering that is as gentle as a newly born flower in early March.

The title track Stardust is a wonder so vast and all-encompassing that it has an almost regal energy to its proud structures, which could have easily been formed from the classical; those nuances were a delight to completely enjoy with a passion, whilst the penultimate offering entitled Mariposa offered us a tranquil safe harbour, perhaps in a lush green forest of natural beauty.

The concluding composition Solace was the perfect way with which to end the project, it’s a calming reverie, a simple yet soothing delight to a soft back drop of sound, this is a stylish way to finish and one that will allow the listener the perfect moment to close their eyes and simply drift away to on its conclusion.

Stardust by Alise Ashby has to be, for me, one of the most enjoyable piano based albums I have listened to for simply ages, every single composition has been created with tenderness, and a sensitivity that is quite moving and restful, this is one of those creations that it would be easy to leave on repeat and never notice, it is that good, and as such I have no concerns predicting that Stardust by Alise Ashby is going to be a huge hit on the charts.