Ad Astra By Oz Nelson

 

Ad Astra

By

Oz Nelson

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Space styled music seems to be making a huge come back these days, perhaps our trips to the Moon and Mars have been somewhat of an inspiration, and Oz Nelson long-time friend of One World Music Radio, has now recorded and released a superb new album reflecting his feelings and thoughts on the subject matter, and done it in a way that is creative, crafted and extremely exciting.

Ad Astra is this brave new world of electronic music for the artist, and it is an effervescent journey, very much like the bouncy addictive first piece from the release entitled Stratosphere, a wonderful mixture of electronic mastery meets rock in a glorious stylish opening.

This seven piece album is full of wonder and expectation, and songs like the mysterious Echoes are a fine example of that aforementioned statement, a gentle piece indeed, but one that floats around you with its in obtrusive keyboard structures, in a wonder world of ambient pleasure.

There is really much to enjoy on Ad Astra, for me tracks like Deep Space with its explorative arrangement and percussive beats engaged my attention, and this artistic keyboard structured composition, mixed with voices both ethereal and technical, were a tapestry of cleverness that had me rooted; this is utterly amazing soundtrack music from the maestro.

The penultimate offering is entitled Infinity and calmly leads us with self-confidence towards the last portal of the album which is called Aphelion, this concluding piece was a perfect composition with which to leave the album with, a mixture of a smart performance on keyboards, a textured layer of electronica, (think artists like Jean Michel Jarre and Geigertek) and even a slight dance styled motif could be found on this most stylish ending opus.

Ad Astra by Oz Nelson has to be the highlight of the artist’s career to date, here is an album that shines like the sun, and radiates an exciting journey of space styled electronic music for the listener to absolutely revel in. Ad Astra by Oz Nelson, is a vibrant new album filled to the brim with energy, colour and a whole tapestry of musical textures, it’s simply a release too good to miss.

Colors Of Life By Robin Gentlewolf

 

Colors Of Life

By

Robin Gentlewolf

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It was so great to see Robin Gentlewolf release her first solo album entitled Colors Of Life, and this rich friendly release will soon wing its way into the hearts of minds of all good music seekers, and of course the legions of flute lovers across the world, as this is a breathtakingly fantastic new album.

All sublime musical journeys start with a fluent and lively opening creation, and here Robin does just that with the assistance of guitarist Keith Summers, the track in question is the opener Daylight Dreaming, a duet of sun kissed proportions.

Colors Of Life is the title track that holds much lightness and beauty, the performance here is akin to the sun sparkling on the soft palate of an autumn lake, this is perfect depiction of all of the textures and fibres that go to make up this magical moment we call life.

The depths of Dawning of a New Day has a mood that paints a somewhat unsure picture of the future, but come what may, this is an opportunity to be taken and there is a powerful sense of determination within this song that is so rich and meaningful.

This 10 track collection of quality compositions is packed with musical voyages of all kinds, for example Snowbirds Dance slows the pace, adds a little reflection, and the hovering performance on flute even draws a cold grey winter narrative over a beautiful flute presentation. Then you are blessed with pieces like Wolf Moon a duet with Jan Michael Looking Wolf, here the partnership of perfection gift us with a totally moody manifestation, one that draws from the very energy of the great teacher, the Wolf itself, this would also be one of my personal favourites from the album.

There are plenty of opportunities on this release to diverge into new realms; Robin does this wonderfully on Mystic Moonlight, a duet with Lori Sandall, a heartfelt arrangement bathed in the mirrored pool of reflection, and caressed with a lush silver energy can be found here.

It’s time to take a ride on the Sliver Highway and here Gentlewolf brings a somewhat reflective energy into the proceedings, but one that flows like the road ahead itself.

I used to run through beautiful lavender fields when I was a young boy, and then lay in the summer sun and have those Sweet Lavender Dreams; I felt deeply emotional whilst listening to this song, memories have a way of doing that I guess, and the usage of classy minor refrains on guitar, partnered with an emotive flute performance, made this one for me, the stand out track off the album.

The penultimate offering on the album comes courtesy of the longest track off it in the guise of Wildflowers and Butterflies at just shy of six and a half minutes, this is a dreamy performance, one that could see the artist sitting in nature with her flute playing to all creatures, great or small.

One has to applaud the artist for concluding the album with such a cheery track in Spicy Pumpkin Chai, this is a gloriously happy refrain with which to part ways with the album, and bring to a close a quite fine debut solo collection of classy creations for the artist.

Colors of Life by Robin Gentlewolf is a release that walks the listener through moods, emotions and tales of time and timbre, it is a truly open and heartfelt first solo offering, and one Robin should be incredibly proud of. This is one of those albums that would be all too easy to leave on repeat, whilst sitting and watching the day unfurl. Flute fans worldwide are on notice, this is one album you should really have within your collections at all costs.

Tenkawa: Pilgrimage of the Sacred Sound By Hiroki Okano

 

Tenkawa: Pilgrimage of the Sacred Sound

By

Hiroki Okano

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There can be nothing more exhilarating that going to a personal spiritual space that is so ancient and steeped in the energies of the ancestors, to alight ones sense of purpose and ability to create wondrous works of art. This album is the result of just that, and Hiroki Okano’s journey to Tenkawa shrine, the first one created that is dedicated to the god of water and performing artists, was time truly well spent

I was first struck by the sheer beauty of this album; as usual I take a few listens through completely before writing, and through the manifestation of these compositions I felt like I was taken on the journey with Hiroki himself to this most honourable and beautiful location.

Tracks like Topanga Canyon highlight our direction, the natural sounds pave the way as our voyage of discovery begins, this reverie is utterly blissful and deeply meditative in its own right, and as is always the pleasure to say, the artists flute is the creator of much musical magic.

Tenkawa: Pilgrimage of the Sacred Sound is a sojourn of a holy place, a voyage of wonder, and with tracks like Inherited Prayer we can truly feel the resonance of the location, this deeply satisfying solo flute manifestation is hypnotic and all encompassing, allowing us to move through the forests of tone and splendour with ease.

The scene setting sounds of nature are always sublime on an Okano release, as are the harmonic pastiches of brilliance and ambience, and no better track than to reference that, can I honestly hold up high, as the utterly beautiful odyssey of Dreamsphere, here resides an opus of pure serenity, this is the finest example of Okano’s flute mastery for all to enjoy.

This 11 track album has much for the listener to wander through and explore, like the open heart of pieces like Starry Forest, or the blissful open plains of compositions like Inherited Prayer 2 - Mother's Song, where one can literally bathe in the springs and streams of eternal love, and the concluding mastery of Kokoro, the final location of our album voyage, a floating gem of tranquillity and peace, a veritable meditative composition of sublime harmonic resonance.

Tenkawa: Pilgrimage of the Sacred Sound by Hiroki Okano is a personal voyage of discovery for the artist, but in doing so, and by bringing this project to its glorious fruition; Hiroki Okano has opened up our eyes and heart once more to his musical charms and positive intentions.  This is an album that has texture, grace, colour and a loving respect, one could not wish for something better to adorn our musical collection with, so with ease I urge you all to make this new release part of your musical lives as well.

Nightfall By Dulce Joya

 

Nightfall

By

Dulce Joya

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This brand new single from pianist Dulce Joya is called Nightfall, and after a couple of listens I am left with the fact that this new offering could be the best work of a Neo Classical creation that I have heard this year with ease, and probably for the last few years with ease.

Dulce is a power performer with a crafted and sensitive touch, and on this brand new single she shows this in all her glory, a grand symphonic orchestration can be found here, a sound track for a film without doubt, and a performance on the piano that whilst grand, is also utterly creative, textured and exciting.

Nightfall as a work of art is simply splendid, an ethereal choir, a harmonic resonance, and at its conclusion a gentle piano narrative that will ease the listener back into the real world, this new single is a must buy and I predict huge things for it on the charts, as Dulce Joya pulls out her best work thus far on the grandest stage of all.

Call & Answer By Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

 

Call & Answer

By

Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The skill set required to create a cogent and fascinating experimental album is a wondrous thing indeed, here the Hanslik & Moniz Experiment gift us another release packed with expressions, textures and layers of tonality like no other, and at all times manifest an energy of an ambient captivation whilst doing so, they entitle this work of artistic brilliance Call & Answer.

I adore it when composers choose the title track as the first composition on the album it shows us, the ever eager listener, their true intent and direction. Here the duet does just that with a swirling harmonic resonance called of course Call & Answer, the synths and guitar seem to have a naturally organic manifestation, which makes this title header such a dream like opus to enjoy.

We now step into the garden of many electronic delights within the composition granted the title of The Weight of Truth, here can be found a song with a slightly mysterious quality, one that marches ever onward with its pastiche of truthful tones and harmonic builds and progressions, a track that leads us through many doors and passages along the way.

Serene Encounter is a special piece, I listened to its graces on a few occasions and loved its ambience, it reminded me in its early stages of my chart topping song Riccos Beach with its synth styled minor touches, but here lies a piece of the future with a more upbeat and flavourful musical narrative, listen to the guitar in this track, it’s something to marvel at indeed.

As we edge ever closer to the half way juncture of the album, we come across a track that is beyond fascinating, and at times creates an outer worldly energy about its construction, the string plucking matches the marvellous keyboard work on Reaching Out, and is totally addictive, while the electronic variances in tone brings to our attention one of the most creative and artistic pieces from the album.

The slow progression and back beat in this next piece entitled Did We Miss Anything, gave me the very same energy of some 40 years hence, when a track was gifted to me by the late but great Isao Tomita and his composition Pavane for a Dead Princess. The gentle processional style incorporated here makes the sound foundations of the piece solid, whilst the inventive and artistic nuances manifested by the artists, brings to the fore one the best electronic experimental compositions I have heard for decades.

Listening to this next piece I was reminded of the heady days of the 60’s and Georges Harrison, a short form moment of crafted genius can be found here in the track Willing, one of the best 60seconds plus I have spent listening lately.

Now we turn the corner of our musical modern art gallery and reach a portrait entitled Conversation Interrupted. Here one will find a tornado of a track, a piece that swirls around you, forever changing its form and structure, forever altering its direction and as such your perception, this is a dreamscape of a musical narrative, but be careful, you may get lost within its transfixing dimensional narrative.

Our penultimate offering is entitled Exoplanet, a planet out of our solar system, research Kepler-452b as an example of one. Here the artists build a piece that is all encompassing and totally engrossing, a piece that constructs a vast sound to explore and, a vibrancy that is just too hard to resist and also allows us to finish off the project, with the ingenuous and original manifestation of What We Missed, which reminds me in its construction of Floyd meets Tangerine Dream, and a brilliant way with which to leave the release indeed.

Call & Answer by Hanslik & Moniz Experiment is music to lose yourself within, it’s new and investigational energies are so well crafted, that any listener will just get carried away with its artistic nuances. Call & Answer by Hanslik & Moniz Experiment is an album that must surely be a collector’s item, a main stay in the playlists of musical purists, an album that many will carry with them throughout the ages, like they have done with artists like Eno and Budd, this is something quite special, make it part of your collection as soon as possible too and enjoy the electronic experimental reveries contained within.

Wood Songs By Mad Dog Friedman

 

Wood Songs

By

Mad Dog Friedman

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Back in the year 2005 I was literally entranced by a 14 piece solo flute album called Dartmoor Roundhouse by Nigel Shaw, it brought me great solace, here some 18 years later Mad Dog Friedman recreates that mood and time for me once again, his 15 track compilation of solo flute tracks is a stunning reminder that there is so much beauty, peace and tranquillity to be had from the flute as a solo instrument.

Wood Songs takes us on a journey for a wonderful 48 minutes plus, and as listeners we will get lost in the ambience of the moment through pieces like Red Cedar and Olive, or Walnut and Honey Maple, two blissful, deep and resonating flute performances utilising the different woods of nature.

We can also enjoy the reveries of pieces like Flicker Fantasy, a composition that seems to swirl around the listener from all directions, creating an all-encompassing warm energy as it does so, whilst pieces like Lacewood, Red Cedar and Olive, manifest a mysterious mood for us to literally float within, this one would be one of my personal favourites from the album.

There is so much to choose from on this release, so much so, that one is literally spoilt for choice, songs like Willow Basket offer us an abundance of tone whilst raising the energies of the moment, while creations like Stumped manifest a musical narrative of calm resignation.

All in all, here is a release that is hard to break free from, and why would you want to, I am now on my third listen, and as in 18 years past, this album also gives me great contentment and peace, I enjoyed the reveries of tracks like Dance of the Drunken Forest, or the concluding arrangement, Song of the Woods to only enhance my tranquillity and meditative energies further, a fine last composition that sums up in tone and vibration all that has gone before it.

Wood Songs by Mad Dog Friedman is a fine example of a solo flute album played really well, the artist is clearly in the zone with this recording and it shows, and the resultant conclusion and final product is one of total satisfaction and serene peace, and that with regard for such an artistic creation cannot be a bad thing at all, a sure fire hit is completely on the cards for Wood Songs by Mad Dog Friedman.

Lost By Benjamin Cook

 

Lost

By

Benjamin Cook

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Benjamin Cook came into my musical view during 2022, and his artistic endeavours of solo piano have certainly engaged me during that time, today the artist has a brand new single out called Lost, and I do believe that this has to be his most creative work thus far.

Cooks talents have manifested a piece of pure ambience here, one that drifts like a lost soul across the beach of yesterday. This is indeed reflective, but more so than that, it is incredibly descriptive in its crafted narrative.

Fans of solo piano should lap this up, and those who adore their music on the more emotive side of the track will adore it. Lost by Benjamin Cook is a song that gives the listener exactly what it says on the can, and manifests a place of solitude and ambience for each and every listener.

Burning Bush By Victor Birkan

 

Burning Bush

By

Victor Birkan

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There can be no one more prolific in suspenseful solo piano music around today, other than the amazing Victor Birkan. The good news is he has a new single out called Burning Bush, and this delicious composition seems to take us all on a mystical journey with Middle Eastern flavourers.

There can be no doubt that Birkan is one of the most fluent composers of his day, and with each and every composition, a flavourful arrangement can be found, here on Burning Bush we sense within his performance, something quite magical is unfurling.

It’s truly worth listening to how the creator manifests a wonderful interplay between light and dark on this stunning new offering, one that I believe will be a huge success for him on the singles chart.

Winds of Distant Memories By Curtis Macdonald

 

Winds of Distant Memories

By

Curtis Macdonald

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This has to be the most unique composition ever by Curtis MacDonald; I have been following the artist’s music now since the turn of the century, and this has to be the most exciting new release I have heard for a long time. Curtis has developed his style to one with a more electronic base, and this vibrant new composition is going to rock the world.

This new offering is a sublime chill out electronic creation, one that truly delivers a brand new style, and lays it at the feet of his ever loving fan base, that in all seriousness are going to eat it up with glee. Winds of Distant Memories by Curtis Macdonald is a crisp, riveting, and exciting new song that should take the singles chart by storm.

Dreaming of Daybreak By Janice Lacy

 

Dreaming of Daybreak

By

Janice Lacy

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The manifestation of truly good art is the awareness of all possibilities, a connection to nature and all the beauty that it brings and a desire to build and construct sanctuaries of the mind and soul. On her latest release, Dreaming of Daybreak, Janice Lacy does all three of those precepts and more, I am now on my second full listen to the album and I’m sure it won’t stop there.

Janice first built her relationship with the piano at the extremely tender age of 3 years old, and this native from Ohio, and her symbiotic partnership with her beloved piano continues to this day, the journey begins with the opening piece Abiding, here lays a gentle musical narrative, a solo piano performance that illustrates the title of the album with such a calm repose.

There is more to this album that is now about to unfurl, Dreaming of Daybreak is a colourful release and as a title track is a sublime example of what can be achieved with a full flowing arrangement, one that also contains a soothing string section that is as calming as the early morning ocean waves kiss the daybreak as it rises into the soft palate of a dawn sky; if ever a track was idyllic, this is it.

A more reflective feel can be had on this next piece entitled As the Years Pass, the presentation on piano by the artist, takes on a more emotive touch as she explores times past and long gone, having one of the best horn performers in Jill Haley on the composition only elevated the song to a majestic and magical level.

Still Near is out next port of call and here we find Lacy in a calming mood, a symbiosis of thought and perception is created with the inclusion of Charlie Bisharat on violin, the purpose of the piece was more pronounced and full of flavour, but Bisharat’s sumptuous violin were the waves to Lacy’s vast ocean of talent, and added in that gentle poise to a glourious creation.

As we approach the summit of the album we come across a stunning performance that we now know as Waiting for the Clouds to Break. This piece sounds like a composition that is crying out through the ages, there is a level of much appreciated anticipation built into the weave here that is delightful, while on Headlands Spring the half way marker is reached, and in a true new age piano style as well. Through the charming refrains of this track I can visualise sitting upon a hillside after a long climb, and thoroughly enjoying the view, and then perhaps also using this piece as the soundtrack that goes along with the moment.

I adored the delicacy of this next offering entitled A Beautiful Light, this is a track that one can truly appreciate, it’s a creation that one can feel, like the first rays of the day warming your chilled face, the multi-instrumental nature of this composition made the experience even more delightful.

The light and airy motifs on this song just illustrates what a class act Janice Lacy is, as a pianist and composer, this is a wonderfully layered arrangement, one with delicious strings and even a slight Celtic motif as well, this is indeed one of those pieces that is impossible not to love.

The next creation offers up much, even a little apprehension to begin with, and then the piece seemingly drops gently into to a warming manifestation that is akin to a friendly arm around the shoulder. Always True is a reassuring melody of honesty and love, and played with the confidence of a pianist who truly feels as well as hears her own music.

This one made me smile, purely because our neighbours are Hungarians and hearing this piece I immediately imagined them dancing to Hungarian Waltz, however, lets cast that little daydream to the side, one has to admire this song, it has so much within its weave, a little folk, a hint of the classical, and a moving intention of a symbiosis of sound, dance and love.

Let’s arrive now at our last but one composition off the album and this one is called Nocturne, an artistic repose can be found here, and a composition that contains a lot of depth and passion, adding the Cello of Eugene Friesen into the mix is always going to increase the fluency of a piece, and also in the case of this creation, manifested a vast oasis of sound that we as listeners can magically explore. Lacy then concludes with a stylish ending as we are given a rerun of the first track of the album in Abiding (Reprise), one that contains Haley’s English horn to draw the night time down, and close the curtains to this most splendid album.

Dreaming of Daybreak by Janice Lacy is that magical stepping stone of accomplishment and with ease the artist’s best work thus far; it contains a plethora of multi-talented artists and producers, in the dream team of Friesian, Haley, and Bisharat, lets also not forget Tony Levin on Bass, and the wizard of imaginations in Mr Will Ackerman. This is going to be one of those releases for Janice, that she will look back on in the years ahead and be proud of, all the stars in every way have aligned with perfection for Dreaming of Daybreak, and it is going to be a huge hit on the charts and awards circuits for the musician, if there is any justice in this crazy musical world.

Everyday Miracles By Julie Hanney

 

Everyday Miracles

By

Julie Hanney

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Listening to a Julie Hanney album is like listening to an audio books soundtrack, every composition is a storybook unto itself, and each arrangement has a depth in colour and textures that others seem to fail to reach, the new tales of wonder in this brand new album by the artist is called Everyday Miracles, and is a truism of real life and the appreciation of it.

From the very first composition the listener is captured and willingly led by the hand into a wonderland where Alice is not the only happy listener, the encounter with Taking Flight is a gentle warm welcome to this latest project, and the careful progression by the pianist on this arrangement is sublime.

There are 14 delicious tracks on this fantastic new release, ones that include warm renditions like the happy refrains of Coming Home, a song set for wonderful lyrics, or the clever and carefully worked genius of The Fibonacci Sequence. The sequence follows the rule that each number is equal to the sum of the preceding two numbers, a crafted piece indeed.

This is an album that is packed with blissful compositions and wonderfully warm performances, like Ancient Winds, an aged but respectful song that floats on the winds of evermore, or Synchronicity, a truly important track that illustrates all those supposed coincidences that happen around us each day, but many fail to recognise even a single one.

This is a simple album based on a simple subject, and circling us with each moment of our life, are every day miracles like the caress of a butterflies wings, the delicate dance of a dragonfly, or the tender kiss of a loved one, or perhaps a Longing for some heart felt moment that has yet to occur, this piece is utterly beautiful and deeply moving, Longing itself is a heartfelt opus of pure loving honesty.

Julie’s artistic crafted brilliance will then conclude the release with a deeply attractive offering called Birdsong, a sound, a choir of natural beauty we hear each day if we care to listen. This final offering is quite complex and offers up a finishing solo piano presentation that has elements of both the New Age and contemporary instrumental genres within the weave of the composition, and of course is a smart way indeed to finish the album.

Everyday Miracles by Julie Hanney is with ease the artist best work to date, she has manifested into reality 14 tracks of complete colour and texture, then layered each of them with sumptuous levels of serenity, and tranquillity, and within each song a tale of simplicity can be told. Hanney has been likened to other artists in her time, but I firmly believe that she has now absolutely arrived on her own stage, and performs to her own tune, and Everyday Miracles is the creation that heralds her arrival as solo piano A-lister in her own right.

Rise By Walter Anderson

 

Rise

By

Walter Anderson

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

A new name for me, but one I am very grateful to now have around me, and of course also to start my day, as I introduce the listener to Walter Anderson and his latest single Rise. This slice of solo piano was just what was needed to start off another week in my world, as the fluency and textures found in this short form piece were simply sublime.

Walter Anderson is a pianist of great colour, and his skill set on this new single manifests an almost classical mood at times, but overall, is a composition with more warmth and a lightness of presentation, one that is so very appealing to listen to.

Rise has to be one of the most uplifting solo piano pieces I have heard for a while, a creation that takes the listener to a place of peace and serenity, and a track that is sure to find its way into the hearts and minds of each and every willing listener; a sure fire chart hit lays in waiting here on Rise by Walter Anderson.

Jellyfish Dance By Adolfo Viguera

 

Jellyfish Dance

By

Adolfo Viguera

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This new single by Adolfo Viguera called Jellyfish Dance, has to be one of the most beautiful compositions in the instrumental genres that has fallen upon my desk in the last few months.

Adolofo’s presentation is wonderfully accurate musically, as I have watched jellyfish here in the Mediterranean and the multi-instrumental arrangement is so very redolent of the subject matter.

This is one of those pieces that you may well find yourself coming back to time and time over, it has a reflective mood about its build and construction, one that manifests an arrangement that is seemingly quite addictive, and thus one can say with ease that Jellyfish Dance by Adolfo Viguera is so far the most colourful and descriptive single of the year without doubt.

I'll Find You Someday By Paul Vens & Friends

 

I'll Find You Someday

By

Paul Vens & Friends

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Paul Vens and Friends have a very reflective energy as creators of what one could describe as new folk ballads, this new single entitled I'll Find You Someday has such a memorable resonance, it literally moved me through a few decades of songs in this style, from artists like Cat Stevens and Ralph McTell.

Paul’s guitar is so carefully played and the intention is to manifest an emotive essence within the composition, one that is beautifully added to by the harmonic vocals of Hammeke which accompany those of Paul; this is such a gentle and respectful ballad, one that will float into your heart and never leave.

Paul Vens and Friends have once more brought into this world a sensitive repose in music, one that will be totally adored by those who simply delight in new music from the singer songwriter genre.

Ocean's Breath By Ross Mitchell

 

Ocean's Breath

By

Ross Mitchell

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The talents and artistic skills of a creator who is truly in the flow of their muse is something wonderful to witness. The skill of manifesting a song that perfectly depicts its subject matter is just another level of creativity that some never reach, here on this brand new single called Ocean’s Breath, Ross Mitchell’s performance on his trusty piano isn’t just redolent of the subject matter, one can see feel and touch all the elements in this composition with a palpable ease.

His flourishing manoeuvres on the piano are startling classy, the colourful pastiches of energy and passion are breath taking, I can say from experience, as I live by the ocean, that this is a perfect soundtrack to that wonderful segment of nature’s sublime existence, a chart hit without a shadow of a doubt must be on the cards for Ross Mitchell and Ocean’s Breath.

Stargazing By Lorna James

 

Stargazing

By

Lorna James

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have enjoyed this musical voyage that I have travelled with Pianist Lorna James so far, last year 2022 was good for her and us, with very creative compositions coming our way in abundance, and the good news is that she has started the year off with a bang, by releasing in my opinion is her best work thus far on her latest release Stargazing.

There is a delicious vastness about this musical construct that is so appealing, the reflective notes and chords are built in perfect harmony with the major variety to manifest a mood of wonderment, gratitude and respect. Her performance on this single alone leads me to suggest that this new offering is going to be a smash hit on the singles chart with ease; James has created a song here that could well be a pivotal moment in her career.

Rhyming Poem (Piano & Flute) By A88 & Shere Fraser

 

Rhyming Poem (Piano & Flute)

By

A88 & Shere Fraser

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Its flute meets felt piano on this brand new single by A88 & Shere Fraser, as they gift us ever eager listeners, a composition called Rhyming Poem (Piano & Flute), a light hearted and crystalline like arrangement that drifts across the caverns of our mind, and creates pleasing images and tones as it wonders.

This gentle reverie is sweetness and light combined, but its overall construction gives us motifs of the classical genre. The fluency within the partnership on the two artists is completely spot on, and thus the result, a very delightfully easy piece of music to listen to and enjoy.

Breath of Wonder By Diane Wheeler Dunn

 

Breath of Wonder

By

Diane Wheeler Dunn

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Diane Wheeler Dunn has started 2023 with a brand new single called Breath of Wonder, and the vibrational energies that come from this new offering are quite empowering, and simply the best way with which to start a new year off musically. The artist has created something here that is truly natural and almost ancestral in its construction and arrangement, and this fresh beginning gives us all an exciting new single to enjoy.

Diane has become a well-known and much respected name in the world of flute music, and this brand new composition will only go to cement that legacy of classy creations even further, played with precision, but with heart and soul, Breath of Wonder by Diane Wheeler Dunn is set to become another huge chart hit for the artist.

A Waltz from the Heart By Annie Locke

 

A Waltz from the Heart

By

Annie Locke

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It’s such a delight to write about a new Annie Locke composition, she is a composer and pianist that always manifests what could be classified as comfort music for the soul, each arrangement carefully, but lovingly constructed, and here on A Waltz From The Heart we hear just that and more.

Annie’s latest manifestation carries you onto and along the dance floor of life and love and never lets you go. I’m not sure that I have ever heard another pianist play with such warmth and love as she seems to always do, and one has to say with such style and grace as well.

I am pretty sure that after feeling the tenderness and honesty of performance here, that Annie is going to have another singles hit on her hands with A Waltz From The Heart in the charts.

ALIGNED: A Planetary Mantra & Gong Shower By Charleene Closshey

 

ALIGNED: A Planetary Mantra & Gong Shower

By

Charleene Closshey

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have had a few personal experiences of Gong showers, each of them were simply breath taking and some quite emotional, others were perfect for the releasing of negativities energies. Here on this new album Charleene Closshey takes the whole matter a stage further and moves onto an interplanetary stage.

ALIGNED: A Planetary Mantra & Gong Shower is without a doubt an album you need to dedicate time to, it is so deep, powerful and far reaching, give yourself space and time, and just go for it, be solidly in the moment; from the very first composition entitled Sun, the centre of our solar system, we are gifted a piece that is so vast, that the nature of this red hot opener encapsulates everything and everyone with its burning energies, the Gongs resonate with such an intensity, while Closshey symbiotically harmonises with her blissful vocalisations in what is a perfect start.

We drift towards one of our smaller planets in Mercury, or in our islands Greek Mythology he would be known as Hermes, the messenger; here we find a blissfully delicate and fluent ethereal arrangement, the vibrational tones for me were quite high, and in some ways reminded me of the upper chakra resonances, however this would be one of my favourite tracks off the album, although that in itself is absurd as the whole album should be really taken as a complete journey.

Since Holst created The Planets, I have been enamoured by interpretations of the wondrous planet of Venus through music, here on the track Venus, Charleene Closshey brings a blanket of sensitivity to the party on her own invention, the angelic harmonics in this manifestation alone are enough to move you to the very root of your soul, the gentleness and thoughtful warmth within this composition are pure paradise, and the distant overture of tone something deeply delightful.

The contrast to the last peace as we now move to the track Mars was palpable, but in an almost earth element style, this is a track that is more grounded that the air elemental energies of the last piece, however there is something incredibly attractive about Mars that is totally addictive, and also very meditative too, there is a depth here that has to be felt as well as listened to in one of the most profound tracks off the album.

We now traverse the asteroid belt and arrive at what is believed to be the oldest planet in our solar system and known by its Roman name Jupiter, the bringer of Joy, and ascribed to the Greek god Zeus. This goes some way to express the regal and deeply spiritual chants throughout this stunning arrangement, it would be all too easy to get lost within the realms of Jupiter’s power, grace and sacred vibrations, at what is the longest track off the album at well over 15 minutes in duration.

Saturn, the multi ringed planet and second largest in our solar system, the Greeks reference Cronus to Saturn, and that depth of time and age says a lot for the compositional structure of this piece entitled Saturn, deliciously long form as you would expect, this arrangement has a well of ancient energies within its walls that make it so very appealing, the vocalisations and gongs come and go, whilst the crescendos deliver a time worn offering that is so vast and incalculable.

Our ship of tone and timbre reaches the world named Uranus, this icy cold planet is depicted with such class by the artist here, so much so that one could with ease get lost in its musical environment, this is a moment of tone and vibration that builds amazingly well, and then releases its timbre with a slow drift in the same way a returning tide does in the ocean, an outstanding vibrational moment indeed.

As we drift deeper into this quite otherworldly release, we come across one of my personal favourites form the album, a composition entitled Neptune. This was a powerful repose into tone, the vocalisations and gongs provide a safe pathway though what in my view is a crisp meditative arrangement, this creation has an amazing energy about its construction, and is also a piece that allowed us as listeners, room to enjoy the vastness of its musical creation.

Being old school, I still regard Pluto, out next piece, as a planet, however this icy cold composition is simply perfect in all of its aspects, I found this without doubt to be the most ambient constructs from the album, its relationship astrologically and scientifically with Neptune is an important factor, akin to this worlds size, this is the shortest track off the album, but one I dearly loved and deeply enjoyed many times over.

Our penultimate journey is an extremely interesting one, in fact until this moment I had never known of this goddess, but found my research into Sedna fascinating. Sedna is the goddess of the sea and marine animals in Inuit mythology, and I believe that the artist has created one of the most original new age styled tracks in bringing this quite mysterious and deeply riveting track into manifestation. When one listens, we can with ease visualise a calm and strangely misty ocean, a world where the mistress of the sea rules, and all can be at peace within her realm; this has to be one of the most stunning offerings from the release with ease.

From our solar system and onward, what lies ahead is Deep Space. This is our last composition off the album, but easily the most enticing, whilst it could be said that this may be the end, it could also be the beginning. Here Closshey’s vocals come into a perfect symbiosis with the massive crescendos of her gongs. This final piece is so vast and wide it creates an open portal to tranquillity for the listener, and of course a sublime way with which to leave the album.

ALIGNED: A Planetary Mantra & Gong Shower by Charleene Closshey has to be one of the most unique album of its style for a decade at least, the ever eager listener has almost 2 hours of Gong magic to behold, partner that with her vocalisations, it gifts the holder and listener a musical experience of tone and vibration that they are unlikely to forget, this mammoth body of work has certainly put the genre of new age music firmly back on the map, and this is going to be an album that should take the charts by storm.

Ancient Time Telling By Gary Schmidt

 

Ancient Time Telling

By

Gary Schmidt

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Gary Schmidt has a wonderful talent; his compositional skills and arrangements are so warm, and produced with such a tender hand at the tiller, here on this brand new single entitled Ancient Time Telling, he brings us a duet of sublime beauty, and a track virtually aged in the vibrations of time itself.

Ancient Time Telling by Gary Schmidt has that wonderful winter feel to its creation, one that employs the skill set of Hannah Alkire on Cello, and this symbiotic partnership with Schmidt’s piano is a blissful thing indeed, both artists manifest a flow so appealing and attractive, this would indeed be the perfect music to start an old tale of the ages by a log fire with, and simply a gorgeous new offering that should take the single chart by a storm.

What'll I Do By Rick Sparks

 

What'll I Do

By

Rick Sparks

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This is one of those moments that you never want to end, I remembered this old Irving Berlin classic from 1923 What'll I Do, and specifically a version sung so beautifully by Julie London in 1956, so my wife and I took a few moments out to sing a few bars, it was indeed a most treasured and twinkling life segment.

This version by Rick is special, he has taken an absolute classic and manifested into the universe, a wonderfully warm instrumental version in only the way Rick Sparks can do, with gentle flowing keyboards, ethereal choirs and serene and tranquil keyboards; if this song isn’t a massive hit in the charts there is not justice in the world, Sparks can take a tune and elevate its heart and soul like no other, this is the best 5 minutes I have spent for a long while.

Egyptian Halo By James Asher

 

Egyptian Halo

By

James Asher

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The name James Asher is a very well-known name in the so called New Age music industry, my musical relationship with his releases came back in 1989 with the album The Great Wheel, this multi-talented drummer and pianist has since gone on to manifest one hit after another in both singles and album creations over the years ahead.

Here on this brand new offering entitled Egyptian Halo, I do believe he has captured his best work within this decade thus far, the deep rich tones, the all-encompassing bass rhythm, and the sensual and fluent percussion are incredibly attractive and appealing, added to that the vocalisations and a sumptuous mysterious vibe, all bodes well for this new release to go on to manifest a huge chart hit for the artist and so it should be.

Brindavan By Devan Ekambaram

 

Brindavan

By

Devan Ekambaram

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

It was incredibly nice to reconnect with the music of Devan Ekambaram once again, and through the medium of his latest album Brindavan, I remember all too well his outstanding single A Walk through Brindavan from 2021, so to be presented with a whole album is a pure treat.

The opening track is the wonderfully fluent and charming title header, the former single A Walk through Brindavan, this brings a blissful sun kissed moment of this most picturesque of places in India, my research revealed stunning landscapes and views, so look for yourself and listen to this at the same time, also featured on this piece are the talents of both Nel Bucktowar& Vijay Gopal.

The title of this next track is something I wish for all and entitled Let There Be Peace. This up-tempo driving song is a breath taking reverie of utter class, and contains the skill sets of both Vijay Gopal & Prakash Sontakke. The western influences here are so colourful and match the vibrations from its original eastern essences to perfection.

A storm moves us to this next track, the delicacy of production here is simply something special to enjoy, here is cross genre music, if you would ever call one so, a mix of smooth jazz, light funk and world music, all go into making I Need You Now, one of the most moving and imploring tracks off the album. Nel Bucktowar& Taylor Eigsti lend their skills to this quite incredible offering, and the piano here is utterly outstanding.

Aaraadha is a track that exposes us to the beauty of the voice that is Mahalakshmi Iyer. A gentle jazzy world vibe flows across us like a warm wind from the eastern islands and gifts us a song that is so sweet and so wonderfully attractive.

At this juncture we now find ourselves at the half way marker of the album, here lays one of my favourite pieces from the release entitled Missing You, the very smoothness of this song is so blissfully graceful and textured. Mahathi & Nel Bucktowar feature on this particular track, which is an intricate weave of a piece that contains delightful vocals and a very classy multi-instrumental production.

Now let’s change up a gear and raise the rhythms with a sparkling musical reverie entitled Jerry. Ekambaram has really brought that almost rocky soul vibe to this fantastic song, one that contains the crafts of both Rick Brunermer & Nel Bucktowar on the track. The guitar from this fast paced offering then leads us with a delicate hand into the deeper well of the album, and a composition entitled Thrumagal.

This would be another personal favourite of mine, that smooth vibe is back on a track that could easily make its mark in the chill out genre all on its own right. Thrumagal is a fascinating track, one with a wonderfully delicious light funky feel and the solo on Sax from Rick Brunermer was simply outstanding too.

We are now running down that hill towards the conclusion of the album, but before we get to that point we are gifted a sublime offering from the artist entitled Latin Masala, a full on Latin styled jazz offering, and we must also praise the skills of both Daniel Minimalia & Punya Srinivas for their genius during this arrangement, the acoustic guitar from the first ever winner of the Latin Grammys was utterly picturesque, and the juxtaposition with the Veena of Punya Srinivas doubly so.

We even get time for a little more of Thrumagal a classy Reprise one that features Rick Brunermer & Danwen Jiang, her violin added a whole well of emotion into the proceedings, which would lead us to the next song with ease with the concluding offering A Little Fun In Naatai. One simply has to say what an inspired way with which to close the album out, one thing we must say about Devan is, he certainly knows what’s needed and when its required, and adding D.A. Srinivas & Arun Ramamurthi into the mix was a spot of sheer genius.

Brindavan by Devan Ekambaram was eagerly anticipated and it has lived up to and beyond its expectations, here is an album that contains sublime methodology, crafted production and arrangements, and a whole raft of talented musicians to manifest one of the most appealing cross genre albums of the last few years.  If you like your music to contain a little global vibe, a layer of very smooth jazz, performed by top notch musicians, then you need to look no further than Brindavan by Devan Ekambaram.