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. 

In The Company of Machines By Jesse James Allen

 

In The Company of Machines

By

Jesse James Allen

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I had been looking forward to reviewing this album from the time I heard of its arrival, thankfully that day is here, and now I can plunge my senses into the deep on another Jesse James Allen album called In The Company of Machines, this album would enthral me, take me back to the past, and revitalise my energies, all thanks to the marvellous music that is contained within this most artistic release.

My first insight into the world of electronic music came mainly at the hands of two artists in the 1970s, Vangelis and Tomita, and as time rolled on Jean-Michel Jarre would soon join that illustrious party, it was an era of great excitement and artistry, here on this very album Jesse seems to touch the hem of those artists and many others in this brilliant new creation.

The opening foray is the wonderful title track, and of course called In The Company of Machines. The pace and syncopation here is sublime and takes me back to the 1990’s when a synthesiser heaven could be found in the land of one of the best EM artists around in David Wright, this flowing manifestation of electronic charm pulsates and drives us on further.

This album though is more than just an electronic purist haven; it is one of the most complex and fascinating releases of instrumental music I have heard for years, with the almost progressive essences of tracks like Chaberier, that gratefully reminded me of the days of Wakeman and Yes, whilst Gears of Time took me on a whole new voyage of plenty, with its tribal drumming, ethereal vocals and sweeping synths, drifting me into the harbour of early new age music like Medwyn Goodall’s, then pulling away fast into once again a more progressive rock styled manifestation.

From the last power piece we move towards the early party of the century and a track entitled The Celestial, a piece with a sensual percussive nuance mixed with a lush eastern vibration, similar to the one that artists like Karsh Kale and Harvey Summers were producing back in the great days of the Buddha Bar collection, and within what used to be called the chill out genre, the keyboards and symbiotic percussion here are simply delightful.

Now we arrive at the midway section of the album and a track that I would think has the most artistic title on the release called Through the Valley of Ice and Fire. Allen’s keyboards are at their most expressive within this offering and paint a textured colour of tone, the added percussion and vocalisations made me think that a track like this would suit a show like, The Witcher or Game of Thrones perfectly.

The mysterious and magical sounds of Orion are up next, the slow and steady progression can be felt here and the energies of expectancy grew carefully, Allen’s keyboards then took control of the helm and another sublime moment of electronic mastery evolved into its own power, this all-encompassing experience laid us in the grateful arms of the next piece called Dawnbreaker, a track with a sumptuous 1970’s feel, and one which added a crisp level of modulation to gift us a Jarre filled memory of rhythmic bliss.

As we float gently down the stream of sonic awareness we come across a total gem of a composition, one that features Flamenco guitarist Don Soledad, this unusual yet very effective combination breeds a very interesting juxtaposition of brilliance, as both the keyboards of Allen and the guitar of Soledad gift us a perfect symbiotic performance to be enjoyed, on the arrangement Nightfall in Formentera.

The penultimate offering from the album is the reflective Inside Into Within, its tones create a sense of new age styled opus that took me back into the 1990’s with artists like David Arkenstone and Phil Thornton, the emotive synths manufactured a lush landscape, while the keyboards of Allen at times gave us a hint of a Celtic energy written all very artistically into the weave of this superb composition.

Sadly we have arrived at the concluding piece of the release and this parting gift is called Fata Morgana, this idyllic new age styled piano driven composition ends our journey through what in my view has been one of the most insightful albums I have had the pleasure to listen to for decades, this final masterpiece picks itself up and leads us into a dramatic progressive styled conclusion, a very inspiring end to a very classy album indeed.

In The Company of Machines by Jesse James Allen has without doubt been one of the most inspiring musical journeys I have had for a long while, I could have hit repeat with ease many times over. This is truly an exceptional album, with touching references to a glorious past, and a tip of the hat to the many genres that this album is a part of. Superb musicianship and a very thoughtful and intelligent release can be found here, if you want to hear what really great music sounds like, then you need to look no further than In The Company of Machines by Jesse James Allen.

The Best Adventure By Curtis Macdonald

 

The Best Adventure

By

Curtis Macdonald

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The artist Curtis Macdonald seems to have been in my musical world for years, and of course after writing that I just had to check, and I was right, way back in 2002 I obtained the album Shadow Crossing and was hooked for evermore, his soothing narratives have charmed me since that day, and happily I can announce that right now, I am bathing in the fresh delights of a new single entitled The Best Adventure, from the artist.

This glorious track has all the hall marks of a dip back into the ‘90’s with a wonderfully full flowing glistening narrative, one taking us into a sun kissed summer, with a chilled beat and a sensitive yet rhythmic pastiche of percussion, this is a reverie of great colour and tone indeed.

The tempo is simply perfect and the descriptive passages of this chilled song are like looking at the vast blue sea from an ocean drive in July, the upbeat key in which this has been created gifts the listener a moment of tranquillity, but also one of an energy of a shimmering new day that is about to start in all its expectant glory.

One might also wonder if Curtis has found the magical key to unlock a composition that could easily be the theme for a television series, perhaps in the same way as The Theme for Cheers was for Gary Portnoy back in ‘82, regardless this is a bright new offering from Curtis Macdonald that is simply impossible not to like, and as such a guaranteed hit must be on the cards for the artist with The Best Adventure.

Follow this link to find the single: https://ampl.ink/k8890

Belleza Isle By Rick Sparks

 

Belleza Isle

By

Rick Sparks

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

The soft pastiche of tone that tells us that another new single from Rick Sparks is on its way washed over me today, if ever a song was meant to watch the day pass under the shade of a tree this is it, the quite beautiful Belleza Isle is upon us, so grab a that book you have been meaning to read for years, snatch a cool drink and just enjoy the moment.

There can be no doubt that Sparks is the master of creating music that allows the mind to soar and the body to relax and be calm, and this brand new single is a prime example of his brilliant expertise.

The slow build to a hovering sun kissed level is utter delight, one can see the tide roll in, the waves crash upon the jagged rocks, and the cry of sea birds as they make their way home with another meal, this is music that you can call idyllic with ease, this is a moment of sublime relaxation, this is Rick Sparks at his very best.

With hit album after hit album the king of cool is back with a release that is as easy on the mind as cumulous clouds that drift across a summer horizon, surely there is no one better than Sparks on keyboards for manifesting utter peace filled vibes, and with that being said here is a brand new single that should be embraced by all those seeking a sanctuary away from the madness of the world, so why not take a trip to Belleza Isle today, trust me, you will not regret it. 

Glow By Ian Cameron Smith

 

Glow

By

Ian Cameron Smith

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are certain musicians with whom you just resonate with, you find that their catalogue suits your taste, and with each passing composition this musical relationship just keeps on getting better, this can be said for my appreciation of the work of Australian guitarist Ian Cameron Smith, the best bit of all is he has a new single on offer called Glow, and it is on this voyage of sublime quality we travel today.

This crafted new release is truly special; it starts with a gentle and cautious beginning and then a slight percussive beat is added to that flowing narrative, when the guitar of the artist breaks cover, it is a treasure to behold.

We have a slight mix of tone here that works so well, one of new age, chill out and blues, all combined they gift us a manifestation of a track that is as laid back and chilled as an August evening.

Glow is an exceptional new single, this is going to be one of those pieces that will appeal to everyone, and it is also beautifully produced and reminded me greatly of the style of guitar in Telegraph Road by Dire Straits back in the day. This is a warm, all-embracing new single from Ian that I, as a music writer urge you to get; quality singles like Glow don’t turn up every day, so this is one to be snapped up at all costs.

Spark By Antonija Pacek

 

Spark

By

Antonija Pacek

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are pianists whom you always look forward to when a new release is on offer, Antonija Pacek is one of them for me, her tender tones and colourful and thoughtful refrains always fill me with emotion and appreciation, and here on this brand new album called Spark I have another opportunity to fill myself with the abundance of the day.

Firstly how refreshing was it to see any artist actually start with the title track, a soft, yet poignant piece, a textured tapestry of sound, and one performed with all the beauty of a newly born flower, this has to be one of the most pristine pieces to start and album with ever in the offering Spark.

This 14 track collection of piano based music has some amazing gems contained within like River, now those who known me well, know that I adore rivers and music composed about them, I am very glad to say that this creation lives up to my high standards, and indeed it has a beautifully smooth flow to its construction.

Night Orchestral is a stunning reverie; one can only say that this manifestation is most certainly film score quality, the build, progression and powerful and emotive string sections are some of the deepest and most moving I have heard for simply ages.

The charming vibrations of tracks like Shadow, a piece so imploring and emotive are backed up perfectly with compositions that cry out to be loved like The Wave, a sensitive manifestation of great movement, and the concluding offering entitled Sun Will Shine, a track that sums up the mood perhaps of the world, that one day the sun will rise and shine upon an honest and real Earth, regardless this is a fine creation with which to conclude our visit to this classy album with.

We can also note that there are two bonus tracks on the album as well, in the radio edit of Elegy and The Sea Lullaby, and even if you are not lucky enough to get those upon your version of the album, as sometimes is the case, you will still have 12 amazing tracks to bathe with in and enjoy a total reverie of a piano moment in the album Spark by Antonija Pacek.

This new release comes on the back of a multitude of stunning singles, one can be totally sure that the skill set of a pianist like Antonija Pacek will always produce high standard quality of music where ever she goes, and that Spark could well propel her up the ladder of success, and onto her next phase in this vast genre in the music business that is called Piano.

Finding Yourself in a Better Place By Francis V

 

Finding Yourself in a Better Place

By

Francis V

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Artists like Francis V breathe a little fresh air into the music scene, this is of course gratefully received, we all need to be chilled and lifted from time to time, and this brand new single from the artist called Finding Yourself in a Better Place is a wonderful example of simply easy on the mind instrumental music.

The title actually speaks brilliantly for itself, and this fluent and even paced composition is one of those songs you might press play on to start your day with, especially if you want to energize it with a little positive energy.

From its initial inception, this vibrant yet soothing creation has the kiss of summer on its tones of bliss; the gentle percussive beat reminds me of those atmospheric and chilled Buddha bar creations from the early part of this century.

This arrangement by Francis V holds its pattern perfectly and could also be used as driving music on a hot July afternoon, the whole vibe of Finding Yourself in a Better Place drifts the reality of happiness and the letting go of stress all around you, and to be honest we should all do more of that, accept the positive and drop the baggage.

Here Francis V gifts us a soundtrack of cheerful energy to enjoy, this is a fine instrumental experience that I am sure will fly high up the charts with consummate ease, and in doing so manifest a huge hit for the artist with Finding Yourself in a Better Place.

 

Once Upon a Summer By James Michael Stevens

 

Once Upon a Summer

By

James Michael Stevens

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There is never a moment that goes by that isn’t enhanced by a James Michael Stevens album, his classic style of contentment, peace and tranquillity has flowed from this musical river of calm for many years now, and it just keeps on getting better and better, and now with this new release One Upon A Summer we are set for three months of absolute serenity in the sun through music.

The starting position is a piece called Candlelight Coasterra; this slow and tempered creation is a divine melody to highlight a romantic meal on the balcony perhaps, whilst Summer Wind is a grateful addition to the collection of fine manifestations, with its mysterious, yet cooling musical narrative.

Once Upon a Summer is a 10 track album of earthly delights and Riverside is one of my personal favourites from it. Steven’s pulls such happy and natural refrains from his piano, ones that contain many sun kissed memories by a river, I have many, so I am very grateful for this piece.

We have many here, I am referring to The Lark, and this is our next composition, our larks are crested but they still have a charming dance that is in perfect harmony with nature. Here the pianist draws a compelling and charming presentation that depicts the energies of this creature to perfection.

This has to be one of the artists most complex and clever pieces and called Falls at Catalonia, once more being the painter of sound he is, he gifts us a vista of glistening waters that are falling from the ancient rock face of a waterfall, a graphic and enticing piece indeed, especially in this heat we have at the moment.

Summer Tides is a soothing piece that once more draws a beautifully lush narrative down by the beach, the flow and presentation here is superb and wonderfully crafted, one feels that they are right there in the moment in this ever moving mantra of time and tide.

We drift into the lands of calm and serenity further now with this next offering entitled Sebago Lake. The creative tempo is a charm here, and this is an incredibly fluent piece that is without doubt one of the deeper and more moody creations performed by the pianist, but I love it.

Lonesome Lullaby is another heart felt piece that finds Steven’s in a reflective mood, another night on your own perhaps, and just the silver light of the moon to keep you company until the sunrise. This is artistically brilliant and I wondered if it could very well be worthy of inclusion into a romantic movie.

The penultimate offering is entitled Melancholique, this last but one offering starts off in a delicious minor key and takes us all on a sensitive journey of reflection like never before. The sheer depth and emotive nuances that can be felt here are quite remarkable.

The concluding offering is anthem like in compositional structure and as such is perfect as an ending manifestation, it’s called Serenade at Sunset Park, a perfect scene setting presentation as we say goodbye to the day, to the album and this blissful journey of beautiful solo piano.

Once Upon a Summer by James Michael Stevens is another in the long line of stunning solo piano albums by the master of tone and timbre, this time around he has gifted us music to reflect upon and enjoy throughout this hot and laid back season. Steven’s has been playing his tranquillity and atmospheric ambience on the piano for many years now, but Once Upon a Summer could well be his most compelling and creative one to date, why not check it out for yourself and end enjoy a summer of peace and serenity too, with the healing piano of James Michael Stevens.

Unseen Patterns Of Light By Anantakara

 

Unseen Patterns Of Light

By

Anantakara

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have to admit from the off that I am a bit of a fan of Anantakara, here is an electronic musician that always seems to knock it out of the park musically for me, and also in my view, I truly believe his releases have just got better and better as the years have rolled on. With his new album Unseen Patterns Of Light I was certainly to be proved right, this is an astonishingly brilliant album indeed.

Hidden Frequencies begins our voyage through the tones and vibrations of a simply breath taking EM styled release, but Anantakara goes further on this new album, as he does so on this opening offering, gifting us the listener a smooth yet ever onward journey of sight and sound to enjoy, a mixture of electronic mastery, mixed with subtitles of a delicate ambient to enjoy.

This is also a 9 track album of great quality, one that I urge you to try out, and contained within are gems like Echoes of the Cosmic Canopy, its mysterious opening foray seems to hover constantly around you, whilst pieces like Solar Winds Impulses are a horse of a totally different colour, mixing a little neo-classical nuanced tone into a bath of ambient electronics.

The longest creation from the album is the stunning Brighter Earths And Wider Heavens, a composition that seems to herald in a new era for the musician, a tapestry of musical colours and vibrational structures flow here in an ever impressive style, and with the overall time span allotted for this piece at well over 12 minutes this for me was heavenly and also reminding me at times of Germany’s own Al Gromer Khan.

I have constantly been impressed with the willingness of the artist to explore further, farther and deeper within his own music, and this for me was brought right to the fore with my personal favourite track, and the penultimate offering from the album called A Subtle Link Of Union. Here he takes rhythm, ambience and the tonal quivering delights of electronic genius to manifest something totally addictive.

This delicious menu of instrumental mastery is topped off with the final manifestation entitled Dare To Love Again, a fine concluding offering with an excellent and vast keyboard presentation.

This has to be said is the artist best work so far, I know that could be a somewhat clichéd or hackneyed writers comment, but I believe it to be true, Unseen Patterns Of Light by Anantakara is with doubt the artists most forward thinking work thus far, by far his most descriptive, and most certainly his most creative, this album is a musical modern art gallery of tone and timbre, and simply anyone who likes their music with a penchant for electronic and ambience combined, must avail themselves a copy of Unseen Patterns Of Light at all costs, it is superb.

Why not check out the album on Bandcamp:

https://anantakara.bandcamp.com/album/unseen-patterns-of-light  

Embrace By Shere Fraser & Juliano

 

Embrace

By

Shere Fraser & Juliano

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Great beauty can be found in the saddest of compositions and this brand new offering from the combination of Shere Fraser & Juliano manifests something utterly transcendent and deeply moving as it goes. The well of reflection is felt with a stunning clarity in this brand new single called Embrace.

We have known of the sublime textures that flute performer Shere Fraser manifests, her music has been with us for a while now and each tapestry of tone are both thoughtful and intelligent, now she adds to her musical arsenal the imploring vibrations of a piano played so sensitively by Juliano.

The symbiotic partnership today brings to the fore a piece so meaningful and heartfelt; Juliano’s piano is the backdrop of sound that allows us the movement within this delicate creation and of course Frasers flute the master narrator that takes on the short journey of peaceful beauty and moving poignancy, in the same way that Maurice Ravel did with his piece Pavane for a Dead Princess.

One can really appreciate this new single from the duo with ease, in fact I had listened to it some five times before writing about it, I found its slow tempo and tender tones filled my heart with a touching affection, one that would lead me to feel inspired in the most respectful of ways, this new single must be the most emotional single released this year without a doubt.

Evening On The Esplanade By Orchestra Indigo

 

Evening On The Esplanade

By

Orchestra Indigo

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

Rick Randlett has to be one of the most expressive instrumentalists around, his textures and colours blend a beautiful array of glances both reflective and grateful, and here on this brand new single called Evening on the Esplanade he has done just that and perhaps even more, in one of the most stunning contemporary compositions of the day.

When I listen to this incredible new offering I am taken back to the time of the pandemic, when simple luxuries like spending an evening with anyone anywhere was impossible, so in a way this new creation is like a celebration of survival, one of gratitude to be able to spend a pleasurable moment on the Esplanade with friends once more, with many a story to be told and many a glass of wine to be enjoyed.

Evening on the Esplanade also has that classical element within its construction as well, one that reminds me of perhaps a Pachelbel’s canon in mood, but regardless this is a beautifully fluent and charming reverie to take into those long hot summer nights ahead.

Randlett as Orchestra Indigo has built an emotional composition of pristine quality here, one that whilst we listen, we can appreciate the narrative of both the orchestration and the steady ever onward keyboard, this is not just a good single, this is a master class on how to create a tempered, but heart felt and honest instrumental offering, and the artist should be applauded for his efforts. I simply cannot wait to see what this stunner is going to do on the charts.

Summer Lullaby By Paul Higgs and Pavane

 

Summer Lullaby

By

Paul Higgs and Pavane

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I must admit it was a wonderful moment to be had when I discovered that an old presenter of ours in Paul Higgs, was about to release his latest album with his band Pavane, the name of his last release back in 2014, I just knew this was going to be a sublime twinkling of musical brilliance, and I was not to be disappointed as Summer Lullaby is by far one of the most explorative and charming Jazz albums I have had the pleasure this year to listen to.

The multi-instrumental flavours contained here are simply wonderful, they manifest a tone and vibrancy that will allow us to cross a multiple of musical borderlands, for instance take the very first track, the scene setting Lights of Canary Wharf, here lays a moody and reflective piece, so smooth and transient that one could transpose the title to the lights of any favoured city, this was indeed a classy start.

Paul has really allowed his muse free reign and brings into our reality some very interesting compositions, such as the classical and global vibe of pieces like Samba Baroque,  the classic Herb Alpert song This Guy's In Love With You, and the symbiotic presentation of Berceuse d'été with the guitar of Andy Watson reigning supreme.

Interestingly enough one of my personal favourites from the album would be the track nestled in the middle of the release called Icicles. The mournful qualities of this arrangement were simply idyllic and peacefully charming; this for me was one of the most ambient moments from this compilation of classy creations, Pauls trumpet was indeed the creator of a mindful instant of total peace.

Summer Lullaby is an 11 track album packed with all manner of flavours and is the perfect summer release; already here in the early June heat of Cyprus the tones of tracks like Seville, with its Latin vibe, or the heat of the night expressed for me in the piece Nocturne In Blue, were so redolent of the subject matter.

The concluding composition sealed the deal for me, Higgs is an outstanding brass performer, and the trumpet is his magical wand of pure beauty and magnificence, so for me Reflections of You was the perfect master stroke with which to conclude this superb new release, by the final boss Paul Higgs.

We must also pay our tributes to Pavane with quality performances all coming from one of the finest group presentations I have heard of some time, so its hats off to Natalie Rozario on Cello, Chris Ingham at the Piano, George Double in the engine room on Drums, the sublime fluency of Andy Watson on Guitar, and of course the very smooth tone and timbre from Jerome Davies with his Double Bass.

This is an album that Paul should be proud of, it may have been 10 years since his last release, but Summer Lullaby is a truly superb album that will enhance your summer and give you those easy vibrations to take you through any hot evening in August. Higgs has really created something here that should be recognised as a timeless collection of exquisiteness, and as such I can see this album becoming a real fan favourite across the globe with consummate ease.  

Lost there Found here By Masako

 

Lost there Found here

By

Masako

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

I have long loved the sublime gentle sounds of a Masako piano, it most certainly is feel good music, and today we have a real treat as we get to walk the realms of tranquillity with the artist, within her latest release called Lost there Found here.

The soft pastiche of a title called Spirit Forest gets our musical voyage underway, as Masako’s love for nature once more comes to the fore with this piece; this is a mystical slice of solo piano that is breath taking and serenely charming.

Masako’s album like others that have gone before, is produced by non-other than the legend that is Will Ackerman and you can hear his gentle guitar, along with Vin Downes on the track Walk Together. This is as chilled as a Sunday morning reverie in June, and bubbling full of bliss.

This 12 track collection of perfection has some beautiful moments contained within, one of them for me was Brooks and Cascades, Masako’s piano could easily be the ever moving stream, whilst the string sections of both Charlie Bisharat and Eugene Friesen added so much texture to the proceedings and gave us the ever eager listener a beautiful juxtaposition of tone to enjoy.

There are some equally impressive reflective moments as well, one of them for me personally was Mid-Hudson, this was a beautifully crafted presentation from the pianist, one that I enjoyed immensely, and those minor touches added a lush colour into the tapestry of the song, bringing further touches of grandeur was the accomplished percussion of Jeff Haynes.

The album is concluded with the track Into the Dusk, this is the end of our journey this time around and this final piece is such a textured and picturesque composition, that it leaves one with the energy of feeling fully satisfied by the journey hence taken.

Masako must be one of the genres finest painters of tonal sound, she pulls from the piano layer upon layer tranquil lush soundscapes, and manufactures some of the best musical portraits that could possibly be conceived, one must say that Lost there Found Here by Masako is one of her most comprehensive albums, she pinpoints such a tender refrain, and brings into the world a galaxy of the genres stars to aid her in her quest This is an album of natural outstanding beauty with ease. 

24 Impromptus By Pam Asberry

 

24 Impromptus

By

Pam Asberry

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

This new release entitled 24 Impromptus is the 10^th in a vast series of piano based albums by renowned composer and performer Pam Asberry; here Pam explores a more classical leaning of compositional structure. Each musical configuration follows in the classical music tradition of writing set pieces in all the major and minor keys of the chromatic scale.

In essence this 24 track album of short form piano narratives is created on moods, feelings and emotions by the artist, is like a calendar of attitudes or temperaments with a musical soundtrack encompassed within. This is a truly clever idea, as when playing the album you can pick and choose which track or tracks you wish to listen to depending upon your disposition.

So this fascinating experience of tone, vibration and emotive character starts today for me personally with the grand opening offering of Impromptu No. 1 in C Major Journey; indeed I am about to take a journey that is thousands of miles, and this somewhat upbeat and excited manifestation reveals my thoughts on that, in an ever increasing an ever onward arrangement of utter class.

I am feeling a sense of bliss on this fine summer’s day so, I choose Impromptu No. 3 in G Major Bliss as my next go to offering. This cheer filled reverie was beautifully performed by Asberry and even had a few David Lanz moments contained within; whilst my next choice Impromptu No. 7 in A Major Clarity would for me be the backdrop of sound that would express my mood on completing my philosophy course, the piece has a sense of knowledge found, a further confidence that was located deep within, and yes a true sagacity and clarity, even though the length of this piece was just 1 minute and 43 seconds it spoke volumes for me.

So with that being said I truly believe that Pam Asberry has taken on a new project here that is quite revealing, it shows without doubt the vast progression she has made in the genre and within the music business as a whole, the utter confidence of her subject matter and of her overall performance was incredibly impressive, and I can see this album, 24 Impromptus, becoming a timeless hit with the listener, one that perhaps over the decades they will always turn to in times of confirmation or reflection.

24 Impromptus by Pam Asberry is an album that is akin a recipe of moods and feelings created within a technical piano based format, and it really does work beautifully, perhaps Asberry has found the magic key here to an ageless compilation of craft fully played chromatic piano pieces, it certainly seems to be so, and thus I predict a very big hit is on the cards for one of the most fluent of pianists on the globe today. 

Quest for the Runestone By David Arkenstone

 

Quest for the Runestone

By

David Arkenstone

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

There are albums nestled within each of our collections, those of us old enough to have known CD’s will know this to be true, those who are aged in time to remember actual vinyl albums with real art work will remember this feeling with a reflective lump in the throat, we remember those albums that once took pride and place on the top shelf, with easy access, that had worn covers from constant use and much love, and after listening to Quest for the Runestone by David Arkenstone today I know that this amazing release would have been one of them, perhaps this is the Holy Grail of instrumental albums?

The opening of our journey starts with the track Prophecy, now I usually like to create my own story, trace my trail through the musical narrative that manifests within my mind, but on this review that would be rather disingenuous as it already comes with a 48 page booklet of a tale so fascinating, one that I believe that you should read in your own time after purchasing it, and have your own immersive experience.

We shall clasp firmly to the hand of musical endeavours that this multi-talented, multi Grammy Award Nominated composer has brought upon this stage of musical plenitude. Prophecy itself is an opener that is grand and majestic, its kingly vibrations roll down the hillsides of tonal delight with a passionate power and an intensity that only David Arkenstone could provide us with.

The Soothsayer Speaks will take you to an even higher level of excitement, and also may well remind some of the works of Blackmore’s Night in its musical context. The vocalisations here were simply breath taking and reminded me of the series The Witcher. The vocals on this album were gifted to the project by Clara Sorace and Giulia Colantonio, and what a powerful force could be found here within this driving and all-consuming offering.

Quest for the Runestone is a 12 track album of great quality and precession; it also shows the love that Arkenstone has for Celtic and Nordic traditional music. On this specific track we can both feel and hear that to be true and called Ancient Magic Awakens. Within this piece one of the most delicate yet growing flute performances can be found and a progressive and all empowering percussion that drives the narrative home with utter power.

Réann is a wonderfully heart felt offering that contains the magical Uilleann pipes of Eric Rigler, I first heard these being used on an album some 25 years ago and that haunting feeling of mist filled days on the green hills and meadows never left me. The orchestration here is sublime and would fit into a Lord of the Rings style movie with ease, and in my view is one of the finest tracks off the album.

The next piece, Eyes Of Skata, had me travelling back in time to 2016 and Arkenstone’s Fairy Garden album, a release with much beauty contained within, here that same fluency and smoothness could be found, the strings within were akin to the very vibrations of the land itself, and the vocals, a reminder that we are still travelling along our musical path on this ever onward composition of wonderment.

The deeper realms of mystery now unfold upon us, could these be blown by the magical winds of time itself, here on this craft-fully created opus we are gifted a performance that is so stirring, yet delicate at the same time, one literally waits for something to manifest on the piece called Oceans Of Ice, yet the tone and timbre of this wondrous musical revelation are well contained, held within the minds of the master composer, to build a story so compelling that it drives us on further.

We now arrive at the midway point of the album and once there we find one of the most remarkable offerings on the album called Path of the Mountain's Bones. Bathed in Celtic nuances this is a track that will raise the energies and uplift the intensity of the moment in such a powerful yet fluent way. We can pay homage to a multitude of musicians here, but the artists imposing and exciting percussion reigns supreme, along with the legendary vocals of Clara Sorace reminding me so much of Sophia Brown’s performance on We are The Black Rose from the Witcher “Blood Origin”.

So deeper we go and as we do so, we find a true gem now called Stars Without Light, by some contrast we are gifted an almost ethereal arrangement, with angelic like vocalisations and a very careful early compositional structure, the traditional Arkenstone build and progression is here, but in a way that manifests even more musical flavour to enjoy, the juxtaposition of keyboards and strings made this one for me a very compelling composition indeed.

The Arbos Stirs, and as it does a numinous realm if forever opened, this reminds me of Arkenstone’s earlier works on his Music Inspired By Middle Earth albums, overall the masters creational structures are sublime. David Arkenstone is in my view one of, if not the finest multi-instrumentalist around.  This very track is an exercise in build and progression, one that all budding musicians could learn from, and all listeners simply marvel at.

The weave of our musical carpet is vast and we have shifted course now to a knot of tonal delight entitled Inscriptions. There is an outer worldly and kindly mystique to this piece that is so appealing, the arrangement is carefully depicted and manifested with utter perfection. The deep guttural male vocalisations are scene setters on their own, but the transcendent strings sections doubly so.

Those darker waters have been found, from the foothills of ancient energies to the shadow of the grey monolithic mountains of musical genius, Secrets Of The Runestone is also a piece that is as vigorous as it is glorious, here is a stylish composition packed full of dynamics and splendid crescendos, and as such a film score waiting to happen.

Our journey concludes with the reflective and symphonic Keeper Of The Flame. A respectful and magnificent creation that has a sense of regal and ceremonial ambience about its construction, the slow build and character of this song is simply breath taking, and as such Arkenstone has once more produced a striking and colourful offering that could grace any fantasy movie.

Quest for the Runestone by David Arkenstone has to be the artist’s best work to date, how can it not be, it contains a lush list of luminaries that deserve a mention in Luanne Homzy on violin, Hardanger fiddle, the aforementioned Eric Rigler with his Uilleann pipes, Kimberly Zaleski on flute, piccolo and bass flute, Carlyn Kessler on cello, Clara Sorace and her stunning vocals, Sergio González Prats on hurdy gurdy, Dov on violin, viola and the vocals of Giulia Colantonio. Please when you buy this album and I know you will have the sense to do so, please take some time and read of the booklet inside created by Dashiell Han Arkenstone, it will complete your experience.

Quest for the Runestone by David Arkenstone is a soundtrack masterwork that takes the listener on a journey so vast and all-encompassing it is utterly breath taking, it is an emotionally charged ride over the hills and valleys of stunning neo classical empowered arrangements that the listener will never ever forget, in my view Arkenstone has produced an album of a life time here on Quest for the Runestone.

Quest for the Runestone releases 1st July 2024.