New Album by Terry Oldfield – featuring Mike Oldfield
I know it is a little early to talk about things that will happen after the summer – it is only April after all - but I’m happy to report that Terry Oldfield is back with a new album in September.
The album is called Journey into Space and will be released on the New Earth Records label.
We all love Terry’s music very much, that goes without saying. But it is interesting to see that his little brother Mike Oldfield will be involved on the new album too. This is the first release with Mike since Music of the Spheres in 2008. Little is known about the album so far. But we have this presentation from Mikeoldfield.org:
Terry Oldfield is continuing work on the recording of his new album Journey Into Space featuring Mike on guitars. We hear that work is progressing well and Terry has recently completed a new track for the album called Flight of the Eagle. This track is an arrangement of a piece that Mike and Terry used to play live in Barefoot, their pre Tubular Bells band. This track also features Mike on guitars.
We will tell you more as soon as the information becomes available. And no, this is not an April Fool’s joke.
Pat Metheny – What’s It All About
This year’s Grammy for best new age album was given to Pat Metheny for the acoustic guitar album What’s It All About. This was Pat’s 19th Grammy. It is always hard to put his music into a specific category. It has been called jazz, post-bop, latin jazz and jazz fusion – or, in this case, new age music. This is also a good example of how the new age music genre is much wider than many thinks, and many “serious” artists can be found here too (other “serious” recent NA Music Grammy winners are for instance Paul Winter Consort, Jack DeJohnette and David Darling).
Pat Metheny gives this presentation of the album:
“Almost ten years ago, in the fall of 2001, a special period in New York City, I was home one night and basically started playing in a way I never had thought about before. Like all of us living in the city around that time, I had a lot on my mind. I had just gotten some new recording equipment and set up a mic and turned it on. Six or seven hours later, I had a whole bunch of stuff recorded. Over the next few months while on a long tour I listened to it and realized that something unique had happened that night. I had gotten to some stuff that was quite different for me.”
Metheny continues “I had owned a beautiful baritone guitar that (luthier) Linda Manzer had made for me a few years earlier, but I could never quite find what exactly to do with it. That night, I remembered a tuning that had been shown to me by a great local guitarist in my hometown of Lee’s Summit, Missouri back when I was in high school that required restringing and retuning the middle range of the guitar up one octave. I applied that to the baritone, and it was like the sky opened up with possibilities. The recordings that came from that evening were an exploration into unknown territory for me, but in the almost 10 years since then, I have performed with the baritone in that tuning all over the world in what must be hundreds of concerts by now, often beginning each show solo with just that instrument. It has become a fairly significant new voice for me. While on tour, during the day once sound check is over, I often sit onstage and continue to play that instrument for hours before the show starts, on occasion picking out songs that I used to love as a kid but had never played in public. The range and timbre of the baritone with it’s deep bass and the unique clustery types of voicings that become possible with it lend it to a certain way of rethinking conventional harmonies.”
The result of this process is What’s It All About. It is without a doubt a fantastic album. The lonely guitar, the soulful melodies and Pat’s breathing in the background makes it into an interesting, heartfelt album not to be missed.
Sample it on iTunes.
See also: PatMetheny.com
Clifford White iPhone / iPad apps
Fans of Clifford White know that he is an artist that is always trying to get as much music as possible out of technology. He has now released three music apps, that is available on the iPhone and iPad, and on Android Market too.
Here is a presentation of the new apps:
Healing Waves
Experience deep relaxation with Healing Waves, a collection of six exquisite relaxation music tracks from top recording artist Clifford White. The perfect app for instant bliss, Healing Waves features tracks taken from Clifford’s superb albums Ascension, Revelation and The Healing Touch.
Find it here.
The Chillaxer
Experience the coolest music on the planet, brought to you by top recording artist Clifford White. The Chillaxer takes you to musical heights you never knew even existed. Feel it. Now. The Chillaxer features tracks from The Gods Of Olympus, Atlantis and Myths of the Rock.
Find it here.
Escape to Paradise
Escape to exotic climes with this free collection of superb music tracks from premiere recording artist Clifford White. Featuring tracks from his bestselling albums Twilight Paradise, The Lifespring, Aqua and Nature’s Symphony, Escape to Paradise transports you to a tropical paradise, where golden sand meets shining sea. Prepare for a rendezvous with pleasure…
Find it here.
EARTH HEALER 2 – Medwyn Goodall
Earth Healer 2 is the brand new album by Medwyn Goodall. For this album he has this personal introduction:
Usually I don’t talk about how I create my music, but this particular CD has an interesting and unique back story that I felt some fans may find insightful.
I have always evolved and experimented as an artist, trying out new sounds, and ideas. At the same time I have paused along the journey to return to create sequels and continue styles that both fans and myself have enjoyed in the past.
Earth Healer 2 however is more than a simple sequel, it is in a true sense a return. At the end of producing “Tears of the Dragon”I felt a deep sense of having completed a long journey of self discovery. I had musically travelled through different sub-genres, new technologies, and explored complex themes, stories, and big productions. Now all I wanted was to simply be myself, and to return to the very roots that started it all. So I dug out my original keyboard an old Roland D50, responsible for the warm like organ sounds you hear behind most of my 1990′s albums. I found flutes, panpipes, guitars, instruments, drums, percussion I had not used since the 1990′s. Gathering these lost instruments back together I had my own acoustic history before me. When they were last used the recording methods were largely still all about multi track tape recorders and large analog mixing desks. For the first time since the early 90′s would I record these instruments, but in a 2012 studio.
What instantly developed was the music sounded like retro Medwyn but playing new tracks but with modern studio production. The past had come alive again, literally. I next made the deliberate choice to keep things simple as I used to when I first started, which in those days was mainly because of technical limitation of only having 8 tracks available. Another choice was to stay away from synths, because again in my early years they didn’t exist and so my sound was largely acoustic and about a hands on performance. Keeping it simple, fun and melodic, made the tracks sound even more like retro Medwyn. Why Earth Healer 2? The original Earth Healer was made in 1992 and was the album where my journey took off through the 1990′s, leading to well known hits like Medicine Woman, the spirit trilogy, Rhythm of the Ancients, Moon Goddess, Priestess etc. It seemed fitting and still very apt to return to mother earth as a cause for concern, and a musical statement. The process of going retro Medwyn was so profound and enjoyable, that for the foreseeable future I can see myself producing much of the same, truly revisiting my own past with a fresh enthusiasm.
Medwyn Goodall
We will soon give a complete review of this new album.
You can sample it here.
Grammy for best new age music album 2012
We congratulate Pat Metheny with the Grammy for best new age album with the release What’s It All About!
Other nominees were Northern Seas by Al Conti, Gaia by Michael Brant DeMaria, Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame by Peter Kater and Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6 by Zamora.
Go to Grammy.com
New Albums from MG Music
On Valentine’s Day MG Music gives us a big gift of music, perfect for romantic dinners and relaxation for two in front of the fireplace. The albums are:
- Earth Healer 2 by Medwyn Goodall,
- A Promise of Love by Midori and
- Shaman 2 by Wychazel.
Medwyn fans also has a lot to look forward to this year. He has now introduced Moon Goddess II. The original Moon Goddess, originally released in 1995 , is one of Med’s finest albums. In sound it is a bit like the Druids, with a darker, more thoughtfull quality. It reminds of the Medicine Woman series too, but way slower. We will return with more information as it becomes available. All in all; great news from MG Music!
Dream Music from a Magical Land
Movie soundtracks is a rich and influential music genre. Through carefully composed music a movie director can tell the viewer what to expect and what to feel. If the movie is scary, romantic or comical, the soundtrack adds a vital part to the overall atmosphere and the setting.
But have you ever listened to an album that is created as a soundtrack – but there is no movie? One such album is Land of Dreams by The Nexion Project. Just read the attached description in the CD booklet (which is a very dramatic story – more on that later), close your eyes and the music will take you to a land far away – and a sad part of human history too.
The artist has prepared this animation, which gives you a taste of the music:
Previous Rave Reviews
I have in the past reviewed several albums by The Nexion Project/Török Zoltán (see our dedicated page here) – and have always been very positive. This is because Török Zoltán has such impressive attention to details. He is a master in a world of synths and sequencers, and makes the music sound so live, so fresh – no matter the topic. This is also the case with the album in question today. Land of Dreams is sequenced music, but sounds almost like it is being played by a real, live orchestra. No analogue sounding synths can be heard. This gives the album an extra, very powerful dimension. It is live. Or sounds like it.
Török Zoltán/The Nexion Project has such impressive attention to details. He is a master in a world of synths and sequencers
The Story Behind
The dramatic backdrop to the Land of Dreams is the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. In the booklet you can read story about a family of farmers where the topic is a son’s relationship with the daughter of a Communist’s deputy leader. It takes place in the second half of the seventies.
Without giving too much away, I can say that by following the short storyline you understand the dramatic images communicated through the music.
Reminds of Kitaro and Mike Oldfield
The album has many Asiatic influences, both in the instruments used and the way they are played. I cannot listen to it without thinking of Kitaro. A comparison to Mike Oldfield’s The Killing Fields is also very relevant since it is a soundtrack for a movie with the same topic. But Oldifeld’s 1984 album has a more analogue synth approach on the main tracks (for instance Evacuation and Execution, which are both very dated in terms of sound). Land of Dreams instead has a complete, very delicate orchestral arrangement.
The first track is entitled The Family. Close your eyes, and the music will introduce you to the strong bonds in the family and the struggles in their daily life. The music has a larger-than-life-feel, and makes me think of Vangelis’ best moments.
The second track, Over the mountains, is a true masterpiece. The segment starting at 2min25sec is impressive, and gives the whole album an unforgettable theme. Wonderful, simply wonderful! The tracks Burning Rice, Evacuating the Village and Lost Memories are built around the storyline, and you can see the drama unfolding before your inner eye.
The Land of Dreams Suite is a worthy conclusion to a magnificent album. The drama, the struggles and the grandness of it all will make the listeners jump in their seats.
Land of Dreams is a different, fresh and bold album by The Nexion Project. It could have been pretentious, but is not so at all. Instead it comes through as a heartfelt and passionate album by an artist who is just as much a dream movie director as he is a first rate musical artist. It is also a proof that even the most brutal history can inspire an artist into creating beautiful art - which in turn makes the history harder to forget.
You can buy the album on CDBaby and make sure to visit the artist’s homepage.
Atlantis Has Risen
Since antiquity the whereabouts of the legendary island Atlantis has been discussed. From Plato to Francis Bacon and into today’s world, it has been a frequent topic for both scientific research and art. Atlantis is also the topic for Clifford White’s new album. Here he gives the listener a fresh perspective on the old myth. Indeed, after 65 minutes of music you feel that Atlantis has risen from the ocean and become a place in your mind you can visit and revisit again and again. So hang on, and enjoy the voyage!
Atlantis is a popular theme in New Age Music. Most prominent is David Arkenstone’s Atlantis: A Symphonic Journey (2004), but also Alex Herr’s synth classic from the late 1980s Atlantis Arising comes to mind. And now we can add another strong album to the list!
I was excited when I heard that Clifford White’s new album would be about Atlantis. The reason is because his previous albums concerning water are among my all time favorites. The collection An Island Called Paradise is a like a trip to a magical and relaxing island, and I make sure to recommend it as often as I can. Selected songs from it are also among the most popular on our channel New Age Stars. We must also not forget that Clifford White is used to myths and great histories; last year’s The Gods Of Olympus was an album worthy of gods.
So with this in mind I put Atlantis on my iPhone and started my musical journey.
The album opens with the title song, which starts with the sound of waves, a quiet piano melody and then something I can describe (bear with me here) as a Vangelis / Chariots of fire-like synth pluck-beat. Which is always a welcome effect! The larger-than-life strings are also here, illustrating the grandness, the light and magic of the underwater world. The song has a very nice melody, and a calming atmosphere.
Track 2, Catacombs, takes the listener even further down – into a darker world, with a faster beat and nice dripping sounds. After all, the tale of Atlantis – like the real-life story of Pompeii – is first and foremost a dramatic story. If Atlantis hadn’t disappeared, there would be no magic; what you can’t ever see, find or reach is to man always more exciting than what is readily available. Isn’t that so?
I am fascinated by the way Clifford White changes sound from one track to the next, while the tracks still blend perfectly into each other. An example here is track 6, Time Tunnels, which is lounge in style. It has a jazzy freshness. Then it is track no. 7, Edge of the Ocean, which is laid back, has a bossa nova beat and a Vollenweider-ish electronic harp melody. This makes the album into an interesting listen.
There is no monotony or repetitiveness.
Again it is tempting to refer to Vangelis – both in style and in craftsmanship; Track no. 8, The New World, has the force of Conquest of Paradise, and lots of White’s usual magic too. The new world unveils itself before your inner eye.
Atlantis is like a box of surprises. The album closer is Exodus; an upbeat, bright piece. Here I must compare to Jean Michel Jarre’s classic Fourth Rendez-Vous. It shines bright, illustrating the overwhelming power of the Exodus.
As you can see from the references; White is here delivering a top notch album, and will once again find himself on the year’s top lists of new age albums.
Atlantis is here as real as it will ever get. Bravo!
Visit cliffordwhite.co.uk to sample / purchase his new Atlantis release and then go to his albums page. You can also visit his NewAgeMusicNews.com website then our interview and review pages dedicated to Clifford White.
The editor notes that NewAgeMusic.nu and NewAgeMusicWorld.com are partners and supporters of Clifford White’s NewAgeMusicNews.com, but .world/nu are independent sites with no commercial ties to Clifford White/MG Music. Cover art by Medwyn Goodall – picture copyright BigStockPhoto – Regisser.com
Amarocked!
One of my all time favorite albums is Mike Oldfield’s Amarok, released in 1990. This must be one of the most varied and creative recordings ever (not just in new age music, but in any genre). Here Mike Oldfield constantly changes theme, non-stop for 60 minutes!
While Virgin Music in 1989 wanted a follow up to Tubular Bells, something to take Mike’s fame to old heights, Mike decided to make a piece of music that could not be played on radio, and not be cut up and sold as singles. All because he was frustrated with Virgin music. The result is a strange but marvelous album, unlike anything else. In time it has almost become a research field in the world of music. On Tubular.net is an extensive analysis of the album. Every part is special.
What I like about the album is the feeling of movement. In the 60 minutes you get to hear a high number of melodies, and they all communicate different feelings and emotions. When the hour is up, you feel like you have experienced a lot. It is truly a world of sound, only paralleled by Tubular Bells.
Sample the album on Amazon.
New Age Music for the Summer – part 3
The summer is not entirely over yet - so we put on some sunblock and continue our journey through albums with that warm summer sound we all enjoy so much!
The album I have selected today is to be found in our popular Island Music guide; Isle of Freedom by the Nexion Project. I simply cannot praise this album enough, and fell in love with it when I heard it last year. What makes Isle of Freedom into such a fantastic album is the light, uncomplicated atmosphere and the way the listener is taken on a musical day trip (morning to dawn) around the isle. You get to see both flowers and forests (track 3 and 6). The album has also some magnificent piano and guitar melodies, backed by a very enjoyable synth arrangement. Just check out track no. 2, The Hills over the Town, and listen for yourself.
This is not an album you want if you are looking for something complex and deep – but that is not matching with the sun&summer theme either. Isle of Freedom is an album that will give you a touch of summer even on a cold, winter day.
So yes, the Isle of Freedom do exist! Put on this album and you’ll be convinced too.
Available on CDBaby.
Sample it here:
Lisa Hilton – Underground Album
Acclaimed composing Jazz pianist Lisa Hilton has released her newest instrumental album entitled Underground. Lisa’s continuity for producing trendy and progressive music that takes the high road over the years may not have surprised those who know her best. After the release of 12 significant recordings, her earlier albums have indeed helped pave the way to place her name recognition alongside other top Jazz artists.
Lisa Hilton from Southern California was raised in a family of musicians after having taught herself to play piano and compose music at an early age, before setting her sights on formal educational studies in classical and twentieth century piano. Her early love of music in a variety of styles became the early foundation before a transition into the contemporary Jazz excursions in which Lisa is so highly regarded today.
The progressive nature of her work as a pianist have not gone unnoticed either since her songs have received airplay prominence on hundreds of radio stations including the United States, Canada and other countries internationally. This includes syndicated programs like NPR Morning Edition, Sirius XM Radio, along with numerous online radio stations which have led to strong radio chart listings at College Media Journal, Earshot Jazz and JazzWeek radio charts.
Lisa Hilton’s thirteenth album entitled Underground features her band performing 9 songs that are quite adventurous in compositional style, even by her own standards. Recording and producing an album every year since 1997, her band features world-class musicians Larry Grenadier on bass, Nasheet Waits on percussion, and J.D. Allen performing tenor saxophone. Together this talented group does a magnificent job of openly communicating Lisa’s reintroduced vision of Jazz expressions as a team, and during their key roles in the spotlight as soloists.
The title song from the Underground album is lively and up-tempo with great counter rhythms, which offset the quietly laidback moments in Just A Little Past Midnight & B Minor Waltz. The bands interactive poise is apparent on the stylish song Blue Truth and throughout the classic swing and sway of Jack & Jill during Lisa’s extensively driven movement up and down the keyboard.
Lisa Hilton is a great talent who personifies Jazz improvisation with creativity and imagination. While Underground, Nuance, & Twilight & Blues reflect her achievements as a Jazz musician, and are refined lexes in their orientation to New Age albums, her piano performances of improvisation either as a soloist or with the band under her direction is definitely worth a listen. Lisa Hilton’s newest release is boldly expressive in Lisa’s already exploratory viewpoint as a Jazz pianist. Clearly an innovative escapade in elegance, Underground is like a smooth journey down a newly paved road.
Visit lisahiltonmusic.com to sample / purchase or visit her Amazon.com page.
Photo courtesy Michael Weintrob. Cover art courtesy lisahiltonmusic.com.
Coburn Tuller’s Butterfly Tones video
Coburn Tuller from Springfield Missouri has released an innovative new album that has rapidly caught the attention of many review publicists recently. One reason for the upsurge of interest may be in direct relation to the unique melodic sounds heard on his first album, which are sounds produced from a musical instrument he invented named The Tones.
Coburn Tuller had first conceived the idea for his one of a kind instrument during a nighttime walk in 1996. After hearing wind chimes lightly touching in a gentle breeze he discovered the random series of sound sparked his creative imagination. Coburn then determined that aluminum tubing of accurate length, diameter and dimension produced an original sound modulation when struck with a mallet. Coburn then devoted 15 years perfecting his unique instrument.
The Tones is a musical instrument that stands over 8 foot tall, and consists of 3 pyramid structures supporting 90 aluminum and brass tubes of various size and dimension, which range from 7 inches to over 6 foot in length. The sounds produced are like a new form of ambient music by the sound modulation which is totally unique, but one most likely considered a percussion instrument normally used in an orchestra like tubular bells. Regardless of how this instrument is classified the distinctive sounds, unlike drum beats, enable the creation of an independent melody.
Butterfly Tones is a relaxing album featuring 9 melodies which reveal this instrumental freedom of melodic expression. This natural resonating characteristic of bell tones becomes apparent on every piece, where multiple layers enhance a distinct harmony while Coburn ascends and descends through the scales using select octaves and tempos.
On the Butterfly Tones release you will notice every note produces a clear and precise harmony rather than a series of arbitrary sounds like you would hear on wind chimes. The natural tone reverberation on his instrument is apparent on every octave of the bells which ring true, and create a tonal echo which can linger for minutes during a song. This is the most exclusive characteristics of the instrument with the only exception being the ingenuity of the inventor.
Visit the butterflytonescd.com homepage and read what others are saying on Coburn’s reviews page. To sample or purchase or visit his CDBaby.com page or Amazon.com page. Below is the video Once Again from his Butterfly Tones release. Read our page dedicated to Coburn Tuller.
Rarely does an artist of any genre create an entirely new and unique sound identity they can claim entirely as their own. Butterfly Tones by Coburn Tuller, featuring 9 songs of melodic bell timbres is definitely one of the most exclusive musical arrangements I have ever heard. Coburn Tuller has not only created an innovative source of beautiful harmony for a broad multicultural audience, but his first contribution to the New Age music genre is by the same token, a new source of inspiration.
New Age Music for the Summer – part 2
What is a summer without warm summer nights? One of my favorite summer albums is David Arkenstone’s Caribbean Nights, released two years ago. It was not his first album with the Caribbean theme – but on this album he joined team with a real steel drum player, Clinton Crawford. Arkenstone said that his goal was to create an album that “Makes you feel like you have a drink in your hand, and your toes in the sand…”
Only by looking at the first few titles on the album we can sense what Arkenstone has in store for us; Sunset Cruise, Enchanted Night and Midnight Moon. It is all about easy living and happiness. My favorite song on the album is track eight, Sandy Toes, where the steel drum sounds truly sweet together with the flute and guitar. A truly beautiful mix. All songs on the album are a little over 4 minutes long, which give the listener time to enjoy the melodic elements without rapid shifts.
Caribbean Nights is both chill out and new age music in style, simply perfect for those lazy summer days we all just love. Isn’t it great that there’s things in this world that are just sunny, laidback and positive? Caribbean Nights is simply the perfect summer soundtrack.
Sample the album on Amazon or buy it at Arkenstone’s own web page.
Coburn Tuller’s Peaceful Butterfly Tones
If one takes a minute to listen close enough, beautiful ambient music is all around us. It’s only natural those who live in the countryside have more time available to enjoy the serenity of a peaceful atmosphere verses those who live in an urban environment. Regardless of where you live, undesirable noise can strike any time of the day or night just like clockwork.
Coburn Tuller from the Springfield Missouri area, truly enjoys the best of both worlds. Not only does he live on the outskirts of a metropolitan area where annoying noise is at a minimum, but he also invented a musical instrument that produces peaceful and relaxing timbres any hour of the day or night he desires. The inherently unique musical creation he fabricated is named The Tones, and the relaxing qualities produced from this innovative instrument are the foundation for his first exclusive new release titled Butterfly Tones.
Coburn Tuller is first and foremost a talented musician, having reached a level of expertise on numerous instruments over the years including acoustic and electric guitar, dulcimer and piano. Coburn conceived the idea for his music innovation during walk around midnight back in 1996, when he heard wind chimes lightly touching in a gentle breeze.
While most of us are familiar with the sound of various wind chimes, and would think nothing further about this blend of manmade and natural ambience, the random series of sound fascinated him and sparked his imagination. Coburn then theorized this ambient sound could be taken to a whole new level, and determined that aluminum tubing of accurate length, diameter and dimension would produce an original sound modulation when struck with a mallet. He accepted the challenge and spent the next 15 years perfecting his one of a kind instrument – The Tones.
Butterfly Tones features 9 songs of melodic bell timbres that are without a doubt one of the more unique forms of music I have ever heard. The Tones itself is a musical instrument that stands over 8 foot tall, and consists of 3 pyramid structures supporting 90 aluminum and brass tubes of various size and dimension, which range from 7 inches to over 6 foot in length.
If one were to classify this musical invention, I would imagine it would most likely be categorized as a directly struck idiophone like tubular bells or a xylophone, both of which are percussion instruments most often used in an orchestra arrangement. But their distinctive sound also enables the creation of an independent melody.
The 9 songs on Butterfly Tones highlight this instrumental freedom of expression to create some beautiful pieces. During Coburn’s performance you will notice like I did that every note struck produces a clear and precise harmony rather than a series of arbitrary sounds. One of the most interesting effects is the natural tone reverberation in every octave of the bells which can linger for minutes during a song.
This natural resonating characteristic of bell tones is apparent on every piece, where multiple layers enhance a distinct harmony while Coburn ascends and descends through the scales using select octaves and tempos. I also noticed the array of notes struck in the bass range often transfer the background theme for each song in the treble range, but the delivery of treble notes likewise act as a counterbalance for bass notes during each arrangement. I would also say the vibrant resonating sound produced is either close to, or the equivalent of the same note intervals and harmonic pitch found on the diatonic scale. Regardless of which musical scale is used, the tones sound perfect in pitch on every octave and ring true.
Coburn Tuller has discovered a steadfast source of peaceful ambience whose finely balanced sound qualities are available day, night, or anytime the bell tolls. If you listen for yourself, I am sure you will agree this exclusive album presented on CD or MP3 has an elegant rhythm and symmetry for relaxation you can count on, just like clockwork.
Visit the butterflytonescd.com homepage and sample or purchase at Coburn’s CDBaby.com page or Amazon.com page.
Photos are courtesy butterflytonescd.com.
New Age Music for the Summer – part 1
We hope that you are enjoying the summer – with holidays and lots of sun! Here at .nu we are always looking for warm, sunny music. In the following weeks we will present the finest summer music our genre has to offer. But why not start with the best of the best?
Medwyn Goodall – Earth Goddess (2007)
You know me – I’m usually not a man of few words when it comes to music. But listening to Medwyn Goodall’s Earth Goddess always leaves me speechless. In Medwyn’s massive discography (he is represented on iTunes with more than 100 titles!) there are so many excellent albums. But for me Earth Goddess is special. It has to do with my love for the sunny island theme, and the fact that I feel that it is here new age music is at its very best.
Palms, blue water, white beaches, waves, a hot wind blowing, holidays – all of this gives good, happy feelings that our genre so well communicates through music. And nowhere in the complete new age music discography – from Tony Scott till today – is this more present than in Medwyn Goodall’s Earth Goddess. It is simply a summer new age music tour de force!
The six track long album was released in the early summer of 2007. It starts with the ultra light Amulet. The lush pads, echoed pan flute, the bright sounding piano and – after a tasteful build-up – Medwyn’s masterful el-guitar, are all elements that makes this into an unforgettable start of an unforgettable album.
Simply put; Earth Goddess is one of the best albums in the new age music genre.
BT Fasmer
Sungrass, track no. 2, is as laid-back as the title implies. This is music for a sunny day in the grass. The song has the same ingredients as track 1, but here Medwyn’s el-guitar is perhaps even better – sounding a bit like The Shadows’ classical el-guitar songs.
The next song out, Totem, is a song to worship; close your eyes and the dream island will manifest itself. The song has some of the best build-up I have ever heard – the middle part, at around 4min50sec and later, is just so interesting, so deep without being complex. The flute ending is simply breathtaking; I could listen to it all day.
Simply put; Earth Goddess is one of the best albums in the new age music genre. Its warm sound and pleasant atmosphere makes it to a modern classic, a masterpiece for the future. Do yourself a favor and meet the Earth Goddess!
Sample the album on MGMusic.co.uk. Available on all major digital music outlets.
Inspiring Guitar Songs by Fred Thrane
If you have ever heard the facts about our universe that there are over 1 billion galaxies, and there are more stars in the sky than grains of sand on every shore, then you know these truths about our universe make the interstellar space above us seem infinite and hard to envision.
Fred Thrane from Sandpoint Idaho has incorporated those fact based linear notes on the inside CD cover of his debut album Angels of the Sun, but in a related topic much closer to home and easier to picture is the like a grain of sand approach in which he composed and launched his first instrumental album. Presenting his exclusive talents on CD for his first official introduction, Angels of the Sun yields an expansive diversity in what you would expect to hear on a debut album, so it is a release that can be appreciated by a variety of people.
Angels of the Sun features diverse styles ranging from New Age, Flamenco and Contemporary, which likewise ascertain his aptitude as an accomplished guitarist of various styles. Relying on his strong background as both a student and music educator, I thought Fred Thrane has released a wonderful first album. Everything began when he picked up the guitar for the first time during his teen years studying Classical and Flamenco guitar.
The next phase of his education was Classical Guitar instruction during college years at UC Santa Barbra. Fred later transferred to Cal State Hayward, where he majored in guitar and earned a master’s degree in music, with a specialty in Classical Guitar. For the next 5 years he took lessons from distinguished guitarist Rey de la Torre. Fred Thrane then reached a turning point when he began his teaching career as Professor of Music at San Jose State University and Foothill College while educating students in Classical Guitar. It was during this time period he had composed some of the melodies for this release.
Angels of the Sun features 9 engaging songs, and brings with it the foresight and experience of a music professional that has devoted much of his life acquiring the skills needed to produce an album which is singular in its existence yet further reaching in its appeal among many.
Dennis Murphy and Jim Norris are two performers who provide accompaniment on this release. While Denis plays bass and Jim contributes the variety of percussion parts, both complement the nucleus of Fred’s composition by magnifying his melodic theme and then adding a good measure of vibrant harmony of their own.
The more extravagant Flamenco styled songs Big Sur, Fandango in Four, Farruca & Moraga Raga were among my favorites. Like most songs on this contemporary instrumental album, you will find they are quite lively and up-tempo with great percussion enhancements which are in harmony with the energetic atmosphere one would expect to hear on Flamenco music. The Title Song, Dawn Dancer & The Third Heaven are more serene in tempo and rhythm, but they too are engaging and consistent in theme.
Finding a forte in blending New Age, Flamenco and Classical styles into a single orchestration, Fred Thrane is a music professional who shines on his first release by his diverse experience as a guitarist. More than capable of arranging a select number of music influences into a single improvisation of wonder, I can see where Angels of the Sun will please a wide variety of musical tastes. In the end, this makes his first release seem more like a universal commodity.
Visit the fredthrane.com homepage to find out more. Sample or purchase at his CDBaby.com page & Amazon.com page.
Hubble Telescope cover image courtesy NASA, B.D. Moore and J.J. Hester.
2002 – Damayanti
Randy and Pamela Copus are the popular husband and wife duo that is the complete heart and spirit of 2002. After 19 years as top New Age music artists, Randy and Pamela are approaching a significant milestone in their careers and a time of celebration by their forthcoming 20 year anniversary as the award winning, Billboard charting music duo 2002.
Randy and Pamela Copus have just released an exceptional new 2002 album titled Damayanti so this is likewise a time of celebration for their loyal fans. It was nineteen years ago when 2002 first began producing music with their first album titled Wings. Since then, it’s as if their popular celestial melodies have stair stepped their way among the clouds in a skyward journey of their own.
Many would agree the New Age Billboard charting 2002 music duo Randy and Pamela Copus are one of the finest New Age groups producing music today. Their free-flowing arrangements and unhurried approach on every album they create has resulted in a made with pride product every time.
Their status as top artists is apparent by the number of times 2002 has been listed as a favorite musical group, having charted 9 times in the New Age Billboard Charts within the past 10 years. When combined this is equal to 270 weeks on the New Age charts. 2002 was likewise featured in the December 2003 Magazine issue of Year in Review at Billboard, and listed with other top New Age artists like Enya, George Winston, Jim Brickman, Manheim Steamroller and Yanni. This is a pretty good indication of their standing as a chosen favorite for many people.
Damayanti by 2002 was recently introduced on their Galactic Playground Music label. The album has 10 opulent songs revealing a wonderful change in tonal atmosphere which does make it stand out from earlier predecessors. While it is not an immense departure from earlier albums, the story based Damayanti is perhaps their best release yet, and I imagine it will be another big hit on the airwaves.
Damayanti was created in comparison like earlier 2002 albums by Randy Copus playing piano, electric cello, guitar and bass, while Pamela Copus played flutes, harp, keyboards and a WX5 wind instrument. Visit the 2002music.com homepage and then sample / purchase on their music page or go to their Amazon.com page. My album review quote, and Free to Fly song video from their A Word in the Wind DVD is shown below. Read my interview on our page for 2002.
Even now with their unending popularity and recognition, 2002 remains steadfast in their creative ambitions for producing quality orchestrations. Their close attention to instrumental and technical details on every album results in a complete reinvention of themselves every time which gives them another reason to pause, reflect, and to celebrate.
Sounds from the Circle 111
The New Age Music Circle is an online community forum founded by international composer, producer, and music circle host Suzanne Doucet. Having a membership roster well over a thousand members from around the world, the Circle forum is the leading discussion platform where top New Age artists, industry professionals, and music fans alike can share music, videos, post information about events and participate in forum discussions on a wide variety of topics.
Sounds from the Circle 111 is the 2011 CD release from Circle members who submitted their New Age, and related sub genres music for consideration. Host and founder of the music circle, Suzanne Doucet then produced this rather special album which contains 40 songs and holds over 3 hours of music. It takes around 4 months to compile Sounds from the Circle albums and organize the songs for a smooth and uniform arrangement of the 40 quality songs offered in a variety of melodic themes. The CD can be played in mp3 compatible CD players or in computer CD-ROM drives, which will download into an iTunes player. The album can likewise be purchase and downloaded on iTunes.
Sounds from the Circle 1 & 11 are two earlier compilation albums in a similar format which became a popular playlist of songs for online radio stations, including the popular 365 Stars radio station friend and colleague B.T. Fasmer hosts. For the artists, Sounds from the Circle releases have distribution involving important music conferences and trade shows like INATS & MIDEM. Another nice feature for the fan is the cover insert that lists each artist’s name, track, album title and website which makes it easy to find out more about the artists of special interest to you.
Sounds from the Circle 111 features some great musicians, and is in fact a unique compilation album like no other you will find available today. Created in the universal atmosphere among friends who belong to the New Age Music Circle, the far reaching diversity of performing musicians on this international release becomes another integral quality that makes this release special. John P. Olsen
During the past few years, John Olsen has featured six out of the forty musicians on this release by a review. Bill Wren begins with the first song En Mai from the One Day in a Life album. Kori Linae Carothers has her song Blue Ice from the Trillium album. Marc Enfroy has the song A Good Heart from Unconditional, and David Mauk has his title song from the Ground Swell album. Jeffery Fisher is another with Bird Dance from Satyagraha and then Suzanne Doucet completes the Sounds from the Circle CD with final song OM from her As it is Now release.
Visit Suzanne Doucet & members at NewAgeMusik.ning.com. Sample & purchase Sounds from the Circle 111 at iTunes. You can find more great music at NewAgeMusic.com & NewAgeUniverse.
Cover artwork courtesy Suzanne Doucet & The New Age Music Circle.
Jonas Kroon – Melo
Jonas Kroon has released his first cinematic album during 2011, and it didn’t take very long to answer the essential question of whether I believe his first release entitled Melo would be of interest to my site visitors. Another point answering the question of whether Jonas Kroon and Melo would be the perfect candidate is the quality of his first album, along with the proven experience he has demonstrated as a music specialist, even though this is technically his first release.
Jonas Kroon is a Norwegian composer, producer and artist taking full advantage of his tenure in the music business to produce one of the most unique debut albums I have heard in recent memory. As one might imagine this artist from Norway reveals his years of experience directly into his first product which sounds more like something you would expect from a musician with several best of the year releases or chart topping albums.
Riviera is a Sweden based global music company with a branch in Oslo Norway, where Jonas is currently employed producing artistic scores for the firm. During his time with Riviera, Jonas has produced commercials, feature films, and television programing which have clearly given him an edge for his first release. Developing his production talents along the way with a company handling accounts like IKEA, Burger King, McDonalds, Volkswagen, Saab and Volvo does make his technical edge and cinematic expertise noticeably sharper.
Melo is a 2011 AMAdea Records release that has a unique identity of its own character since Jonas had the freedom to compose his first album without the usual constraints of what various clients may have expected for him to produce. The 14 songs represent a renewed focus on creating cinematic music composed to his personal taste and perceptions which has led to a great album. Listing film composers Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and Howard Shore as film score artists he favored, I couldn’t agree with him more.
Melo is very much Cinematic with a composite of World and Ethnic influences from beginning to end, relying on electronic and symphonic elements along with wonderful percussion rhythms. The up-tempo songs Her Er Eg, Fakir Fusion & Into the Wild were my top favorites, along with violin and guitar version given on The King, with each featuring exotic without lyric vocals and orchestra instrumentals. However the more moderate in time songs Element, Zanzibar & Highland are just as worthy by highlighting the same colorful vocals with rich instrumental setting of cello, flutes, guitars, keyboards, violin and percussion which is a prominent feature on the entire album.
Melo is likewise the name of the 14 member band of international musicians Jonas selected to become the foundation for his album. The 14 member band whose first concert performance was in 2007 at the Paul McCartney Auditorium in Liverpool England was off to a great start right from the beginning. Formed in 2006, the band members in Melo represent the nations of Norway, Sweden, UK, Poland, Bosnia and Hungary.
Jonas Kroon doesn’t have a long track record of earlier releases, chart topping albums or music awards, but his musical aptitude made top honors with me. The new release Melo easily makes my list as a new release to be commended and who is to say what the future holds, so let’s hope we hear more. Along with several other review publicists that have written positive reviews about him, Jonas has earned my respect, for which there is no question.
The following musicians are Melo band members performing with Jonas Kroon who provided vocals, keyboards and programing; Jostein Austvik (drums) Alex Braathen (percussion, vocals) Sondre Sandhaug (bass) Goran Obad ( electric guitars, saz, oud, tambura) Mateusz Rostad (violin) Birgit Nerheim (violin) Line Haukland (cello) Silje Karlsen (vocals, flutes) Kjersti Vatnan Ekman (vocals, flutes) Thomas Wicklund Larsen (vocals) Trym Bjonnes (vocals, didgeridoo).
Visit jonaskroon.com to sample / purchase or at Jonas Kroon’s AMAdeaRecords.com page & Amazon.com page.
Photo and artwork courtesy Oda Hveem & Jonas Kroon.
Visit New Age Music World
- New Releases from Sony Classical Label
- New Music – Family Values by Craig Karolus
- Marc Enfroy – Dreams of the Forest
- Cinematic Piano Music by Marc Enfroy
- Sounds from the Circle – New for 2012
- What is New Age Music ?
- Mysterium Tremendum by Mickey Hart Band
- Gandalf & Steve Hackett Live Album – Gallery of Dreams
- Gandalf & Steve Hackett – Live Concert
- Mickey Hart Band – Concert Tour 2012