Rock goes Zen
One of this year’s most exciting new age music releases is the first installment in the Modern Meditations series from CMH Label Group. The first two albums in the series will be released November 17th. They are called Modern Meditations the rock classics and Modern Meditations the modern classics. You can sample rock classics here and modern classics here.
The covers looks like this:
Modern Meditations is, according to their website:
… transforming your favorite songs into meditation music for the rock & roll generation—no pan flutes or wind chimes allowed. Shimmering electric guitars and warm percussion create serene instrumentals to wash away your stress.
On these two first albums you can hear songs like “Imagine,” “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” “Beautiful Day,” “Clocks,” and “Ray of Light”.
But this is only the mere beginning. CMH Label Group will release albums with new age music versions of songs by Bob Marley, The Beatles, U2, Radiohead and Coldplay – and even one with indie classics!
After listening to the samples of the first two albums, I feel that CMH Label Group has found an interesting niche; there is definitely room for this in the “relaxation music” category. The production is very professional and well done. Many rock and pop fans will for sure enjoy these releases.
But from a new age music point of view I am a little more uncertain. For instance take their version of Madonna’s Ray of light; the original song with William Orbit’s magnificent soundscape is filled with emotions – while the Modern Meditations version (judging by the short sample – the longer version might be more interesting) is just, well, nothing but a chilled atmosphere. But that might be the intention, right?
This is just in: Even before the first albums are released, Modern Meditations has signed an agreement with World-Renowned Luxury Hotel Post Ranch Inn. Read the press release here.
The UFO Enigma
Albums are often released labeled as “sounding like Enigma and Deep Forest”, but this reviewer finds that these albums rarely are on par with masters such as Michael Cretu and Eric Mouquet (the men behind Enigma/Deep Forest) . Some of these albums are quite good, but hardly more than that. But sometimes it happens that a new star is born, and one artist that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Cretu and Mouquet is Joel Kanning. His brand new album UFO, or Ubiquitous Frequency Oscillation, is a true feast for fans of the above mentioned artists.
An Enigma album is, as you know, all about sound design – which also was the reason for Enigma’s enormous MCMXC A.D- success. The sound design was in the album’s beginning, Sandra’s whispering “turn off the light, Take a deep breath and relax… Start move slowly, very slowly, Let the rhythm be your guiding light” – and then the creative use of Gregorian chants.
The overall sound design is also something one must mention about Joel Kanning’s album. Here too is an intro with some interesting samples (UFO-man talking, saying something like “I am a visitor”), and there is also an Enigma-like ending with a Deep Forest-like selection of ethnical samples.
Here I must stress that UFO is not an Enigma/Deep Forest copy. Not at all. Joel Kanning is, as we shall discuss, taking the sound design of these two artists to a new level. Still, it must be said that Kanning is venturing into a world of sound that these two bands created – and then left! Michael Cretu did never return to Gregorian Chants of 1990 (perhaps because of the sampling controversy), and his last release is somewhat influenced by hip-hop beats (Kanning did, by the way, create a remix of Enigma’s recent Downtown Silence which received 2nd Place in a competition – and he has also remixed some of Eric Mouquet’s Deep Projects songs).
The soundscape we are talking about here is created by synth pads (I would guess sound banks close to Yamaha VL1 and Roland VI), sharp strings & plucks, a lot of reverb, a tasteful selection of ethnical samples and bass drums and hihats close to club/euro dance (but with a lower BPM). This is the soundscape all Enigma fans love, and it has been imitated by many artists. The true art in Kanning’s UFO is the creative reuse of this soundscape.
The first song on the albums is called Travellers. It has a nice larger-than-life feel and the Gregorian Chants fit perfectly. Next track out, Ashima, has a more chilled approach. The piano and the strings, yes the whole arrangement, sounds divine. UFO is in all respects a very professional release, and the mastering is nothing but impressive; here is a rare attention to details. The best track on the album is in my opinion One World. It is an example of ethnic fusion, with its soulful samples and beautiful guitar melody. It has the intensity of songs like Why!... and T.N.T. For The Brain from Enigma III.
What makes Joel Kanning different from Enigma and Deep Forest is, apart from the lack of vocals, a less complicated atmosphere. It is simply more chilled, without the mixed emotions of Enigma’s Silent Warrior or Deep Forest’ You will be ready. It is just not that deep, not that enigmatic. But that might be a good thing if you are looking for relaxation music. As a new age music radio host I couldn’t have been happier with this album. All of the songs are interesting and have a nice build up.
UFO is in all respects a very professional release, and the mastering is nothing but impressive; here is a rare attention to details.
Yes, UFO is indeed “sounding like Enigma and Deep Forest”. But it also has an identity of its own. To quote the Enigma III title, Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! (French for “The King is Dead, Long Live the King!”). Except, Cretu and Mouquet are still alive, well and producing music. But they have left this particular soundscape behind – and here Joel Kanning is the new king.
Visit joelkanning.com where you can sample the album and learn more about the artist. Also make sure to watch the below video.
Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – Tawng
Illumination
The webpage CDInsight.com has a nice interview with Jamie Craig who has just released the album Illumination. About his first encounter with new age music he says:
I listened to a certain amount of new age music which often resembled the instrumental passages in progressive-rock. The first new age music I got into was Tangerine Dream, George Winston, Kitaro and Vangelis, and more recently rhythmic acts such as Enigma.
Soon we will give you a review of Illumination. Read the interview here.
Promising Transitions in Music
Since everyone must make life transitions whether they really want to or not, let me tell you a story about a musician from Fresno California who has a successful history of making transitions and can perhaps offer some insight on the subject of change.
Michael Stribling is an award winning New Age composer who readily embraces change having already made many positive adjustments in his lifetime. His just released album titled The Promise smoothly arrives at the next stage of his long career in music with a look and feel that confirms and conveys an admirable composite of Electronic and Ambient music.
Michael’s transitions include earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, work as a radio announcer, performing in theatre musicals and playing percussion for Johnny Mathis just for starters. His story gets even better since after then becoming a successful Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist offering help to those who needed a hand with their transitions, he returned to his earlier love and formed Leela ( Divine Play ) Music.
I formed Leela Music to undertake a very simple mission : to help others in their journey towards wholeness through the gift of music, by creating works that inspire and uplift the human spirit. Michael Stribling
This return to music is beyond more than promising since Michael’s first album Songs of Hope and Healing made it to # 1 on the Top 100 in NAR / ZMR charts, securing the Electronic Lifestyle Music Award in 2006 and Out of the Darkness, Into the Light, lit up the # 2 spot on the Top 100 in January having 2 nominations for the Lifestyle Music Award in 2007. Another Day in Paradise is indeed praiseworthy, while Love, Light, and Water, earned nomination for Best Relaxation / Meditation Album in 2008, making each day even brighter for this independent recording artist with an optimistic outlook toward the challenge of change.
Michael Stribling has clearly made many successful transitions in his musical lifetime, giving him a first hand perspective to help others cope with change. The positive yes responses shown in his earlier music and in this brand new release only proves his natural composing abilities for bringing hope and inspiration to others.
The Promise is Michael’s very latest to deliver 14 original songs like his newest composition in musical ambiance is an autobiography of his attitude, comprehension, and inner thoughts drawn from daily observations, then transcribed into beautiful music.
Beginning with Bright New Day a crisp new perspective is announced by abundant keyboard activity that vividly lights the occasion while percussion distinctively beats beside a synthesizer full of energy, creating much animation by the opening number to forecast what lies beyond in future melodies. Daily Living likewise moves right along in style and tempo by the upper register bell tones that counteract with middle range melody and is much like the positive vibes given in Angular Reasoning and the uplifting theme projected during All In Good Time.
Like many songs in his prior projects this album does take timely breaks into the deeper hues of contemplation and reflection.
Forgotten Dreams exemplifies this apparent yin and yang transition to a more down to earth reasoning with a single oboe tone melody bordered by a mesmerizing and hazy background, touching on a bit of sadness which is after all, a valid part of the total human experience. Love’s Anticipation also brings a realistic and happier yes response by the lighter melody along side piano passages, much like the easy going natural feel presented in Distant Shores.
Title song The Promise begins with a quiet moment of solitude in a melancholy horn tone wrapped in sadness, but this moment gently advances forward in a creative moment of divine intervention nicely provided by the artist.
Changing the piece by one moving sweep in music composition, this percussion backed melody gently makes a beautiful transformation from an already graceful song into a lovely song of splendor, very much like a caterpillar cocoon would change into a butterfly, keeping the promise of inner peace and harmony everyone discovers in the final stages during each of life’s transitions.
Visit leela-music.com here and then sample at CDBaby.com here.
Visit New Age Music World
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- 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
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