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.
Celestial Music of Paul Sills
Composing musician Paul Sills of the United Kingdom has a celestial New Age album composed from a brand new viewpoint in his already skillful approach to celestial music. It now appears Paul has taken his newest arrangement to the next level, and like earlier perceptive albums, Devas – Natures Spirit becomes his third release that in no shape, form or fashion could ever be termed commonplace.
Devas – Natures Spirits is the third great album written, performed and produced by MG Music label artist Paul Sills and by all accounts, Devas is a thoughtful departure from his second Walking Across Heaven release which created a beautiful sound sanctuary where instrumentals of piano, flute, acoustic guitar, and distant choral vocals rose to transform each song into one having an anthem like quality.
Paul Sills is a long standing MG Music Label artist and representative member of the Medwyn Goodall circle of friends, highly revered for their outstanding music and singular expression each label artist is known for producing, and now he has proven this to be true for the third time around.
Astral Doorways was Paul’s imaginative first endeavor exploring the divine and surreal side of music. All three are powerful albums, symbolic of the outer confines in synthesized ambient music that simply become a natural choice for those who love a memorable journey into the vast territories of electronic resonances that reside in a deeper realm in relaxing music.
Paul Sills and I had a recent interview and insightful discussion together on his early music career and life at MG Music, so I hope you will want to find out more about Paul at our websites. Many visitors know I have published reviews on both of his earlier albums essentially because I enjoy listening to his intensely divine brand of electronic music that consistently has a dreamy keyboard based melody and prominent celestial atmosphere.
Devas – Natures Spirits with 12 songs total is precisely what I had anticipated and had hoped to experience from this Medwyn Goodall label artist recognized for producing Electronic ambient music that is by definition, wonderfully unique and singular in style when placed alongside many of his counterparts in the electronic music category.
First song Sacred Waters is the gentle inception to a deeper Dolphina, where piano and percussion reproduce the Paul Sills expressive touch many of us have come to appreciate. Tidal sounds mark the gentle layering of acoustic guitar strums mixed with piano intervals in Memories Of The Ocean and the steady piano rhythms mixed with dreamy electronic modulations on Footprints In The Mist are likewise a wonderful reflection.
A Sketch Of Spring contains a truly exciting transformation in composition which originates with the lighter melody before a keyboard sequence modification in the arrangement reveals a fascinating cascade of piano runs and half step key changes in both lower and upper octaves, modifying this piece into one of majestic design.
Choosing a broad pathway along his journey in nature inspired celestial music, this release from Paul Sills rests at a comfortable plateau in ambience, where deep orchestrations incorporated with light melodies and rhythms admirably blend into a pleasingly dreamy atmosphere. Paul by definition, has created a deeper realm in sound, far beyond the commonplace methodology in what we regularly hear and experience from top producers of celestial music.
Visit the MG profile page for Paul Sills to sample / purchase and our page dedicated to Paul Sills.
Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – zootog
Great Ambient Music from Paul Avgerinos
Some love relationships begin with an introduction or the sparks may have ignited after that first gaze into someones eyes. Regardless of how it began, if a relationship progresses into something special it may lead to the divine word we call love, and while there are no definitive set of rules governing love the first attraction determines a lot about what happens next.
Grammy Nominated Paul Avgerinos from Redding Connecticut happens to have a new release called Law of Attraction that his prodigious fan base is certain to fully embrace with open arms, and do so without hesitation. I would imagine this great ambient album will also succeed at winning over many new fans for Paul Avgerinos, new fans who will go directly to the heart of his widely popular Round Sky Music website to hear for themselves, so for some of you, let me be the first to introduce you to this award winnng musician.
Paul Avgerinos has based the Law of Attraction theme in regards to authors Esther and Jerry Hicks and their bestselling self-help books, but after listening to his thirteenth album I discovered Paul Avgerinos Law of Attraction has such a pleasingly rich sensation of expressive delights, I just had to respond myself by concentrating more precisely on the fine melodic wonderment and charismatic appeal of this sensational new release, which if it was a library book, Law of Attraction would certainly be shelved in the romantic therapy section.
Law of Attraction is after all quite compatible or along the same wavelength with his prior Love album, which is another positively feel good release with a passionate and dreamy intonation paired to the divine word we call love. The Love album did after all achieve a desirable level in 2009 by 2 nominations at ZMR which included Best Relaxation / Meditation Album.
Law of Attraction is an exciting fusion of New Age Ambient and World Music styles from the Middle East and India, and of the many earlier releases that garnered success, this album has the instrumental music essentials to his earlier award winning Garden of Delight.
Paul Avgerinos further album awards do include Garden Of Delight which won Best World Album in 2007 and notable Gnosis had 5 Best of nominations total, while winning the Best Relaxation / Meditation Album award category in 2006. Muse of the Round Sky which made the airwaves on over 2000 radio stations worldwide was the great ambient album that first introduced Paul Avgerinos as a top artist and Grammy Nominated musician.
Paul Avgerinos has composed the 10 songs, performing on bass violin, Fretless bass, 12 string & nylon guitars keyboards, vocals, percussion and sound design. Kevin Braheny Fortune playing Electronic & Classical flutes, and Steve Gorn on Bansuri flute join Paul, as do the 7 essential talented musicians I have credited below.
This group blends vibrant instrumental fusion into an intricate musical project fascinating for the senses to behold like heard in Gentle My Love & Ask and It Is Given which are deep, exotic, and mesmerizing. You will find every song holds a diverse kaleidoscope of elevated ambience, but these two songs in particular are quite unique from anything I had ever heard before since multiple guitars and ethnic vocals infuse a sensual calm and steadiness to where they seem spellbinding or even hypnotic at times.
The Vortex is another picturesque song that intermingle keyboards, guitars and lyric less vocals into wonderful patterns that are like a magnet by attracting you into a beautiful sound adventure made for the senses. Follow Your Passion & Art of Allowing are two songs showing ingenious geometrical patterns of his Ambient music, and like Law of Attraction ( Title Song ) they have gentle curved surfaces free of any abrupt edges or distant note to note sound plateaus leading to nowhere. If one was to compare the textural sensations of touch to this release, it would be smooth as silk and you will see what I mean when you sample this perceptive new release.
It is pretty easy to fall in love with Paul Avgerinos music whether you have been officially introduced or not, and you may be interested to know that in addition to his eloquent skills as a composing New Age musician he has worked on over 100 television and film projects. Paul was also the primary bass player for The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and toured with many Popular, Contemporary, and Jazz groups over the years, having been involved with numerous Platinum album productions while collaborating with popular music acts Aerosmith, Jewel, Run DMC, Willie Nelson and Deana Carter.
Credits and your introduction to the additional musicians are Trina Basu on Violin, Brahim Fribgane on Oud, Rafiq Khan on Indian Sarangi, Rohin Khemani on Tabla & other percussions. Steve Waite on 12 string & electric guitars, Christine Yandell on vocals and Malika Zarra on French & Arabic vocals.
Visit roundskymusic.com to sample / purchase or go to his CDBaby.com page & Amazon.com page. Find out more on our pages dedicated to Paul Avgerinos.
Big Stock Photo – SSilver
Ann Licater in Doorway to a Dream
Ann Licater has just released a brand new follow up to her opening debut Following the Call, a release which received nomination of Best Native American Album and listing in the top 12 Contemporary Albums in 2007.
This first effort began her journey of recognition as a top solo flutist performing on Native American, World and silver alto flutes and had begun the chosen pathway towards her next success.
Doorway to a Dream is the 2010 release by Ann Licater that again displays her level of expertise in both traditional and indigenous flutes while accentuating the fine attributes woodwind instruments can produce. The 14 original songs and improvisational compositions this time around however are during collaboration with accompanying musicians and becomes a perfect album discovery for those who appreciate the smooth sounds of tranquil and relaxing music.
Ann Licater is well rehearsed in classical silver flutes having began her own journey into Native American & World flutes years ago after listening to the unique sounds indigenous flutes can produce, having studied with master flutist R.Carlos Nakai at the Renaissance of the Native American Flute which nicely reinforces the comprehensive skill level of her already accomplished classical flute studies.
Many of the indigenous instruments Ann plays on this album are selected for their unique tonal qualities and include Native American-style, Chinese Rosewood Xiao, Zapotec Triple Clay, Anasazi and Alto flutes.
In addition to her recordings Ann teaches in workshops and during concerts, describes to her audiences the origins for each of the numerous clay and wood instruments featured during her appearances.
Doorway to a Dream is a natural contrast to her first solo album by inclusion of recognized artists who incorporate their talents and help expand her original compositions by collaborative instrumentation of Middle Eastern Tar, African udu Coral electric sitar, Edo period Japanese shakuhachi, flugelhorn, acoustic guitar, piano, keyboard and World percussion.
Whether you are searching for music with the unique intonation flutes can produce when placed in the hands of an accomplished musician, or simply enjoy the finer sounds produced by music professionals, Doorway to a Dream is a natural choice.
The world class musicians accompanying Ann Licater on various songs throughout this album and you are sure to recognize are Jose’ Neto, Jeff Oster, Peter Phippen, David DiLullo, Troy Arnett, William Hoshal and Shambhu. Mastered by Award Winning Engineer Stephen Hart.
Visit fluteforthesoul.com to sample / purchase or at her CDBaby.com page.
Photo courtesy of Greg Crowder
Michael Stribling tells of Paradise Lost
In the millennium before the nation of America was founded and a new way of life was envisioned, Native Americans lived brave and free throughout the land. History tells of the conflict and injustice imposed upon indigenous people thought to be hindering this new way of life, but in fact Native Americans were already living the proverbial American dream in sacred lands they viewed as paradise.
Michael Stribling has released an album to commemorate the past while honoring every Native American who lived and died protecting their sacred homeland. To me, Michael’s dedication struck a familiar chord concerning our present values and the high price paid to keep the diverse ethnicities comprising the America of today free.
Paradise Lost is Michael’s seventh in an enduring lineage of New Age Electronic albums making an impact in the genre, winning awards and universal acclaim during his years as an accredited musician producing outstanding ambient music. His electronic discography like recent The Promise which dealt with life transitions is indeed a success and in my role as review publicist, quickly identified his exemplary artistry in the first few measures, so Paradise Lost is not worlds apart from earlier albums, but is clearly a monumental one as those familiar with his music would agree.
Paradise Lost has 12 symbolic songs defined by three movements and while retracing the ancestral life experiences of Native Americans, the perspective I determined from this viewpoint ranged from total relaxation to energetic, so you will find Paradise Lost is not gloomy or somber and I felt more epic in nature. Another point worthy of mention knowing this album recounts the Native American experience, conceptual electronic orchestrations are the expressive medium given during this rendition so a harmonious contrast to more traditional depictions by wood flutes, chanting or bass drums.
Prairie Dawn is first of 5 songs to reveal a distant gaze upon the majestic landscape and of people living during this historic period, emerging with a more ambient view of tribal culture where spacious orchestrations echo the expansive lands of our past. French horn heralds in Guardian of the Plains, then strings become like strands of wheat gently moving in the breeze while flute sets the melody upward in flight during Forest Heart.
Synthesizer projects a windswept Eagle Above, River Below, then growing excitement and tempo ensues while racing among the scenic timberlands in Hunting Party.
March of Destiny is first of 3 songs to reference the battle over territorial supremacy and true to song title, a crisp drum cadence is timed in lock step rhythm to a salutary march across the open wilderness while horns make the melodic call to arms. A swirling crosswind of mystery surrounds the more ambient Approaching Storm with blended electric guitar strides and again in Vision Quest where a drifting cloud of haziness finds origins by long extended atmospheric notes.
Paradise Lost ( Title Song ) is first of the final 4 songs to represent the loss of humanity and prized territories, shown by contrasting synthesizer runs, an elevated prominence boldly reaches an ascending summit while heightening the majestic image this project in entirety symbolizes. Lament for the Land is more tributary by a solemn narrative that is likened to the soulful Hymn for the Fallen.
Return to the Spirit World is a song telling of a higher perspective during Michael’s closing adaptation, and while entering into an ever rising plateau of instrumental ambience, each expansive layer also finds equable ground for every note to build a foundation upon, coinciding with the present unified territories everyone observes from every corner pointing North and South, East and West.
Visit the leela-music.com website to sample or purchase at his CDBaby.com page or Digstation.com page. You can also visit Michael where he hosts his free online radio program at leela-radio.com website and our pages dedicated to Michael Stribling.
Cover art copyright Michael Stribling – Picture copyright BigStockPhoto – ta_samaya
Michael Stribling | 
Leave a commentJeffrey Fisher Portrait of Satyagraha
When one takes a moment to consider what daily life would be like without The Arts, everyone can quickly realize that more traditional teachings of math, science and biology are vital to every one of us individually, but the expressions of music, painting and poetry are an equally consequential part of our culture and personal identity.
Jeffrey Fisher from Southern California has chosen to make The Arts his principal focus during his diverse life as a composing musician. While some might pursue more fundamental scholastic studies, the more conceptual and creative aspects of art, poetry and teaching have nicely become a mainstay to his more individual endeavors and this reflection is transferred to his music. Natural surroundings and his unique inner imagination are on display again by his current nature inspired release.
Satyagraha – Songs of the Earth is his New Age, Ambient, Meditative, Instrumental 2010 release drawn from the imagination and past experience of this multifaceted artist who has improvised well while composing and performing music in nearly every genre.
The album title Jeffrey Fisher chose of Satyagraha translates to read The Power of Truth and references the non violent and principal ideals of Gandhi. In addition Satyagraha became the name for his nature retreat in the San Jacinto Mountains where this album was first brought to the surface and then recorded.
Satyagraha – Songs of the Earth is a nature inspired album that represents the serene and dramatic virtues of nature as realistic and one of natural beauty, much like the artistic rendition displayed on the accompanying cover art Jeffrey Fisher himself has painted using watercolors.
In a similar representation of the portrait shown, his music is serene and even though a performing artist on numerous instruments, his melodic improvisations on a 160 year old bass violin is the primary instrument for instilling color and the harmonious points of view in his music.
In accompaniment with the natural warm tones of bass violin, most of the 8 songs on the album are blended with the woodwind tones of Navaho flutes, keyboards and percussion which intermingle with the essential brush strokes to paint the final picture of nature using a very personal touch and with the artful imagination one would expect from both a musician and individual.
Visit HealingMusicoftheSouthwest.com to sample / purchase or at his CDBaby.com artist page.
Satyagraha cover art copyright Jeffrey Fisher
Bruce Kaphan Song Video / Oregon Fire
Bruce Kaphan from California has taken pedal string guitar to a whole new level in New Age music for years, making this instrumental transition not only a surprising one but a dazzling one too, giving even music purists a reason to love pedal steel guitar with his earlier release Slider and now Hybrid.
Bruce Kaphan is easily recognized in the music industry since he began an early career as a studio technician, engineer and producer for many highly recognized artists in other genres and had either played a role with the recording production of their album or performed with artists such as REM, Jewel, The Black Crowes, Thomas Dolby, John Lee Hooker and a vast selection of popular musicians.
The list of popular artists Bruce has encountered as a musician and during his tenure as a recording artist is quite lengthy and will surprise you as it did me when you visit his website. During the early days while living in San Francisco he was also a member of Indie / Alternative band American Music Club plus his music has been featured on many film scores and television broadcasts.
Hybrid is his current album that I recently wrote a review about here at New Age Music World. The 12 original compositions show pedal steel guitar as an appealing choice while clearing a new path of creative improvisations in light ambience and emerges as a natural contender in the vast field of music.
Bruce Kaphan and his music is described below in my review quote, along with the song video of Oregon Fire from the Slider album. This is a nice selection of Bruce performing on pedal steel guitar behind a backdrop of beautiful photography by Nick O’Kelly. Visit brucekaphan.com website to sample / purchase his music or visit his CDBaby.com page. Read his biography page and view his collective discography page. Read my review of Hybrid on our page dedicated to Bruce Kaphan. Studio photo copyright Bruce Kaphan courtesy of James Saxon
Bruce Kaphan makes a bold statement on Slider and current Hybrid album which features pedal steel guitar as the primary instrument. You will find his music is a unique blending of unrivaled beauty freshly harvested from another cross section in the vast field of music. It quickly becomes apparent this new emerging beauty will remain a lasting entity in the world of music.
Bruce Kaphan | Leave a commentVisit New Age Music World
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