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

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.

Elysian Fields is Jon Richards’ first album on the MG Music label, and his third album total. This UK based artist has in the past released two albums on R Cat Record – named Pangea (2008) and Transmigration (2009). Jon is in many ways a perfect addition to MG Music, since he has “that gentle & warm sound” this label has become so famous for. Together with the skilled studio crew here I’m sure we have many Richards albums to look forward to.

The album’s opening is extremely strong; as a radio host I know that these first few songs are winners. I could play them all day long and not loose many listeners, and get many new ones too. Gates of the Sun is the first song, starting with a nice acoustic guitar and then larger-than-life strings. The melody is light and warm, inviting you into a comfortable dream world. All songs here are long, the shortest being the almost 7 minute album opener. In other words; you have plenty of time to discover this musical dream world. The second track is Asphodel Meadows, with its laid-back rhythm and wonderfully mystical atmosphere.

Elysian Fields is as magical and wonderful as the flying white horse on the CD cover.

BT Fasmer

I don’t know if Jon Richards composed Elysian Fields especially to MG Music, but the two part Tir Na Nog is very Medwyn Goodal-ish in its sound – à la Clan series or Druid – something that is sure to give Richards many new fans. It is highly melodic and the attention to details, like small songs within the song, is very well done. Part 2 is more dreamy and thoughtful.

The overall sound quality is very good, as one would expect from a sequenced album. Some of the main instruments are quite dated though, which perhaps will limit the albums success among some audiences, but for us analogue synth fans this is only positive.

Yes, this album sure is magical; just put on the 10 minute long Jade Emporer. It is fantasy storytelling in music. But the interesting part is that the album is dreamy without lulling the listener to sleep. It has quite fast rhythm and equally upbeat melodies, and its magic is all in the spellbinding atmospheres.

I can only say that Jon Richards has done an amazing job. Elysian Fields is one of this year’s finest releases. It is like magical treasure chest waiting for you to open it, again and again, filled with the most wonderful creatures your mind can create. Wow!

Sample the album om MG Music.

Photo copyright BigStockPhoto.com – Truelight

The albums are The Angel of the West Window and The Gate of Saturn. According to the Eastgate Shop:

THE ANGEL OF THE WEST WINDOW

“THE ANGEL OF THE WEST WINDOW” is a novel written in 1927 by Gustav Meyrink, steeped in alchemical, hermetic, occult and mystical imagery and ideas interweaving the life of Elizabethan Magus Dr John Dee with that of a fictional modern descendant, Baron Mueller. Highly complex, often confusing but also highly atmospheric, The Angel Of The West Window could be described as an occult thriller, mixing melodrama and elements of higher spiritual elements with exploration of some of the deepest occult and esoteric mysteries of the human soul. The last novel Meyrink wrote before he died. The Angel Of The West Window, it is regarded as, if not his most famous work (a claim usually made for his novel THE GOLEM), certainly his most ambitious and multi-layered.” Tangerine Dream has set the atmosphere as well as the deeper meaning of this novel into an unforgettable soundscape.

THE GATE OF SATURN

“The Gate of Saturn” is a new production out of Eastgate’s CUPDISC SERIES. On the occassion of Tangerine Dream’s Manchester concert at The Lowry on May 28th, the TD fans will get some brand-new sounds and tunes – including the new track THE GATE OF SATURN – as well as the very popular composition “VERNAL RAPTURE”, a track which could be heard so far only by members of the TDOC (Tangerine Dream Online Club). There will be only about 1500 CD’s manufactured – so it is pretty obvious that this one will become a collector’s item very soon.

As always, we are amazed of the creativity in the TD project. It is incredible that the oldest group in our genre is still the most active. But if you rather want to listen to TD albums from the 70s, please feel free NOT to check out the new albums

The brand new CDs can be ordered at The Eastgate Shop

Randy and Pamela Copus of 2002 have just released an exceptional new album titled Damayanti, which is centered on a mythical love story from the distant past. 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 soared among the clouds in an ascending flight of their own.

Many would agree the New Age Billboard charting 2002 music duo Randy and Pamela Copus are without a doubt, one of the finest musical groups producing music today. Their true to life popularity 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, equaling 270 weeks total on the New Age charts.

2002 was likewise featured in the December 2003 Magazine issue of Year in Review at Billboard by being listed right alongside several other top New Age artists you are sure to recognize including Enya, George Winston, Jim Brickman, Manheim Steamroller and Yanni. Sharing the airwaves and limelight at Billboard with other top music artists does ascertain their prominence and reputation as a chosen favorite for many people.

Damayanti by 2002 is on their recently introduced Galactic Playground Music label. The album has 10 opulent songs, and while it is not an immense departure from earlier albums, this bit of info should be taken as good news. You will find Damayanti reveals a wonderful change in tonal atmosphere which does make it stand out from earlier predecessors, plus and I imagine it to be another big hit on the airwaves.

Flight of the Swan is a moving and graceful piece by the free flowing guitar and flute melodies backed by light chorales and steady percussion rhythm. The serene piano and flute pairing in Challenge From Heaven is divine, while the imaginative flute and guitar arrangement in Cycle of Time, Destinies & Enduring Love equally broadcast the celestial elegance which personifies the complete 2002 music identity.

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. On this album however their daughter Sarah Copus sang some of the vocal parts.

Even now with their unending popularity and recognition, 2002 remains steadfast in their creative ambitions of producing quality orchestrations. Their close attention to instrumental and technical details during every album production seems to result in a complete reinvention of themselves every time, as is the case with their 2011 release Damayanti. Like any true to life story with a happy conclusion, I expect 2002 will continue to be a chosen favorite for many people in the years ahead, which should give Randy and Pamela Copus another reason to give pause, reflect, and to celebrate.

Visit the 2002music.com homepage and then sample / purchase or go to their Amazon.com page. 2002 recently produced an album with Marc Enfroy titled Unconditional, so read more on our pages for 2002 and Marc Enfroy.

Cover artwork courtesy Cindy Grundsten.

In fact, I had even earlier stated in my album review that Olympus has some of the finest orchestrations I have heard in recent memory, and his classic symphonic music with contemporary instrumentals backed by full percussion, is a music symphony that will stand the test of time. Like all of my reviews, there shouldn’t be any reading between the lines with that statement. Kelly has a second album with a night to day contrast in style titled Reflections.

Kelly Andrew is a great musician who is far from being a brand new composer since he is actually identified for creating a wide array of music having composed over 35 original singles, some of which were performed and recorded with the University of Colorado Choir.

One point I would like to make is that even if Olympus was his debut album, Kelly Andrew is a great composer too, well-seasoned with over 15 years of experience producing his individual style of music in a variety of influences. Some of his arrangements are expressions in New Age, Cinematic, Contemporary, Symphonic, Soundtrack, World music, and a wide range of original scores.

Reflections by Kelly Andrew really did surprise me after listening to this 11 song recording. Reflections is a second great album, but the surprise is most apparent in the way he composed the two albums. While his first has deep orchestrations and a bolder atmosphere, Reflections is an impressive contrast in style, and it is pretty clear his second album Reflections is even more aligned in the Cinematic or Soundtrack category.

The 11 songs are a selection of instrumental ensembles with Kelly Andrew on piano, keyboards and synthesizer. Aditional musicians are; Marcy Baruch (vocals) Randy Chavez (guitar) Christian Teele (percussion) Bijoux Barbosa (bass) Kailin Yong (violin) James Brody (oboe) Rachel Ellins (harp) and Rodney Garnett (flutes). There were also musicians from the Colorado Symphony Orchestra providing the strings section.

Reflections has a wonderful blending of New Age, Contemporary Instrumental, Symphonic music, and again commendable. Kelly Andrew’s change in direction has produced a second great album, and I would certainly recommend his first and second, with a third appreciable mention being the smooth transition in style conveyed by the artist himself.

Visit kelly-andrew.com to sample / purchase or visit his CDBaby.com page. Read our page dedicated to Kelly Andrew.

Album artwork by Kelly Andrew.

Here you can see pictures from the tour so far.

See also Domo Music´s Kitaro page

Now Eric is offering this song as a free download on his page and asking people to give a donation to the current Earthquake Fund Raising for Japan. All money collected will go to the Japanese Red Cross.

You find it all here. What a great initiative!!!

Liquid Mind

The album has three tracks. They are 10, 20 & 30 minutes in length, so you can choose how long you´ll be in Dreamland.

Liquid Mind music is widely used by music therapists and by both traditional and alternative healthcare providers.

In this stressed world, we all should listen to Liqid Mind. At least once a day.

Sample the album on RealMusic.

The titles are Sensory Engineering, Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness and Mapping the Transpersonal Dimension . They are at the moment website exclusive releases as the CD versions are not available yet.

I´m very happy with what I have heard so far. I like the rhythmic approach, and the tracks have the coolness of Buddha Lounge. I agree with this presentation:

This is music for true pychonauts; those who would dare to explore the depths of their own consciousness. For those who would take the journey beyond time and space, the rewards are great when Lodestone Resonator provides the soundtrack for your travels.

David and Steve Gordon

You can sample the albums on the Sequoia Records homepage, where the albums are available as MP3-releases.

It is interesting to see how the CD-format

But for Ken Elkinson this was not the case. His new release Music for Commuting fills 3 CDs, with 60 tracks in total! And it doesn’t stop there. A 20 track outtake CD will be released in early 2012. So needless to say; this is an artist with lots of melodies to share!

Each CD is divided into two, one part for each day. Disc 1 is a bit dark and reflective (that blue Monday feeling I guess), disc 2 is brighter, while the last one is futuristic and spacey (you got to love the weekends, right?). The first thing that you will notice when starting your voyage through Music for Commuting is just how rich this collection is; it is like a magic box filled with melodies and emotions. But the main thing here is sound design; all songs are between 3 and 4,50 minutes long, and give the impression of a carefully selected format – like a poet using the same number of lines in each poem. Indeed, Elkinson is a musical  poet, giving each day of the week a description is sound and atmospheres.

We know from the past that Elkinson is an excellent pianist. But is he as good on the synth? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Most elements are, according to Elkinson, done live with only a little editing. But what I find impressive is the melodies itself, the 3-4 minute long pieces of colorful art.

It is hard to pick favorite songs here, there are so many nice to choose from. But my favorite songs are in the dark Monday-department, like the melancholic Enigma and the somewhat lighter Plateau.

A very successful record manager I know says the main question to ask in music is; who is this album for? Who is the audience? (It would be too easy to say the commuter, of course.) Well, for one you need to enjoy analogue sounding synths. And you must be in need of relaxation music (who isn’t?) Music for Commuting is like a big box of music that will sound fresh and new every time you listen to it. That is this actually this release’s biggest achievement; very few things today seems genuinely original. This is undoubtedly an original release, with enough music to last for a whole week. With this in your ears the daily trip to work will seem a lot more colorful.

Sample the album on Ken Elkinson’s homepage. It is available on Amazon.

Picture copyright BigStockPhoto – Gorshivitz

Asher Quinn is a singer songwriter from the United Kingdom

Falling Through Time is the 2011 release which reintroduce his unique abilities as a splendid lyrical songwriter and vocalist without rival. Possessing the heart and mind of a true poet, Asher assimilates his rare abilities and divine lyrical aptitude directly into his melodic love songs, which often exemplify a spiritual atmosphere. To me, his lyrical ballads of praise and adoration, for which he has become famous, are highly prized by their gentle and forthright emotive charm.

Asher Quinn, who released his first New Age chart-topping album Open Secret back in 1987, followed with other chart-topping releases Mystic Heart, Wings of Fire & Concert of Angels, under the name first of Denis Quinn, and then Asha. Some of his compositions have been used in film soundtracks, and with over half a million album sales to his credit, Asher Quinn continues to be a popular and incomparable one of a kind artist in the New Age music genre.

Falling Through Time features 9 original compositions, 6 traditional ballads and a cover version of This little bird first made famous by Marianne Faithfull, and was recorded and co-produced with sound engineer Shaun Britton at his studio in Fareham, Hampshire, UK. On this album, Asher delivers lead vocals and contributing artists include Kristian Biddiss on lead and Spanish guitars, along with supporting female vocalists Jaba and Jimena Larraguivel.

Asher Quinn’s music is released on his new independent Singing Stone Music record label. In addition, song lyrics for the CD album are printed in a handsome cover booklet, plus lyrics for every release are available on his website lyrics page. Two of my favorite songs from Asher are Free Yourself & Love’s Philosophy.

While love songs and folk ballads have been a source of creative inspiration for popular musicians in a variety of genres, this is a rarity concerning artists within the New Age music category. In every respect, Asher Quinn’s newest album continues his enduring legacy for producing top quality music in a wide variety of styles, which brings forth a newfound sense of admiration for his compositions you will indeed find glorious and inspiring.

Visit asherquinn.co.uk to sample / purchase or at his CDBaby.com page. Then visit his official YouTube Channel .

Cover artwork courtesy Emoke Labancz – emokelabancz.com.

Ritchie Blackmore & Candice Night are the Grammy Nominated, award winning musicians that make up the core essence of Blackmore’s Night and 7 member troupe on Autumn Sky, who wear renaissance attire of centuries past while performing at concerts, fairs, and festival events.

Ritchie Blackmore is a legendary guitar player who has made progressive transitions in music having been a long standing band member of Deep Purple and then founder of the band Rainbow. Candice Night is an instrumentalist and the group’s songwriter, whose voice and lyrical point of view is one of enchantment while singing in the forefront on Blackmore’s Night albums.

Blackmore’s Night 2011 release Autumn Sky accentuates these elegant vocals delivered by Candice, along with both ancient and modern instrumental fanfare for which they are famous. Here you will find more traditional instruments of keyboards, violin, woodwinds, acoustic and electric guitars are melded with old-world instruments like hurdy-gurdy, chanters, mandolin, vintage percussions, and woodwinds.

The international success for Blackmore’s Night is not a fairy tale. The exclusive musical focus they have engraved for themselves has resulted in an enormous following in North America, South America, Europe and Japan. Their melodies have gained crossover prosperity by the enchanting lyrical vocals and fascinating instrumental music that often contains metrical structures dating back to the seventeenth century.

Blackmore’s Night prior album Secret Voyage is another recent achievement, likewise debuting at #1 on the Billboard New Age Chart where it remained for four consecutive weeks. In addition Secret Voyage continued to remain on Billboard’s Top 10 Chart for a remarkable 72 weeks. Secret Voyage is another great album with a more mystical feel. The song Rainbow Eyes, which is one of my favorites, is a fine version of an earlier cover song from the band Rainbow.

Charting on Billboard is a good way to measure the accomplishments of any group, but what makes Blackmore’s Night a true winner is their consistent ability to create transcending music which varies with every album they produce. This renaissance inspired band which transports progressive music into contemporary times is a model for success. Past, present and future.

Blackmore’s Night touring band consists of Ritchie Blackmore, Candice Night, Bard David of Larchmont, Gypsy Rose, Earl Grey of Chimay, Squire Malcolm of Lumley and Albert Danneman. Note; Blackmore’s Night has been listed in the top 10 on Billboard’s New Age chart for the past 8 consecutive weeks.

Visit blackmoresnight.com to sample / purchase or visit their Amazon.com page. Check the latest news and tour dates then visit candicenight.com for more info on this amazing group of musicians. 

Cover art courtesy Jeff Pickett-Pickett Productions.

This “David Arkenstone-year” starts off with Celtic Journeys: A David Arkenstone Celtic Collection. And as we know from before, David is a master of the special medieval Celtic sound. We have seen this time and time again (lastly in Celtic Sanctuary from 2006). In this collection we get both classics (like Harry’s Game and She Moved Through The Fair). There are also original songs by David Arkenstone, like the gorgeous chill-out song Call of the Sea.

The new David Arkenstone release is fresh, relaxing and with his usual attention to sound quality.

Sample it at Amazon or your favorite digital music outlet.

They are The Island of the Fay – Edgar Allan Poe and Booster IV. The last one continues in the good tradition from Booster I-3 with some old and many new songs too. And the Edgar Allan Poe-album seems very interesting indeed!

This work is the beginning of a new series by Tangerine Dream: EASTGATE’S SONIC POEM SERIES. EDGAR ALLAN POE definitely is worth a start, a novelist who long enough has been labelled as dark, mysterious and gloomy only – Poe was more than that – a true visionary. Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The ISLAND OF THE FAY’ has been set to music by Edgar and Thorsten in a very exciting, dynamic and partly experimental way – a new violinist sets her maverick accents with electric sounds. It’s the art of breathing life into a tale through strong music. Enjoy this true masterpiece of finest Tangerine Dream music – we don’t promise too much….PS: You will find the whole but short tale of THE ISLAND OF THE FAY within the booklet! Enjoy reading but above all: enjoy listening!!

See the track list here.

BOOSTER IV:

The BOOSTER series goes on! BOOSTER IV is in the same tradition as you already know from Booster I+II+III – a compilation of former cupdisc tracks, many new tracks and some older tracks with a new livery. Some tracks you will definitely be familiar with, others are completely fresh and surprising. BOOSTER IV will be especially for those a delicacy who missed out the PURPLE DILUVIAL cupdisc which ran out of stock rather quickly in 2008, all three tracks ‘Babylon the great has Fallen’, ‘Armageddon in the Rose Garden Part II’ and ‘Purple Diluvial 2010′ (re-recorded version) are on this compilation. Enjoy another acoustic highlight maybe in your car, on your mp3 player, in your bath tub or wherever you prefer listening to a genuine and timeless piece of music from Tangerine Dream.

See the track list here.

Note that the first 100 incoming orders will be participating at a TOMBOLA WITH THREE SURPRISE PRIZES!!! DRAWING RESULTS: 20 MARCH 2011. Shipping starts on this date too.

We will of course return with reviews and comments as soon as the albums are out. It is always great to be a TD fan!!

French Director & Producer Michel Guimbard was kind enough to share some production details with us. He says: ”I made Sadeness video clip in 1991. The girl I found for the video was very young (17 years old, way back in then) Her name is Cathy Tastet. (Also known as Kati Tastet, born in Toulouse France on January 01, 1973) After the video, she became an Elite Model in the USA. Director of Photography of the film was Jérôme Robert. I wrote the story of the film. Shooting Ratio of the music video of Sadeness was 1.33 (4:3) “”The gate in the video was inspired by Auguste Rodin’s ”La Porte de l’Enfer” (The Gates of Hell).

Read the whole article here. And below you can enjoy the classical Enigma video.

Chris Green: You have produced more than 120 (?) albums, an enviable catalogue of different writing styles ranging from upbeat to meditational, South American, Pagan, Celtic, Mystical and electronic. Do you have any warm-up routines or rituals to create the right mood before you start writing?

Medwyn Goodall: I let an idea sit with me for a long time, up to 2 years sometimes. I research the concept and find out about it. I consider how a project might flow, what the choice of instruments would be and do I have such sounds available. If I don’t then I have to go on a search for the right sounds. When I feel everything is in place and the timing simply feels right, an album usually happens instinctively.

Read the complete interview here

With Every Breath – Medwyn Goodall & Aroshanti, with Runestone

Medwyn Goodall master of the panpipes performs alongside Aroshanti master of the Shaku flute, as they duel and share soaring, haunting solo’s to a mystical backdrop created and produced by Runestone. This is a rare opportunity to hear expressive performances of these wonderful wind instruments.

Sample the album here.

Elysian Fields – Jon Richards

Jon Richards is a debut artist. The CD is fresh, inspiring, filled with magic, clever rhythms and exciting layers. Eleysian Fields draws you in and takes you on a journey of relaxing wonder, like a daydream you hope never ends.

“Elysian Fields” weaves a unique musical tapestry which binds all our ancient beliefs together. An escape to your own paradise lies within…

Sample the album here.

TAO – Aroshanti

Yet another beautiful album from Aroshanti. In this performance you can lose yourself in its stillness and absolute grace.

Zen Buddhism, Tao is ‘The Way’ with Buddha-nature and Buddha-mind. Tao, or Dao,
is the sense and expression of the natural balance between opposites. It is soft and quiet
but immensely powerful. It is the Tao that keeps the universe balanced and ordered.

Translated literally as ‘The Way’ or ‘The Path’, Tao is a name for the eternally nameless,
for the fabric out of which all things in the universe are made and from which all universal
energies flow. Like a river that never runs dry, the Tao endlessly replenishes itself.

Sample the album here.

Sleepy Time – Midori

Specially created for children and babies. The music is wonderfully melodic, serene and gentle using soft tones and sounds that harmonically induce and encorage sleep and a peacful state of being. There are two tracks of continuous music so that the there is no break or pause in the atmosphere created. A perfect solution to entertain an infant and help a hard working mum or dad.

Yes, 2011 has had a good start on MG Music! Sample the album here.

This is a good example of how new storage media can be used to give us, the fans, even more interesting material. It is the music business’ equivalent of extra material on DVDs – which is always welcome for the true fan.

Members of Peter Buffett’s Ning forum have already had the chance to listen to the 15 songs as they were produced and uploaded by the artist. The music Peter creates today is more in the pop genre than in new age music, but I’m sure old fans too will enjoy his new vocal style. Peter is, as always, an artist with a message. He is not afraid to sing about injustice and social problems.

You can see the USB track listing here – and be sure to check out the Ning forum too! And while talking about Peter, we must recommend his recent book Life is what you make it. A very inspiring read!

Moondancer is the conclusive result in his highly imaginative Dancer Trilogy Series, reaching a point where it couldn’t get any better than what I have heard so far with the first two. Then again, it becomes clear Steve reaches for the stars on the rhythmic dancer series featuring earthly qualities of rain, sun and moon elements.

Steve Orchard from Bristol, England is quite masterful at producing electronic instrumental music composed with improvised mood sensations and a progressive repertoire of lively rhythms. If you have read our interview or earlier album reviews you know that Steve Orchard is a prolific singer songwriter having composed and performed original music for many years on guitar, mandolin, and harmonica, various skin drums, piano and keyboards. His music was featured on BBC Radio, film scores, local radio jingles, plus Steve was a band member in 100’s of concert venues and a recognized soloist in South West & London England during the 1990′s.

Drawing inspiration from the natural environment, Steve’s first in series Raindancer is based in a tropical soundscape where beautiful South American rhythms are explored with flutes, panpipes, acoustic guitars, keyboards percussion, and a wonderful array of elements by synthesizer.

Sundancer is an emblematic second album in Steve Orchard’s Trilogy Series, and like the first album, the second reflects rare qualities of relaxing yet energetic melodies that I felt achieve universal appeal. In fact the energetic symmetry, illuminating atmosphere and Island music impression did help propel Sundancer to the eighth award winning position in our NewAgeMusic.nu Best Albums Awards for 2010.

Moondancer is the twilight and glowing counterpoint keeping well in contrast to the first two albums, but I do want to point out that Moondancer is far from being a boring or lull you to sleep album. Here again you will find radiant melodic imagery right beside a natural and reposeful atmosphere, and this is where an emphasis on the dancer suffix comes into play.

Counting Stars begins the twilight sequence of the series with a light keyboard melody set in a deeper background and like Apollo’s Return, mysterious imagery is not the prevalent consequence with this first song, or the entire album as a whole. Moondancer is carried out with a deeper contrast in style as the moon prefix implies, yet is very complimentary to the first two albums sunnier atmosphere so you will find this album preserves many of the same rhythmic qualities which are an integral part of the entire dancer series.

The three songs Phases & Tides, Nebula and Grimaldis Comet help make the distinction clear since bongo drums and other percussion enhancements gently counterbalance deeper keyboard tones, infusing shades of light which in turn introduce a more illuminating atmosphere. The soft flute melody in moderately timed Nocturne creates an interesting contrast when combined with the twinkling effect by keyboard. Lost Contact has a deep futuristic feel by the dreamy keyboard and synthesizer tones while Earth Glue adheres to the counterbalance theme by a wood flute melody with percussion woodblock, but intermittent chanting does convey a strong tribal influence too.

NewAgeMusic.nu & NewAgeMusicWorld.com feature many outstanding musicians who are all are capable of producing mood elevating music to either help you relax and unwind, brighten your day or even inspire you by notes that seem to dance. The Dancer Trilogy Series from Steve Orchard is an all-inclusive colorful kaleidoscope of vibrant melodies, and this latest is no exception. It is lively music rhythms in step with a wonderful radiant design.

Visit steveorchardmusic.co.uk to sample / purchase the album or visit MG Music to sample / purchase and then read our interview and album reviews on our pages dedicated to Steve Orchard.

Moondancer cover design copyright David Orchard. Big Stock Photo – mpemberton.