New Catalogue from Real Music
The friendly folks at Real Music have a lot of exciting news in store for us this fall! First I will draw your attention to their brand new catalogue, which you can download as a zipped PDF-file (filesize 27 MB). Here you can browse their nice selection of current albums. They have an excellent selection of meditation and relaxation titles.
There are two titles that are just out:
Mike Howe is back with the album Round River. Here is a presentation of this album:
Round River takes its name from Aldo Leopold’s metaphor for ecology of the mythical river that was not linear but circular, forever flowing around and back into itself. Welsh national park ecologist Mike Howe is inspired by the never-ending circle of Nature to compose beautiful, heartfelt guitar melodies helping to foster a world in which the things that grow are love, spirituality, creativity, community, sustainable living and the healing of the Earth.
And then it is Buedi Siebert that is taking us on a trip to the Great Pyramid!
Within the resonant chambers of the Great Pyramid lies the ancient wisdom that guided its mysterious creation. Masterful musician Buedi Siebert experienced a profound trance state within the King’s Chamber and playing an extensive range of instruments, captured the immense power of the pyramid’s sacred voice on this recording made within it. An exquisite hour of listening and, if you’re receptive, access to the inner sanctum of a global treasure.
Do yourself a favor and check out these fine titles.
New Product from MG Music
MG Music is introducing a new product range, which is an alternative to downloading and buying Cd’s. Here is a photo of the USB flash memory sticks which come pre-loaded with the music of your favorite MG Music artist.
The USB is a 1 GB flash stick and contains high quality Mp3s. It also has the MG Music logo on it. The USB will load into any computer, and the mp3s can be transferred to laptops, ipods, or you can burn your own audio CD.
We here at .nu think that it is very exciting that MG Music is trying out new ways to sell and distribute music. Even though we think (read: KNOW) that the future is digital downloads, there is plenty of room for physical products too. The CD will not die entirely, and a custom made USB Stick is also a nice product – and a welcome gift - too.
Read about the USB product here.
On the Road with Nawang Khechog
Peter Kater has posted an interesting blog post called “On the Road with Nawang Khechog” – where he tells about his latest tour with the talented Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog.
I think it is so nice when a new age music superstar like Kater uses the blog format to communicate with fans – much like J. M. Jarre and Peter Buffett. Make sure to bookmark it! You’ll find it here.
Acoustic Ocean in Reflections on Still Water
Acoustic Ocean has just released a fine new follow up to their debut album release Light Returning and like many of the relaxing destinations of Hawaii where the musicians reside and the song titles suggest, becomes a restful retreat into music that tells of the natural beauty one would experience on the islands for themselves.
Since the founding team members of Acoustic Ocean are skilled therapists and all 4 performers on the album live in Hawaii, their unique perspective with daily experiences of island living have helped recreate the relaxing atmosphere for you.
Reflections on Still Water is a New Age, Contemporary Instrumental album retaining a great sense of calm by 9 original compositions and 1 spiritual melody of instrumental beauty that is clearly prominent from the very beginning.
Peggy Morgan and Bette Phelan, as the former folk singer-songwriting duo Morgan & Phelan, toured together for 20 years performing in the US and abroad at a wide variety of venues which numbers in the thousands. Over the past two decades as a duo their music has been featured on television along with aquiring widespread radio airplay, receiving many awards and notoriety over the years together before founding the New Age artist title we recognize today.
The year 2008 first marked the beginning of Acoustic Ocean and while the genre may have changed, their style in creating original works of relaxing music has fortunately remained constant.
Peggy and Bette are both certified Kripalu Yoga teachers, therapists and have specialized skills in many areas related to stress management so their better living skills enabled a well suited entrance into the New Age genre. On this album the team has enlisted Kay Aldrich playing cello on 3 songs and Anne Berliner on flute in 1 song which turns their wonderful instrumentation into another perspective of beauty.
The album cover shown in Reflections on Still Water gives you a visual hint of the elemental beauty you will hear, plus with the primary instrumentals of Celtic harp, Dulcimer, mandolin, acoustic guitar and fretless bass, the mental images of this restful destination reflect an even clearer picture, translating into a relaxing sound experience all within easy reach of the imagination.
Visit acousticoceanmusic.com to sample / purchase or their CDBaby.com page. Learn more about this team at their morganandphelan.com website.
Cover photo copyright Bette Phelan
New Clifford White album next week
Clifford White’s new album will be released next week. The theme & title is Atlantis.
Go here to sample the album.
After listening to the samples, I can say that Clifford White’s fans has a lot to look forward to.
Here is a presentation of the album:
The enduring mystery of a lost advanced civilisation is brought back to life in this epic musical adventure by Clifford White. Sweeping and majestic, powerful and rhythmic, ATLANTIS voyages back in time to revisit the ancient Atlanteans and explore their myths and legends in an awe-inspiring journey guaranteed to surprise, dazzle and astound. Filled to the brim with Clifford’s own heady mix of powerful symphonic and electronic world music fusion, ATLANTIS will delight fans of Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre.
And here is the album art:
New Album from Peter Kater soon
We have already told you that Peter Kater will release a new album in September.
Now we can tell you the name of the album and show you the album art! The title is as beautiful as the cover artwork; it is Call of Love.
I almost can’t wait a month for this to be released!
Follow Peter Kater on Facebook – or his homepage.
Gunnar Madsen by his own Two Hands
Some young adults begin their early working careers by taking whatever job is at hand and find the road to success. Some hope to achieve the road to success when handed the family business. Either decision requires talent and determination of course, but the universal message often heard about either choice is to always have your individual hopes and dreams.
Gunnar Madsen from Berkley California has achieved an impressive level of success most would hope for at this stage of his bright career. You can visit his website to learn all about his career choices through the years and I feel his grand success as a Grammy Nominated pianist and award winning composer, singer, writer, sound designer, filmmaker and actor are career decisions that might have even impressed his family.
Two Hands is the New Age, Cinematic Piano, Instrumental 2010 release from Gunnar Madsen and eighteenth CD he has produced. This album is a more especial and innermost portrayal of his musical works in relation to his earlier compositions with the a capella group he founded called The Bobs. His first solo album Spinning World is a closer likeness with Two Hands, in a uniquely diverse discography that includes award winning family CDs, an Epic Orchestral recording and even a pop art Rock album titled The Power of a Hat.
The recipient of countless music and theatre awards, his Grammy Nomination was for a song arrangement by The Beatles and has received ASCAP Awards for 15 consecutive years, plus his music is featured in some episodes of the widely popular HBO series Sex and the City and films Breaking the Rules, A Special Providence, The Break Up & Just a Kiss. Gunnar Madsen also does voiceovers, providing the film voice for Don Cheatle when he portrayed Sammy David Jr. in the Emmy Award winning HBO film The Rat Pack and this is just a partial listing of many credits during his career so far.
Two Hands was recorded at the industry regarded Skywalker Sound Studio and includes 16 songs total. Three songs have contrasting instrumentals where notable guest violinist Irene Sazer, a member of the improvisational Jazz and Classical group Turtle Island String Quartet lends her elegant expressions.
The first violin portrayal by Irene Sazer on Kerenyl is more subtle while gently tracing the melodic depth on strings as Gunnar leads on piano. Ordinary Day & Red Bird make a beautiful piano and string duet from the pair, extending the symmetrical harmony on each song while interblending into a narrative full of melodic drama.
Solo Piano ballads of Cinematic proportions are the sequential songs where Gunnar reveals the innermost reflections of his work and in a manner of classic distinction. Outlined with a conceptual feeling of depth, some of the more melodramatic and intriguing phrasing performed on songs like Nino and Me, Down Moon & South Trail are offered with a personalized touch.
Frank Grows Flowers responds with an upbeat tempo and imaginative runs while dancing along the piano keys in every measure and the lighter reflective moments, yet none the less expressive songs The Blackbird Whistling, Brandon & Oak Sky are more introspective in their structuring.
Break into Blossom begins with a lighter metrical sway and soon unfolds into bolder imagery by exploring a more robust presentation of greater intensity before returning into restful state of contentment and has a resemblance in style with In These Lonely Regions & Down Moon, given the more pronounced dynamics of diminuendo and crescendo variances.
Much like the memoir notes on the inside album cover detailing each composition, Gunnar Madsen traces every song on Two Hands with a gifted accounting of his diverse imagination while delivering a beautiful finger to key statement and like the valuable reward of success that is never just handed to anyone, it all began from the talent and determination of an individual who started with and continues to have, hopes and dreams.
Visit gunnarmadsen.com to sample / purchase or visit his CDBaby.com page. You can also purchase at Amazon, iTunes and most music outlets. Read more about Gunnar Madsen on his biography page.
Picture copyright BigStockPhoto – jocelynbaker
The New MG Music Forum
After popular forum host Ning started taking fees – quite high fees to be exact – New Age Music Circle have decided to stay at Ning and ask users for a membership fee – while MG Music has taken another route; to host the forum themselves, just like before the Ning period.
At August 20th the forum will be shut down permanently on Ning, moving to http://mgmusic.creative-herts.co.uk/network/ All users of the old forum must go to the above address and re-reregister.
To me the new forum looks very promising, and hopefully the many new users will join the discussion too!
Cretu and the Samurai
When looking at the Enigma discography it is easy to overlook Michael Cretu’s solo works. Even though his early LPs are mostly labeled as pop, there is plenty here for the Enigma fan – or any new age music fan for that matter – to enjoy.
Michael Cretu (born 1957) debuted as an artist in 1979 with the album Moon, Lights and Flowers after having received education in classical music – but deciding that synth music was his “thing”. His second album came in 1983, called Legionare. Here mostly German music fans got to hear Michael’s impressive keyboard and composition skills. Singing was never his strongest card, but he was a decent singer in the 80s and the early Enigma period.
His third album is called The Invisible Man (1985), which I will review in this article. I find this to be a very elegant album, with beautiful and heartfelt synth melodies, some with that emotional depth that made Enigma into such a winner 5 years later – in 1990.
The Invisible Man album is the very first sign of what eventually would become Enigma.
BT Fasmer
Note that there is also a German version available of this album – which is ready for playback in many music on demand services. This version is called Die Chinesische Mauer, and has German lyrics and a different track listing. But it is basically the same album.
The English version starts with the international hit Samurai. Cretu’s synth work and singing are here at their very best. The lyrics are perhaps a bit too enigmatic, yes, but the opening song has that rare groove that also made Sandra’s Maria Magdalena – produced by Cretu – into such a winner in the same period. It is simply a great pop song with an unusual and dramatic backdrop. This is not “baby, I love you” pop – just the way we Enigma fans like it.
With that tour-de-force of a first song out of the way, the album moves on with the song Carte Blanche. This is a slower, more thoughtful piece, a perfectly composed synth melody. Talking of synths; it must be said that the album sounds somewhat dated, but that will not stop a new age music fan. Never.
Silver Water is a refreshing song. Even though Michael’s singing is very loud, almost to the point of screaming at some parts, the song as a total is very well balanced.
Another truly beautiful song is track four, Your favorite toy. Here the lyrics are just as important as the music, telling the sad story of a toy. The German title is, translated, Tin soldier.
The album is in many ways divided into three. I have commented the first part above. The second part is the three songs Intro, Mikado and Coda. And this is the very first signs of what eventually would become Enigma. These tracks have deep synth pads, a heart-like rhythm and strong melodic elements; the very fingerprint of Cretu’s later masterworks. My only objection to this part of the album is that it is too short; it is only about five minutes long. These three tracks are, by the way, the intro to the German album.
The song Heavy Traffic is as relevant today as back in 1985; “Heavy traffic / Never ending / Spitting poison in the air / Metal river, who’s pretending / you’ll never get me there”.
The album ends with the title song. The Invisible Man is a track with a magnificent trumpet solo and a very satisfying build-up. It reminds of later Enigma masterworks such as Out of the Deep and Return to Innocence.
The Invisible Man album is only 33 minutes long, originally meant for LP and cassette formats, but it is a short album not to be missed. And note that this is not only for fans of 80s synth music – but for all fans of great pop/new age. The Invisible Man is an early example of the genius that in time would sell many million albums – and get just as many fans.
The album is available everywhere, from iTunes to your local CD store.
Interview with Peter Buffett on Fox News
Fox News has posted a video interview with Peter Buffett. Topic is of course his recent book, music – and of course – money. See the interview here.
Interview with Steve Orchard
Steve Orchard is our interview guest today at NewAgeMusic.nu & NewAgeMusicWorld.Com and we welcome our visitors and Steve’s fans to read the recent interview John Olsen has prepared with this outstanding musician. We invite everyone to learn even more on our pages dedicated to Steve Orchard.
John : Thank You for sharing a moment of your time with us today Steve. B.T. Fasmer and I appreciate this opportunity and I am certain your fans are excited to have this chance to find out more about you too. Steve, would you provide a timeline description of your music studies beginning with your earliest introduction to the present ?
Steve Orchard : Yes, Well I probably go back to piano lessons at 7 years old and then combining guitar lessons at 8. My one fault would be that I have always been an impatient, inquisitive player of various musical instruments always wanting to discover how things worked quickly and then improvise. As my Father would say, “Jack of all trades and master of none”.
I played a pretty mean trumpet in the school band and enjoyed singing in the church choir. My family was very musical. I had an aunt who was a piano teacher. When she regularly visited us, from Birmingham, she would want to hear my progress. She once nearly keeled over when I produced the sheet music for What a Day for a Daydream by The Lovin’ Spoonful ! Outrageous !!!
One side of the family were very properly trained with piano & violin playing and into classical and show tunes, whereas my other granddad was a pub pianist. He ‘vamped’ and ‘boogiewoogied’ his stuff and played harmonica at Christmas parties…. It was hilarious when I think back. It seemed to me that he was more joyous in his approach to music. It’s a belief I still hold today that made me a little rebellious in my approach to making my own music. At an early age I bent a wire coat hanger so I could play harmonica & guitar at the same time, just like Dylan & Donovan. It only resulted in me nearly losing an eye and breaking a tooth. I was the school ‘show-off’ doing plays & pantomimes and guess I fancied a career in something to do with the performing arts. Like most kids I was influenced by the pop of that generation.
I was into that ‘Hippy’ thing and meditated, burnt incense and read a lot of Buddhism….
Steve Orchard
In my teens I enjoyed the diversity of progressive rock, like Yes & The Moody Blues, also the gentle folksy guitar melodies of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, plus the piano troubadours Billy Joel & Elton John & also, the early electronic sounds of Tomita & Mike Oldfield. I was into that ‘Hippy’ thing and meditated, burnt incense and read a lot of Buddhism…. Took myself a bit too seriously! I was a bit of a ‘geek’ and lived for my music writing little tunes with terrible pretentious lyrics from about 15, spotty, years old.
John : You are a member of the Medwyn Goodall circle of friends as a MG Music label artist. Can you tell us some of your experiences as a member and what it is like to be a MG Label artist ?
Steve Orchard : I first heard Medwyn Goodall’s Druid in the July of 1991, in an art gallery in St. Ives Cornwall. It just blew me away and couldn’t put it in any category that I recognized. It was more than music… It was an awesome soundscape and I just knew that it fit me like a glove. I bought it instantly from the gallery on cassette, to play on my ‘state of the art’ Walkman!! When I returned from my holiday I bought it again from New World, on CD. And so began a long period of buying up anything to do with Medwyn Goodalls music.
My wife Julie & I started to correspond with Medwyn and he graciously autographed all our CD’s. He was very open and quite funny. I’ve kept everything he ever sent me, every doodle and every ditty, including all the Christmas cards ( worth a fortune on Ebay …. only joking ) In our early letters ( this was before emails ) I never told Medwyn that I was a musician, thinking that he may feel I was “chasing my own ambitions”…. unthinkable I know but musicians have been known to do it !!! ha ha ha
I think I broke the news very humbly, without wanting to sound ‘pushy’ and tarnish this rather lovely correspondence that we were enjoying. He invited me to send anything anytime …. WELL !!! Boy, did I send him some rubbish, poor guy. 
I hadn’t found my NEW AGE feet yet and although I enjoyed this new genre, I couldn’t quite capture it in my own compositions. He was my mentor, DEFINITELY. He guided me, no doubt, to where I am today. After a few stumbles, falls, and many experimental tracks, I sent a track called Lull in The Storm from something I was working on called The Consequences of Kisses album. He invited me to produce a new project for MG Music !!!
You can imagine that this was a dream come true. To be working for the man that I had held in such high esteem for so many years. I soon discovered the family at MG Music is a wonderful bunch and all the other artists swap ideas and tips generally between us. The amazing Paul Sills soon became a great friend & Charmaine, his wife & Meina, his daughter, travelled down to spend an enjoyable weekend with us. We had discussions late into the night and played each other’s new or experimental tracks whilst the rest of the world slept.
I realize how unpretentious and genuine all the MG artists are. Chris Green and I talk on the phone regularly ( very clever & funny guy ) then Simon Lovelock & Clifford White have spent ‘time out’ to critique and give ‘sound’ advice, both brilliant technicians of the art. In the past I have found musicians to be very protective and guarded with their work but not here. The wonderful thing is, we are all so different and diverse yet all the same family, producing a vast mix of choices within the same genre, all under the safe and knowledgeable direction of the man himself, Medwyn Goodall. Be warned budding New Age composers, he will not accept second best on his label.
John : In your own words Steve, how would you best describe your music and what are the main components that uniquely sets your music apart from not only MG label artists, but so many other New Age musicians ?
Steve Orchard : My music almost always originates from a guitar base and is then transcribed onto keyboards. I find the guitar a comfortable friend that I can embrace quietly without any sense of rushing to ‘lay down’ on paper or in the studio. Sometimes I live with a melody for months before it develops into a workable phrase or shape.
I have a terrible bad habit of not documenting tracks I have recorded. I have folders, in my studio, bursting with hastily scribbled chords and lyrics…. Someday I may return to them for inspiration, that’s if I can decipher them, but I hate going back. I prefer to always look forward with my writing. In the making of Raindancer I did a lot of research into the South American rainforest and I story boarded ideas & concepts onto the walls of my studio. Another strict rule I have is I never ever go into the studio unless I am in a happy, contented mood. I like to think that when you listen to a Steve Orchard album that, my positive optimism shines through. Sundancer was almost entirely written in my garden during the summer of 2009. It’s sunnier than a ripe melon !!! As Medwyn says, it has lots of energy & warmth. I think his buzz word for the album was ENERGY !!
John : During the early years in Bristol your music was played on BBC Radio and utilized in music scores for various media programming. In what ways has your music been featured ?
Steve Orchard : It seems like a life time ago now but in the 70′s I was in a very popular duo of the time called Mossy, with musical partner Barry Webb ( he’ll be pleased I mentioned his name. ) We played a residency in the cellar bar, at the notorious Bristol Arts Centre. It was a mixture of folk covers and our own written ‘offerings’. We earned a lot of respect locally and had a loyal following amongst the local artists, musicians & regional TV personalities ( I seem to remember being invited and attending a lot of crazy parties ) We were also good ‘fodder’ for the colleges and festivals. At that time we did 3 half hour shows for BHBS radio which led to a spot on BBC’s Friday Folk Nights. BHBS were still playing the jingle we did for them up until a few years ago ( probably when the tape finally disintegrated ) We had a lot of fun but mutually called it a day in 1980 when we both had growing family’s. We remain great buddies.
Unbelievable now with all this technology, that I sent out my first demos on ‘spool’ tape. Perhaps most ended up in the bin but one hit home and I was invited up to Apple’s old offices in St. James Street London for an interview/audition. They gave me a good look over and I felt optimistic but, sadly nothing ever became of it. I still have the letter though, dated 6th September 1972 and at the bottom are the printed names of the two directors…. Yes, you guessed, J O Lennon & G Harrison. In the ’90′s I was asked to do the incidental music for ‘Star Runners’. It was a short promotional sci-fi film directed by Andrew Dymond who, I believe, went on to produce ‘Star Hyke’ which was sold to American TV. I wrote about an hour’s worth of instrumental music but only half of it finally reached the finished movie….. My son Daniel & I had a lot of fun going on an all night shoot for the film, eating Mars Bars and drinking Coca Cola all night to stay awake!! The studio day was also fun where we recorded my work, with the help of a prehistoric sequencer, onto video tape and mini disc ( very nostalgic ) Later, with the advent of Channel 5′s birth I was asked by an agent to go up to their TV studios in London to perform one of my own compositions for a forth coming daytime TV show, which I did….. The day flew by in a blur and all I can remember is the hideous cost of car parking on the Tottenham Court Road…. Scandalous !!!
… and I was invited up to Apple’s old offices in St. James Street London for an interview/audition. They gave me a good look over and I felt optimistic but, sadly nothing ever became of it. I still have the letter though, dated 6th September 1972 and at the bottom are the printed names of the two directors…. Yes, you guessed, J O Lennon & G Harrison.
Steve Orchard
John : You were a band member earlier in life and in addition, widely recognized as a soloist in South West & London England during the 1990’s. Could you tell us about this time period of events you experienced and I just imagine there are some good stories you could tell everyone ?
Steve Orchard : Blimey… How long have we got ? I worked a lot. Mainly covers for the pubs, clubs, hotels and summer seasons at holiday parks. I also did gigs for Army & Navy bases. If you are into performance then it is an incredible apprenticeship. You learn a lot about audiences. I spent 8 consecutive New Years Eve’s away from my wife & kids entertaining 1000′s of drunken party people. When the nights success relies on only YOU…. that’s quite a responsibility ( oh and the bingo & raffle ) I performed all over the South West with 3 nighters in London gigs sleeping in theatrical digs above a pub (not something I can recommend) It’s like an athlete. You build up muscles. You know when to be funny and when to keep your mouth shut!! ( Did I mention I did stand-up ? Don’t do it if you want to retain your sanity ha ha ha !!! )
I’ve known great musicians who were lousy entertainers and great entertainers who were rubbish musicians. In 2001 I realized that this was not what I wanted to do anymore. I wanted to return to my roots which was writing & recording. It was in my heart and the only way I could ‘look at myself in the mirror’ as a serious musician. Continually gigging, performing other people’s material makes you slightly morose and can leave your creative side sadly lacking. True, I do miss the adrenalin rush of an audience but what I do now feels right for me and hopefully my audience is out there still enjoying my performance.
John : Recently I wrote a review for Raindancer and have made plans to review Sundancer & Moondancer when released. Could you tell us more about your Dancer Trilogy and what each individual album illustrates ?
Steve Orchard : Yes, they are companions to each other. I hope my listener/audience hear Raindancer and think, ” Wow! I liked that I’d like to taste some more of that.” Raindancer is very jungle/tribal with some twists and turns in its rhythm’s. I had this picture in my mind of cutting ones way through dense foliage to find a clearing populated by remote civilizations ( does that sound crazy ? ) The indigenous animals and fauna were all playing a part in my composing. Raindancer is where I discovered my New Age capabilities. With the generous direction of Medwyn, I am proud of this album. Sundancer, as I mentioned is all about energy. Islands in the sun and deep tropical seas yet cooling sounds in the midday heat. Rhythms play a big part of this album also and will make people want to move and children dance. My youngest son David is a gifted illustrator having produced many published children’s books has preliminarily designed both, Sundancer & Moondancer album covers. Obviously this is still to be confirmed but his work on all my other albums can be seen on my website.
Moondancer …. Is still under wraps. Suffice to say, this is the cool of the evening. The Moon is out in a cloudless night and a billion stars lead us to imagine what life could lay beyond them. This album is entirely recorded on my new studio and at this date still has to be completed but I have some ‘can’t quite keep still’ ideas in my head. I would just say, “Watch This Space!”
John : There is a lot of great instrumentation on the Raindancer album. In addition to acoustic guitar what are the instruments you play, and recently you told me about an upgrade to your project studio, so could you tell everyone the story behind this recent upgrade ?
Steve Orchard : Raindancer is a completely ‘live’ album. By that I mean that it is layered onto a hard disc in the same way as working with analogue ‘tape’. That’s not to say it suffers from any sound quality but I felt I needed to embrace a tiny bit more technology going forward. My main keyboard friends are my trusty Korg Triton & Roland Sonic Cell, with expansion boards, plus some other concoctions!!! Anyways on with a story…
By now Medwyn and his lovely wife Wendy had become my good friends. He invited me down to his home in Helston, in Cornwall, for a visit and to look at his studio with perhaps, an insight into the more sophisticated way he works. WOW !!! I only say that because a lot of your fellow members and readers of this site will be saying WOW !!! He was considering completely re-building his studio and giving me the opportunity to ‘adopt’ & ‘adapt’ his studio. This is ‘THE STUDIO’ which is responsible for selling over 4 million albums. It was January and the worst winter the UK had seen in 30 years. I was doubtful whether I would be able to make the journey as heavy snow had fallen over most of the South West. I travelled the day before our meeting and the journey was a little ‘hairy’ ( that’s a British expression for OMG !! …. another icey patch!!! ) I just had to go and meet this man face to face. He had a reputation for being ‘very private’ and not conceding to personal visits to their beautiful Cornish home.
I have to say, that information could not be more wrong. From the outset he was warm and friendly, and we spent the long day in his studio exchanging much humor and banter. I felt relaxed in his company immediately. To be sat elbow-to-elbow in the studio with him was an unforgettable experience. Such ease of understated talent was remarkable ( no, not me, him…. only joking ). Wendy arrived home from there very busy offices and warehouse in Helston and they were gracious enough to take me out for a memorable meal that evening. Suffice to say, I returned the following day with the ‘HEART’ of Medwyn’s studio and since then have amalgamated it into my own studio I think, really successfully ( you will need to wait for the completion of Moondancer to make that appraisal ) I personally can’t wait… It’s going to be special !!
John : On behalf of our visitors and your fans we Thank You again Steve. Before we go is there anything you would like to bring up or tell your fans ?
Steve Orchard : I have made so many friends all around the world with the release of Raindancer. It has been a privilege to be able to share my music at last, with so many enthusiastic people. This is what encourages us composers to continue to ‘up our game play’ to continually raise the standard, stretch, and find the best we can be. In the spirit of all MG Music Artists I will always try to answer all emails and help other budding musicians in their quest. Everything is possible. It has been a long journey but I still feel opportunities lay ahead of me. So many friends & family ( my closest love & confidant Julie, my wife of 31 years…. She’ll be pleased I mentioned her name again! ) have supported me over the years even when I may have floundered…. A good friend once told me, ” The thing with you Orchard, is that you are PERSISTANT ” Oh Yes!”…. & keep smiling !
Visit the steveorchardmusic.co.uk homepage right here. Sample his album at his music page and learn more about Steve on his biography page. Visit his MG Music profile page to sample / purchase then learn more about every MG label artist at the mgmusic.ltd.uk website.
Sundancer & Moondancer covers by David Orchard. Raindancer cover by Medwyn Goodall. Other pictures copyright Steve Orchard.
Enigma’s New Studio
Michael Cretu of Enigma has always made sure to use the latest studio technology available. In this way he has been able to produce new and fresh sounds, and each album is closely connected to the technology used.
The legendary Ibiza studio where the three first Enigma albums were created was called the Euphonix consol studio – or simply A.R.T. (you can see pictures of it here). On the latest albums Michael has used less hardware and more software synths, resulting in the Alchemist studio (see a comprehensive presentation of it here).
Now Michael Cretu has built a new and more compact studio which is called MERLIN (picture to the right). According to Enigmaspace.com:
“Merlin is not only a mobile studio, it fits perfectly to the way I am usually working. It can be seen at the intersection between playing, recording and mixing.” Michael Cretu says.
Similar to the Alchemist, Merlin combines the four key parameters of recording in one box: a computed recording environment, a modular hardware concept, a control surface and a surround monitoring system.
In the very center of the studio is an Apple Mac Pro 8-core with an 30” Cinema display – and of course the Logic Studio software. If you are interested in all the technical details, see here.
I think that all of this is fascinating – to a certain point. As a Michael Cretu fan of almost 20 years I’m glad that Michael is doing what he does best, with the tools he needs to create magical sounds. But I know for sure that he would create magic with almost any synth – for instance his old friends, Roland JD-800 or Korg DSS-1. But new is always better, right? .
Bottomline; We now know how the studio looks like; the wait for the new Enigma album can begin.
Also see Enigmamusic.com . Picture copyright Enigmaspace.com.
CLAN III – The Lands Beyond released
One of this year’s most anticipated albums, Mewdyn Goodall’s CLAN III – The Lands Beyond, has now been released. You can listen to samples from it here.
The album Clan: A Celtic Journey came out in 1998 and is one of Medwyn’s most popular albums from the 1990s. The sequel, The Scroll, was released in 2000. So it has now been 10 years since we last heard music with that medieval sound that Medwyn does so well. When listening to it you can almost see the warriors and maidens, the horses and the castles. This music is a true treassure chest for anyone who loves fantasy and fairytales.
And that is not all; the album has been made in Medwyn’s new and upgraded studio! The complete Clan Trilogy is available here.
Hergest Ridge 2010 Deluxe Edition
After the massive, totally overwhelming success of Tubular Bells (1973) the 21 year old Mike Oldfield had an almost impossible job; to make a follow-up. The whole world demanded a follow-up. A worthy follow-up.
Yes, Mike had an almost impossible job to do. But when he first got started, it was – to use a description which Mike would like today when he is living in the Bahamas - smooth sailing. Or to quote his autobiography:
Hergest Ridge was a real struggle to begin with, but having pushed myself to get started, it was like piling twigs on a fire. It took on a life of its own, with its own momentum, and it became self-sustaining.
Musically it was nothing like Tubular Bells. It had trumpets and tin whistles, all different kinds of influences that were in some ways echoes of the place I was living in, I suppose you would call them New Age sounds in today’s terms. I was running on nearly empty tanks when I was putting it together, but I managed to cobble together some kind of album.
Changeling - The Autobiography of Mike Oldfield
Virgin Books 2007, page 158.
Personally I hold Hergest Ridge to be among Mike Oldfield’s finest works, and a much more personal and intimate release than Tubular Bells. Just listen to the trumpets at 10 min 05 sec onwards and you’ll hear what I mean; Hergest Ridge is simply beautiful and heartfelt.
It was however not a new Tubular Bells, and for many of the 1970s record buyers Mike Oldfield lost actuality with this release. He was yesterday’s news.
We have seen re-releases of Hergest Ridge before, last time in 2000 when a Digital Remaster was issued. This 2010 Deluxe Edition features versions of the original record remastered by Mike himself, unheard demo versions, plus the mixes found on the vinyl version first released in 1974 – along with some nice DVD footage. Disc three also contains a very welcome 5.1 Surround Mix. As you can see there is also a new cover as Mike never liked the original cover (“this one was just a bit weird” - Changeling page 160)
Here is the Deluxe Edition tracklistings:
- Disc 1
01 Hergest Ridge Part One 2010 Mix Previously Unreleased 19:21
02 Hergest Ridge Part Two 2010 Mix Previously Unreleased 18:46
03 In Dulce Jubilo (For Maureen) 02:45
04 Spanish Tune 03:11
- Disc 2
01 Hergest Ridge Part One 1974 Stereo Mix 21:32
02 Hergest Ridge Part Two 1974 Stereo Mix 18:40
03 Hergest Ridge Demo Part One 1974 Demo Previously Unreleased 20:21
04 Hergest Ridge Demo Part Two 1974 Demo Previously Unreleased 18:13
- Disc 3 (the DVD)
01 Hergest Ridge Part One 2010 5.1 Surround Mix 19:20
02 Hergest Ridge Part Two 2010 5.1 Surround Mix 18:45
Note that there is also a digital version available on iTunes which contains disc 1 and 2 (everything except for the Surround Mix and footage).
The most interesting part of this release is of course the unreleased demos. I think they sound nice – but as with the Tubular Bells demos of last year you are not likely to listen much to them; they are weaker sounding and quite unpolished. But for true fans it is always nice to relive the construction of something noteworthy – so in this aspect it is well worth the price.
To sum it up; Hergest Ridge tells the story of a young man who has to do the impossible; to create something to equal Tubular Bells. It didn’t of course, but still it is always a welcome listen to the fan. Very much so. For years and years. And now, in 2010, we even got a new and much nicer cover and a 5.1 Surround Mix! To quote Mike:
I know I’m very unstable, and I probably always will be, but the point is that I’ve accepted that about myself. Hergest Ridge, on the other hand, is smooth, uncluttered. There are no tube trains, very few car doors, lots of open countryside, smooth hills, a general feeling of smoothness and wellbeing and non-hysteria, just a much nicer environment.
Universal Music has put together a very nice webpage here. And if you missed it on 1st of April: fanpage Tubular.net’s very own Hergest Ridge 2010 mix.
Steve Orchard Excels on Raindancer
The United Kingdom based MG Music label has much to be proud of these days. The 25 year anniversary for Medwyn Goodall and Clifford White alone is reason to celebrate, yet MG label artists Steve Orchard and Paul Sills also have excellent releases planned this year. You will find the quality artisanship delivered by this close circle of friends is special with each artist retaining their own integral voice which to me makes MG label artists significant.
Steve Orchard is a New Age artist from the United Kingdom quite masterful at producing electronic instrumental music composed with many improvised mood sensations that nicely culminate into a repertoire of lively rhythms blended with a kaleidoscope of colorful melodies. The end result is one singular voice implanting a vivid melody image right beside a natural and reposeful atmosphere.
Raindancer is his current release and first in a trilogy series based in theme on 3 natural elemental word, with each in series containing the dancer suffix. Sundancer & Moondancer are future releases and I can already tell you that his spirited dancer series illustrates a rare quality of relaxing yet energetic melodies that readily achieve universal appeal. His prior albums Voyages Beyond Midnight, Salt Water Café & The Consequences of Kisses are highly regarded earlier works and certainly worth a listen too.
Steve Orchard made a great impression on me with his first in series Raindancer. This admirable collection of beautiful melodies exhibit the standard of excellence and integral voice Steve Orchard so boldly represents, brightly illustrated by his picturesque first release in the alluring Dancer trilogy.
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 with other artists and a well recognized soloist in South West & London England during the 1990′s era.
Raindancer begins the initial splash of bright colors painted on a fresh musical canvas in a vivid song portrait titled Tribal Fire. The lighter vibrato in soprano vocals make the primary background shades to flute’s breezy hues, nicely accented by snare drum taps and free flowing rhythms. Keeper of the Sacred Trees & Cajon Sun are enhanced pan flute and keyboard melodies attuned to light synthesizer bordering while percussion assists by even handed rhythms in a fine blending of tropical harmonies.
Acoustic guitar then takes a turn holding the primary melody brush in Cajon Moon, primed with a steady synthesizer outline backed by flute and tenor drum. Guitar and pan flute emblazon the impression by a faster tempo in free flowing songs Amazona, Pathway Through The Forest & Festival, with each song inscribing bright reflective patterns by progressive guitar rhythms, flute expressions and percussion cadences that portray a flamboyant resemblance.
Passion Flowers & Where Rivers Meet are compositions with airy Latin & World influences which make easy going songs by light flute notes dreamy ambience and gentle tracing by guitar strums having a soft percussion mix in the first, then tenor drum outlining in the second. Road to Manaus has a dreamy groove concept by light flute refrains intertwined with deeper keyboard and acoustic guitar that travel along a harmonic pathway together with even symmetry. The orchestra phrasing with strings and resolute percussion smoothly enhance the delightful mood illustration in this song.
Anocondas Caress completes the colorful spectrum and gives one a chance to admire the total picture on this album filled with exotic surroundings. In an exclusive move during composition, this song is quite captivating using two metrical rhythms where flute nurtures the primary melody while guitar draws on half step chord rhythms during a concurrent secondary melody, rising in chord phrasing to nicely elevate the tropical atmosphere.
This beautiful song in proportion to the entire album is a nice exhibition of the integral voice Steve Orchard so boldly represents and in addition, sets the standard of excellence for his all inclusive Dancer Trilogy.
Visit the steveorchardmusic.co.uk homepage right here. Sample Raindancer on his music page and learn more about Steve on his biography page. Visit his MG Music profile page to sample / purchase then learn more about every Medwyn Goodall label artist at the mgmusic.ltd.uk website.
Cover design and layout Copyright MG Music courtesy of Medwyn Goodall. Below Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – wtolenaars
Bruce Kaphan Creates a Hybrid
Pedal steel guitar is a stringed instrument that often receives no respect in relation to New Age music in part because the instrument is often classified in the Country and Hawaiian music scene only, but believe me the ground rules have changed and is primarily due to one man.
Bruce Kaphan from California has taken petal 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, giving even music purists a reason to love pedal steel guitar with his earlier release Slider and now Hybrid. The reason behind his new adaptation in an otherwise strict classification was pretty much the colorful sound quality it provides and a love of exploratory music.
What many find interesting is that Bruce Kaphan began his early career as a studio technician, engineer and producer for many highly recognized artists in other genres, where he 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 many others. During his early days in San Francisco he was a member of Indie / Alternative band American Music Club and his music has been featured on film scores and television broadcasts.
Hybrid is an album with 12 original song compositions by Bruce Kaphan who makes it crystal clear right from first track Pohaka La that you are listening to a unique composite of exotic blending with unrivaled beauty harvested from another cross section in the vast field of music and it quickly becomes apparent this new emerging beauty will remain a lasting entity.
Pedal steel guitar happens to be the prominent instrument in Hybrid and a natural selection after listening to songs like Gleaming Towers, Legacy, Silenzi & Renewal, which breaks new ground by classifying the instrument as a main entry melody contender versus a mere supporting instrument.
Songs like piano enhanced Maya and guitar renditions in Senbazuru & Loops for Larry are displayed in a new manner and show the instrument as an appealing choice while clearing a new path during improvisation in light ambience while reproducing a well conceived follow up for his Slider – Ambient Excursions for Pedal Steel Guitar 2000 release.
In an age where hybrids in all shapes and forms are becoming more relevant daily, Hybrid seems like a natural contender when placed side by side among traditional New Age albums and the lighter exploratory metrical patterns of Jazz, Hawaiian and Country in Hybrid are a prized natural attraction that shows well beside other music forms while earning the respect it deserves.
Bruce enlisted numerous artists on this album including, Jake Shimabukuro, Jeffrey Wash, Kent Darnielle, Salar Nader, Matt Brubeck, Real Vocal String Quartet, David Immerglück, John Loose, Paul Olguin and Karl Perazzo and Real Vocal String Quartet that is featured in Okanagan Jubilee.
Visit brucekaphan.com to sample / purchase or visit his CDBaby.com page. Read his biography page and discography page.
Picture Copyright Bigstockphoto – nsilcock
The Gates to Secret Realities by Gandalf
Many musicians are content to remain within a specific genre and are a complete success in their artistic focus. Then there are other notable musicians where a natural progression is realized, developing into a unique artesian style and by their inner convictions, become a virtuoso by what they offer the music world.
Gandalf is an internationally acclaimed composing musician and producer from Vienna Austria first identified as a New Age, Contemporary Instrumental and World artist. While transitioning over the past 30 years of his career, his progressive directive and persona has helped neutralize the customary social borders in multicultural music for years.
Gates To A Secret Reality on the Prudence label is an open manifest of his ambitious return to classic World music. This 1996 album is one of fascination and perhaps a secret gaze into what Gandalf is planning for a future orchestration slated to celebrate his 30 year Anniversary in 2011. This future CD currently being composed is the centerpiece for the occasion, plus a live performance in Vienna will be the setting that accents his milestone achievement.
It was during continental travels to Europe, North & South America and Asia where Gandalf began to realize the prevailing attitudes and many similarities of every continent greatly unites each of us, verses creates a divisional line between countries.
This open border view is much a part of his global World Music ambitions, and perhaps why his style encompasses a unique image while making a valid statement in relation to his cultivated talents and international status.
Gates To A Secret Reality featuring 11 songs with over an hour of world class music is an earlier expedition not to be missed. Gandalf is a multi instrumentalist performing acoustic and electric guitar, charango, piano, keyboards, mellotron, balaphon and indigenous percussions. Enlisting Emily Burridge from England and Peter Aschenbrenner from Vienna, Emily performs vocals & cello and composed 3 songs while Peter is another fine talent performing flutes, soprano saxophone and some backing vocals.
This ensemble in unison has made the album a unique listening experience and beginning with 3 songs Dreamcatcher ( Part 1 ) vocals and flute instill a celestial atmosphere while Gandalf steps up to give an astounding Rock styled electric guitar anthem. This is much in relation to The Power Of Nature & Man’s Promise To Mother Earth performed by the united trio where vocals, flute, keyboard and electric guitar proclaims a powerful majestic atmosphere and is most memorable by any standard.
Many songs journey along more moderate terrains regarding style and tempo yet the fascination remains deep and on a grandiose scale. Footprints In Red Sand is relaxing by the flute and keyboard interludes before building momentum with electric guitar that greatly increases depth of the impression.
Majestic Mountain View is an apt title shown by cello, keyboard and flute setting their sights on a light background depth and then again in windswept song Voice In The Wind, then bells signal the tonal imagery in piano and guitar melody on Along The Milky Way.
Some songs like Ascending On The Eagle’s wings, Dreamcatcher ( Part 2 ) & Floating Down The Silent Stream are lighter ballads nicely elevated by cello Flute, keyboards and saxophone giving a cinematic feel by lighter orchestrations portrayed in a lavish way.
The Wheel Of Life is a moving concerto lightly revolving in time, thought and deliberation, swaying in a gentle way by an enchanting flute melody backed by wondrous piano rhythms. Cello is fluently engaged to intensify the atmospheric warmth and progressive movement this song and the album in entirety envisions, perhaps giving us secret insight into the celebratory atmosphere Gandalf has in mind for us in the year 2011.
Visit Gandalf.at to sample his music and find out more on his biography page. Visit the Munsing Germany based bscmusic.com homepage and then his BSA Music profile page to sample / purchase his music.
Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – EcoShot
MANDALA: David Arkenstone’s new group
To be a David Arkenstone fan is never boring, and his most recent project – the new group named MANDALA – seems to be another nice addition to an already impressive discography. The group consists of Seth Osburn, John Wakefield and the maestro himself, David Arkenstone.
This group recently held a concert which was filmed and presumably will be available on DVD (unconfirmed).
Here is the message which was posted on Facebook:
You’re invited to a FREE CONCERT this TUESDAY, MAY 18th,
7pm, Simi Valley, CA This is a concert demo for
a new tribal electronica trance group MANDALA, featuring David Arkenstone. First 30 to
respond for FREE concert & refreshments. Think meditation, inner exploration and ECSTATIC DANCING! Very cool cutting edge visuals.
And here is the concert poster:
The concert was held and on David Arkenstone’s label, Domo Music Group, a total of six pictures have been posted from the event – here and here.
In David’s own words on Facebook:
We just filmed a really cool concert for my new group, MANDALA. It’s exciting diving into this tribal electronica genre with these amazing visuals accompanying the music.
If you were one of the persons attending this concert, please contact us and tell us what it was like! Make sure to follow David Arkenstone on Facebook. We will too follow this project carefully. In the past David has been a member of the “ambient Native Southwest” side project Ah Nee Mah, together with Diane Arkenstone.
New Age Music Meetup Group in SoCal
Here is a presentation of NewAgeMusic.com’s new group which aims for NA music meetings in Los Angeles, CA:
There is a growing demand for new age music concerts, gatherings, presentations, seminars, healing sound treatments, new age music meditation groups and more. This group is for Creators, Supporters and Lovers of New Age Music and Transformational Entertainment and gives members a chance to be connected and informed about new age music concerts and other related events.
Become a member here – and please leave your comments.
Memoir Within Craig Urquhart
Craig Urquhart is an accomplished pianist having a renewed focus on quintessential travels into piano music that literally speaks to the heart by virtue of his current seventh Solo Piano composition. Craig also aims to share reflective memories on this album with hopes of achieving mutual recollections which appear reminiscent to our own memories.
Within Memory is Craig’s classic memoir that takes a transcending tour into piano music that quickly becomes a meeting place to share moments of harmonious reflection, focusing on moments that everyone can relate to themselves. Residing in New York City, his regional and United States concerts have also earned attendance with worldwide audiences on the airwaves and during performances in Germany, France, and Japan.
Telling of music influences like Classical greats Chopin, Debussy, Satie and Copland, an intriguing aspect about Craig is that he also tells of contemporary influences like Pop and Rock too, so a classic contemporary structure converges with an overall expansive identity in respect to his original compositions.
Craig Urquhart holds a Masters Degree in Composition from the University of Michigan, and is a member of ASCAP, serves on the Board of Directors with the Lotte Lehmann Foundation, is a Whisperings Artist and voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences ( The Grammys ) which speaks volumes about his comprehensive musical career.
Within Memory is an album well suited for telling much about Craig Urquhart’s harmonious directive for parallel unity and poetically becomes the equivalent memoir he openly shares with worldwide concert audiences, presented by a memorable and sincere narrative from the heart.
In The Afternoon is the preamble song of 10 for Within Memory, having a bright tonal cheerfulness recited by a frame of mind you will find engaging. Before The Canvas exhibits a deeper tone and image by proficient piano chords modulation while stair stepping upward during ascending treble scales, changing perceptions with each layer.
Rapture is the benchmark showing a hopeful image to the conceptual pondering and lighter melody. Laid Back has a nice feel by a treble melody concurrent with deeper bass octaves consistent rhythm while October Bright Blue recaptures a crisp and bright piano overture while making a distinction midst the two songs. Low Tide is the deep flowing melody with pause and intonation nicely enriched with hopeful optimism and song I favored most. Prairie Flowers flourishes into a gently moving melody while traveling to and from, given the preceding treble notes lead the closely timed counter bass notes while held in a subsequent role.
Within Memory ( Title Song ) concludes the album recital for the listener, but for Craig Urquhart it begins an arranged lineup for abundant visits to many countries during his role as an esteemed concert pianist. Later this year Craig is scheduled for concert recitals in the United States, Berlin Germany, Positano and Rome, Italy.
I am certain the concert events slated for this year will be another wonderful social meeting place for notable entertainment along with an exchange of lasting memories for everyone, especially for Craig Urquhart.
Visit craigurquhart.com to sample / purchaseor visit his CDBaby.com page right here. You can also read his biography page and visit his MySpace.com page.
Picture Copyright BigStockPhoto – aysarts
Visit New Age Music World
- 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
- Yanni Concert Review – Live at El Morro