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Fionnuala Sherry’s Songs From Before
October 1st, 2010 | 
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Fionnuala Sherry’s debut solo album Songs From Before has now been released on CD in Ireland – and is available in the whole UK as a digital download on iTunes. It is scheduled for release in the UK and Norway on CD in the beginning of next year.
But note that the album is available internationally on CD from this page!
Here is a presentation of the album from the press release:
One of Ireland’s most successful musicians, Fionnuala Sherry, releases her debut solo album. Entitled “Songs From Before” the album features an enchanting collection of some of Ireland’s most cherished and recognisable melodies. On the concept of the album Fionnuala says “for a long time I have wanted to record some of the beautiful traditional Irish songs that I grew up with. This year the dream became a reality”!
Following in the footsteps of her violinist grandfather, Fionnuala wanted to reflect the new and modern Ireland in her interpretation of some very old Irish airs including “An Cuilfhionn”, “My Lagan Love” and “Our Wedding Day”, also known as “She Moved Through The Fair”.
So far I have only been able to sample the clips on iTunes – but they tell me that this is a very promising release – and that Fionnuala Sherry is one of the most interesting artist today.
Thank you Jeff Wasserman for telling us about this release!
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ZMR 2009 Music Award Qualifiers is up
The ZoneMusicReporter 2009 Music Award Qualifiers have been released on ZMR.
You can see the list here.
Is there anyone there?
Always a valid question, right? Well, how about this article on newspage Marketrasenmail.co.uk:
ARE YOU interested in the paranormal; healing modalities; spirits, psychics or mediums, New Age music or gifts?
And more:
Do you practice any of the above and would like to show members of the public how you can help them? Are you interested and would like to find out more without having to pay large entrance fees? It is hoped to put on an event later in the year at Nettleton village hall to showcase local practitioner skills to the public and, maybe low priced taster sessions, along with entry by a donation to a charity.
Is that new age? Or is it music? Or both?
Source here.
The Most Relaxing New Age Music In the Universe
With a title like the one above I guess this collection of songs by various Asian new age artists had to get a lot of attention – and it worked!
The Most Relaxing New Age Music In the Universe has been on the bestseller lists since Denon Classics released in January 2005, as a part of their Most Relaxing series (which also have opera, classical, jazz piano ect. in the catalogue). The series has sold over 800,000 copies in the U.S. alone, and the new age edition is perhaps the most successful compilation in store today.
This new age collection consists of 2 discs with songs by Kitaro, Mari Fujiwara, Hideo Shimazu and others. I like this collection for its focus on more classical sounding new age music. But rest assure fans of electronic music; there are some ambient synth songs here as well – like the opening track, Kitaro’s classical Message from the Cosmos.
Is it the most relaxing new age music in the universe? Well, I’ll let you decide. But is a more classical approach to new age than we are used to.
Sample all the tracks on Amazon or any other digital music outlet.
2009 Eurovision winner plays Secret Garden
This year’s winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Alexander Rybak from Norway, has just released his debut album entitled Fairytales. It is a pop album of course, but the last song on the album is a cover version of 1995 Eurovision Song Contest winner Secret Garden’s magnificent Song From A Secret Garden.
The album is so far only out in Norway, but you can sample the song here.
The Nexion-Project music used in animations
New age music is perfect for movies and animation. A proof of this can be seen on The Nexion-Project homepage. It creates an atmosphere that not takes attention away from the animation but enhances it.
And when you are done watching the animations, why not check out all the albums in the The Nexion-Project series. They are amazing!
Enjoy New Age Stars on your iPhone or iPod Touch
Our partner Live365 has just launched an iPhone application that makes it possible to listen to Live365 stations. This means that you can listen to New Age Stars radio, either at home or on the road with your iPhone! Read all about it here
New Age Stars currently has an impressive 9,07 of 10 rating from a total of 45 listeners. We can only say thank you! We are working hard to create an even better radio station for you. Now we can support up to 80 free listeners at 128 kbps, and unlimited paid listeners. So welcome, all of you!
New Age Music show with Jace Vek
Concert pianist and recording artist Jace Vek has a new show on Blogtalkradio.com. The topic is new age music. In the first edition we get to know the artist Kori Linae Carothers, who joins the show live from California.
The show will be on every Wednesday at 3PM Eastern Standard Time.
We here at NewAgeMusic.nu wish Jace Vek best of luck with the new show!
Paul Winter interviewed by NY Times
New York Times has an interview with Paul Winter, the lead element in Paul Winter Consort. Here he tells about his studio, his close relationship with nature and the creative process behind his music. Read the interview here.
While we are talking about Paul Winter Consort, why not check out our presentation of their most recent album, Crestone.
Album review: Wendy Grondzil – Only the moment
When describing a new age album, we often say that it reminds of either Enigma or Deep Forest (or one of the other giants of the genre). But in this case, with Only the moment by Wendy Grondzil, we can say that it is a fusion of both Enigma and Deep Forest – and a very good fusion it is!
The first track, Only the Moment, could have been made by Michael Cretu of Enigma around the release of the platinum selling album MCMXC a.D from – yes, you are right – 1990. The similarities to songs like Mea Culpa and Sadeness are striking, but not in a bad way. There is something fresh about Only the Moment, with the powerful Gregorian chants and a female Sandra Cretu-like voice saying Yes / It’s time to go / It’s now or never / Only the Moment. It is far from original, and the beat is also enigmaish, but still I enjoy the track.
And now the album takes an interesting turn. The next 6 tracks on the album is (almost) free of Gregorian chants, but stuffed with nice ethnic samples similar to those on World Mix by Deep Forest. The similarities between Deep Forest’s famous Sweet Lullaby and Grondzil ‘s Little Shaman and Worlds Remembered are striking in terms of sample use. But is it done in a fresh and tasteful way. I am sure Eric Mouquet and Michel Sanchez of Deep Forest would like it.
The tracks Little Shaman, Worlds Remembered, Perfecte Amasti, Joseph’s Canon, Mystic and Ambrosia are almost an album itself because they have the same kind of energy, with the same sample use.
On the last track, Why, Grondzil has a more electronic approach, with no voice samples. The song takes some time to start (2 min), but is worth the wait. It is dreamy and powerful at the same time.
All in all Wendy Grondzil’s first album has little new to offer. But then again I am not asking for something new – I am asking for quality new age. And Only the moment is 40 minutes of pure music enjoyment for all new age fans.
Album Review: Ola Gjeilo: Stone Rose
The song title is in a way the only lyrics in instrumental music. A few handpicked words describe a whole track. For some artists the name of a song is unimportant, and for other it is essential. When listening to Norwegian pianist and composer Ola Gjeilo’s debut album Stone Rose I found that the track name was of great importance. Here the name is a starting point for the imagination, something to tune your mind to. Gjeilo’s music is very visual, and the title gives meaning to the track. Or you may of course let your mind drift away and not focus on the title at all. Either way, you will be enthralled by this fabulous debut album.
Ola Gjeilo was born in Norway in 1978, and he now lives in New York City. Stone Rose was released in Scandinavia in October last year, and is now being released in the U.S. Many new age piano artists are self thought, or have only a little formal training. There is nothing wrong with that, but when compared to a piano player of Gjeilo’s format – who has studied at the Royal College of Music in London and has a Mater’s Degree in composition at the Juilliard School of Music – the difference is obvious. Gjeilo is nothing less than a piano virtuoso.
An important aspect of Stone Rose is the high quality recording. It is produced by the Grammy-nominated Lindberg Lyd at Sofienberg church in Oslo, Norway. This means that it is not a studio recording, and you can feel the natural resonance of the room – which I think is a bonus. The piano recording is flawless, and this gives the album a nice and polished touch; you can play it loud, and still there is little or no static noise. The album is being released as a Hybrid Super Audio-CD with 5.1 Surround. The supreme quality of the recording is also audible if you purchase it on iTunes – but if you want the best, you better buy the CD.
Stone Rose consists of 15 short tracks. Most of them are around 3 minutes long. The atmosphere is fresh and uplifting – but also somewhat uncomplicated. It may be too light for some tastes. But at the same time Gjeilo’s style is dreamy and full of impressions. This is perhaps what makes Stone Rose into a typical new age album? It is definitely not jazz or classical. But I must point out that this is not music for meditation either. This is the music you want in the background when you are having your friends over for dinner, or are walking on the beach on a bright winter day listening to your iPod. It is a sound track, pure and simple.
The album is not strictly solo piano. On track 5, 9, 12, 13 and 14 you can hear David Coucheron on violin and Johannes Martens on cello. On track 14 and 15 Tom Barber plays flugelhorn. This gives variation to the recording. Especially the tracks with violin can remind of another Norwegian band – Rolf Lovland’s Secret Garden. But there is nothing wrong with that. It is rather a statement quality, since Secret Garden has sold millions of albums.
The first track, Snow in New York, is simply incredible. You only have to listen to the album for a minute or so and you know two things; Ola Gjeilo is a highly skilled piano player and great composer. You can almost see the season’s first falling snow between the skyscrapers. The track has the enthusiasm of a child when it comes to winter and snow.
After the fast and uplifting opening, North Country is more slow and reflective. But it is a beautiful track, not too long either. Track three, Michelle, is happy and uncomplicated. This song is almost like a conversation, rapidly changing speed but the mood stays the same. The Line is the best solo piano track on the album, and the theme around 2min20sec is played with passion and skill. It is jazz and neoclassical at the same time, and an example of Gjeilo’s qualities both as a piano player and composer.
What makes a song played with piano and violin new age? It is hard to point out, but when you listen to track no. five, The Hudson, you feel that there is something meditative and dreamy about the song. It is that thing that makes you love or hate new age music. If Gjeilo wanted to create a standard jazz or neoclassical recording, all hope was out when this song was finished. It is new age, no doubt about that. You can almost see the setting sun over the Hudson when playing the song. Roxbury Park is yet another fresh track, much like Michelle. It is pleasant like a walk in the park.
I am a little bit surprised by the title track, Stone Rose. It is a bit dark and slow. At the same time it has a lot of beauty, in a contemplative way. Stone Rose is the first of three slow piano tracks. The two other are January and April. They are a bit cold, but then so are roses of stone…
The last solo piano track on the album is track no. 10, Manhattan. This song has the rhythm of the big city. The melody is very nice and I found myself hitting the replay button several times – because it is way too short! The 1min54sec is gone in a flash.
Madison has a strong melody, and the cello sounds fantastic. If I were a movie director, I would call mr. Gjeilo right away. This song will fit into any scene where there is rapid character development. Track 14, North Country II, and track 15, Serenity, are together a perfect ending to the album. The flugelhorn gives the songs a more jazzy feel. The solo on the end of Serenity is very strong, and you can sense that this is the last track. A nice touch.
My only objection to Stone Rose is that you cannot hear that this is the product of a young artist (except for the fast opening track Snow in New York). Is it too mature? I don’t know. I think some faster and rougher tracks would have been nice. But then this may be Gjeilo’s next project. The album has a nice blue cover with the moon, and the drawn NYC skyline on the back. For me this is close to a perfect new age piano album. I enjoy the beautiful melodies, Gjeilo’s playing and the high sound quality. I won’t be surprised if I hear this music on the important solo piano radio stations soon – or find the album on my top list of 2008.
The life of a red rose is short, but a rose of stone has eternal life.
Album Review: Enya: And Winter Came
Enya’s present to the world this Christmas is neither surprising nor original, but still a welcome gift to her millions of fans. Christmas is after all about tradition, and Enya would hardly do something totally different and new. It would be out of character, and probably a disappointment to many. And Winter Came is nothing more and nothing less than another nice Enya release. The warm colors of Amarantine are gone. Now she’s dressed in snow white.
The album is as usual produced by Nicky Ryan, with lyrics by Roma Ryan. Enya’s style really needs no presentation: her ethereal voice, the sometimes fast and sometimes slow synth strings, frequent bells and chimes, plus the heavy (heavenly?) reverb. It has been imitated by many, but never paralleled. It is almost a sub-genre of its own. On And Winter Came Enya’s voice is as beautiful as ever, and the production is spotless. Or, almost spotless… It might only be my ears, but the Gaude, gaude, Emanuel at 1min46sec on track four, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is a bit too loud and sharp.
But hey, perhaps this is a hint of the new Enya?
On the first track it is like a big white canvas is brought into the studio. With the first hum, Enya paints herself in a snow covered landscape. The el piano and the rich pads fill the rest. It reminds of previous slow songs like Deora Ar Mo Chroi on A Day Without Rain. A fine intro, but nothing more. Track no. two, Journey of the Angels, is more to the point. Enya sings, um yes, like an angel. It’s the longest track on the album, and the lyrics is Christmas-oriented, Tonight/all sing/Oh, angels/a new-born king. Nice lyrics indeed.
The next track out, White Is The Winter Night, is a happy and fast winter song. It is a good example of Enya’s unique use of powerful synth strings, which fill the soundscape. Some layers of vocal pads are added here and there, plus of course Enya’s singing, but the synth strings are in a way everything. And that’s ok because it is simple and elegant.
When listening to White Is The Winter Night you can feel the Christmas atmosphere: Green is in the mistletoe and red is in the holly/Silver in the stars above that shine on everybody. The song ends with: Have you heard that bells are ringing, ringing out their story, Have you heard the choir singing, Glory, Glory Glory. Like a winter wonderland, no doubt about that.
Enya’s version of the popular Christian hymn O come, O come, Emmanuel is beautiful (with exception of the part mentioned above). This slow song is almost like an anticlimax after the fast White Is The Winter Night. The first single from the album, Trains and Winter Rains, is track no. 5. Here the perspective is different from the good old Christmas theme on the previous tracks. Listen to the lyrics: Neon signs in the night/Red and blue city lights/Cargo trains rolling by/Once again someone cries/Trains and winter rains. The music video to this song shows a city skyline at night, with people waiting for a train and few snowflakes are drifting in the air. Waiting for transportation is also a part of the modern Christmas experience, right?
Track no. seven and eight, Dreams Are More Precious and Last Time By Moonlight are two slow songs. It is romantic and dreamy background music, just the way we like it.
The most interesting track on the album is One Toy Soldier, Enya’s very own Little Drummer Boy (but without the pa rum pum pum pum, I might add). The toy soldier plays his drum to keep the time, but the drum is suddenly broken. Then Someone has come to mend his drum/Now his heart lights up with pride. It is a symbol of a child’s imagination. The toy soldier is alive, and has feelings. The classical Christmas bells in the end are beautiful together with the Happy Christmas Day to you!
On a winter inspired album like this Enya of course needed some darker and colder tracks as well. The two tracks Stars and Midnight Blue and The Spirit of Christmas Past are slower and more thoughtful.
My! My! Times Flies! is a rock inspired Enya song, with guitar and a funny selection of historical references: A man underneath a tree/ An apple falls on his head (Presumably Newton). A man wrote a symphony/It’s 1812 (Tchaikovsky). And: Four guys across Abbey Road/One forgot to wear shoes (Paul McCartney). Cool and a little surprising, don’t you think? Enya’s right: time does fly.
In the end Enya sings Silent Night in her native Irish. It is one of the most heartfelt versions of the song I have ever heard. When the angels sang about Baby Jesus to the shepherds, I guess it sounded something like this. I would gladly buy the complete album just for this incredible version of Silent Night.
And Winter Came is a fine Enya album with few surprises. You know what you’re getting when you put this album on for the first time. And that is ok, Chocolate is supposed to taste like chocolate and Enya is Enya. The album is beautiful and welcome, like Christmas itself.
// BT Fasmer
Sample the album on Amazon or other music outlets. Also see the sub page about this album on Warnerreprise.com.
Pictures taken from Enya.com.
Magic of Psicodreamics
It is always welcomed news here at newagemusic.nu and when talented artists from around the world contact us with information of a new album release, or even informing us of their presence in the music business. Salva Moreno, a composer from Spain performing his note by note magic under the artist title Psicodreamics might not be as well known as an artist in the U.S. but many readers are aware that Salva Moreno has gained the wider recognition he deserves in the Continental Europe, U.K. and overseas market having 8 previous albums with increasing popularity and success. We are pleased to review the very latest 2009 album titled Fantasynth independently published under his own Witches on the Radiowaves label.
Persons will find Psicodreamics is past and presently New Age Electronica in nature, containing a mixture of genre defined as ambient, goth and classic styled in presentation, offering the listener a deep form of chill out and as the album title suggests, dream like in atmosphere and composition of all the many songs I sampled. Fantasynth is as vibrant and creative as other works previously composed, and I did enjoy his latest release. Without a doubt this latest album and past works were thoughtfully produced and the song titled Spellbound was one favorite primarily because of a pleasant melody and synthesized undercurrents that reminded me of some unfamiliar locale or distant place yet to be discovered.
Sleepy Sorrow offers enchanting chorals, bells, a steady cello and oboe harmony which seemed to battle and compete for the upper hand at times, only to kindly resolve as close allies at the songs ending. The La Rosa De Los Vientos track has a nice mid tempo there which included woodwind overtones with interest and movement ever present as with all tracks in the latest Salva Moreno interpretation of music which again is captured with rhythm and style.
The music of Salva Moreno as artist title Psicodreamics can best be likened to a good mystery novel that is full of interest and intrigue at every turned page for the reader. Music fans will find this description similar to the new Fantasynth album which is interesting and well managed throughout. I do like the depth, myth styled settings, and ever present change of atmosphere in the 13 songs contained on this newest album which incidentally would also provide an excellent music score for mystery or science fiction themed movies.
Readers will also want to explore for themselves by visiting the official website Psicodreamics.com which offers an equally beautiful website with everything needed to explore the mystique and fantasy behind the dream.
Jean Michel Jarre World Arena Tour
2009 is turning out to be an incredible concert year for new age music fans. Both Kitaro and Yanni are currently on the road, and now Jean Michel Jarre is soon to join them. He opens his World Arena Tour 2009 in Phoenix Hall in Debrecen, Hungary, on 4 May. On this part of the tour he will visit Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Scotland and England, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
According to JeanMichelJarre.com he:
invites the audience to journey into his singular universe; to immerse themselves totally in his world of timeless music and vision, in place and time. He promises with this unique and brand new super production to share the energy of his macro concerts with the emotions of an arena experience.
With the fusion of analogue synthesisers, HD video projections, lasers and lighting choreography, Jarre has conceived a show that encapsulates his signature expression and talent for creating milestone events. He has just concluded a sell-out tour of Europe celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the release of his break-through multi-million selling album, Oxygene.
Check out tour dates here.
The lead instrument
In an interview with Charleston City Paper Yanni has this comment about his Voices project:
The most difficult thing to do in instrumental music is to find the lead instrument. But this time, once you have great voices as the lead instruments, my job is easier. That’s the bottom line.
Yanni has joined forces with Ric Wake, a producer who has worked with incredible voices such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and others. Yanni says: I became really good friends with Ric, and you know, a few months went by, and we decided let’s start working on music. I’ve known all along that my music is very vocal, because my music is based on melody. The thing is not disjointed. It comes together effortlessly. And the blend between the vocals and the instrumentals gives us a rest from the voices and gives us a rest from the instruments.
Read the whole interview on Charlestoncitypaper.com.
Prayer to the mystery
Little Wolf is the name of a Native American fusion project by Jim Wilson. Prayer to the mystery is his first album since his best of album Offerings, released in 2000. Little Wolf’s music is all about atmosphere, spirituality and mysticism. The mix of electronica, fresh beats and flutes is simply irresistible to any new age fan.
From the very first moment on Prayer to the Mystery, you are taken into a world of magic and rituals. There is this rare meditative quality to Little Wolf’s music, even though the tracks are quite short (the longest track is 5min48 sec long). If you want a quick sample of how wonderful this album is, you can sample 5 seconds or so of track no. two, Morning Water Song, which has a marvelous melody. It is positive and has a great vocal later in the song. You would also not miss the best track on the album, Eveningsong. It is like a lullaby, heartfelt and soothing.
When it comes to sound design, Prayer to the mystery is perfect in every way. This is what Deep Forest would have sounded like if they found the inspiration to make a Native American album. It is as authentic as a fusion release can ever be. And for Little Wolf that is not a bad statement. On Prayer to the mystery Jim Wilson worked together with artists Verdell Primeaux and Joanne Shenandoah.
There are two other albums released under the Little Wolf name on New Earth Records: Wolf Moon (1997) and Dream Song (1995). I urge you to check them out as well, they’re great too!
Sample Prayer to the Mystery on Amazon or your favorite music outlet.
New versions of Tubular Bells in June
Great news for all Mike Oldfield fans: Universal has released details of new versions of Tubular Bells due for release on June 8th. It will be available in four different physical versions and two different digital download versions. This will include a 2 CD compilation, with a new stereo remix of Tubular Bells and a deluxe edition, with 2 CDs and a DVD, featuring the stereo remix, the original mix, a new 5.1 remix and video of the BBC Second House performance of Tubular Bells Part One. A vinyl release of the original mix will also be released.
An ultimate edition will also be released. Mercury/Universal will be promoting the release with a special event on June 6th at 6pm, where bells will be rung in locations throughout the world, footage of which will then be available on mikeoldfield.com
See all the details on Tubular.net.
Terry Oldfield live
An artist that has been on the road a lot lately is Terry Oldfield. Under is a video from his and Soraya Saraswati’s performance in Belgium on 3rd october 2008. Check out TerryOldfield.com for tour dates in 2009.
A dream journey
In March 2008 one of Michelle McLaughlin’s dreams came true. She is of Irish ancestry, and for many years she wanted to go to Ireland. And last year the dream finally came true. A Celtic Dream, her tenth release, is a product of both the dream itself and the actual trip to Ireland.
We already know that Michelle McLaughlin is an incredible pianist and composer, and A Celtic Dream is yet another proof of this. A Celtic Dream has 15 tracks. Some have a dream like quality, gentle as the summer wind, while other are like big, powerful waves. Especially the song North Sea, track 8, has a lot of energy. I especially like the title track, where you really can sense the artist’s love for Ireland.
I must give Michelle McLaughlin credit for the great variation in sound . The atmosphere shifts totally from one track to the next, creating a very enjoyable listening experience. It is perhaps too much variation for it to be background music, but that is not a weakness. Not at all. This is an album you want to listen to actively, not hide in the background. The recording quality is very good, and the piano sounds warm and alive. On the cover are some very nice pictures taken by Michelle McLaughlin herself on her trip to Ireland.
If you want to drift away to a world of medieval castles and green fields, A Celtic Dream is your ticket.
Sample the album on CDBaby.
Baby Einstein: World Music
Now this is for all you proud parents out there: the popular Baby Einstein series has now a world music edition! And what kind of world music, may you ask?
James Plath on DVDTown writes: the world music really resembles New Age music. And more: Djembes and hollowed out bamboo percussion vibes are the dominant instruments for Africa, which incorporates images of dramatic clouds, animals, bright cloth, and tribal dance. After that it’s on to Asia (with its pandas, Buddhist statues, tiger’s eye, and so on), Antarctica (with its penguins, dramatic ice scenery, and more New Age-sounding music), South America (heavy on the Latin beat, maracas, etc.).
I am sure your baby will love every sound and every beat. New Age Music is for all ages.
Read the review here.
