Only by looking at the first few titles on the album we can sense what Arkenstone has in store for us; Sunset Cruise, Enchanted Night and Midnight Moon. It is all about easy living and happiness. My favorite song on the album is track eight, Sandy Toes, where the steel drum sounds truly sweet together with the flute and guitar. A truly beautiful mix. All songs on the album are a little over 4 minutes long, which give the listener time to enjoy the melodic elements without rapid shifts.

Caribbean Nights is both chill out and new age music in style, simply perfect for those lazy summer days we all just love. Isn’t it great that there’s things in this world that are just sunny, laidback and positive? Caribbean Nights is simply the perfect summer soundtrack.

Sample the album on Amazon or buy it at Arkenstone’s own web page.

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.

This year he gives us an album called Visions of Christmas, which is a beautiful mix of originals and holiday favorites. As usual David has attention to what matters the most; melodies and the arrangement. It has a lovely live feel to it, and no one out there does the synth line better. Really! It is simply, hands-down masterful.  

The album start with a welcome trio of classics: Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and What Child is this. And with that the good ‘ol Christmas feel will for sure come. But David Arkenstone has put some interesting gifts under the tree too; Snowdance (which has a beautiful build-up and magnificent flute part), the Celtic sounding Bottom of the Punchbowl and the colorful Arabian Dance. Silent Night is the album closer, which has some excellent segments of Arkenstone’s own creation.

Visions of Christmas is simply the perfect holiday album. It is a simply irresistible mix of classics and new Arkenstone-material.

And remember, if Visions of Christmas is too much classics for your taste – Arkenstone gave us the very modern sounding A Christmas lounge two years ago - which is jazzy and upbeat at the same time. So yes, we got everything that was on the wishing list.

Sample the album here:

Here is the CD on Arkenstone’s homepage. And here is a recent review on Blogcritics.

 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.

One such artist is David Arkenstone. He always has something new and fresh for us. This time around we have four new titles that in different ways show his musical genius.

Together with two talented photographers, David Pettit and Chuck Summers, David Arkenstone has created music for two DVDs entitled Magic Light of the Colorado Plateau (with Pettit) and Seasons of the Great Smoky Mountains (with Summers). These will give you a total nature experience from the comfort of your living room, accompanied by beautiful music. Arkenstone also has a new CD with the title Celtic Chillout – this time with a blue castle as the cover! About this album mr. Arkenstone says:

I had fun with this one. I combined my love of Celtic music with my love of putting rhythms together. The end result was pretty cool, I’ve heard…..

And lastly, the new Best of David and Diane Arkenstone album is now out. 16 of the best songs in new age music are now available on one disc.

You can read all about these recordings on David Arkenstone’s webpage – and make sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook too!

So yes, 2010 is turning out to be a great year for all David Arkenstone fans!!

The “best of” compilation features pieces from their sixteen best-selling albums, such as “Jewel In The Sun”, “Aquaria, A Liquid Blue Trancescape” and “The Healing Spirit”.

While most “Best of” albums are, well, not that interesting – this release is much more promising. David and Diane Arkenstone are without a doubt two of the most talented musicians of the New Age genre - and they deserve a ”best of album”. I think we all can agree to that

You can sample all of the 16 tracks on the Eversound homepage.

Here you can see that David Arkenstone is in every way a perfect new age music artists, reaching millions of listeners all over the world.  From ethnic fusion to chill out, from nature sounds to holiday music – mr. Arkenstone is no. 1.

On Arkenstone’s homepage is a nice gallery (with pictures from his tour in December), a listening lounge and music shop. One of the best aspects of the new site are the videos, where there are live recordings too. Here you get to see the master in action.

Who said that new age music isn’t live music? David Arkenstone is as good on the stage as he is in the studio!

I have been a huge fan of David and Diane Arkenstone’s ethnic and ambient “Native Southwest” side project, Ah*Nee*Mah, since their first album was released back in 2001.

Now a “best of” Ah*Nee*Mah, entitled Native Spirit, has been released on the Green Hill Music label. Here you’ll find some of their best songs, like Sun Circle and Spirit Dance. As you know, David and Diane are not longer married – but they continue to work together on several projects. Hopefully we will get to hear more from the Ah*Nee*Mah-project in the future – the band with the stars in their name - but a “best of” album is also a treat.

Sample the album on Green Hill Music’s homepage.

Yet again mr. Arkenstone shows that he knows what the fans want:

Steel drums!

It is important to point out that this is – and should be – a simple album. If you want more depth and feelings, Arkenstone has many titles for you in his discography. Caribbean Nights is supposed to be uncomplicated. This is, by the way, not David Arkenstone’s first Caribbean music album. In 2004 he released an album called Caribbean Dreams – which was a collection of previously released songs with an “island feel” but not a dedicated album like his new release.

Caribbean Nights is a steel drums album, accompanied by flutes, guitars and marimba. It is needless to say a very comfortable soundscape, that makes your mind drift away. If your are having a grey and cold day, put this on and your living room is transformed into a beach – complete with palms, waves and on the horizon; a setting sun.

Sample the album here.

We love island music here at .nu. On this page you’ll find a list of other new age music titles with island themes. We will now add Caribbean Nights in this music list.

Arkenstone said the following on his Yahoo board a while back: I just finished a recording called ‘Caribbean Nights’ with real steel drums. It was great fun.

You can preorder the album here. As you might know, David Arkenstone has previously released an album called Caribbean Dreams.

2008 has been a miserable year for the music business as a whole, but a great year for a niche genre like new age. The internet has made it easy to release music without the backing of a label, and in 2008 we have seen some truly amazing new artists. Many small indie labels are also doing well. It is possible that the internet-based music economy will revive a genre like new age.

Still, the major label artists have a great impact, and they too have contributed with incredible albums. 2008 has been a year where both the established artists and the newcomers tried entirely news sounds and beats, expanding the genre and giving it more prestige. Mike Oldfield recorded with the world-renowned pianist Lang Lang and a complete symphony orchestra, while Enigma surprised their millions of fans with unusual hip hop beats. And Jillian Goldin came out of nothing and showed us what new age is really all about.

Below is NewAgeMusic.nu’s top 10 list of 2008. As always it is hard to make lists. Some great albums may have been forgotten, but to my defense I can say that all albums mentioned here are incredible. If you are looking for a fresh new age album, you can’t go wrong with any of them. It is simply great music.

1. Jillian Goldin: Origins

At the very top of this year’s best of list is debut artist Jillian Goldin, who in April released Origins. Her incredible voice, the quality production and her love and understanding for the genre made this into an unforgettable album. On top of this are the album’s beautiful, emotional melodies. If you don’t believe me, you should sample the tracks Hajime or The Winds of Change. They are fantastic beyond words. And, like any serious new age artist, Goldin is also productive. In November she released a beautiful Christmas EP entitled Through Sand and Snow. I am certain that she in the future will give us a lot of great music. A big applause for Jillian!

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

2. Deep Project: Deep Brasil

Deep Forest is one of this genre’s most popular and influential artists. Their last album was Music.Detected_ from 2002, and they will probably not release anything for a long time. But one of the group’s members, Eric Mouquet, launched this year Deep Projects, which will release four Deep Forest styled albums. Deep Brasil is the first one (the others are Africa, China and Sky). And wow, what an incredible album! All Deep Forest fans will feel right at home. This is like an updated version of Sweet Lullaby, with many new elements as well. Flavio Dell Isola and Michel Villain’s vocals give the album a world music feel. And this is only the beginning: we have three more albums to look forward to!

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

3. Mike Oldfield: Music of the Spheres

First I must say that Music of the Spheres is in many respects in a class of its own. With pianist Lang Lang, soprano Hayley Westenra and the complete Euskadiko Orkestra Sinfonikoa, the scene at Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was set for the performance of Music of the Spheres, the first classical album by Mike Oldfield. It is a beautiful and powerful piece of music, and a sign that Mike still has it. The reason Music of the Spheres is not on the top of this list, is that Mike has created several better albums before, like Tubular Bells, Ommadawn and Amarok. Still, it is an impressive effort. I hope that Mike will do more classical music in the future.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

4. Enigma: Seven Lives Many Faces

Enigma’s seventh album entitled Seven Lives Many Faces was, as mentioned above, a big surprise to their fans. Hip hops beats have not usually been a part of a new age music soundscape. But perhaps this will change now with hit singles like La Puerta Del Cielo and Seven Lives? Michael Cretu is always looking for new samples, loops and sounds. This time he succeeded in creating something entirely new, and breathed new life into the Enigma project as well. The album also has a great EP with songs that didn’t make the cut.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

5. Medwyn Goodall: Amun Ra

Amun Ra is Medwyn Goodall’s first Egypt album. It has a fresh, warm sound and an epic theme. Goodall’s use of exotic instruments are both interesting and creative. When listening to the album you feel like you are in front of a pyramid, and the desert is all around you. There are not many Egypt themed new age albums on the market (one by Diane Arkenstone and one by Phil Thornton & Hossam Ramzy). Hopefully there will be more Egypt albums soon, and Goodall has with Amun Ra shown the way through the desert. A brilliant album!

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

6. Marc Enfroy: Unbounded

Unbounded is a Cinematic Piano album by debut artist Marc Enfroy. It is a collection of gentle piano melodies with orchestral arrangements, and all of the album’s 12 songs are rich with feelings and emotions. It is a very promising debut. Powerful and beautiful at the same time.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

7. David Arkenstone: Echoes of Light and Shadow

Echoes of Light and Shadow is one of David Arkenstone’s most personal albums. From the black/white photograph of the artist on the cover to the gentle melodies, is has a personal touch that is rare in this genre. Several songs on this album will in time perhaps be considered classics, like the positive Lightdance and the emotional Secret on the moors. Arkenstone also released an interesting Christmas album this year with a fresh lounge sound.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

8. Al Conti: Scheherazade

Scheherazade has taken the new age music scene with storm. Al Conti’s third album has been on top of the internet radio play lists for several months now, and the success will probably continue because it is an incredible, epic album. The story of Scheherazade comes from the One Thousand And One Arabian Nights. It is an unforgettable voyage in time and space.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

9. Kindred: Kevin Wood

Kindred is a relaxing, uplifting and somewhat different album. It is Kevin Wood’s third release. Kindred has an interesting ethnic approach, but the sound is much like Wood’s previous albums. He uses rich synth pads, a beat box like drum and additional layers of piano, strings and vocals. This is music with a message: we all have a lot in common, regardless of race, ethnicity and religion. Yes, we are all kindred. Yet another beautiful album from Kevin Wood! Perfection at every level.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

10. Kevin Kendle: Light From The Pleiades

Kevin Kendle’s Light From The Pleiades is the third installment it the popular Deep Skies series. This is ambient electronica at its very best. There is this incredible feeling of distance and weightlessness in Kendle’s space music. My favorite track is the last one, Celaeno, which has a beautiful ambient melody. The sound of retro synths and powerful pads make Light From The Pleiades to one of the finest albums in the space music genre ever.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

And now 2009 is here! I am sure some truly great music will be released this year too. Stay tuned!

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