We here at .nu are big fans of legendary new age music reviewer mr.  Bill Binkelman. He is the best reviewer our genre has. Still, when reviewing we cannot always be of the same opinion. That is the case with his recent review of the album Light Returning by Acoustic Ocean on Zonemusicreporter.com.

Mr.  Binkelman writes:

What derails my enjoyment of this album (Light Returning), and undercuts the CD’s potential overall success, is that the “whole” simply doesn’t work. It’s odd, but this is the rare album where the WHOLE is LESS than the sum of the parts (the opposite is usually true). I can’t pinpoint why this is the case, although a large part of this failure must reside with the engineering mix itself. It’s muddy to the point of being indistinct and haphazard.

And more:

Each track is great for the first minute or so, but then each one devolves into a miasma of overlapping sounds that, well, basically get in each other’s way. I have to think the mixing and engineering is at fault here, because the music itself, if one digests it through headphones by isolating it, is not just pretty but VERY pretty.

First I would like to say that I think Light Returning by Acoustic Ocean is not only a good album – but very good album. Not merely as background music, but also for active listening on headphones (I’m listening to it on headphones as I write this). Included are 8 long songs with beautiful melodies, a wonderful carefree atmosphere and lots of nature sounds. It is one of those few albums I will return to again and again, because of its positivity. It’s all happy, like a day at the beach.

What I like the most is the mix. I like the way the piano and harp melodies, the nature sounds and “everything else” just flows naturally. It has its own rhythm, own logic – just like the ocean itself.

Mr.  Binkelman is right about one thing though; the somewhat strange hissing noise in the background – easily heard in the beginning of  the first track. But, in a world where all other albums are digitally processed to perfection, I thought it was a bit refreshing to hear some acoustic hissing.

So please go ahead, listen to the album and tell us what you think.

Is it all darkness – or is the light returning?

Check it out here.