Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: bliss

  • The Silence of Grace

    The Silence of Grace

    How many ways are there to describe perfection other than to say the music of Deborah Martin and Jill Haley come pretty close to the definition of ‘the state or quality of being perfect’ with their sublime The Silence of Grace.

    The small booklet that accompanies the work is an excellent lead into the music, as each song is accompanied by some beautiful words that in a single line or two shares the majesty of nature that inspired the composition. Deborah Martin is well known for her subliminal electronic compositions that drift and float on the ether.

    Jill Haley, Oboist, English horn player as well as a pianist and composer, blends the sounds of her instruments into the electronic soundscape in a manner that is as seamless as it is perfect. Both women have a deep bond with nature, a love of walking through nature, of sitting allowing nature to inspire their magnificent compositions.

    Initially the effect of the music was as if a bubble of light formed encapsulating the spirit, which then drifted timelessly through time and space on a journey only the listener could understand. Upon reading the words in the booklet the impression lasts as when walking through the majestic forests deep in the green world of peace and calm, a feeling of encapsulation forms to protect and nourish.

    Each individual piece gently drifts into one blissful journey which is exquisite and totally perfect for deep mediation or simply drifting and best described by these two lines:

    ‘Be still just for a moment .. do not want to loudly.. Instead, chase the mists quietly and gently..’-Deborah Martin.

    And from Jill Haley; ‘Grace is a gift bestowed on us..unasked for and gratefully received.’

  • Sands of Time

    Sands of Time

    Simply disconnect from the everyday and get set to enjoy one of the most richly sumptuous collections of neo-classical music to be created by Dutch composer Kerani with Sands of Time, her latest offering and one more than well worth the wait.

    Words do not do justice to this work which reaches deep into the very heart, to bring a wonderful sense of being washed in pure gentle love and peaceful healing. There is no doubt that the music, as it always does with one of her creations, takes you on voyage of discovery, to places new and old, of emotions of joy, happiness and love

    Having been privy to a very small moment of time watching Kerani create her blissful music, each note is carefully crafted using her wonderful ability to hear the music in her heart, mind and soul long before a note is played; each little note coming together piece by piece to form what can very easily be considered as a creation directly from the Divine.

    To set out the various tracks with a descriptor other than the title would be to do an injustice to the beauty that will unfold as each piece comes to life, often led in by piano or synthesizer, backed with a rich depth from a live string ensemble. When they occasionally entwine with the beautiful vocals of Davinia Van der Zee-Kropivšek enchantment is created.

    Every piece becomes a favourite, before the next delicately sensuous track flows forth, lush in texture, rich in emotion, to carry the listener to a faraway place only they can discover. All to soon the hour of enchantment which was began with the Sands of Time is drawing to a conclusion with the gracious and delicate piece The Muse, which creates an absolutely blissful return to reality.

    The tiny beginnings of this outstanding work were began long before 2020 arrived filled with unforeseen challenges, changing life as it once was, to life as it is now, heralding in a very different reality. Sands of Time has arrived at an exact moment in time that is desperately seeking comfort from the stress of daily life.

    Perfect!

  • Somewhere New

    Somewhere New

    When the amazing talents of flautists Sherry Finzer and Mark Holland collaborate it only produces one thing; a magnificent collection of work filed with light, joy and beauty. Add Will Clipman on percussion with Djembe, Udu, Caxixi, Bodhran and Claves, Cory Edwards on Piano, Ken Verheecke on guitars and synth and Peter Stirling on Celtic Harp and you have pure alchemy of sound being created, woven into a mystic and beautiful pattern to be enjoyed.

    Never Forgotten introduces the album with the sound of piano and percussion then the deep, mellow sounds of the flute join in, over-riding the piano to tempt the senses, tantalise for what is to follow.

    Finzer and Holland display their immense talent in the haunting piece When Stillness Comes which takes you to vast open spaces where the deep peaceful stillness of the night, an entity of rare and intense beauty.

    In Search of Somewhere New is a jaunty, happy little piece combining the talents of Finzer, Holland, Clipman and Edwards with a lively swing beat which gets the toes tapping with the pure enjoyment, beckoning for the fun to be had and enjoyed: a hugely enjoyable piece to gladden the heart.

    Welcoming in Peter Stirling on Celtic harp is the delicious Evening Star which reaches deep with enchantment, a seduction of tones woven throughout the base melodies of the harp as it is delicately plucked to create a delightful ambiguity.

    The percussive element in Five Shades, consisting of Water Drums, Udu, Bodhran, Claves and Caxixix is intriguing and adding lightness to the very rhythmic beat synonymous with a tribal style music of music often associated with the American Indian.

    Golden Daybreak sees Mark Holland joined by Ben Von Harz on the Axion handpan, an innovative steel handpan similar to a Hung, which creates a gentle style of percussion, allowing a delicacy and beauty to be added the music of the flute.

    Simply listening to the joy interwoven throughout the final piece Dolphin Dreams, a lovely light filed collaboration of Finzer, Holland, Ken Verheecke on guitars and Clipman, brings with it an uplifting of the spirit and the soul, immediately drawing the parallel to the Dolphin, a perfect, highly intelligent animal whom when seen allows the mind to marvel at their magnificence.

    Somewhere New is an album which can very, very easily be considered as an award winner for these talented musicians.

    Gloriously beautiful!

  • Urban Metta, Vol. 2

    Urban Metta, Vol. 2

    Anaamaly pronounced as Án-o-maly’ means, ‘something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected’, is a perspective to be remembered as you drift slowly through the delicate vibration which is Urban Metta II.

    Following on from the successful Urban Metta Vol 1 album, volume II or Um 11, is equally as a captivating, so much so that both albums, although similar in construction and intent, are somewhat different, pleasingly so. If you are after some lengthy meditation or healing relaxation music, using these two albums as a continuous loop would add another dimension to a wonderful, healing experience.

    Created with meditation and yoga as the basis, the music simply flows over the landscape, offering a time to step out, switch off and be refreshed, whether it simply is a little half hour in time or as a bedtime companion on those days when life is nothing more than a series of discordant noises.

    Coming from his background as both a musician and sound technician, Phil Strickland uses his immense and diverse skill base to create a soundscape that offers relaxation as well as empowerment of the body, mind and spirit.

    Classed somewhat as New Age it is far more than that, as it comes into the relaxation genre with the underlying aspect of grounding and emotional impact, which is both refreshing and cleansing. A Zen moment can be assured, along with that catch phrase of ‘mindfulness’ in meditation, as the music encourages an ‘in the moment’, minute or two, as it travels seamlessly onward towards the final track, which as with all good relaxation and meditation pieces, slowly returns to the everyday world, but with a wonderful feeling of peace and joy present.

    Each of the tracks has a specific title which offers a reason for the creation, but as with all music of this genre or ambience, the titles really do not matter, as the intent is to offer a little fillip of escape in an otherwise busy, busy world. But for those of you who enjoy the more structured aspect, titles really can hold some serious significance, adding yet another layer or dimension to the experience.

    As with all of Anaamaly’s works, do not try to over analyse the pieces, simply undertake the easiest option; turn on the music, settle into a comfortable chair, add a glass of something enjoyable and enjoy the journey for what it will bring, hold and offer.

    Perfect, sublime, bliss!

    A Note from Phil Strickland

    For maximum listening pleasure:

     Dear Listener

    Please know that Urban Metta, Vol. 2 was specifically designed to be experienced with hi-fidelity stereo headphones and the SUBPAC S2 or M2 Tactile Bass Systems (visit www.SUBPAC.com to learn more). For the true immersive, vibrational full-body experience, I highly recommend that you use both when listening, if possible. Please contact me if you have questions before purchasing a SUBPAC or stereo headphones.

  • Walking to you

    Walking to you

    Delicate, dainty, and immensely peaceful, this solo piano album is one that trips gently across the earth, bringing with it great sense tranquillity which seeps into the inner being; the tension within slowly dissipates as each of the tracks slowly blends into one offering.

    Graceful is a word that can be easily used and related too as you slowly enjoy each of the pieces, beginning with the title track Waking to You, which is exactly what happens as you listen; the notes float delicately towards you, seeking and finding that special place within, that little bit of tension, stress and almost ethereally, touches, heals and soothes.

    Not that all the pieces are delicate, as Hear Me Now begins on a slightly hesitant note, as if some thought is required before striking the next note, but moves into a more mellow space shifting rhythms and depths, ending with a wonderful crescendo as if to say well, I have been nice, gentle even and now you will Hear Me!

    Following this is the calm after the storm with It’ll be OK, a reflective melody tending to overlay the still firm tones of the composition.

    Waltz in E Minor takes you back in time when the waltz was considered racy in extreme, and to enjoy such a close dance with the one you loved was special, emotive, delightfully naughty and delicious.

    Night Butterflies moves into the mellow and thoughtful time of the day, when you perhaps capture the magic of the night creatures as they go busily about their business, seemingly without a care, but all the while knowing their time on this earth is precious.

    A fitting finale to this wonderfully diverse collection of elegance and grace is Starlight Lullaby, which perhaps, more than any other piece creates the feeling of a woman playing at her piano, completely immersed in the wonderful music she is creating. Where the pianist stops and music commences is impossible to discern.

    A most beautiful, relaxing album that will be one listened too and enjoyed for many, many years.