Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: blue

  • Blue Rose – album

    Blue Rose – album

    Romantic and somewhat ethereal, Blue Rose the album has captured with exquisite care, the gentle element of life over ten songs, each one a tiny little encapsulation of deeply felt emotion which pleases the senses over and over again

    Each of the songs have, prior to the album, been released as singles, but without a doubt, the full collection of these gentle songs makes a stand out album, and perhaps one of the best of this style for 2023. It is special in that it does not wish to be pretentious in any way, but charms, entices and envelopes the listener into a sense of stillness for the duration of the collection. 

    Once Upon Another Time wafts into being with gently plucked violin and crystal clear haunting oboe which is pure perfection before spreading into a softer, elegance of being.

    Reflective and thoughtful this gentle piece, Just A Thought encapsulates that moment in time spent in reflection, the mind sorting, organising before coming to the conclusion to move on, move forward with ease and comfort.

    The title track Blue Rose is an electronic piece that is both dainty and robust; a blue rose coveted and rare, it blooms, enchants and then fades away. A symbol of rarity, uniqueness and spiritual healing a blue rose is also considered as a symbol of good fortune.

    Not to be left wanting, the baroque tones of RED are catchy, timeless and hold a fascination as there is a definitive sound of deep temple gongs drifting throughout the piece, filling the background as the call of the call of the cello, the measured notes of the keyboard, the whimsy of the viola come together to create a delicate, intriguing melody.

    Soliloquy is an interesting word in that it means speaking one’s thoughts out loud when alone, declaring an intent, setting a purpose in life. Therefore, the song Soliloquy is follows in these words: strong, thoughtful, full of declaration, wrapped in, at times an uncertainly, it culminates in a very carefully orchestrated genteel conclusion.

    Little Sparrow is tinged with sadness as a delightful journey is drawing to close with another delicate, intimate piece that captures the movement, the inquisitive nature of this much loved little bird as it travels its life pathway, vibrant, full of life, charm and purposes.

    Blue Rose – album is perhaps David Wahler’s best work to date and is simply enchanting.

  • Ocean Dreaming Ocean

    Ocean Dreaming Ocean

    Cellist David Darling passed in 2021 leaving behind, as well as his recorded music, a body of unfinished works, or collections not recorded. In Ocean Dreaming Ocean his deep and abiding love for the waters of the world is apparent as each of the songs, bought to life by Hans Christian, carry with them, various and beautiful elements of the ocean below and above the waterline.

    Darling was considered as a great collaborator, always ready to work with others to develop a dream. When Christian was asked to interpret the selection of pieces for the album, he found that to go into a quiet space, to simply be in the moment and to draw from the inspiration delivered was fundamental to the final result.

    To listen to each piece is to listen to Darling through the skilful playing and creative elements of Christians’ understanding of both Darlings’ musical depth and his own mastery of ‘cello.

    Commencing with Epitaph, the work is solemn, steadfast, with a gently pulsating rhythm underpinning the singular element of ‘cello, which is a beautiful tribute to David Darling. The vision created from the music is to enter the ocean, slowly descending into the still, quiet and peaceful depth, enchanting and enchanted. A charming vocal addition draws this song to a delicate close.

    The shortest piece Unforeseen Rain Ambient is a delicate drifting piece, once again sombre and yet with a delightfully mediative influence, bringing elements of floating, drifting, simply being in the moment, allowing the majesty of the ocean to permeate the senses.

    Ambient and graceful, Seven Veils enters a world inhabited by the whales, the dolphins and other creatures of the deep, as they move silently through their world, gently communicating with each other, perhaps pondering the sad and illusive world in which they now find themselves.

    Further into the collection is the lighter Unforeseen Rain which has evolved as a piece for Chamber Orchestra, that adds a refreshing and interesting twist to the complexity of the score.

    Ocean Dreaming Ocean concludes a dreamy, relaxing and mediative album which encompasses so many aspects of the richness of healing and beauty to be discovered within the varied depths of the oceans of the world. That it is a natural treasure is evident; that we need to care for this treasure and majesty is understated, to be able to pay tribute to its might in such a languid and beautiful style is a lasting tribute to both David Darling and Hans Christian.

  • Out of the Blue

    Out of the Blue

    What a fantastic message Out of the Blue conveys. It is so uplifting that all will be smiling at the end. We read about a very quiet and very sad little boy and the colour blue world he lives in.

    Everyone seems to accept that all things should be the colour blue because, by Government decree everything should be Blue. In his heart he loves the colour yellow but sadly, that is just not how the world sees life. Even his toast is blue. What can one small, quiet boy do?

    The answer is nothing. He is powerless to change the world until one night, when he opens his cupboard to play with some yellow toys he has found in the bin. He is discovered by his father, who is shocked to see the completely different outlook his son has and reassures the boy, that different is good. But most of all, he is still loved.

    His father takes matters into his own hands and changes their house colour to yellow. Ahhhh! now other people begin to see that different is OK and can be pleasing.

    Slowly, slowly other people begin to see the beauty in variety. Bit by bit people begin to make small adjustments and changes.

    The message here is so powerful and so possible. For one small boy to have begun such a change is remarkable. He is neither brave or bold, but together with love and support, his small action has changed his world. Marvellous!

  • Charlie’s Whale

    Charlie’s Whale

    Award winning children’s author Libby Gleeson has not disappointed her young readers with her latest picture book ‘Charlie’s Whale’, the story of young Charlie, who is passionate about whales; particularly the blue whale. To see a real one is his dearest wish.

    Although middle child Charlie loves everything about the sea, he just loves whales; he spends his days reading, learning and daydreaming about whales. His room is decorated with pictures of them, his project book is filled with information about them and his favourite toy is his cuddly plush toy blue whale.

    The glorious pastel watercolour illustrations transport the reader to the seaside, as they perfectly capture the feeling of wonderful summer’s days spent at the local beach.

    Author Libby Gleeson and artist Hannah Sommerville, who specialises in illustrating picture books for young children, have successfully collaborated to capture Charlie’s single-minded quest to achieve his dream; to see a blue whale. Older children will enjoy identifying the different whales featured on the endpapers of this book.   

    ‘Charlie’s Whale’ makes an ideal book to give a 3-6 year old for Christmas.

  • Broken Blue

    Broken Blue

    Considered as one of the foremost Greek Jazz Combinations, Spiral Trio have on their second album Broken Blue created a work of intimate and well considered jazz, featuring some outstanding piano work from Spyros Manesis on piano, ably backed by Arionas Gyftakis on double bass and Anastasis Gouliaris on drums.

    The opening number Rubicon, is moody, soft, subtle and a perfect introduction to an album that ranges from upbeat, catchy rhythms to gentle, smoky vibes reminiscent of the Jazz bars of yesteryear, where muso’s hung out in dark glasses, wore berets and smoked endlessly, creating a dense, almost mysterious atmosphere in which to work their alchemy.  Once Upon a Summertime a little later in the carries on this soft smoky vibe.

    As the work unfolds it retains that certain mystique which could be considered as a jazz signature of a very high standard.  Broken Blue is a fast, up-tempo piece which immediately dispels the mellow vibe of Rubicon, which showcases their talent with a multilayered delivery that is seamless and transports into a world of pure pleasure. An outstanding piece encapsulating all that is modern Jazz music.

    As a ‘free style element’ Jazz is relatively hard to describe as it is a mix of folk, blues and a whole lot of improvisation, which when combined, gives a signature style that is easily recognisable. This has been captured perfectly once again by the trio in Blue Flower a catchy piece with a distinctly snappy beat.

    Ding Dong powers into the spectrum with a bold, punchy bass element which could easily be considered as the trio having a little fun within the very broad range of jazz, almost as if they are trying to out play each other. In doing so, if that is what they are doing, they have created a rather interesting delivery.

    As a final offering from this absolutely intriguing and enjoyable album, Portrait in Yellow is a rather interesting option. Slow, broody, subtle and almost melancholy, the piano work highlights the deep, somewhat ‘messy’ bass with a slight overlay of percussion, which then simply steps back to allow the percussion to take over, before re-joining the other instruments to draw the piece and the album to a slow finale.

    Broken Blue: Different, enjoyable and definitely well worth the listen.

  • Black River

    Black River

    Over a long hot Sydney summer a killer is on the loose. He is so good at cleaning up the traces. His very distinctive, brutal style of murder is specific for a person with some serious mental health issues, which while it helps the detectives to try and understand what is going on, it is not helping them solve the murders of two young women living in the same suburb, but totally unknown to each other.

    When a third murder occurs at a prestigious Sydney boys school, there appears to be no real link to the BMK (Blue Moon Killer) murders, but in desperation, Riley and her boss O’Neil, decide that perhaps there could be a commonality here; O’Neil makes the decision to keep the case, even though the thread is fine.

    Bowman, a down on his luck night desk reporter at the ailing The National broadsheet, gets told to go cover the story as he was an old boy at the prestigious Prince Alfred College. Bowman is none too happy about this, as he is not the crime reporter and going back holds too many bad memories; memories he does not want to revisit.

    Fast paced with a skilfully-crafted plot, Dark River paints the profile of a man who is dangerously unstable. Because of his method of cleaning the site of his murders, he has an excellent knowledge of forensics, therefore could very easily be one of the Police force, and a family with secrets to hide, that keep the police guessing; in need of a small glimmer of hope.

    The logistics of the cases keep coming back to the river that runs past the previously murdered women’s homes and also runs through the campus of Prince Alfred Campus. Is this a link or is it simply a co-incidence?

    Making the decision to use Bowman as a strategic leek, O’Neil, Riley and new recruit to the division Patel, work well as a team, as they slowly uncover far more than they ever imagined over the long hot summer; where politics, the mafia, greed, tragedy, obsession and horror come together to form murder.

    Spencer has created characters who are very real, with flaws in their makeup which adds a dose of realism to the story, taking it from the world of fiction into the world of everyday, giving the story an edginess that draws you in and refuses to let go until the killer is caught.

    Former journalist Matthew Spencer has delivered a blockbuster of read with his first novel, Dark River and one, even though it is only six months into the year, could be considered as one of the best crime thrillers of 2022,

  • Night Blue

    Night Blue

    Every once in a while, you come across a book that is so remarkable it challenges all your previous concepts. Night Blue is such a book and so wonderfully written that you want to begin to read it again when finished, for this is the story of the painting of Blue Poles by Jackson Pollock. He said, “The painting has a life of its own” and this is the story told by that painting.

    A life begins in a barn in New York, in 1952, when the artist unrolls some Belgian linen five metres by three metres onto the floor. He liked to be able to move around the painting and “Feel he was part of it.”  Now the author of this story of the painting takes up the tale. From the smell of the paint to the artists splattered dungarees, a gradual relationship develops. It is a special love story. “His gaze… sought me as one seeks a horizon. To dream into, to orient oneself.”

    At the completion of the creation of this work, it was exhibited in New York. There was not much interest in Blue Poles at the time and the painting remembers being removed from its frame and rolled up. It was reframed and sold to a couple who kept it in a dim room where it felt it could die. It was not in physical danger but that is not how a painting lives.

    Part two of this tale is written by Alyssa, an art critic and writer. She is fascinated with Pollock and through her own experiences and studies begins to learn about his motivations, lifestyle and his art. Her story is revealing as it unfolds in the political setting of the times.

    Whatever your thoughts on the Blue Poles painting this is a story not to be missed. It is the “inside story,” narrated by the painting, and the “Outside story,” narrated by Alyssa. The lyrical writing is a joy to read, and is the crown on a wonderful tale.

  • Karmic Dreams

    Karmic Dreams

    For all of the downside attached to the devastation that is the Corona virus, the other side of the darkness is beauty, rich and magnificent; ethereal and majestic, peaceful and meditative. Facing his own personal battle with all-be-it a mild dose of Covid-19, Michael Whalen was compelled to create his second album of 2020. Karmic Dream, a collaborative work with Rasaul, known also as Blue Monk, based in Malaysia, is the result of this time spent in isolation in New York, with both musicians combining their skills through modern technology.

    Blue Monks’ immense talent with the flutes enchants the electronic ambiance created by Whalen as they draw forth from the very essence of an almost Zen like existence, a rare and beautiful meditation album that is elegant, purposeful and transformational.

    In a plethora of electronic based meditation works that have been born throughout the year 2020 as people struggle to come to terms with the new reality, with musicians offering the solace of music to bring relaxation and a sense of peace to many, Karmic Dreams stands very, very tall, as there is a subliminal feeling of vulnerability underlying the compositions which offers a reminder that our time on this earth is all too short; a precious gift that should be treasured.

    The Secret Garden welcomes you into a world that is unexpected, as it is when you enter your secret garden, a place of timeless enchantment; flute, bells and gongs dance within the boundaries of the electronic medium, creating a fascinating, surreal piece that is a fitting match for the title.

    And so the journey has begun into a wondrous place only you can visit via The Way of the Samurai, to feast the senses on Cherry Blossom Heart, a piece as delicate as the title infers. Moonscape leads into The Trance, a subtle and gentle piece morphing into Boundless Love a haunting, ethereal blessing before ushering in the final melody.

     Karmic Dream, the final track on this absolutely divine work is sublime, powerful; a musical essay into spirituality and creativity even in time of crisis. Out of the darkness comes true beauty; out of change come fresh frontiers, out of closures come new beginnings, all of which can be discovered hidden within the secret garden you are bid to enter in Karmic Dreams – exceptional.

     

  • Pacific Blue

    Pacific Blue

    Pacific Blue created by Nicholas Gunn and enhanced with the timeless, beautiful vocals of Alina Renae over four tracks, is a work of immense pleasure, full of surprises with a deep rich sense of the freedom that captures the constant changes, constant movement of the ocean in all its majesty.

    Classically trained, Gunn has used this training to create a sound that could be considered unique, with a blend of classical metre and electronic ambience. Combine this with the ethereal, almost folk sounding vocals from Renae and magic is created.

    Offering a deep sense of peace tied into the majesty of the Pacific Ocean, the work ebbs and flows, as do the tides that rise and fall with the influences of both the moon and the sun working in harmony.

    The lyrics to And I, are beautiful; a love story encapsulated within the music, rich and yet delicate; a piece which could have several interpretations: a love of another person or a deep and forever love of the ocean. An interesting song.

    Pure electronica is captured in Sailing, a piece which represents the fluidity of the water as it rushes past the keel, the boat dancing across the waters, creating a sense of pure, intense freedom.

    Once again, the lyrics to Pacific Blue the title track are well worth taking the time out to listen too as they once again have, as do all lyrics, several interpretations. The score on this piece is somewhat elegant, again presenting another aspect of not just the ocean, but life, as the words and music blend seamlessly into a whole.

    Coast is another delicate piece and one in which Gun offers an interesting blend of tones which allow the mind to drift along the coastline, a vision of looking inward to the land, seeing natures beauty from the ocean, a vison which for many is seldom seen, therefor allowing a personal interpretation to form. A peaceful, drifting song full of light and sunshine.

    Haunting melody slowly drifts into being on Out From The Deep, a mysterious, otherworldly, cinematic piece which captures the deep, unfathomed depths of the ocean where few ever go; a place full of rare beauty, captivating and dangerous.

    As a metaphor for life’s journey, Pacific Blue is a rich allegory with immense appeal.

  • One Shoe Two Shoes

    One Shoe Two Shoes

    There are many aspects that go to make up a good Children’s Book. For early readers the pictures must be large and clear and bright (with small cameos). The language needs to show patterns such as a plural (one shoe two shoes) The language should also flow, there should be humour, and interesting side issues. This book has all of these features as well as others, such as maths, counting, and learning colours.

    Another aspect of this story is the skilled way the artist has omitted things from the illustrations allowing the reader to ask questions such as “Who do you think is walking the dog? “How did a mouse get in the shoe?” and so on. The story itself is basic with minimum text, but the information is clearly visible, visually.

    Each double page spread has four or five single pictures which add greatly to the text. “Who’s hiding in there?” shows a shoe with a tail curling up from the inside. Perfect for guessing who might be there, what colour it is and why it is there. The whole story revolves around shoes and mice and is a great example of an entertaining and informative picture book for early readers.