Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: magical

  • Through the Garden Gate

    Through the Garden Gate

    Through The Garden Gate is a whimsical little tale that has wonderfully hidden gems to be found once you go the garden gate which leads to a place where magic happens. Suddenly, what was going to be a boring day, turns into one of adventure and wonderful, hidden things.

    In this charming adventure Sharon Rose takes children on a wonderfully magical journey into a world that is well known to plants, trees, insects, bugs and bees, but perhaps not so well known to children.

    Miles is bored. His friend is away on holidays, and he has nothing to do. His Mum asks him to go and help their neighbour, who has a broken her ankle. He reluctantly agrees to go and see what he can help with in her garden and that is when he finds or rather discovers, a small a gate at the end of the poppy patch. Where does that go, he asks Miss Mary?

    Once he has finished his chores he is allowed to go through the gate, which is a lot smaller than he though. On the other side he finds things are different, magical and so much bigger than he thought. And there are fairies, real, cheeky, happy Fairies who welcome him into their world.

    When a calamity happens Miles knows exactly what to do to help the Fairies rescue their garden from the terrible bog that is slowly drowning their paradise, something he would never have been able to do, if he had not worked in Miss Mary’s garden.

    At the end of the story there is a section devoted to learning about the plants in the book which completes a magical, learning journey Through The Garden Gate. Vibrant illustrations from Erin Brown complete what is a most enjoyable time spent in a very magical place.

  • Tales from Muggleswick Wood

    Tales from Muggleswick Wood

    A magical bedtime treasury

    Whatever you do don’t miss reading this wonderful book Tales from Muggleswick Wood from Vicki Cowie. If you are lucky you will have a young one to share it with, but for magical moments and pure escapism, this is marvellous.

    The hardback cover, with illustrations reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh, suggests a dense text, but the insightful layout of the story make it easy to read. The words glide off your tongue as all good stories should. The front pages show a section of the countryside where the stories take place.

    Chapter 1 begins with ‘The magic of Muggleswick Wood’

    ‘Once fine autumn day,

    When the leaves had turned gold,

    An air of excitement was fast taking hold.’

    Gran had come to visit and sat on Beth’s bed to tell her a story. The tale was charming and magical and mysterious. However, Sam, Beth’s cousin, asked Gran for a story the next night and his was about a beetle. The family were squeamish about this beetle but the boy in the story befriended out. it with an amazing outcome.

    Sam’s sister Grace was told a story about Snittington Hall. Lady Plumcake was getting to old to manage the property. When the rude new owner came to inspect it Lady Plumcake explained to him that she shared the home with Brownies and there were a few things that must stay the same; this door left open, this chair just here and never any money left out. The hilarious consequences of the man refusing to adhere to her advice makes this very joyful.

    The stories Gran told continue to enchant and delight the children. There is gentle humour, (when the purchaser calls the owner Lady Plumbum,) with a gentleness about the illustrations and the language.

    Tales from Muggleswick Wood. would be a lifelong friend for any child

  • To Dance with You: Music for Flute and Harp

    To Dance with You: Music for Flute and Harp

    There is at the rear of Louis Anthony deLise’s property a magic place called the ‘Bocage’: I am sure he, along with John McMurtery and Anne Sullivan retired to this enchanted corner of the universe and allowed the fairies, pixies and other worldly folk to be found there, to create an album of short but enchanting pieces full of whimsy and charm, using of course very earthly talents.

    To Dance With You is from the first track, nothing short of perfectly beautiful; full of delicate notes from the flute and harp, two instruments working in perfect harmony to weave their evocative spell of seduction to bewitch and beguile.

    The ethereal A Time for Peace is a composition full of love, warmth and welcome, enticing the weary soul to settle gently into the moment allowing love to sooth, comfort and refresh. No pixies or fairies in this one at all, but maybe there is one there somewhere.

    Cheeky and full of interesting concepts is A Trot Through The Snow (On Mr Brubeck’s Horse) which brings with it an element of fun, of children enjoying a moment in time as they journey across the snow covered landscape; of dainty Sprites dancing on the back of the horse, simply enjoying the freedom of the moment.

    Little Lydian has an almost ‘olde worlde’ feel to the flow of the music, reminding one of cobbled streets, musicians entertaining the passers bye; charming and interesting. Whereas, Three Little Dancers charms as it allows a story to unfold of three little children, deeply concentrating on their moment in time where they can show all who choose to see, the rare beauty of the moment when music and dance come together seamlessly.

    Reminiscent of times long ago, when the magic of the music box was a thing of great wonder to small children, The Music Box captures that wonderment felt when the lid was opened, the little dancer spinning slowly around, the music twinkling, seemingly without assistance.

    As with all magical things an end must arrive and it does with Petit Fall Fanfare, a more formal piece that balances the ethereal nature of the previous tracks and is wonderful as a grounding to return once again from a magical place, to the world of every day, enchanted and bewitched. A perfect conclusion.

    Louis Anthony deLise is a musician of note, particularly for his many and varied compositions. With To Dance With You he has created a romantic, captivating, and engaging interlude in time, which has been bought to life and enchantment by the talent of John McMurtery on Flute and Anne Sullivan on Harp.

    Allow your mind to simply drift with the music and perhaps you too will be fortunate enough to discover the fairies, pixies and sprites dancing and enjoying their special moment in time as they request also To Dance With You.

  • Sapphire Oak

    Sapphire Oak

    After having listened to the rich and powerful new work, Sapphire Oak from Sharon Fendrich many times, trying to find words to describe what has to be the standout album of the year, is challenging.

    Beautiful, rich, deep and dreamy Sapphire Oak will take you places that perhaps you never wanted to go, as it celebrates that out of turmoil comes beauty, resilience and eternal hope though the wonderful metaphor of the immensely strong, resilient, eternal oak tree.

    Mystical and sumptuous this outstanding work is introduced with Sea of Oaks, a gently seductive piece that immediately captures the very essence of the sacred mystery wrapped around these wonderful guardians of the earth.  

    Tribute has been paid to this in the gentle The Grove at Dodona, capturing the mystique of Zeus’s Oracle at Epirus, where the priests would divine the pronouncements of God by listening to and interpreting the rustle of the oaks leaves.

    Soaring vocals from Fendrich set the Call of the Ruins apart from other pieces. Her purity of voice is haunting; a high priestess summoning the elements, calling forth the magic, the very essence of the Gods of heaven and earth. Evocative and beautiful.

    Once again captivating, with delicate strings holding the melody in an ethereal thread, is the delicate Dryad’s Rejoice which simply underlines the magic that surrounds the oak once again and the many very little, sometimes visible nymphs, who live within and without. Greek mythology would not be such without these intriguing nature spirits.

    Without a doubt this is a work of feminine energy. The voice of Talia Valdez, joins with that of her mother Sharon Fendrich in Under Her Canopy to bring this enchanting song into a rich fullness of tones and layers. Utterly enchanting and deeply emotional, this is a work of pure love.

    Once again Sapphire Oak is graced with rich vocals reminiscent of Celtic elements, and as the signature piece, does not disappoint with its many gentle layers richly interwoven throughout the orchestral soundtrack.

    Flute leads in the final piece Carry the Oak, a slightly more sombre piece, once again hauntingly resonant, touching on a variety of emotions as the clear, dainty notes of the flute, combined with luscious strings, draws a stellar work to a close.

    Red Sky Prairie was Fendrich’s first album and was a standout work. Sapphire Oak has taken her music to another level altogether; she has tapped into a deep and mystical stream of consciousness that sets this work apart and is, from the first to the last note, utterly enchanting.

    Sapphire Oak: an award winner, most definitely.

  • NOVA: An Acoustic Journey

    NOVA: An Acoustic Journey

    Nova: An Acoustic Journey from Juliet Lyons and John Mclean Allen is a magical collection that takes the mind and soul to a completely different time and place, a moment out of the reality that is modern life, a place of charm, magic and beauty.

    Much can be said about this collaborative effort by these two musicians, both well known in their specific fields. Coming together to create Nova: An Acoustic Journey, they are simply one heart, one mind, one creative force directed with angelic guidance. Each of the pieces is an exquisite moment in time that once complete, leaves a refreshing peace.

    As the various pieces unfold each song will relate very differently to each person and, it is a hope, that you will listen with care and allow the music to bath you with light and love.

    Verdana –  delicate, beautiful, wordless vocals hinting at a delicacy of a moment in time that knows no boundaries, that is simply there to be enjoyed, drifting, peaceful and refreshing.

    Northern Lights– space, the timeless majesty of the night skies, the awe inspiring show of Northern Lights created as if a magician has been let loose in a color plate of amazing shades, creating with a mere whim pure, momentary beauty captured with drifting synth before the guitar and piano begin to add a timeless structure to the otherworldly sky painting.

    Luminous radiance lilting. gentle and graceful with instruments blending seamlessly as if the two are one, harmonizing with purity and effortless grace.

    Chaco– deep, somber and reflective this hauntingly exquisite song, once again with delicate flute and piano adding to the guitar, is to be savored. A piece in which to immerse the senses. 

    Stones and circles – mystical druids dancing around the sacred stones. The magic of the indigenous skies creating circles of light softly bathing the earth. Deep beliefs, shades of timeless wonder. Guitar with gentle piano harmonies ethereal, mystical events shaping the stone circles of the worlds sacred places,

    Emergence – returning from a deep and peaceful journey the slightly, ever so slightly up-tempo, rhythm paints a fresh beginning, a new start. A joyful sound of lightness and happiness pervades this final offering. A perfect ending for a fresh beginning.

    Drifting slowly into the ether, the music of Juliet Lyons & John McLean Allan charms and beguiles as it touches the very soul with love and warmth.  As this is a first collaboration for Lyons and Mclean Allen, let us sincerely hope it is not the last. Theirs is music to treasure and return to time after time.

  • 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.

  • Around The Sun

    Around The Sun

    Around The Sun is an absolute treasure of an album. Ambient and soothing, Kirsten Agresta Copley has, with her first a solo composition album for Harp, placed her graceful and gracious instrument firmly into a category of its own, that of ambient Harp music.

    An ancient instrument, the Harp has been somewhat overlooked as a stand-alone instrument, its mellifluous voice used to blend and create background on both a classical and contemporary stage. In creating what Agresta Copley considers ‘the most significant of her career’, a carer which has spaned a wide variety of genres, from classical to hip hop performance on a global scale, she has created a work of outstanding grace and elegance

    For the first time she has combined her prodigious talent with the Harp, with husband Marc’s abilities as a sound technician, engineer, producer and mixer to create a work of complete enchantment.

    Based on the 365-day cycle of the year, she has captured the seasons as they change, the emotions felt as the year slowly moves along. Daybreak offers the first dawning of light in the night sky, a time of peace, a time to observe and reflect on the dawning of a new day, the pages yet unwritten. This piece is a delicate bending of ancient with modern, as the underlying backing of gentle electronica is simply captivating, teasing the ear, capturing the mind.

    Each of the nine tracks is an absolute gem, with the particularly divine Water Lilies creating perfectly an immense sense of peace, of time slowly passing, a piece which encourages dreaming, or simply remaining in the moment of rare and peaceful beauty.

    Winter’s Bone, once again has delicate overtones of electronica combined with the very detailed and measured use of the Harp, which ushers in the chill of winter, the drawing in of the days, a time to go within, to reflect, heal and renew; a fitting finale to a body of absolutely outstanding work.

    Around The Sun created by Kirsten Agresta Copley is ambient music of an exceptional quality.