Tag: world

Meet the Oceans

This colourful soft covered Picture Book is a splendid way to introduce the oceans of the world to children. The format of the book, that is, clear print, rhyming text, and large bright illustrations makes it instantly attractive for young readers. The illustrations and cartoon characters also engage the reader, encouraging them to join in the fun while discovering many facts.

Meet the Oceans begins with an invitation to join the characters on a submarine journey under the sea. The first place to visit is the Arctic Ocean. The ocean describes itself, and the creatures to be found in its waters. We learn that it is the smallest ocean, but it still has many creatures such as Jelly Fish, Polar Bears, and Beluga whales living in and around there. The water is freezing as are the surrounds.

Each following double page spread describes an ocean, its characteristics, and inhabitants. The Atlantic Ocean has “Mountains below me, and hundreds of undersea caves.” The fish and sea grass are shown here. All the world’s Oceans are described, and the local fish and plants are noted. The last double page spread shows a large world map with each Ocean named, giving a sense of placement for the various seas.

Meet the Oceans is a great educational tool and an interesting and fun read.

June 6, 2021
The Woodland Trust: Into The Forest

Beautifully constructed and presented this non-fiction book, The Woodland Trust: Into the Forest, has been created for a wide age range of readers, with an excellent use of language which is not to complex and yet describes the subject matter, that of the forests of the world, clearly and most importantly, with fun.

Trees worldwide are under threat from so many different sources that is indeed the true and real value of forests to the world environment, children need to understand from a young age. Into The Forests presents a marvellous place to begin.

Large pages set out the various aspects of all types of forests to be found throughout the world, along with all the different things to be discovered in each of the regions. Beginning with From Seed to Tree, the life of a tree from planting the seed, or in a dense natural forest the first shoots from a seed in the forest, to a fully grown tree is explained, as well as alerting the reader to the many hidden ‘helpers’ that are to be discovered throughout the journey.

Rain forests, with their humidity and huge leaves are discovered, as are the bare, snow clad trees of winter, the bright lovely colours of the many trees that shed their leaves in the autumn; the delicate, green, gentle shoots of the spring when winter is drawing to a close and new life is beginning once again

So many bugs, grubs and animals also live in the forests, all of whom rely on the many aspects of their world to survive, with logs and stumps providing homes for many of the woodland and creatures of the forests. The tall trees making wonderful homes for the birds who consider the tree tops their paradise.

Touring the world as the pages turn, becomes an exciting adventure, as each page is filled with information carefully couched within the illustrations, allowing the inquisitive minds of children to search the pages for information on such things as night in the forest, tropical rainforest’s, and silent winter.

The final pages provide instructions on how to plant a tree, show the many different animal that live in the forests of the world which can be found within the pages, as well as a great little Glossary to help out with various words that may be unfamiliar.

January 9, 2020
Love Around the World

Same sex marriage and parenting is a real component of modern-day life. In celebration of this Fleur Pierets and illustrator Fatinha Ramos have created a colourful children’s book, Love Around the World, discussing marriage between same sex couples, putting into context same sex marriage, to present to children answers for their never-ending questions about the many different people who are a part of their everyday world.

When Fleur Pierets asked Julian P. Boom to marry her it was a very exciting day for them both; a great event they considered would be the very best decision they could possibly make. They lived, slept and worked together, so getting married seemed to be absolutely the right thing for them.

But as they a were a same sex couple, a woman and woman, there were only 28 countries, out of the 195 countries that make up the world, where they were legally allowed to get married, and so they set off on an epic adventure, to travel the world and get married in each and every one of the 28 countries; Love Around the World is their story.

They began their adventure in The Netherlands, where Julian was born, and then on to the vibrant pulsating scene of New York. They came to Australia where they went to a smoking ceremony, believed to have healing powers. France is the most romantic country in the world; getting married in Paris was wedding number 4, and then on to Belgium, where Fleur’s mother clapped the loudest.

A clear, graphic style, presents the story with colour and joy as the couple travel around the world, celebrating their love for each other. It is not until the final page there is the suggestion, carefully worded, that something is very different, because in the middle of their trip to Mexico orange blossoms are used to symbolise their love.

As a foot note and not to spoil the next edition of this story as it is far from over, Julian was diagnosed with Brain Cancer, sadly loosing her battle not long after they married in Paris; marriage number 4.

Love a Around the World is a tribute to her and a continuation of a voyage begun, but not yet complete.

January 7, 2020
Journey For Mankind

Anyone who has ever flown long haul, looking out into the endless blue sky as dawn is breaking or night is drawing in will relate to this latest, very peaceful album from the talented duo of Tom Moore and Sherry Finzer, as they have once again collaborated to create a tribute to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landing on the moon.

On 21 July 1969, history was made when Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon with Aldrin joining him a little later. Fifty years on the fascination with that incredible event is still palpable, with countries worldwide celebrating in so many ways, spending time reflecting back to a time when space travel was very, very, new, almost unbelievable to the man on the street. A time when new horizons were being discovered, challenged, in the race into space.

So many people can remember to the very second where they were when this event was taking place, many still marvelling at the awe in which they held being able to view these men, doing something unimaginable, walking on the surface of the mood.

In their significant style Moore and Finzer have, with the blending rich notes of the of flute and intimate electronic range, followed the journey from the dawn at Merritt Island to the eventual and safe return to earth of Armstrong and Aldrin, whose lives had been changed in so many ways, forever.

There is a small booklet that accompanies the album which sets out the inspiration behind the pieces. Words from the men are also included which provided the inspiration for Shadow of the Moon and Blue Pearl in a Black Sky.

Once again, Tom Moore and Sherry Finzer have simply merged their music into a seamless whole, allowing the evolution of an absolutely beautiful work full of peace, beauty, serenity, awe and reflection to be born.

A Journey for Mankind is outstanding tribute to those who dared to venture forth and make history in the everchanging, mysterious, unknown universe, Space.

August 1, 2019
In The Distance

In this incredible tale narrated in music by Michael Bohne on In the Distance, focusing in on should, or when the earth will end, told through the metre of a hunting emotion underpinned by the never ending ticking of a clock, counting down the minutes, the work is, despite what could be considered bleak, presented in a style which although presented as within the New Age genre, is perhaps more like modern classical.

Using an older piano, a Chickering Anniversary Grand Piano, Bohne has used the idiosyncrasies all older, well used instruments develop, to offset the perfection of the score and delivery.

Bohne’s background is foundered in Rock and Roll, horror and sci-fi movies with the addition of Pop Punk and some serious heavy metal, so therefore how has he become a classical pianist of such talent. Thanks to David Lanz who offered the inspiration and encouragement for Bohne’s fertile imagination, he took up a personal challenge to play one of Lanz pieces “The Enchantment”, wining a YouTube competition with his interpretation.

In this his first solo album, as always with music, a raft of interpretation is available, depending on the mood, the time and the emotion of the listener; In the Distance is no acceptation to this basic fundamental of music. Having listened to the music several times, each time a very different concept was raised.

Initially doom and gloom are well portrayed, then a more mellow acceptance threads through the pieces and finally, on writing, an absolute respect for the standard and quality of the score and the tone; each time a differencing emotion, each time a confluence of feeling. From despair to hope, high and low, repetition and acceptance that thought life there will eventually be a finale; how that is to play out is an unknown.

Unusual in that many New Age concepts are based on relaxation, meditation, emotion it is an entirely different and unusual concept to be faced with the possible ending of the world, transcribed in a conceptual form.

In the Distance is a work which is beautiful; intriguing. Definitely a very different take on New Age classical music and one that is powerful, strangely enjoyable and in an unusual way, refreshing in its precision.

December 29, 2018
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!

August 13, 2018
Listen.

Ethnomusicology has been presented in a fine and flamboyant style in this second album created by Kulkarni, as he accepts the challenge of blending east with west, ancient with modern to create what can be considered as world-fusion, but the term ethnic soul resonates with panache and is perhaps the more descriptive of the two.

The term ethnic soul was coined by Kulkarni in respect of the piece When I Go which features the mbira thumb piano and harmonica, creating the ambience of slightly melancholic soul, with an upbeat harmony improvised by the clever use of the harmonica. Speak to me features the tabla drum, Oud, and a plucked stringed Lute from the Middle East which introduces a completely different feel.

Surrounded by music all of this life, Kulkarni began playing the Indian tabla drum with his parents, taking formal lessons at the age of 10 years, a time when he also began to learn the clarinet. He eventually became the Drum Major of his in senior high school, leading as many as 300 musicians onto the football field at halftime.

His music style comes from the many influences in his life, but was always intrigued by melodies, rhythms and production, as well as the richly majestic nature of film scores, particularly Bollywood scores, as well as a verity of other styles such as world music, pop, ethnic chill and New Age.

On this album he blends with immense skill the tones, style and emotion of so many of these various influences, ranging from Indian to Middle Eastern, Australian Digeridoo to Theorbo, two ancient instruments, djembe and Irish Bagpipes. From China he has taken the Erhu and from Japan the Japanese Flute building them into interesting and enjoyable pieces, with an exotic touch of the orient overlaying the central theme.

A point to note is there are four short improvisational pieces included to allow the listener to become familiar with several of the more unusual instruments used. They are Listen: Mbira, Listen: Oud, Listen : Erhu and Listen Theorbo which creates a lovely change, as these instruments often catch the ear, but remain unheralded, which is a real shame, as they are individually beautiful to hear played.

The album is definitely different, but different with a catchy beat, a delightful change of resonance and a skilful blending of sounds and rhythms.

Listen is one album that should be played on a dull day to lighten the load and brighten the soul. Uplifting and totally enjoyable it will be interesting to see what Kulkarni creates with his next album. As his first two albums are of an extremely high standard of world music, he has set the bar high for future works.

May 21, 2018
Global Skies

You can read a great deal into music and as with all of Timothy Cooper’s compositions for solo piano, a great deal has been the basis for his inspiration. Global Skies is no exception. As a man who travels worldwide in work leading a consortium of major international companies, in an effort to help low lying nations in Asia mitigate the devastating impact of rising sea levels, he sees a great deal environmentally that has been damaged and so very little being undertaken to repair the damage.

He is a campaigner for a more peaceful and harmonious global society and truly believes gentle and positive music can be one of the many influences, as well as a call to action in regard to human freedom and liberation. A big call maybe, but one that has considerable merit, as it has been proven scientifically that music has immense healing benefits, which even in a small way can harbour in change, which can then become a trickle and then a wave.

The titles of the tracks reflect various cities of the world where one or several aspects have encouraged him to compose a piece in tribute to the time, place and movement that remains in his memory. Singapore Sunrise is symbolic of a definitive moment when love of place arrives in a distant land; a blinding sunrise, softly falling rain and freshness born of a storm, peculiar only to the tropics.

Geneva Moonlight Rainbow is a polarising piece as it is created in reflection to the polarising aspects of love and hate, ecstasy and anguish – the absolute opposites of emotion; not satisfied with the first offering Cooper has included it as a reprise towards the end of the album, in tribute to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Bach’s influence over Coopers musical style.

Based around walking new pathways, the title track Global Skies encourages overcoming fear and prejudice, facing change, establishing integration and acceptance on a global basis.

Concluding this album is a piece written and included on an previous album Solo Piano Songs of Peace, titled The Light After, a piece he considers as his ‘anthem’, and one written to ‘celebrate peace following the tragedy and ravages of senseless war’.

Overall the music has sombre tone, a reflective and introspective influence which perhaps best illustrates the sad and sorry state the world has become due to politics, man’s greed and inhumanity. Underlying the fractious tones there is the gentle pulse of hope, change and peace, slowing rising over the plains and hills to create a new day, a new dawn and a new beginning.

December 18, 2017
Australian Woman War Reporters: Boer War to Vietnam

In today’s news world it is the considered norm for women to be reporting from war torn regions, in the thick of the fighting or amidst the devastation of an earthquake or other dramatic world event. The women in the front line are there to do a job, the fact that they are female has little to nothing to do with the quality of the reporting, or the events they are there to cover.

In today’s world the reporters, whether they be male or female are in nearly all there on their own as modern technology is very transportable, consisting of a smart phone, a laptop and a good camera mounted with sound gear. This era in journalism is like none other: it is the era of the photojournalist; on the spot, highly mobile sending instant broadcasts to the world

But this was not always the case. For women to have been able to be considered equal in what was traditionally a male dominated workplace, there had to be the pioneering women; the women, who took themselves off to war to report in most instances, the ‘female perspective or the woman’s angle’ of war for the likes of the ‘Catholic Press’, the ‘Advertiser’ and the’ Adelaide Chronicle’ to name a few.

Between 1900 and 1975 more than thirty Australasian women reported from conflict areas; the first of these being Agnes Macready, who paid her own passage to South Africa at the time of the Boer War, as both a nurse with the New South Wales Army Nursing Service Reserve and reporter for the Catholic Times. Her first article was written on the eve of a battle which was a slightly reflective piece on being both an Australian and a woman in a war zone. She remained in South Africa until August 1901 and was considered as one of the final two reporters to leave the battlefields.

Edith Dickenson, following in her footstep’s, also went to the Boer War and was one of the very few to write about the appalling conditions in the ‘concentration camps’; a report which was to be considered significant in the historic events which followed. Louise Mack came next and is reportedly the only woman reporter to have been present at the German Invasion of Antwerp, at the commencement of World War I, in 1914.

Over the many years in-between women are now, and have been, present at all the major conflicts in world politics. They are treated with respect; do not have to garnish their stories with embellishments or report from a woman’s point of view, as they are there in the thick of the world news, the events which will be recorded in history. On returning to a life they left far behind, they suffer the reality of what they have seen, reported on and absorbed.

In telling the stories of so many women war reporters Jeannine Baker has created a wonderful tribute to the immensely significant contribution these women have made, and are still making, not just to the Australian and New Zealand public for more than 100 years, but to world history.

December 27, 2015
Encantado

‘Beyond the Horizon’ is the title of the first track on this new release from Stubblefield which perfectly describes the music created to take you places, allowing you to enjoy the flavours and magic of the world beyond your immediate horizon.

Moving through various cultural shifts, the music moves easily from the Latin style to Arabic influences, the mystic of the Celtic beat, prog-rock and then returning to neo classical, which makes for a sound scene both entertaining and enjoyable.

Stubblefeld is well known in the field of Latin Style acoustic guitar, as a member of the popular group ‘Incendio’. This solo series of compositions make up a new recording where he has selected pieces that come together as a potpourri of beats and rhythm’s, far different to the style used by the group. This change of pace allows Stubblefield to take his music into new territory, creating a new sound direction which can be as challenging as it is inspirational.

As you listen to the various pieces you can hear the dancing; the vocalization on several of the tracks takes you immediately into the realms of the ‘Arabian Nights’, the souks and the Bedouin tents. Changing effortlessly from one culture to another, ‘Phyrgian Suite’, Op. 1 takes you immediately into a different world of jazz beats, smoky caverns, redefining the tempo once again.

The overall essence of the album is that of Latin Styles underpinned with Stubblefield’s fascination with a Brazilian legend based in an underwater realm known as ‘Encante’. This relates to mythical beings such as shape shifting snakes and the pink dolphin, ‘boto encantado’, which is to be found in the Amazon River and its tributaries.

This legend is as all folkloric, believed by many as the ‘boto encantado’ was known to be able to attend festivals and celebrations along the river ways. Some even believe it was able to interact with humans to the point where there are some who claim to be descendants of these dolphins.

The mystique of the legend appealed to the creative aspects of Stubblefields’ muse, which is reflected in the influences felt in this delightful, up tempo release ‘Encandato”.

Footnote courtesy cdbaby.com

The album was co-produced and mixed by award winning Danish producer Bo Astrup and mastered by the great Bernie Becker. Jim is joined by Randy Tico (Strunz & Farah; Airto) on bass, Ramon Yslas (Strunz & Farah; David Sanborn;Christina Aguilera) on percussion, Moksha Sommer (of HuDost) on vocals, Novi Novog (David Arkenstone; Prince; Frank Zappa) on viola, Eric Hansen on guitar and Mark Barnwell on guitar.

December 20, 2015