Instrumental New Age-World Review: Bodhi-Deep Dream-Shamanic Flute Journeys

Release Date: November 1, 2020

Label: Independent

Website

Deep Dream is my first Shamanic Flute Journey with Bodhi. This prolific artisan has 14 albums available at Bandcamp. I did notice he is offering all the albums in one package at 20% off right now if anyone has an interest. I thought that fact was noteworthy and he deserves attention to his recorded works.

Bodhi Setchko (Flutes, Keyboards, Bells, Chimes, Charango, Guitar, and Drum), Christopher Krotky (Drums, Drum programming), Jen Rund (Bass), and Spencer Nielson (Didgeridoo) are the vital combination of talent and spirituality that is the focus of Deep Dream.

The first and title track “Deep Dream,” got me engaged and attentive immediately. The mystical sound of Bodhi’s flute and the subtle drone of the Didgeridoo was very mesmerizing as well. That ancient instrument can sound like a worker bee just buzzing and inviting you to the center of the hive where everything is happening. That is what I felt and envisioned after just one track. I immediately added it to my New Age Music Reviews Spotify Playlist. I feel honored to have this opportunity to hear this music and provide my input so I am returning the good karma.

It comes as no surprise that Bodhi has been working with sound meditation, sound healing, and sacred sound journeys for over 40 years. Around the globe, his music is used in yoga studios, health spas, and health practitioners’ offices. I can understand the therapeutic effect this blessed music can have, experiencing it first hand is the best way to be able to convey your interpretation or simply use it for meditation, relaxation, or listening enjoyment and let those in your circle, or should I say bubble these days, take their journey and decide how it works for them.

The beautiful combination of the flute, drums, sounds of nature, bells, keyboards, guitar, bass, etc. is what makes this music so exceptional and alluring. Having that present drone to focus on for meditative purposes is helpful. Once focus is attained then it becomes natural to let all the colors, textures, and amazing sounds permeate your soul.

Whether it’s the sounds of crickets or water it fits so well with what they are presenting. This is very complex to put all of this together for it to make sense and have the ability to pull you in. This process will allow you to open that portal to your mind, body, and spirit for the complete audio experience Bodhi and his band members are offering you.

The shortest track is “Behind The Buddha,” clocking in at 6:34 and the longest is “Gathering Dawn” at 9:55. This gives each listener ample time to settle in and utilize the therapeutic tools on offer. If you are a novice or old pro at meditation, or you can get in focus readily or it takes you some time, Deep Dream will serve you well.

Congratulations to Bodhi and the band for making an incredible album and presenting such a wonderful gift to humanity. I think that puts it all into proper perspective.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder
November 30, 2020

Track List:
1. Deep Dream 08:57
2. Gathering Dawn 09:55   
3. Every Breath 08:05
4. Desert Canvas 09:54
5. Alone 07:30
6. Surrounding Mountains 07:14
7. Waves Of Color 09:26
8. Behind The Buddha 06:34
9. Purple Shadows 08:24

Contemporary Instrumental Review: Samer Fanek- Polarized

Release Date: December 2, 2020

Label: Independent

Website

Samer Fanek is one of those solo artists that you are happy to see release another album. The sooner the better as far as I am concerned. This music is a reminder that life is a daily process of learning and the music is here to help us heal and move on to the next phase of that experience called life.

Previously I had the pleasure of covering Guide Me and Wishful Thinking. Knowing how much I enjoyed those two releases gave me plenty of reason to anticipate that Polarized would be equal or better than its predecessors. As I would soon find out, I would have every reason to believe that. The album was created and recorded in Samer’s home studio and mixed and mastered by Miklos Malek.

Samer has once again established himself as a serious solo artist that knows how to put together his music, relying on his talent to play the main instrument, the piano, and other keyboards, to create all the sounds you will hear on this recording. It is amazing all the sounds one keyboard can produce these days, basically an entire range to make your music sound like a full band rather than one talented and clever instrumentalist producing everything.

To give you some insight into the thought process that went into this recording Samer commented: The album is titled Polarized, referring to the sometimes sharp contrast/polarization between our highs and lows as we go through different events in life. You can hopefully hear the ups and downs unfolding with the songs and their titles as the album progresses.

When you listen to this music your top of mind should be the human condition and all the ups and downs, we can feel, sometimes several within one 24-hour period. Samer makes it known that he is just like everyone else except for sending his message and the tide of emotions through his fingers. I can relate in total to this music. It pushes you to feel the music then translate it with an open mind and heart. In other words, be as honest and pure as the music you will be hearing, and then you can take an interesting voyage along with the presenting artist.

“Tides” is a wonderful opening track. Its sweeping and cinematic beauty gives you pause then the wonder and excitement of the music take hold. You can tell Samer was feeling complete joy on the track. Then on the other side of life and its ever-changing emotions and thought patterns, the softer “Starting Over” is reflective and purposeful yet the beauty held within is something to behold and cherish. With those thoughts of a fresh start, the message is quiet but effective, then you are ready to step forward into the future. “Some Days Are Cloudy” gives you a reminder that life is not perfect but there are always the miracles of nature at work to create “Raindrops” that give our land and waterways essential life and growth. Without the clouds, there can be no rain, and once the rain is through the next day can be sunny and bright with hope and positivity. In all of this, if you listen closely to the music and pay attention to the track titles, you will see all of the emotion, learning, and gratitude, and the flow of life found in every track.  

When you hear the fantastic symphony of “Life Goes On,” and how it embraces everything then jumps back into this thing called life without hesitation, the melodies of the music will carry you. Hope and inspiration are the intents here, the alternative is to give up and not live at all, not a very good choice!

Polarized is realistic and true to the heart of one artist by the name of Samer Fanek. His message comes through very clear and his musicianship is exquisite and as heartfelt as one artist could convey within a recording of contemporary instrumental songs. Life does not have to be two steps forward and one step back but sometimes that is the path we have to take to get to the other side and see the bright shining light at the end of the tunnel.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews
November 29, 2020

Track List:
01. Tides
02. Do You Remember?
03. Broken Dreams
04. Life Can Be Beautiful
05. Starting Over
06. Some Days Are Cloudy
07. Raindrop
08. Dearest of All
09. Life Goes On
10. Just Like the Wind
11. Wishful Thinking (Piano Solo)

 

Experimental Instrumental-Ambient-Acoustic Review: Constance Hauman-The Quarantine Trilogy - The Third Wave

Release Date: October 20, 2020

Label: Isotopia Records

Website

A world-renowned classical singer, Constance Hauman, can shift gears at an alarming pace and entertain music listeners from the opera, funk, soul, pop, and rock audiences. Diversity and talent are the operative words here.

With The Quarantine Trilogy - The Third Wave the album is a series of improvisations that originated with her on piano and drummer and longtime collaborator Ross Pederson on midi drums and synth.

This is another instrumental venture into the ambient and atmospheric sounds that have helped so many of us deal with the restrictions and unrest of the pandemic this year. I have heard several that have assisted in calming and healing from my listening perspective.

Piano and synths are the main instruments that take you on this ride through the ether or possibly the unknowing parts of your brain, memories, or something that has been locked away inside that needs release. There is something to be said regarding not just the overall power music holds but the certain instruments that are being used to grab that source of energy and convert it into sounds.

Constance and Ross are gifted partners. They present different types of listening within each track. Every track has the room to grow and move around. That approach works very well. For instance, “The Quarantine Trilogy 3rd Wave": I. Solar Eclipse Symphony,” clocking in at 13:49, offers solo acoustic piano and some synths come in to add to the layers and colors of the music. This long stretch of improvisation takes you into successive changes as it builds and builds. At times this kind of progression reminded me of legendary performers such as Vangelis. The track takes you to a crescendo of sounds then back down to earth for a safe landing however you still have that feeling of floating on a soft cloud through the ambient and acoustic mixture of sound, especially with the way the song closes.

Then to switch things up you move on to starting things off with some very futuristic and space sounds. “The Quarantine Trilogy "3rd Wave": II. The Last Century,” gets you back in flight, back to that mindfulness state to leave your earthly surroundings behind, unattached and free. What a beautiful thing how music can change your entire frame of reference. The synths get thicker and more pronounced as the track progresses through all its changes. Along the way, the acoustic piano of Constance holds firm and serves as an equal response to the synths. The mixture is brilliant and I also appreciated the pauses where there was just the solitude of that acoustic piano, which are brief but recognized for their poignancy and beauty. Things get even more interesting at around the nine-minute mark and take an entirely different direction. It reminded me of the way progressive jazz and fusion can be within one song. When you have more than 13 minutes to stretch out musically a lot can be accomplished. In one track it goes from cool spacey ambient sounds to more pensive interludes bordering on cacophony. That part of the track may surprise you and the way it abruptly ends with the sound of a scratchy radio frequency that you would hear going between stations. I thought the entire thing was innovative, risky, and satisfying.

The trilogy closes out with “The Quarantine Trilogy "3rd Wave": III. Solemn Feels Good Right Now.” The continuation of that progressive nature gets things off to an interesting start. The synths sound like they are holding down the rhythms being created by the synth drums and at times oddly timed piano notes. It is a challenging listen for any audience, albeit interesting, filled with the color and embodiment of testing the boundaries of keyboards and their extraordinary reach when combined acoustically and electronically. By the time that track ended the only way I could put a name on this music was to dub it Experimental instrumental-ambient-electronica-acoustic. Then again, why does it need a tag or label? It is music both unique and complicated yet very entertaining.

The Quarantine Trilogy - The Third Wave is a superb diverse instrumental album that will awaken your senses and make you think. The thought process will be different for each listener and I believe pleasant and rewarding at the same time. I am not surprised that I enjoyed this group of tracks. I do hope to hear more in the future from Constance Hauman and Ross Pederson.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder
November 27, 2020

Track List:
1. The Quarantine Trilogy "3rd Wave": I. Solar Eclipse Symphony 13:49
2. The Quarantine Trilogy "3rd Wave": II. The Last Century-13:03
3. The Quarantine Trilogy "3rd Wave": III. Solemn Feels Good Right Now 12:53

New Age-World Review: Samir Bodhi-Stairway to Nirvana

Release Date: January 15, 2021

Label: Rishov Music

Website

Samir Bodhi (AKA Samir Chatterjee) has lent his talents as a guitarist, composer, producer, and recording engineer to a multitude of projects involving legendary Indian musicians – including several for his wife, Madhumita Chatterjee, a renowned Bollywood singer. Now he is ready to release his own music to the world early next year. Stairway To Nirvana will be officially released on January 15, 2021 however the album is available for preorder currently.

There are five tracks that comprise the recording and all are named for a specific reason. It can be your own personal path and your Stairway To Nirvana.

Contributors are: Guitarist/arranger Sanjoy Das (Bapi) is a leading session and live guitarist in Bollywood. Flutist Rakesh Chaurasia, the nephew of flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, has toured with legendary Tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain. Sarod master and composer Rajeeb Chakraborty is a renowned musician, educationist, and composer. These talented individuals are key factors with the blending of all the instruments with Samir’s guitar lines.

The recording combines the old with the new giving it a distinct world flavor with a new age essence and meaning. “Tranquility” is a beautiful opening track with mystical qualities and a mesmerizing rhythm and effect. It does exactly what the title says, it gives the listener tranquil moments.

“OM” is for focus and meditation. The track title lets you know that and it surely fulfills that purpose. The flute is the main instrument to lead the way then some gorgeous acoustic guitar comes in to accompany the wordless vocals. Then you get vocals in Hindi and even if you cannot translate it, the emotion and meaning are felt.

“Harmony” starts off with a very today beginning like a hip-hop song may start then that backdrop continues and a very beautiful guitar comes in and the whooshing sound of the wind. Other instruments arrive to make it all complete, percussion then some great bass lines enter for everything else to follow. This music seems like it's floating over you like a billowing cloud over a blue sky on a bright clear day. It is magical from beginning to end.

“Peace” brings into the project some very beautiful vocals from Samir’s wife Madhumita while Samir plays some excellent acoustic guitar to finish off the track. The lyrics in “Peace” (in Hindi) is a call for unity for humankind. This is a very focused and meditative piece and the vocals are very concise and perfectly pitched to meet the music and complete it.

“Nirvana” completes the cycle to the Stairway To Nirvana. You just may reach that blessed state as the previous tracks prepared you for this journey. I really appreciated the electric guitar presented here, when you first hear it you wonder what is going to come next. The previous tracks did provide a glimpse into the next however when you hear that guitar it would never give you any indication that next is some beautifully performed world new age music like this.

When the music stopped playing, I realized that it did feel like I was on a Stairway To Nirvana. This is beautiful spiritual music for difficult times and what we all need to have access to. I hope it has the same effect on everyone and gives you all time for relaxation, hope, and healing.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder
November 15, 2020

Track List:
1. Tranquility
2. OM
3. Harmony
4. Peace
5. Nirvana 

Classical/Contemporary Instrumental Review: Robin Spielberg-RE-INVENTIONS

Release Date: November 20, 2020

Label:  playMountain Music

Website

Robin Spielberg is a piano player extraordinaire. What you are about to listen to if you stream or purchase her CD or the LP/CD set are RE-INVENTIONS. It takes talent and a lot of courage to take world-renowned and treasured classical pieces by the masters and rework them into your vision. After hearing this album, I think you will agree that Robin should put the crown on her head because she proves why she is piano music royalty.

It must have been amazing to live during the time of the great composers and to know them even more so. We know them through their music and that certainly has provided hundreds of years of entertainment for millions of people around the world.

So, with all of that in mind, where does one come up with the courage to step out and take a chance with these sacred compositions? I have no idea but I do know that Robin is a superb pianist and confident of her abilities and it shows on RE-INVENTIONS. You will recognize many of these songs even though they have been reworked so the foundation stays intact out of her respect for the composers and their music.

Solo piano I believe is a challenge within itself but to take this beautiful music and to reimagine it first then through the sheet music, and play all fifteen tracks her way is an enormous achievement any way you look at it. I was informed by Robin while preparing this review that “Les Patineurs Valse Op. 183 (The Skater's Waltz Reinvented)” had 25,000 streams in four days! If that is any indication of the direction this recording is going that is a beautiful thing for the artist and music in general. I just hope people support the release by actually purchasing it rather than just streaming and moving on to the next thing.

“Piano Sonata No.16 in C major, K.545 (Reinvented)” is a wonderful opening track as it sets the listener at ease and the atmosphere created is sheer audio beauty. As the music moves so do your imaginations and feelings. This is powerful and majestic music and unforgettable. Speaking of powerful, “Canon and Gigue in D major, P.37 (Reinvented)” is an exercise in total command of the ivory keys. It is very strong and it will impress any listener that can appreciate classical, contemporary, or instrumental piano music of any kind. I added it to my New Age Music Reviews Spotify Playlist.

“Melody in F major, Op.3 No.2 (Reinvented)” finds a great partner in the violin to accompany this lovely track. It is so elegant and similar to a lullaby, immediately tugging on your heartstrings. If that was the original intention or Robin’s, it worked well for these ears. Then again if it was not, well, that is my interpretation.

RE-INVENTIONS is reminding me that I collected a box set of classical music many years ago, taking in each selection month by month. My appreciation and love for a variety of music begin with classical because that is where it all began and why we have so many different genres of music today. The mother of all music has many children and grandchildren.

Robin Spielberg has poured her heart and soul into this music, which becomes apparent quite readily. Track after track you have the opportunity to revisit classic compositions and the old blended with the new reborn into several variations. The color, ambiance, and heavenly beauty of this music is brilliantly performed. I can guarantee if you appreciate piano solo music, you will fall in love with RE-INVENTIONS. I know it did not take me long!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder
November 24, 2020

Track List:
01. Piano Sonata No.16 in C major, K.545 (Reinvented)-3:23
02. Liebestraum (Reinvented)- 2:51
03. Canon and Gigue in D major, P.37 (Reinvented)- 4:26
04. Melody in F major, Op.3 No.2 (Reinvented) - 3:14
05. Kinderszenen Op.15 (Scenes from Childhood Reinvented) - 4:18
06. Les Patineurs Valse Op. 183 (The Skater's Waltz Reinvented) - 4:23
07. Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846 - 3:00
08. An der Schönen Blauen Donau, Op.314 (The Blue Danube Waltz Reinvented) - 4:46
09. Piano Sonata No.14, Op.27 No.2 (Moonlight Sonata): First Movement - 7:27
10. Berceuse de Jocelyn (Angels Guard Thee Reinvented) - 5:44
11. The Merry Widow Waltz (Reinvented) - 2:57
12. Wiegenlied Op. 49 No. 4 (The Brahms Lullaby Reinvented) - 2:43
13. Fantasie-Impromptu, Op. 66 (Reinvented) - 2:24
14. Piano Sonata No.8, Op.13 (Sonata Pathétique Reinvented): 2nd Movement - 4:01
15. Ständchen, D.889 (Serenade Reinvented) - 4:32

Instrumental Contemporary- New Age Review: Michael Borowski-Peace Valley

Release Date: November 6, 2020

Label: Independent

Website

I have realized over the years that new age music is a lot more than music. It is a belief, a practice, a learning experience, philosophy, spirituality, nature, and our inherent connection to it. If I hear any or all of that in music, I can consider it to be new age or a sub-genre of it.

Along that train of thought, Michael Borowski has dedicated a lot of his time to fighting Alzheimer’s Disease which took his mother’s life. He has a page on his website dedicated to that cause and where anyone can contribute to supporting it. His nature and good heart drive his purpose.

Michael is a trained and educated musician with a deep appreciation of classical composers. From that foundation comes a wellspring of thought, energy, and purpose on his solo piano album Peace Valley.

There are twelve tracks on the recording with Michael and his piano. This is a solitary form of art expressed through one man and his chosen instrument. I think that raises the bar to create an entire album with just one instrument and capture the attention and imagination of an audience, existing and potential. The level of difficulty must be high. From my point of view, I am concerned that it will become more difficult to find something dissimilar and inspirational with this kind of music but somehow it just keeps happening in a very positive way and I always have a fresh perspective. That says a lot considering how much of this music I hear every year.

Michael is a gifted musician with a vision within his mind and heart that he delivers to you the listener. I previously mentioned nature as one of the profound forces in our lives. “First Snow” is one of my favorite tracks and I added it to my New Age Music Reviews Spotify Playlist. The track is beautiful and it captures how a snowfall can start slow then get more intense. This is interpreted beautifully through Michaels’ vision and his fingers to the ivory keys.

“Arches” was a good example of how Michael uses the classical leanings as a springboard into his contemporary new-age style and approach. The solitude of what he is doing becomes nonexistent. He has a lot going on through those keys. He sounds like two people playing, one hand is creating the rhythm and the other adding the movement and changes in the piece. I thought it was brilliant. You find a lot of that kind of musical virtuosity going on and that is exactly why he does not require an accompaniment or enhancements.

You can find your own Peace Valley wherever you may be with this music. Michael’s valley is a very personal gift to us all if we chose to listen. You could be living in a valley, which I do, surrounded by the majesty of the mountains, or create one in your mind's eye while listening. This is an aural easy chair that soothes the soul. I greatly appreciated and needed to hear this music.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder
November 21, 2020
 

Track List:
01. Firefly
02. Finding Joy
03. First Snow
04. My Father, My Friend
05. Arches     
06. Dear Son,
07. Cynthia Ann
08. Peace Valley
09. K
10. 7AM Start     
11. The Bricklayer's Beautiful Daughter
12. Morning Cycle

Space-Ambient-Electronica Review: Hemispherica Portalis (Portal Of 1000 Years)-Desensitized

Release Date: September 25, 2020

Label: Spotted Peccary

Website

Hemispherica Portalis (Portal Of 1000 Years) debut collaboration album is Desensitized from the collective imagination and talent of Deborah Martin and Dean De Benedictis. The duo also partnered in producing their music. The superlative mastering was provided by Howard Givens.

I must be a natural space cadet because I love this kind of music! I think the door tends to open a little quicker if you have an affinity for instrumental based music. And I most certainly do.

This collaborative effort merges the artistry of two very talented individuals into one functioning musical unit. They create a multitude of layers of sound and magnificent colors and textures for the mind to assimilate. It is very relaxing and can be meditative and contemplative all at once. That may sound complex but it is not, these kinds of reactions to music without words can be quite normal. I do speak for myself, however. We are all different but yet all the same with similar needs so music is easy to relate to wherever you are on the planet presently.

The titles look to be in a language similar to Greek primarily, then translated in parenthesis in the track list. Perhaps this gives thought to inspiration from Greek Mythology. I may be off on that assessment but just the same it is food for thought and gives the music an imaginary storyline that can be created by each listener. One look at the beautiful science-fiction artwork of the cover gives credence to a possible story and engages the senses and imagination. If you have a pulse this is going to happen if you become aware of all the aspects of what is being offered here. The CD comes in a nice cardboard three-panel case with more otherworldly artwork and more pieces of literature dedicated to each track and art in a booklet to make things even more interesting and thought-provoking.

I must say I have been very intrigued by the Spotted Peccary label and their continually impressive releases this year. I am glad I have had the opportunity to find another subgenre of new age music that gives me the same feelings and calmness. I am easily all wrapped up in the music very quickly because it immediately gives me an invitation and I accept it wholeheartedly. This is a spiritual experience for me as I am sure it is for many others that are listeners or will become listeners soon. If not, give it a try, it may have the same effect. If that is not what you seek and you wish to have a pleasant listening experience while relaxing, this music will provide that for you.

As you can see by the track list some are quite long. It's like watching a song within a song develop. The best example is “Ecumenicus Orato (The Umbilical Center),” which clocks in a few seconds short of thirteen minutes. Progressive rock is known for that but I do know after years of listening and getting more of this particular style of music, that it is common. The artists take a foundation and continually build upon it with keyboards, synths, and other sounds generated via electronic means, equipment, and software. There are a lot of interesting things tucked away in this music and some sounds of nature as well (and its inhabitants).

Desensitized blends the new with the old brilliantly using flute, Taos drums, and percussion and then implementing advanced software like the Spectrasonics Omnisphere. Now is it time for you to take a ride in the spaceship Hemispherica Portalis? Get your tickets and climb aboard!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder
November 11, 2020

Track List:
1. Hemispherica Portalis (Portal of 1000 Years) 06:58
2. Concunus Dracus (Dragon of the Heavens) 09:30
3. Formulata Oblivonos (A Complicated Tale) 09:14
4. Ecumenicus Orato (The Umbilical Center) 12:54
5. Saltis Nominus (Floating Seabeds) 11:38
6. Terminus Equitos (Redemption Seeker) 06:09   
7. Amphibinatum (Myths and Legends) 09:05