New Age Vocals Review: Marya Stark-Sapphire

Release Date: September 17, 2020

Label: Independent

Website

This is my maiden voyage into the world of Marya Stark’s musical world of wonder. Sapphire is ten tracks of sometimes undefinable music. Marya looks like the goddess that she is on the cover of this masterful group of tracks.

Right at the onset of seeing the cover, you are thinking spiritual, mystical, otherworldly, and new age. I think all of the above applies here. I opted to call it new age vocals. It is the content lyrically and at times strongly, but it is new age in different phases on the tracks. It can cover you like a warm blanket on a cold winter night.

The sounds on Sapphire are very inviting and Marya’s voice is angelic, simply gorgeous throughout the entire recording. She is in essence the main instrument everything else follows to where the light lives inside her.

The first track grabbed me with a force I could not resist. “Echo” sets the standard for everything else and reinforces the importance of that first track. I immediately added it to my New Age Music Reviews Spotify Playlist. It runs for nearly six minutes making sure you get the full effect of this woman’s incredible vocal talent. The music is very good as well, I have to make sure that is a known fact. Beautiful vocals need the right support from the music for everything to fall into place like it was meant to be. And trust me on this, the way this album unfolds is magical.

Another amazing track is “Blood of the Stone.” It is prolific lyrically and musically. It is a strong message to us all how important mother earth is. New age music is tied strongly to this subject matter and I am grateful for that. We need a constant reminder that our survival depends on the health of our planet and right now it is not acting like it is very happy. When a message like that is transmitted with such passion and grace you stand up and take notice.

Five tracks in and I am completely sold on this artist and her music. I cannot wait to hear what the next track will bring. It makes you feel like a kid on Christmas morning waiting to unwrap the next present. Marya is eclectic and so talented that she can deliver something different with each track. It is a wonder how one artist can offer so much variety in one recording.

So, all of you who appreciate music, great vocals, a meaningful message, and pure talent, then you need to listen to Marya Stark’s latest release Sapphire. Even though the title is a particular gemstone this one is a perfect shining diamond that should not be missed. There is a lot to hear and enjoy in this engaging recording.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
October 14, 2020

Track List:
01. Echo        
02. Stargazer        
03. In Between
04.Sapphire        
05.Blood of the Stone        
06.Celestial Butterflies   
07. Negra Luz        
08. Baptism     
09. Crystal Chambers        
10. Rose Lineage

New Age Instrumental Meditation Review: Various Artists-Relax

Release Date: October 9, 2020

Label: Domo Music Group

Website

Domo Music Group (Kitaro’s home for recordings) has just released a wonderful compilation titled Relax. It does not get any plainer than the day. I think most people would agree we all could do some relaxing in light of the global issues going on presently.

Nobody understands what the artist is up against in the music business than someone that has lived it. One of those artists is Dino Malito who produced and contributed a track to the compilation. Being in another person’s industry and facing similar challenges does put thing in a different light and gives it all another perspective that many people do not have.

There are fourteen tracks on this album and as the cover would indicate a lovely path down the road of relaxing, meditation, and the connection to mother earth we all have. I have been reading about Buddhism and there is a connection that is explained in their teachings that can begin a definitive realization to what our surrounding world means and how it is all connected. I bring this subject up because music like this does unplug all the noise from outside and the internal chatter that goes on inside my head, I do however speak from a personal viewpoint. The artists on this compilation deserve high praise for their contributions to humanity and the health benefits that the music can provide.

A few of my favorites include Kitaro’s “Estrella” (which was my pick to add to my New Age Music Reviews Spotify Playlist) and “Wood Fairy.” I got into Kitaro back in the 90s and felt he was one the most innovative and prolific artists recording instrumental new age music.

Dino Malito’s “Aurora,” and Steve Anderson’s gorgeous rendition of the classical “Clair De Lune” are exceptional tracks as well. And that is just a few of many excellent slices of instrumental bliss you will find on Relax.

There are many advantages to a compilation of tracks. First, you get a wide variety of sounds that can find appeal with a much wider cross-section of listeners, secondly if you hear something you enjoy you can investigate the artist and look into their back catalog or new releases. Those are the two major advantages of releases like this. For me, that is enough. And I must say lastly that the one main focus is to Relax however you still can enjoy the diversification of styles and sounds.

If you are looking to Relax then this an opportunity to do just that and get exposure to some artists you possibly never experienced before. This is a win in anyone’s estimation.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

 October 10, 2020

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Tracks: 

01. WINGS TO FLY (Tsubasa Wo Kudasai) by Kuni Murai
02. SLEEPING WOMAN by Luis Perez
03. ESTRELLA by Kitaro
04. LINDEN by Yu-Xiao Guang
05. MIRACLE by Seda Bağcan
06. RUNE by Dave Eggar
07. RIMPA : COSMOS by Hiroki Okano
08. JOY by Uma Silbey
09. AURORA by Dino Malito
10. CLAIR DE LUNE by Steve Anderson
11. MEDITERRANEAN SUNRISE by Benedetti & Svoboda
12. WOOD FAIRY by Kitaro
13. SEE THE LIGHT (Abridged) by Fumio Miyashita
14. MOONLIGHT SONATA by Steve Anderson