The Final Meditative Verdict: Highly Immersive
“A mindful exercise in sonic stillness and positive connection. Bentley and Pacifici create a sanctuary of sound that successfully lowers the heart rate, disarms anxiety, and clears mental clutter through an elegant blend of acoustic strings, warm synths, and comforting, real-world textures.”
The album Soft Winds, the recent release from the collaboration between Theresa Bentley (The Bentley Project) and Dino Pacifici, is a phrase used to lovingly express "May the wind be at your back” rather than a goodbye, whether for a short time or forever.
The album is inspired
by positive human relationships and musically describes their beauty in all its
forms.
My experience covering two releases with The Bentley Project gives me some familiarity with Theresa. Dino is a Canadian ambient/chillout multi-instrumentalist with roots in classical guitar.
“Embrace the Mist” opens with a harp, then an acoustic guitar resonates and echoes as the next layer arrives: the percussion. This feels like new age jazz chill, and I like it. The cymbals crash (albeit gently) as the guitar elegantly picks its way through the layers. A steady pulse beat is in the background, serving as a metronome. It closes out beautifully.
“A Shared Breath” again introduces soft acoustic guitar and harp, with a synth coming in to lead you down a path of meditative bliss. There is a brief whoosh of air, evoking a breath of relief and a pause. The synth’s orchestral sounds lend a layer of beauty that accentuates the other instrumentation.
“Sigh in the Night” is one of the shorter tracks at 3:16, and the fretless bass makes its presence known very early. The acoustic guitar is so key here with this music. You hear a sigh right at the beginning of the passage (and a few more times) as they launch into the layers of synths, harp, and piano. Such beauty and release.
“Tranquil Eyes” features the harp, synth, classical guitar, and oboe. The sound of crickets chirping is a nice addition. It disarms you immediately, and the word “tranquil” certainly takes on its meaning; then suddenly, the sound of an owl arrives. With all this, the acoustics of the guitar and synth, with its gentle notes, punctuate the beauty that surrounds you as you listen. This is the longest and one of the most beautiful compositions at 5:09.
“The Ancestral Chain”
takes on a different atmosphere. Here, the fretless bass is a highlight, and
the use of the pentatonic scale comes into focus. Piano and synth merge as the
use of clapping as a percussive element takes on a new kind of layer that you
have not heard before.
The title track “Soft Winds” features a harp-and-synth pairing for a gorgeous soundscape. It does sound like a very soft wind blowing through your consciousness as you get wrapped around and, in the sound, completely. This musical Nirvana is just what you need.
“Glimmers” features acoustic guitar, synth, and harp, with a sound reminiscent of gently dripping water. The synth has a gentle, cinematic feel, as the acoustic guitar and harp are once again beautifully aligned. This continuity of sounds always promotes relaxation and meditation, so inviting.
“Poetic Solitude” is the perfect title as this recording nears its conclusion. There is something to the words; solitude can certainly be poetic. The core of this music is the harp, synth, and acoustic guitar, and here it instantly melts away any anxiety that may be present. The wordless vocals are angelic and soothing as you easily attain a state of peace and reflection.
“Glimmers (Spoken Word)” is an interesting way to close the curtain on this album. It is, however, also a prolific way to end this as the words bring it all to fruition and home to the heart. Simplicity is its strength, with synth and harp partnering for the perfect accompaniment. A child’s voice says, “I love you, goodnight.” Such a sweet thing to hear, and at the same time a bit sad, given those days are so long ago for many of us. They call it their nightly glimmer.
Soft Winds stands out as an exceptional example of new-age jazz chill, marking another impressive achievement for the Bentleys alongside their latest collaborator, Dino Pacifici. Each track offers a rich listening experience, showcasing meticulous production and masterful instrumentation throughout the album.
Keith “MuzikMan”
Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder
June 12, 2026
Credits:
Producers:
Theresa Bentley, Dino Pacifici, Mark Bentley
Recording:
Bentley Recording Studios, Scorpio Rising Music
Mixing and
Mastering: Scorpio Rising Music
Cover art:
Photography - Theresa Bentley, Art - Rhoda Powers, Oil and glass
Theresa
Bentley: Harp, Synth, Voice, Piano,
Spoken Word, Composer
Dino
Pacifici: Electric Guitar, Synth, Fretless Bass, Composer
Mark
Bentley: Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Dana
Woolard: Cello
Gwendolyn
Bell: Oboe
Paige
McCalley: Voice
Miss
Charlie: Spoken Word
No comments:
Post a Comment