Bruno Sanfilippo - Subliminal Pulse (2011)

Bruno Sanfilippo – Subliminal Pulse (2011)

1. The Third Geometry – (5:52)
2. Santa Luminosa – (6:40)
3. Spirit Allies – (5:47)
4. Intrinsic Fluctuations – (14:00)
5. Subliminal Pulse – (5:58)
6. Slipped Time – (7:29)
7. Alchemical Powers – (6:29)
8. Pulsum Sacrum – (7:21)
9. Mantram – (7:58)

Playlist length: 1 hour 7 minutes 34 seconds

Summary: Masterful ambient excursions that evoke the classic ambient masters such as Robert Rich, Steve Roach, Klaus Schulze and even early Tangerine Dream.  These complex and intricate compositions range from airy to intense, haunting, mysterious and droning to harmonious and ethereal.  Taken in its entirety, the album might be interpreted as a journey from the beginning of time through the formation of life, or a similar evolutionary or developmental theme.  Bruno Sanfilippo is an accomplished electronic artist and his many years of composing and performing yield another excellent ambient collection here.

Artist’s Background & Details:
Bruno Sanfilippo may be new to some ambient listeners as “Subliminal Pulse” is his first release in the United States, due to his joining with the excellent “Spotted Peccary” label.

His works go back to as early as 1991 when, after several years experimenting with electronic music and studying composing, he released his first album “Sons of the Light,” which was later released by EPSA Music and then distributed in Argentina and some other South American countries.

In the 1990′s he searched for new sounds and experimented with every electronic sound device that he could.  He released a second work “The New Kingdom” in 1995.

In 1998 he created his own label “ad21music” for both his solo and collaborative projects.   From 2000 -2010 he released ten albums on his “ad21music” label, plus one in between on another label:

2000 – Solemnis
2000 – Suite Patagonia – a tribute to the Patagonia
2003 – Visuala (released on Neuronium Records)
2004 – Indalo – a collaboration with Max Corbacho.
2004 – Ad Libitum
2006 – InTRO – with a collaboration of Alio Die [Stefano Musso] on one track
2007 – Piano Textures
2008 – Ambessence piano & drones – a collaboration work with Mathias Grassow
2009 – Auralspace
2009 – Piano Textures 2
2010 – CROMO [piano & drones] – second collaborative work between Bruno Sanfilippo and Mathias Grassow

I personally had the pleasure of playing from many of his prior releases starting from the early releases “Suite Patagonia,” “Visuala” and “Indalo” for “Ambient Caverns” (Music Sojourn / Coolstreams) thanks to the artist sending them over.  Many of these albums have now been made available on Amazon.com in the US (though most show the add dates there of 2010 or 2011).  For newcomers, I recommend starting with the current “Subliminal Pulse” and working back through his catalog.

By Track:
1. The Third Geometry – (5:52) – Opens airy and soaring becoming infiltrated with heavier layering, droning and percussive elements, punctuated by tubular or heavy string like pulsations, drifting off into an airy void with some spooky vocalizations barely audible at the fade

2. Santa Luminosa – (6:40) – opens with a generator like pulsation takeoff into an airy, ascending, ethereal layered flight traversing past a variety of sound posts before climaxing into a dissonant sounding spiral out

3. Spirit Allies – (5:47) – opens with an electro- mechanical sounding pulsation becoming woven with increasing harmonious layerings of soprano and baritone synths and shadowy vocalizations

4. Intrinsic Fluctuations – (14:00) – opens soaring and hovering while added layers build a sense of conflicting themes, eventually descending into darker, brooding pulsating textures with metallic-like droppings and lathe cuttings, with a spooky spirit-like riff permeating the ending minutes

5. Subliminal Pulse – (5:58) – dark, spooky, and mysterious with dissonant keyboard-like riffs and chords and other-worldly vocalizations woven through various intricate layerings

6. Slipped Time – (7:29) – smooth, textured intro into an evocative, familiar piano-like riff and soaring textures, very reminiscent of past masters

7. Alchemical Powers – (6:29) – Opens dark and mysterious, suggestive of experimentation or origination and alchemy with boiling, bubbling underlayments, progressively more dark & dissonant and punctuated by bell and percussive soundings, degenerating into life sounds accompanied by thunder and ran backdrops, suggestive of primordial formations

8. Pulsum Sacrum – (7:21) – opens smoothly textured quickly augmented by male-like and then female-like vocalise layerings along with Tibetan bell-like soundings and explosive backdrops, use your imagination based on the title

9. Mantram – (7:58) – opens with smoothly textured layers joined with a soaring but morose cello-like layering, somewhat sad in emotion but harmonious in sound, a musical mantra as the title suggests.

Genres (& sub genres): Ambient, Electronic, Space Music, Dark Ambient

Listening Impressions: electronic, space music, airy, atmospheric, classic ambient, ethereal, mysterious, alien, intense, haunting, complex, deep space, droning, chilling (not as a music tag), spooky, soaring, dissonant, discordant;

Similar to: Alpha Wave Movement, Between Interval, Rudy Adrian, Robert Rich, Markus Reuter, Klaus Schulze, Steve Roach

Website:
bruno-sanfilippo.com

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Amongst Myselves - Fragments (2010)

Amongst Myselves – Fragments (2010)

1. – Smell Of The Sun – (5:08)
2. – She Who Loves Silence – (6:14)
3. – Morning In The Bowl Of Night – (10:24)
4. – Field Of Broken Mirrors – (7:36)
5. – The Sunlit Tower – (6:17)
6. – Clouds Of Unknowing – (7:42)
7. – City Of A Hundred Gates – (3:27)
8. – Town On The Hill – (4:39)
9. – Haunted By The Ghosts Of Sounds – (5:26)

Playlist length: 56 minutes 53 seconds

Summary: There are many varied ambient excursions traversed throughout the uninterrupted 57 minute soundscape of “Fragments” (there are 9 track markers, but no fades or blanks between tracks). While the layered synths, guitar and environmental elements are fragments, they are woven on the album into a cohesive soundscape evocative of a continually developing theme.

Interpretations might include darkness to enlightenment, or an evolutionary process or cycle, whether in a petri dish, sub space, or dawn on an earthly wilderness – my dominant impression was the latter, perhaps as part of an exploratory wilderness journey.

The overall theme begins dark, brooding and minimal throughout the first 11 minutes (tracks 1 & 2), with the environmental backdrops intimating night or cavernous or dark void settings, the titles suggestive of deep night approaching first light.  Intensity picks up through “Morning In The Bowl Of Night” with the environmental sounds shifting from night ambience to a low heating or warming crackling / static.  “Field Of Broken Mirrors” evokes a further development of a lighting process (sunlight glistening), with an electric guitar spiral up interrupting the environmental ambience (sunrise), and the theme spirals continually higher through “The Sunlit Tower” to a climax ending at an oceanscape drifting into “Clouds Of Unknowing.”  There the soundscape introduces elements of uncertainty, which then develop into more ominous tones in City Of A Hundred Gates.”  The environmental backdrop of rain bridges “City Of A Hundred Gates” into “Town On The Hill,” which is light and airy, perhaps suggestive of exploration and discovery, combined with the environmental sounds of birds.  The final track unfolds with wispy ambient environmental sounds of people, footsteps, and other activity as the electronic layering builds, which might be an envisioning of the past inhabitants (“Haunted By The Ghosts Of Sounds”) of Town On The Hill.

Whatever your interpretations, “Fragments” is an engaging listen – especially in its entirety, and one that lends itself to repeated listens and re-interpretations without becoming tiresome.

Genres (& sub genres): Ambient, Dark Ambient, Electronica, Space Music

Listening Impressions: Ambient, Dark, Brooding, Gloomy, Droning, Other Worldly, Intense, Environmental, Space Music, Dreamy, Airy;

Similar to: Between Interval, J. Arif Verner, Rudy Adrian, Sante, Richard Bone, Jon Jenkins;

Web Site:

http://amongstmyselves.com/

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vols. 1 – 2

1. Unfolding
2. Move Over, Sunrise
3. Renewal
4. Eventual Morning
5. Miles
6. Submerge
7. Glass House
8. Incandescence
9. The Window West
10. Soleri
11. Far Rockaway (Gulls)
12. Radiate
13. Something More
14. Silver Maple
15. Violins/Escape
16. Infinity
17. Enigma
18. Well Lit
19. Riverside Park
20. Plateau

vols. 3 – 4

1. Stephanie Seymour
2. Serena
3. Getting Over, Or Trying
4. (The) Tapestry
5. Almost
6. Snow Day
7. The Thin Veil
8. Ascend
9. Blue Monorail
10. Life Support
11. Abundance
12. Daughters
13. John Hughes
14. Ireland (Imagined)
15. Solitude
16. Chasing Twilight
17. Kyoto (Actual)
18. The Unforgiving Fog
19. Teasing Trees
20. Kt-22
vols. 5 – 6

1. Changes From The Sea
2. Locusts
3. Spheres
4. Paper Kaleidoscope
5. Spiraling
6. Solenko
7. Goodbye, Richard
8. Past Life
9. Diffreaction
10. Lancer
11. Dirty Breeze
12. Squint
13. 4 a.m. (Bright Lights)
14. Ambivalence
15. Iron Lung
16. The Man With The Orange Shoes
17. Fluorescence
18. Flash Forward
19. Typewriter, Dentist
20. Mission Accomplished?

Summary: I have enjoyed and programmed Ken Elkinson’s New Age Instrumental piano solo CDs for many years now, but when a box set of 3 cds arrived, titled Music For Commuting Volumes 1-6, I was not sure I was going to get through 3+ hours of piano solos and maintain enough interest.  So it was a complete surprise to hear what played upon inserting the first disc.  Well crafted, engaging Ambient & Electronica sound bytes!  I use bytes because the 3 disc set contains 60 short (by current Ambient norms) 3-4 minute tracks (the longest track is 4:38), 20 per disc.  Obviously, this won’t be anything like Robert Rich’s Somnium, or the typical soundscapes of Rudy Adrian, Between interval, Darshan Ambient, etc., and the majority of Ken’s compositions are not quite that intricate, nor are they dark or brooding – more are airy and bright.  They are quite satisfying, however, and most will take you on a brief journey into a space or atmospheric realm of your choosing, or, when combined with the suggestion of the title, may evoke a new perspective on a specific segment of your commuting patterns.  The set is organized into Monday thru Friday volumes of 10 songs each (Monday & Tuesday on disc 1, Wed & Thur on disc 2, etc.), with the final 10 song theme volume titled “beyond”  including the intruging “typewriter, dentist” (beware that almost subliminal high speed drill).

I am impressed with Ken’s unexpected shift from the Ivorys to the synths.  While some ambient connoisseurs may shun the consistently short tracks, they are enjoyable nonetheless, with the only complaint that they may end a bit too soon after you have become immersed in the theme.  Noting that many tracks are, to me, reminiscent of earlier (1980s-1990s) electronic artists, one curiousity of mine is why Ken did not include the actual piano in at least some of these compositions because the closest comparison in that case may have been to perenial favorite Tim Story (“Plateau” in Vol. 2 comes closest to this sound). 

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Genres (& sub genres): Ambient, New Age, Relaxation, Electronic, Space Music, Electronica

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Listening Impressions: Tranquil, peaceful, relaxing, exciting, soaring, drifting, calming, reminiscent, harmonius

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Similar to: Michael Stribling, some aspects of Richard Bone, Alpha Wave Movement, and in Robert Rich’s Catalogue: Geometry (1988);
Many tracks are also reminiscent of earlier electronic music artists like Windsor Reily (The Move Of Life), Ray Lynch, Vangelis, Michael Genest, Peter Maunu & others.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Notes from the artist / label: Ken will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this project to the ALS Association (fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

Note to Ken: (refer to the liner notes to decipher): I do the same with spiders, stink bugs and other uninvited guests, though perhaps more to avoid the cleanup.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Al Conti – Northern Seas (2010)

Al Conti – Northern Seas (2010)

1. – Veil Of Mist – (3:24)
2. – Northern Seas – (4:24)
3. – Spring Maiden – (4:47)
4. – Song Of Rig – (4:15)
5. – Thor’s Journey – (4:11)
6. – Dans For Loki (Loki’s Jig) – (3:45)
7. – Odin The Wanderer – (4:45)
8. – Baldur – (5:22)
9. – Valkyria – (5:34)
10. – Ragnarok – (3:55)
11. – The Rainbow Bridge – (4:37)

Summary: Al Conti Rivals the Best! Lush and evocative, mysterious and energetic, Al Conti takes you on an ancient journey through the Northern Seas of olde.  Even if you are don’t embrace the interpretive theme, you will still enjoy a solidly crafted and superbly performed New Age / World Fusion album of songs that are both inspiring and uplifting.  If you are not familiar with Al Conti, you will find that his efforts rival the very best artists of the genre.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Genres (& sub genres): New Age, world fusion, World Rhythms, Meditation Relaxation & Inspiration,

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Listening Impressions: Mystical, haunting, mysterious, lush, vocalise, vicarious traveling, vibrant, energetic, uplifting, playful, reminiscent, renaisance;
Dans For Loki (Loki’s Jig) has a celtic flavor;
Odin The Wanderer is very reminiscent of Patrick O’Hearn’s fabulous Sacred Heart (Indigo, 1991);

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Similar to: Suzanne Sterling, Paul Avgerinos, Bodhi (Trans Ukraine), David Arkenstone, Diane Arkenstone, Lis Addison, Open Canvas (Travel By Sound), Patrick O’Hearn (Indigo), Chris Spheris, Richard Burmer, David Arkenstone with Andrew White (Island, 1989), Cusco, Vangelis

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Great Segues (with songs from this album, Northern Seas):
1. Patrick O’Hearn (1991) – Sacred Heart – Indigo (5:56)
+ Al Conti (2010) – Odin The Wanderer – Northern Seas (4:45);

2. Bodhi (2006) – Crimea I – Trans Ukraine (10:38)
+ Al Conti (2010) – Song Of Rig – Northern Seas (4:15)

3. Al Conti (2010) – Veil Of Mist – Northern Seas (3:24)
+ Deborah Martin (2010) – Deep Roots, Hidden Water – Deep Roots, Hidden Water (3:44);

4. Al Conti (2010) – Baldur – Northern Seas (5:22)
+ Open Canvas (2009) – Surya – Travel By Sound (4:34);

5. Suzanne Sterling (2010) – Om Mane Padme Hum (Secret Blessing) – Blue Fire Soul (6:53)
+ Al Conti (2010) – Thor’s Journey – Northern Seas (4:11);

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Acoustic Ocean - Reflections on Still Water (2010)

Acoustic Ocean – Reflections on Still Water (2010)

1. Night Flight – (4:18)
2. Moon Over Mauna Kea – (4:46)
3. Rainbow Falls – (4:20)
4. Dancers Of The Deep – (4:40)
5. Motherless Child – (4:16)
6. Devas In The Garden – (3:54)
7. Place Of Refuge – (5:22)
8. Voyager – (5:27)
9. Reflections on Still Water - (5:07)
10. Safe Journey Home – (5:00)

Playlist length: 47 minutes 10 seconds

Summary: Beautiful harmonies of Celtic Harp and acoustic guitar form the basis of 10 mostly relaxing and enchanting new age style songs, with a celtic flavor.  All of the tracks are supported with Fretless bass, and other supporting sounds include cello, cedar flute, piano, Mandolin, Uillean Pipes, Pennywhistle, and Hammered Dulcimer (See instrumentation by track below), plus vocalise on track #3 “Rainbow Falls.”

The compositions are beautiful and the performances superb.

This is the second CD release by Acoustic Ocean (who are Peggy Morgan, harp, and Bette Phelan, all other stinged instruments and keyboards).  For those familiar with their first effort, titled “Light Returning” (2008), “Reflections on Still Water” is very similar in musical style, with the exception that it has less vocalise, and does not employ the enviromental sounds of ocean waves, water, birds & gulls, and forest sounds that were embeded in most tracks on the previous “Light Returning”.

Those familiar with the group Magical Strings will find the music on “Reflections On Still Water” similar to their work, particularly the album “Islands Calling” (1996), but others as well.  “Reflections On Still Water” is also reminiscent of many of Wind Machine’s albums of the 1980s – 1990s.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Genres (& sub genres): Instrumental, New Age music, Celtic Harp Music, Celtic New Age music, World Rhythms, Acoustic Music, Acoustic Guitar, Relaxing Music, Celtic Music, World Rhythms

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Listening Impressions: Acoustic, tranquil, peaceful, tropical, magical, enchanting, relaxing, haunting;
vocalise (on #3 Rainbow Falls);

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Similar to: Magical Strings, Wind Machine, Lisa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter, Aine Minogue

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Instrumentation by track:
1. Night Flight – (4:18) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Cedar Flute, Fretless Bass
2. Moon Over Mauna Kea – (4:46) – Celtic Harp, Piano, Cello, Fretless Bass
3. Rainbow Falls – (4:20) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Mandolin, Hammered Dulcimer, Fretless Bass
4. Dancers Of The Deep – (4:40) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Flute, Fretless Bass
5. Motherless Child – (4:16) – Celtic Harp, Cello, Fretless Bass
6. Devas In The Garden – (3:54) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Mountain Dulcimer, Uillean Pipes, Fretless Bass
7. Place Of Refuge – (5:22) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Mountain Dulcimer, Electric Guitar, Pennywhistle, Fretless Bass
8. Voyager – (5:27) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Cello, Fretless Bass
9. Reflections On Still Water – (5:07) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Fretless Bass
10. Safe Journey Home – (5:00) – Celtic Harp, Guitar, Pennywhistle, Uillean Pipes, Fretless Bass

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Great Segues (with songs from this album, Reflections On Still Water):

1. Acoustic Ocean (2010) – Rainbow Falls – Reflections On Still Water (4:20) +
Magical Strings (1996) – Warm Island – Islands Calling (4:52)

2. Acoustic Ocean (2010) – Dancers Of The Deep – Reflections On Still Water (4:40) +
Magical Strings (1996) – Ferry to Islesboro – Islands Calling (3:54)

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Released: January, 2009

1. I Am the Sea 3:40
2. My Secret Muse 4:26
3. Dance For Little Feet 6:47
4. Are You Listening 4:15
5. Skipping Stones 3:35
6. Fly 4:56
7. Surrounded by Sunflowers 3:04
8. Cloudless 3:36
9. A Girl Named Alice 2:35
10. Next Time Can I Dance With You 4:57

Piano with Cello, and occasional multi-layered voices.  From soothing to soaring, ten beautiful compositions evoking feelings of calm, introspection, accomplishment, wonder, and relaxation.  Most songs are suited for New Age to Classical crossover, and the majority fit perfectly with our “Meditation, Relaxation and Inspiration” stream theme.

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The Best Of David and Diane Arkenstone

The Best Of David and Diane Arkenstone:

Released: March, 2010

1. Jewel In The Sun (From the album: Jewel In The Sun – 2002) 4:47
2. The Spirit Of Excalibur (AS: Eniad – From the album: Avalon: A Celltic Legend – 2002) 4:41
3. Edge Of The World (From the album: Following The Equator) 4:34
4. The Angel’s Voice (From the album: The Healing Spirit – 2001) 4:38
5. The Red Tower (AS: Ah *Nee* Mah – From the album: The Grand Circle – 2002) 4:30
6. Night Flight (From the album: Spirits Of The Rainforest – 2004) 4:23
7. Through The Veil (From the album: Aquaria – A Liquid Blue Trancescape – 2001) 4:47
8. Morning Mist (From the album: Reflections From The Wine Country – 2001) 4:38
9. Firefall (AS: Ah *Nee* Mah – From the album: Spirit Of The Canyon – 2001) 5:24
10. Ocean Dreams (From the album: Oddysea) 4:29
11. Seduction (From the album: Echoes Of Egypt – 2004) 4:29
12. Flight Of The Raven (From the album: The Spirit Of Mesa Verde – 2000) 5:17
13: The White Feather (AS: Ah *Nee* Mah – From the album: Ancient Voices – 2001) 4:26
14. Horizon Of Stars ((AS: Ah *Nee* Mah – From the album: African Skies – 2003) 4:26
15. Arwen And Aragorn (From the album: Middle Earth – 2001) 3:28
16. Rhythm Of The Night ((AS: Earth Trybe – From the album: Rhythm Of The Earth – 2002) 4:28

From The Artist:

” It has been fun putting this project together. We have done a lot of music in the last 10 years and this is a collection of some of our favorites.

“It has also been a great opportunity to revisit many of the albums we’ve released, and though it reminds us of lots of enjoyable work, it also reminds us of what having the right collaborator can accomplish. The explorations and adventures we’ve gon on have been rewarding, exciting, and sometimes surprising.  It’s been quite a remarkable journey and we hope you enjoy this special selection.”

Scott’s Notes:

And a remarkable collection of 16 tracks, each from a different album from their vast, past archive of sound.  If you need a place to start to explore the more recent David and Diane Arkenstone body of work, start here.  And, of course, there’s even more to find when you trace back through David’s catalog into the 1980s.

Both David and Diane have recorded numerous albums under their own names, and under other group names as collaborations.  For a more concise breakdown of these albums and the group names that they were released under, see these pages on our old site’s artist pages section:

Diane Arkenstone:
http://musicsojourn.com/AR/AmbN/page/a/ArkenstoneDiane.htm

David Arkenstone:
http://musicsojourn.com/AR/AmbN/page/a/ArkenstoneDavid.htm

EarthTrybe / Enaid:
http://musicsojourn.com/AR/AmbN/page/e/EarthTrybe.htm

Ah *Nee* Mah:
http://musicsojourn.com/AR/AmbN/page/a/AhNeeMah.htm

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Richard Bone - Mind Environs Alpha Theta Delta

Richard Bone – Mind Environs Alpha Theta Delta:

Released: March, 2010:

1. The Theta Loops (10:12)
2. The Delta Loops (10:08)
3. The Alpha Loops (9:56)

From The Artist:  Richard has, in conjunction with Don McCarty of CodeDimensions, created his first iTunes application entitled “Mind Environs”. Now live on iTunes, “Mind Environs” is a meditation/ambient application featuring 3 separate “Environs”, each having a brainwave tone plus 6 ambient loops. The volume of all seven tracks in each Envirion can be adjusted by the listener to create almost endless possibilities.

“Mind Environs” is also available in a very limited edition thirty-minute CD or to download. This recording contains three 10-minute tracks — each track one possible mix of the  nearly infinite variations possible with the iTunes ‘Environs’. Ordering links, titles, samples and more can be found on Richard Bone’s Web Site (www.richardbone.com/) >>>.

Coolstreams Adds:
************
Ambient Caverns: All Tracks;  Scott’s Picks: All Tracks;

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Robert Rich - Ylang

Robert Rich – Ylang:

Released: February, 2010:

Ambergris 4:14
Translucent 4:59
Attar 6:38
Verbena 5:03
Kalyani 8:09
Vetiver 6:25
Tamarack 5:38
Charukesi 7:11
First Rain 4:59

From The Artist: Organic, lush and sensual
Robert Rich’s first solo studio album in three years seductively blends languid polyrhythms with influences as diverse as South Indian Karnatic music, post-rock, jazz, and minimalism.

The title comes from ylang ylang, a flowering tree that grows in South Asia, with a mysterious fragrance that embodies elements of shadow and light, eros and gnosis, earth and sky.

Musicians:

Robert Rich: flutes, lap steel , piano, percussion, MOTM modular & synths
Ricky Carter: drums
Sakthivel Muruganandhan: mrdungam
Sunilkumar Sankarapillai: bansuri
Haroun Serang: guitar
Emily Bezar: voice
Forrest Fang: violin
Hans Christian: cello
Paul Olguin: upright bass

Pushing the boundaries of Robert’s melodic world-fusion vocabulary, such as on Seven Veils or Propagation, Ylang blends Rich’s expressive steel guitar, shimmering organic electronics and yearning flute melodies with influences as diverse as south Indian Karnatic music, pulsing minimalism and pensive jazz; while its deconstructed drums and blurry guitar feedback might feel at home with Sigur Ros or Bark Psychosis.

Rich enlists help for this undertaking from a circle of trusted musician friends. The rhythmic scaffolding for the album comes from two very different drummers. Ricky Carter adds his intelligent sparse drumming, fluid with syncopation but complex in meter. These rhythms could be a slow tempo homage to Jaki Leibzeit from Can. Post-processing transforms them into rubbery chuffing abstractions. The other rhythmic foundation comes from the Karnatic mrdungam playing of Sakthivel Muruganandhan, which also wanders into Rich”s sonic blender, shifting from time- stretched blurs into organic live duets with bansuri master Sunilkumar Sankarapillai.

Lilting in and out of this heady atmosphere of South Indian music and minimalist space jazz, the wordless voice of art-pop virtuoso Emily Bezar adds a feminine intelligence to several pieces, and subtle melodic guitar additions from Haroun Serang augment Rich’s soaring lap steel feedback. With acoustic bass from Paul Olguin and string additions from Forrest Fang and Hans Christian, the sonic texture warms to a glowing woody earthiness. Rich’s audiophile production and delicate sound design glue the textures together into a seductive and inviting mossy nest. From these disparate elements, Ylang forms a sonic entity unto itself.

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Coolstreams Adds:
Ambient Caverns: ALL TRACKS;

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Robert Rich’s Web Site >>>

Bruce Mitchell - Celtic Compilation

Bruce Mitchell – Celtic Compilation:

Released: January, 2010:

1. Border Country [4:12]
2. Realm [5:36]
3. Gaelic Morn [3:14]
4. Lady of the Unicorn [4:20]
5. Mystic Summer [4:21]
6. Ancient Runes [5:43]
7. Crossroads [5:12]
8. Remembrance [3:29]
9. The Book Of Days [4:26]
10. Dream of a Warrior [5:04]
11. Distant Drummers [4:52]
12. Stone of Destiny [3:51]
13. The Book of Wishes [5:26]
14. The Offering [5:23]
15. Sanctity [4:42]
16. Beyond The Horizon [3:20]
17. Worldview [5:01]

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Coolstreams Adds: See Original Albums:

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From The Artist:
Composer Pianist Bruce Mitchell began his recording career in 1987 with the release of ‘Hidden Pathways’ on Narada. Following up soon after was ‘Dancing on The Edge’. Moving on to more creative projects he formed a long term association with Oasis Records of Canada and released ‘The Gathering’, ‘Celtic Destiny’ and ‘Celtic Sanctity’. Recently Bruce started his own label for the release of ‘New Earth Goddess’ a mystical journey into the Heart of The Goddess.

Mitchell writes with a wide symphonic palette featuring unusual ethnic instruments played by world class performers such as Ron Korb.  His sound ranges from a delicate pianissimo to thundering harmonics. Evocative, uplifting and just plain WOW are some of the words used to describe his unique compositional visions. Bruce has also written the soundtracks to Television shows as ‘Nature Watch’ and ‘The Global Family’ by NHK Japan which had a very successful European prime time run. His music has been enjoyed by millions around the world.

Scott’s Notes:
From his initial release “Hidden Pathways” (December, 1987) Bruce Mitchell has always delighted with masterful instrumental performances.  While “Hidden Pathways” was primarliy Electronic Synthesizer based, he did touch on some Celtic moods and themes even back then.  On later albums, Bruce features acoustic instramentation, primarily composing for Piano with orchestration.  The majority of Mitchell’s celtic tracks are melodic & lush, many orchestrated in complement to traditional celtic instrumentation.  Fans of Phil Coulter’s Scottish Tranquility will find many of these songs a perfect complement.
Celtic Compilation is an anthology of songs from 3 prior albums:
The Gathering (Millennia) (1994)
Celtic Destiny (Oasis) (1997)
Celtic Sanctity (Oasis) (2001)

(Tracks With Original Albums noted *)
1. Border Country [4:12] * from: Celtic Destiny (1997)
2. Realm [5:36] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
3. Gaelic Morn [3:14] * from: Celtic Destiny (1997)
4. Lady of the Unicorn [4:20] * from: Celtic Destiny (1997)
5. Mystic Summer [4:21] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
6. Ancient Runes [5:43] * from: Celtic Destiny (1997)
7. Crossroads [5:12] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
8. Remembrance [3:29] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
9. The Book Of Days [4:26] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
10. Dream of a Warrior [5:04] * from: Celtic Destiny (1997)
11. Distant Drummers [4:52] * from: Celtic Destiny (1997)
12. Stone of Destiny [3:51] * from: Celtic Destiny (1997)
13. The Book of Wishes [5:26] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
14. The Offering [5:23] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
15. Sanctity [4:42] * from: Celtic Sanctity (2001)
16. Beyond The Horizon [3:20] * from: The Gathering  (1994)
17. Worldview [5:01] * from: The Gathering  (1994)

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Other Bruce Mitchell Albums:

Hidden Pathways (1987)
Dancing On The Edge (1989)
The Gathering  (1994)
Celtic Destiny (1997)
Celtic Sanctity (2001)
New Earth Goddess (2009)
Celtic Compilation (2010)

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