Release Date: October 6, 2023
Label: City Hall Records
I
can relate to that statement as much as many of his listeners can.
Kevin
Keller composed and produced all the music on his most recent release, Evensong.
Other contributors included Katherine Wessinger, †Danya Katok, Elisa Singer
Strom, and Wendy Baker, sopranos; Sarah Zun, violin; Angela Pickett, viola; and
Laura Metcalf, cello.
In
his journey from conception to the end of life, Keller combines a classical
foundation of strings, organ, piano, and modern sounds and sequences. All the
transitory periods we humans go through can be wrought with confusion and fear.
At other times, revelatory experiences appear before us, pushing our
consciousness and spirituality to different maturity levels. Music such as this
has provided growth for many individuals for our existence here on the physical
plane.
Note
that this recording has eight tracks with duplicate titles, steadily
maintaining the primary concept. Most importantly, each segment varies in pace,
rhythm, colors, tones, and vocal accompaniment. I found this very intriguing,
with the instruments and the vocalizations sounding like these women with
gorgeous voices in a church choir. This is the church of music, though, the
kind of headspace that can pull the mind in a different direction than worship
in a building.
Think
of music like Kraftwerk, Jean Michel-Jarre, or Tangerine Dream backed by a
large choir. That is the best way I could explain it. It was a magnificent
experience for these ears, and I highly regard and respect all of the artists
involved.
Evensong combines ancient beliefs and new technologies into
something so different and unique that you would be hard-pressed to find
something exactly like it. I don’t mean this has not been done before in some
way; it is simply distinctive in its sound and approach. It comes together
quite nicely if you can imagine going through the different stages of your life
while listening. Concerning separating the music from the vocalizations, you
really cannot; they fit together so perfectly, like they were meant for each other.
If you separate the two, then you are missing the whole point.
That is what any artist
would want to impress upon its listeners: the whole package and perception of
the presentation.
Kevin Keller, you have created a beautiful group of tracks that most people could use as a spiritual or meditation tool with Evensong—well done!
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder
March 14, 2024
Tracks:
1. Evensong 1 (7:07)
2. Evensong 2 (4:42)
3. Evensong 3 (5:08)*
4. Evensong 4 (5:38)†
5. Evensong 5 (4:13)
6. Evensong 2 (4:42)
7. Evensong 3 (5:08)*
8. Evensong 4 (5:38)†