Release Date: July
26, 2016
Label: Dream
Score Music
I believe everything happens for a reason and within the
last few days I got news that put me at a Crossroads
in life. This music came right at the perfect time for me to absorb, feel and
process. This is something I do naturally however now I feel more connected because
of my life circumstances.
The opening title track is an epic cinematic entrance
into a beauty and the beast scenario. The beast is the challenges and
difficulties of change and making the right decision. The end result is the
essence of absolute beauty and emotion of the music. Marc’s piano leads the way
and all the other elements that join in make it an incredible way to kick off
an album. This is truly a cinematic soundtrack to one’s life and it is just the
beginning.
It really helps to get some background as to what
actually inspires an artist to paint a musical picture like Marc does on Crossroads. What I found so interesting
was the fact that there are compelling instrumentals provided and he mixes it
up with added vocals on a few tracks to make it a bit more diverse. “Your Silence
is a Razor” featuring Aili Laine on vocals is a superb example. This one is a
real burner. Silence can be more hurtful than words and in this case it is so
sharp it cuts the recipient like a sharp razor. Aili’s voice is the perfect
accompaniment to the fast moving and powerful instrumentation. It is definitely
a different road to take musically and one trip you simply cannot forget.
“Fading White” is yet another incredibly emotional track.
Featuring Lila Ives, who is a prolific vocalist as well, makes the music more
meaningful and authoritative. It is similar to the other vocally enhanced
track, it moves you in such a way that you can relate to the emotionally
charged vocal style and perfectly matched music.
“Dying In Degrees” sounds dark and very serious however
that is not what you hear. The changing emotions of the song get that across
but in more of an upbeat quirky way in comparison to the previous music that
you hear. The title certainly grabs you as some of the others do and it’s very
straightforward with the message. It starts of like a suspenseful movie and
then gathers some steam and starts moving quicker. The music calls out to you
and you fall right into it creating your own cinema and dramatics for that
silver screen that lives in the mind. We all have a constant flow of images and
thoughts going through our brains in waking hours but music like this stops the
train and puts everything on a different track. That is the power and magnetic
quality of music, which is what you will hear on Crossroads from beginning to end.
Crossroads is
a master stroke of musical genius and emotional representation. If you would
like to hear something that pulls you away from everyday life, excites and
relaxes all at the same time then this is the only road to take.
5/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Crossroads, Your Silence is a Razor, Dying In Degrees
Tracks:
01. Crossroads
02. Toxic
03. Your Silence is a Razor (vocals feat. Aili Laine)
04. Sepia
05. Betrayed
06. Fading White (vocals feat. Lila Ives)
07. Dying in Degrees
08. Shattered
09. Shed my Skin (vocals feat. Lila Ives)
10. Moonlight Obsession
11. Fading White Reprise
12. Wildfire Rising
13. In that Moment
14. Unbounded
BONUS TRACKS
15. Shed my Skin Instrumental Version
16. Your Silence is a Razor Instrumental Version
Tracks:
01. Crossroads
02. Toxic
03. Your Silence is a Razor (vocals feat. Aili Laine)
04. Sepia
05. Betrayed
06. Fading White (vocals feat. Lila Ives)
07. Dying in Degrees
08. Shattered
09. Shed my Skin (vocals feat. Lila Ives)
10. Moonlight Obsession
11. Fading White Reprise
12. Wildfire Rising
13. In that Moment
14. Unbounded
BONUS TRACKS
15. Shed my Skin Instrumental Version
16. Your Silence is a Razor Instrumental Version
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
August 13, 2016
Founder of:
Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews