Ambient Electronic Review and Interview: AeTopus-iota

Release Date: February 21, 2025

Label: Spotted Peccary

Website

Music Smartlink

AeTopus is the innovative music project of Bryan Tewell Hughes, a multi-media artist whose music is influenced as much by art, nature, and the human experience as it is by a singular idea or moment in his life. The moniker AeTopus suggests time (Ae), while "Topus" loosely means Place. A lifelong musician, Hughes began classical piano training at age 6, moving through musical immersions in heavy metal and punk, eventually drawn to join the sonic slipstream of ambient and electronic music. iota, the most recent release from AeTopus, is a 12-track ambient electronic journey.

 

The title iota (note in lowercase font) carries a significant meaning. It suggests a small yet crucial part of a larger whole, mirroring the intricate and nuanced nature of the music within.

 

Starting with “Museum,” each track promises a unique auditory journey. The spacey sounds, layered synths, and tempo changes create a captivating atmosphere stimulating the exploration of the senses and thought patterns.

 

“Why Not Now,” with its slower tempo, soft percussive tapping, and layered synths, offers a soothing experience. Its flow and feel make it a perfect companion for relaxation or meditation, inducing a sense of calm and tranquility.

 

"Mohhu" starts with a mysterious floating atmosphere and a bell-like sound, and a tick-tock click sets the tempo. Some of the sounds are different as the composition gathers momentum. With no track under 4 minutes, you begin to appreciate how AeTopus takes the time to develop each track and capture your interest and imagination by offering a constant state of evolution. This track is the perfect example of that model in action. Towards the end, there are some cool laser-like sounds that you would hear in sci-fi flicks.

 

"Finespun" is a high-energy piece with bubbling sounds echoing throughout and some whooshing sounds that suggest the music is alive and moving from one speaker to another. It has a very intriguing pace and interesting layering of the synths.

 

"Level" is the second most lengthy track, clocking in at 6:29. The track title made me think of a VU meter on a soundboard at a radio station I worked at as a cadet many moons ago. With all the time invested in the track, you are already thinking about what may be next for changes and textures. The steady underlying layer is rapid as the rest of the music being added ascends to the top of the audio range. This would be a perfect soundtrack for a documentary that wanted to showcase scenarios or shots in the process of changing, like the opening and closing of flowers or the changing tides of the oceans.

 

"Wave Hello" immediately recalled sound waves, and perhaps that is precisely what the artist is conveying here. He is saying hello through his music. The tone is light and airy, like a cordial greeting to the artistry of colors, sounds, textures, emotion, and whatever it recalls to each listener. Hello!

 

"Tell_us" is another track over 6 minutes in length, allowing the artist and listener to explore in their own time and space. The "spacey" sounds take precedence in many types of ambient music, and they do with all this music. As I was listening, I was asked, "Are you watching something," which indicates this type of music and the images it can create out of nothing. When you begin to listen, there is nothing you may be thinking about. However, that changes quickly. The feeling of taking steps and a percolating sound part way in prompts a string of thoughts to form.

 

"Subsystem" sounds technical in words alone; however, in music, it can mean many different things, mainly how this music is created. The other programs, computers, keyboards, and assorted electronic manipulating tools have their systems and subsystems. It sounded techy and robot-like at times, befitting the title.

 

"Probe" means to look around, give it a poke or two, and see what is there. As you listen to this music, you are probing all the soundscapes and discovering what is happening inside your mind. Some exciting sounds come to light, and as you listen, you picture different things, maybe a bird or a vast open space somewhere in your imagination as a synth sound flutters around like a happy butterfly.

 

"Accent" can be a prolific word. With this music, there are many ways there is an accent or accession of the sounds used to compile in one composition. I liked the percussive sounds emulating a drum and the way it gathers momentum intersecting all the elements, then stepping back with a softer piano and world sound with the percussive elements and echoing past sounds from a lost ancient tribe—one of my favorites.      

   

"Sunny" is the magnum opus of this recording, clocking in at 6:31. The title suggests light, warmth, or the significance of a day related to weather or perhaps one's attitude on any given day. The music asks, without words, what sunny means for you right now. It turned into my favorite track for a few reasons. The equipment and style reminded me of some 80s releases from my favorite artists. The sound is heavier than the rest of the tracks, like progressive ambient instrumental, taking the best of the past regarding the equipment sounds being used and the layering of all the synths, which is superb! Ultimately, it sounds like a train letting everyone know it's arriving as it closes out.

 

"Decima Milia," translated as "ten thousands"  or an iota? Perhaps when a note changes on the scale, it is in ten thousand of a second or minutes? I am stretching a guess here. The music is a cool breeze of mellow, trickling, moving, meltdown sounds.  I enjoyed it as I did the entire album. I thought the energy was perfect for capturing the overall feeling and atmosphere projected and achieved through the variables of tones, sounds, auditory perceptions, and, finally, the picturesque moments that all sounds coming together can create for you.

 

There is enough space for any listener to find another place to live physically and mentally inside this music. Know one thing: iota gives you small samples that turn into wholly constructed works of musical art. Listening to a creative artist like AeTopus can take you away for a short time. We all need that.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

February 27, 2025

Tracks:

01. Museum 4:40

02. Why Not Now 5:24

03. Mohhu 5:11

04. Finespun 4:14

05. Level 6:29

06. Wave Hello 4:31

07. Tell_us 6:22

08. Subsystem 4:19

09. Probe 5:29

10. Accent 4:32

11. Sunny 6:31

12. Decima Milia 4:31

Contemporary Instrumental-New Age Review: Wayo Hogan-Montana Stillwater

Release Date: October 24, 2024

Label: Independent

Website

Listening Link

The first lines I read about Wayo Hogan's debut recording, Montana Stillwater, were the following:" Montana Stillwater is a New Age acoustic piano album that captures the breathtaking contrasts of Glacier National Park. From serene lakes to dynamic peaks, this debut recording by pianist Wayo Hogan transforms nature's beauty into a meditative journey.

 

That, indeed, sounded like a fantastic amalgamation of sound and nature. I would soon find out!

 

"Stillwater Landing" starts your musical soundscape, imagining what the artist envisioned with each track as he played. It begins brightly with a lovely piano as the keys roll off his fingers, and the second hand adds the bass's lower notes underlying foundation for strength to support the beauty. It is a marvelous start.

 

"On Lake McDonald" shimmers and shines as the lake's subject matter forms in your mind's eye. The music moves like water, and its liquidity resonates brilliantly through the piano keys. It soothes and calms you inwardly as your mind takes you to where the artist is now.

 

"Whitefish Lake" moves much quicker than the previous track with a contagious energy and rhythm. The lead notes are gorgeously placed between the bass lines. You can hear the classical influences of the great composers shining brightly on every note. Sublime and everlasting, the music carries you to another place or lake, preferably.

 

"Swan River" slows the tempo down a few levels for more water-based inspiration. Wayo's interpretation becomes more meditative without losing any of the energy and color you had already experienced in all the other tracks. His sense of rhythm and rapidly moving fingers relax you, and you will want more.

 

"On the Road to Polebridge" is another example of the eclectic nature of Wayo's artistry and ability to change the tempo in a second and take the composition in an entirely different direction without a listener feeling any of the anticipation of that happening. This, I believe, makes things more interesting when one is listening for the first time! It keeps your interest, and that is paramount! I particularly enjoy the rolling piano sounds he creates in this track and previous instances.

 

"Going to the Sun" is bright, like the warm rays of our life-giving star—one of the lengthier compositions clocking in at 4:03. This one felt entirely different than all the rest, as with any music you find some similarities in the concept and sound of an album. To hear such a change was enjoyable; it felt flowing and consistent, and the ever-changing notes of the piano were the highlight. It is superb, with many piano phases on display.

 

"St. Mary Falls" takes on a separate personality, which is what you expect early on when listening to this solo piano music. I liked the warmth and tone of the keys, and they made me feel joyous. A big smile formed inside, wanting to burst to the outside. When the tempo changed, it felt more spiritual or something one may hear at a church service as the choir sang. It is quite beautifully done with elegance.

 

"Bear Valley" is the briefest journey at 2:03. The key is to get the message across in the music with so little time. And again, Wayo does not disappoint—a strong, exceptional, emotive track.

 

"The Crown of the Continent" features a lovely rhythmic thread, with the singularity of the keys on top of that layer sounding like a slice of heaven. I was reminded of harp music a few times.

 

"Huckleberry Mountain" changes from the water theme to the strength and majesty of a mountain. You may have expected a different tone or tempo because of the title; however, it projects the organic beauty of what nature offers us and how the piano "Climbs" the mountain in its music with style and grace.

 

"Many Glacier" continues with marvelous rhythmic patterns and moving piano notes manipulated expertly by Wayo. I appreciated how he changed the pace so often for a significantly ear-catching symphony emanating from one instrument.

 

The closer "Cherry Pickin'" Mayo saved to leave you with the most extended composition at 4:46. I was glad that the track lasted for a while, so it would not leave me feeling it ended all too fast. This was a brilliant thing to do with the order in which all this music was presented.

 

It felt like an encapsulation of the entire album within one track. The beauty, rhythms, classical overtones, rapid playing, and the rolling keys with the underlying bass for deep resonance make the lead playing bright and colorful. The way that last note echoed at the very end was brilliant.

 

Montana Stillwater is an exceptional solo piano recording from Wayo Hogan. It offers everything in one sitting: the instrumental variances within classical and contemporary music and the spirituality and relaxing meditative foundations of a new age, like an extended sequence that runs from beginning to end.

 

Highly recommended to those who enjoy uplifting and relaxing piano solo music!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

February 25, 2025

Tracks:

01. Stillwater Landing (2:28) 

02. On Lake McDonald (2:29) 

03. Whitefish Lake (2:40) 

04. Swan River (3:52) 

05. On the Road to Polebridge (3:43) 

06. Going to the Sun (4:03) 

07. St. Mary Falls (3:27) 

08. Bear Valley (2:03) 

09. The Crown of the Continent ( 2:40) 

10. Huckleberry Mountain (2:05) 

11. Many Glacier (3:05) 

12. Cherry Pickin’ (4:46)  

Ambient New Age Instrumental Review: Liquid Mind-Liquid Mind XV-In The Love

Release Date: February 14, 2024

Label: Chuck Wild Records

Website

This is a warning from Chuck Wild, the man behind Liquid Mind XV - As Liquid Mind deeply relaxes some folks: please do not listen while driving or operating machinery of any kind, and always drive safely!

 

Liquid Mind XV-In The Love was just released on Valentine’s Day, which contrasts nicely with the title, the meaning the artist conveys in the music, and the beautiful artwork for the album. The person on the cover looks so free, with no boundaries and nothing but the light of the cosmos at his fingertips. It is like looking at a transformation that happens right before your eyes. And hopefully, the music will take you to that place.

 

The album offers a diverse range of tracks, from the shortest, “A Willing Spirit,” at 4:32, to the longest, “Sanctuary,” at a substantial 11:09. This variety ensures that every listener experiences the very best of Chuck Wild, with seven full-bodied tracks of dimensional sounds. Whether you're seeking relaxation or a tool for meditation, each track offers a unique journey, keeping you engaged and intrigued throughout.

 

The artist performing that type of music needs to be in a particular place with personal growth, a spiritual connection to all living things, and a clarity of who they are and their purpose. That can apply to any profession to give one success; however, it is more predominant amongst those in the artistic industries like music and art. Those two things are interchangeable and the same. Music takes a blank canvas and draws many scenes through sounds. I find that fascinating.

 

We don’t always express an attitude of “Gratitude” in our daily lives. I am guilty of that; however, I feel instant gratitude whenever I have the time to listen to some music. Now, we are off on another magic carpet ride with Liquid Mind.

 

As the synths softly introduce your road to the many things love is delivered by, the feeling is one of serenity and healing. While the artist does not claim to have the magic elixir to make you healthy again, the music invokes a good feeling and allows you to relax. Its instrumental ambiance and layers of atmosphere are beautiful, giving, and colorful, and the tones and frequencies initiate a spirituality that many types of music do not.

 

“Soul Whispers” caught my attention immediately with just the title. I started to think right away what that could mean, and indeed, it is dependent on who you are, how you respond to sounds like this, and where you want it to take you. I feel blessed to be able to take it all in on the listening level and then take the next step to convey the reactions and emotions it may generate along the way. My soul does whisper to me at times, and at other times, it shouts when appropriate if I happen to be asleep at the wheel on the road we call life.

 

The track felt soft and warm, like I was floating into another portal of “being” away from where I was sitting. To me, that is everything, to be transported in some way to move away all the cluttering of the mind and whatever is in the way emotionally to receive the music’s message. I love being the recipient of the sounds and conveying that to people interested in knowing more about what I heard and how it affected me. And, more importantly, what the possibilities would be for another listener.

 

Those two tracks I focused on encapsulated what you will hear and possibly feel while listening to In The Love. They encompass over fifteen minutes of music, a sizable sampling of what one would expect on the entire album.

 

The compositions' varying tempo, rhythms, and intensity offer a listener enough variables to keep interest and a consistency that will allow a continuous flow of peacefulness and healing. That was the goal of this recording. The entire listen from where I exist in this time and space allowed me to empty my mind so the music could fill my soul. That is my goal before listening to ambient new-age instrumental music.

 

If you are In The Love, then you are the love. It is all about connecting with your inner self first, becoming whole, and being able to share that with a significant other with whom you are enjoying your journey or simply someone you need to share this music with because you realize how much they need it and how it could help them.

 

All of this is important to sentient beings; to live is to love, and to love is to live. Stop at some point during your day or evening and listen to these tracks. You can use it to listen to it all, use select tracks while meditating, or if you need relief after a long day and a release of tension, it's perfect. The music’s simplistic and practical approach will serve you well whatever you use it or need it for.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

February 15, 2025

 Tracks:

1. Gratitude 7:02

2. Soul Whispers 8:10

3. Sanctuary 11:09

4. A Willing Spirit 4:32

5. In The Love 9:13

6. Forgiveness 8:23

7. Coming Home 7:43

Track Feature: The Song Gardeners-Wildflower in My Heart

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Watch The Lyric Video on YouTube 

Mary Gospe and Corrie Dunn continue releasing single tracks as they did last year.

This Valentine's Day, the ladies decided to release "Wildflower in My Heart."

 

Their New Age Pop music remains unique and consistent in the genre. They set the mark for anyone else who decides to follow their path.

 

They sing with joy and healing tones:

You are a wildflower in my heart

A new beginning, a new start

You are a wildflower in my heart

Making love bloom

 

Corrie and Mary wrote the tune and have James Butler and David Scheibner for additional instrumentation.  Those additions are always substantial and enhance the beautiful vocals.

 

The music features soft and entrancing keyboards and tones of light and hope. The arrangement is perfected, as it always is, to flow with the vocals.

 

"Wildflower in My Heart." is one more addition to the vast catalog of recordings the ladies have recorded over the years.

 

As a listener accustomed to hearing new-age instrumental music, it is a nice change to hear such lovely voices and music coming together to make the heart smile.

Are you ready to let the Wildflower grow this Valentine’s Day in your heart?

Recording Personnel:

· Corrie Dunn: lead and backing vocals, keyboard

·  Mary Gospe: backing vocals

·  James Butler: bass, synths, percussion

·   David Scheibner: guitars, synths

 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

February 14, 2025

The Song Gardeners are at the forefront of the New Age Pop genre – creating well-crafted contemporary #chill, #groove, #pop songs with positive, empowering messages. The band was founded by singer/songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Corrie Dunn and Mary Gospe... READ MORE

 

 

 

 

Ambient New Age Review: Paul Avgerinos-Beloved

Release Date: February 14, 2025

Label: Round Sky Music

Website

Timed just right for the day of love for sweethearts worldwide, Paul Avgerinos releases Beloved, an album of eleven new-age ambient instrumentals. Paul produces the album and plays vocals, cello, guitars, bass, and keyboards.

 

"Love Flows" is a standout track featuring the unique collaboration with Kevin Braheny Fortune on EWI electronic wind instrument, alto clarinet, and alto flute. The soothing sounds immediately disarm you, offering a cloud of relief and spirituality that will help you release any stress or negative feelings. This track is a testament to the power of music to connect and heal, and the collaboration with Kevin adds an exciting element to the album.

 

"Beloved" is the title track and first single from the album. It starts with gentle keyboard notes and a soft synth layer. That thread continues during the track, and its soft touch feels like love. The touch of a loved one and a look of reassurance that you are indeed loved and in a safe place where you will want to remain. The music spoke to me that way, and those feelings emerged. This one is for lovers and dreamers alike.

 

"Softness," featuring Kevin with his alto clarinet, is a healing song. The title perfectly encapsulates the feeling present from the start of this recording. The synth and piano blend seamlessly, creating an ambient layer that feels like a journey into a realm of consciousness. This music is designed to heal, and it does so beautifully.

 

"Enchantment" starts with Juliet Lyons' angelic vocals. One tool used is the echo swell guitar, a key component in creating the ethereal layer you hear. It's a dreamy, spacey sound that can mesmerize a listener. With the wordless vocals fading into the background at times, the instrumentation can sound stronger. The elements of voice and music are perfect partners and indeed enchanting.

 

"Radiant Paradise" is a beautiful name for a song, and living up to that expectation and experience must have been an enjoyable process for the artist. The musical layers reverberate in your soul. I could feel the frequencies and tones going through me, creating an inner peace. That is a paradise I could use more often; however, without the help of lovely ambient instrumental music like this, it is not as easy to attain; in fact, it is difficult (speaking for myself, of course). The best thing about this track is that it is one of the longest at 7:34. A perfect tool for meditation. The most noteworthy features are seven tracks of Paul playing cello, like a cello choir.

 

"Luminous" makes you think of the inner light in all of us or the heavenly higher power you may believe in that gives you strength and guidance. Another thought that came to mind was the luminosity of our vast universe's stars, planets, and galaxies. This music easily guides you to another place where those thoughts and feelings instantly come to you. The keyboard is purposeful, immediate, and at a slow pace for centering yourself. Stardust we are…

 

"Lucid Dreaming" is a gift, mainly if you receive a necessary message from another plain of existence. They say that dreams are the window to the soul, and I believe that to be true. I have had many lucid dreams and a few in which I was out of body looking down at myself. The whirling synth sounds create a map of a dream state to follow. The only requirement is to listen and let the sounds and layers take you there.

 

"Sacred Space" could have dual meanings: a sacred space only to you or the space surrounding our planet and beyond. Sacred is holy and a significant word; it's spiritual and heartfelt. By now, you trust that this music will match the title somehow, although, in the end, the interpretation is yours alone. It always works out for me, and I find a synchronicity with the track title and music and see and feel the correlation between the two. The wind machine, again, is a key component here, drawing you in as you absorb all the layers of sound and colors into you, and your entire body relaxes. It's like a musical spa day for the senses.

 

"Flow in Oneness" begins with water flowing. This is the sound I use for my meditation and relaxation with massaging goggles on my temples. Water is from whence all life came and will eventually return. That sound continues throughout the track, creating an atmosphere of wholeness and oneness with nature, which is beneficial. Nature is an intrinsic part of humanity whether we choose to recognize it or not. It is the longest track, 8:19, and this track alone in a loop (dependent on how long you want to meditate or relax) will fulfill your needs for that state of mind, body, and soul. The consistency of the synth and water is a superb combination of auditory bliss.

 

"Blissful Presence" features Kevin going solo for the last time on the album. His contributions are noteworthy, giving the tracks an added element of grace and exquisiteness. His alto flute is beautifully played and stunning. It creates a vibe of intimacy and spirituality that most listeners seeking this instrumental music will appreciate.

 

"A Love Supreme" had me think of John Coltrane. Being one of the most famous tunes and albums he ever recorded, it's an immediate thought if you are familiar with his work and a jazz fan. This is not the same thing. The atmospheric sounds are entrancing, sounding like something you may hear on a soundtrack to a movie about space travel. The emptiness of space is not there; it is filled with the tones, sounds, frequencies, and instruments that fill your heart and soul with peace for which you will be grateful. Every track on this album gives you that feeling. The synth builds on each layer, and that whooshing sound like it's taking you away to another place is the final piece that works so well.

 

Paul Avgerinos' Beloved is not just an ambient new-age compilation but a meditative journey that offers moments of rest and reflection. It provides a space to center yourself and find a relaxation that renews and refreshes. The absence of distracting words in the music allows for a deeper connection with the audience, fostering a sense of calm and centeredness.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

February 14, 2025

Tracks:

01. Love Flows 5:52

02. Beloved 4:30

03. Softness 5:52

04. Enchantment 4:49

05. Radiant Paradise 7:34

06. Luminous 5:07

07. Lucid Dreaming 6:24

08. Sacred Space 5:47

09. Flow in Oneness 8:19

10. Blissful Presence 6:19

11. A Love Supreme 7:10

Progressive Ambient Instrumental Review: Phillip Wilkerson and Chris Russell-Imaginary Realities

Release Date: January 24, 2025

Label: Spotted Peccary

Website

Phillip Wilkerson and Chris Russell's newest collaboration, Imaginary Realities, was created for those seeking a portal of escape from everyday mundanities and stress. The shortest track is under seven minutes, and the longest is just under nine minutes, so you get full-bodied tracks and everything these two men can create within that timeframe. It is impressive.

I love the artwork, which is intrinsically connected to the music you hear. As mentioned in the press release, it harkens back to when humans drew pictures on cave walls so they could sit and look at them and transcend from their current space to another. After all, music is art, and art is music, which inspires the mind and imagination. It has no boundaries, just endless possibilities with those open to listening to the music and letting it transport you.

 

Now it's time for "Liftoff," a moving opener with shifting sounds and light. It gently pushes you to discover dimensions of yourself that you have yet to discover through the guidance of sound, vibrations, colors, and tones. The music is synthesizer-based, and it feels like you are moving from one place to another. Thus, this is the beginning of your musical journey, your liftoff. I would love to hear this in surround sound!

 

"Dissipation" picks up where the previous track left off (lifts?). This music is a progressive ambient instrumental. I have been accustomed to hearing more meditative sounds; this is mind-expanding and exploring music. My wife walked in while I was listening and asked if I was watching one of the Star Trek series I have been enjoying. A journey through space and time, going to the far reaches of the mind where no man has gone before? Yes, something like that!

 

"Principles of Creation" follows the same path with the ambient layers and sometimes more significant audible sounds. The mix is both, giving each track its personality yet retaining a core sound from the previous track.

 

The first two tracks give you the mindset and atmosphere you should expect to hear, with different variations of sounds, tones, and vibrations. Some listeners may find it mind-altering or relaxing, whereas others may feel different. It does depend on your current frame of mind or reference point before listening. The music will get your attention as you ponder the artwork and realize the space you are in and how much music affects that space. Do not overthink it, but experience it in your way.

 

"Manifesting Presence" starts with a lighter layer of synth, changing the feeling of the music thus far. As the track progresses, some interesting sounds are abundant. It's like a skipping static sound like old-time radio trying to find the right frequency to tune in and lock in. It can relate to a listener attempting to do the same thing: dial in. As the title suggests, create your presence inside your space within the music. Some lovely piano and bell sounds arrive with the whooshing of ocean waves to soothe the soul. Here is where I noticed a significant change in the temperament of the music and choices of sounds. It also lets the listener know how eclectic these two artists can be with that change and sound entirely different while painting another picture on the blank canvas of your mind.

 

"Revealing the Concealed" begins with a floating ambient atmosphere, which allows your consciousness to latch onto and ride along with the music. Its layers of sound are mysterious, like a soundtrack to a particularly thought-provoking scene in a movie or documentary about the far reaches of the universe, asking the age-old question, "Is there life out there?" The synths weave, turn, and swirl around you while filling your space and spirit.

 

"Abandoning Desire" is the ultimate track, clocking in at a hearty 14:23. If you think about it for a moment, that is nearly one side of an LP; it was back in the day anyway. It starts with the synths ranging from high to low tones as the background features a focal point of a steady, pleasing layer of synths, not drone-like, but more of a soft underlayer for everything else to slide over. The track gathers momentum in sound, and the volume increases for more impact.

 

Memories of other bands may come to mind if you started listening to music like this in the 70s or 80s. It does work that way for longtime listeners. With a newer audience generally not exposed to this kind of music, it will be like a revelation of discovering an entirely new world, a path to somewhere they have never been. That is the kind of energy this track holds. Many shifts in sounds and textures will keep your attention for nearly fifteen minutes!

 

"Imaginary Realities" closes out this recording with the title track. The music creates your imaginary realities. That was a clever title for the album, along with a very descriptive use of the vocabulary. Thinking about that makes you realize how true that is with any music. It is more impactful with instrumentals because words do not get in the way of the process. The track completes the journey with a gentle nudge back into the realms you have created with several layers of synths. Of all the compositions offered, I would choose this one for meditation. It has the right atmosphere and tones to assist with that process and runs for nearly nine minutes.

 

Imaginary Realities is recommended for listeners who have enjoyed ambient instrumental music created with synths and computer effects and are fans of bands like Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk, etc.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

February 11, 2025

Tracks:

1. Liftoff 7:23

2. Dissipation 9:03

3. Principles of Creation 6:52

4. Manifesting Presence 7:53

5. Revealing the Concealed 7:08

6. Abandoning Desire 14:23

7. Imaginary Realities 8:50

Instrumental New Age Meditation: Ilka de Gast-Ocean of Light

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Label: Global Sacred Sounds

Website

Pre-Save Link

Ilka de Gast, PsyD, is a California-based singer-songwriter, overtone singer, sound healer, Qigong, meditation teacher, researcher, and licensed psychologist from the Netherlands.

For 30+ years, Ilka has worked with sacred sound healing modalities worldwide, including the ancient art of overtone singing (vocal harmonics). The Chinese Zhineng / Wisdom Healing Qigong ties in firmly with this music and is something the artist taught for many years.

 

If you have not had the opportunity to listen to the results of those studies and all that has worked collectively over the years for many people, then now would be a good time to start.

 

Her most recent release is Ocean of Light, a collection of eleven new-age instrumental tracks made for meditation. Eight of the eleven tracks are considerably long, making each a great tool for guided meditation through sound.

 

“Spirit Eyes” begins your path to healing sounds with Ilka’s amazing vocalizations. It is apparent immediately her voice is one of the main instruments in this recording. The soft synth layer in the background brings her voice to the front with elegance and beauty.

 

“Ocean Waves Overtones” begins with a heavier bass-sounding synth, and her voice sounds like a centering Om point. Then, it changes to a different tone as the music changes. The tones of her voice are incredible. As we move along the composition, we realize that what she is doing is distinctive and original. She can get high and low or change her intonations to fit the frequencies and harmonics of the music. At times, she sounds like a digeridoo, which is fascinating.

 

“Sophia’s Song” takes on a different tone and path with a nice acoustic guitar and the reliance on the higher vocals to fill in the spaces between the music. A flute arrives for more ambiance. It is beautiful.

 

“Abalone Skies” begins with a pulsating synth sound, and the vocals take on another tone to offset that as the flutes join in. Ilka reverts back to a more chanting/tribal mode, then back again to the humming, buzzing tone you hear briefly at the beginning. The way she switches back and forth is like her voice is a band within itself!

 

“Song Bird” begins with a drone sound, with bells ringing, the kind that sounds so beautiful, like when you hang chimes, and the wind blows, to create that organic symphony. The vocals come in, echoing like she is in a cave. A whooshing sound is added, and a very subtle percussive knocking sound, like a quiet xylophone, is added.

 

“Desert Dance” rings a bell, then a digeridoo or Jewish Harp sound comes to life, and some percussion begins, all sounding very earthy, like a spiritual dance for the elders before an offering or meditation. If you consider the track title, those comparisons seem to fit. Her voice sounds off in the distance in another direction; however, as usual, it is stunning. Things start getting more energized with the pace of the percussion and winding digeridoo/Jewish harp sound. This one is very mystical, and I loved it.

 

“Harmony Chant” is another glistening beauty, with Ilka’s lovely, wordless vocals leading the way to your place of comfort and healing. Like many other pieces in this collection, it is a harmonious chant, as the tones change during the track. The frequencies get your attention and, ultimately, your focus, which can be a great tool if your goal is regenerative meditation.

 

“Soul Shimmer” is an excellent title. Hopefully, after using this music to relax or meditate, your soul will shimmer with an inner light that may have been subdued somehow during your day. It starts with a light keyboard and those angelic wordless vocalizations. It sounds like an invitation to heaven, a musical soul food you will return to for a second helping.

 

“Light, Sacred Connection” is different in a few ways. It has lyrics with Ilka, showing how she can sing an entire song beautifully without changing her harmonics. It is warm and soft and so lovely. The length is 3:17, which is shorter than all the previous tracks. It is a step away from everything else to show another side of the most capable artist when called upon.

 

“Light Chant (Remix)” returns to the more extended compositions but starts with an acoustic guitar picked gently to match her vocals. Some nice woodwinds or Native Flute are added to give it a more organic earth tone, a nice addition. I could see where this lady could get full-time work providing backing vocals for numerous artists; however, what she does is much more valuable to an audience that needs it.

 

I had not heard “Healing (Remix)” before it was remixed. It is a reboot of “Light, Sacred Connection” and is just as beautiful, with a soft acoustic guitar, synth layer, gorgeous vocals, and emotive lyrics with such strong meaning.

 

This music certainly is an Ocean of Light. It is one of the more unique new-age releases I have heard in a long time because Ilka de Gast uses her voice as many instruments with varying harmonics. This is the perfect meditation recording.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

February 5, 2025

Tracks:

01. Spirit Eyes (6:04)

02. Ocean Waves Overtones (6:08)

03. Sophia’s Song (4:30)

04. Abalone Skies (6:55)

05. Song Bird (6:40)

06. Desert Dance (6:45)

07. Harmony Chant (6:25)

08. Soul Shimmer (6:50)

09. Light, Sacred Connection (3:17)

10. Light Chant (6:07)

11. Healing (3:14)