Contemporary Instrumental-New Age Review: Omar Akram-Moments of Beauty

Release Date: July 7, 2023

Label: ‎Independent

Website

Omar Akram’s Moments of Beauty immediately gets your attention with fantastic artwork on the cover. Ultimately, you want the art to correspond to the music you are presenting along with the message in the music. That is what is accomplished very well on his most recent album.

 

The title track has a catchy melody and a peaceful and relaxing start. It gently caresses your senses and lets you into the world of this talented artist.

 

Tracks like “Dancing On My Own” carry loneliness, which exemplifies that feeling. The mood is translated well, yet the music remains beautiful as if to say enjoy the space and privacy of your world created in the dance.

 

“Sorrow” accomplishes the effect of the track title as well. Omar is accompanied by a lovely violin for more emphasis on the sadness. Once again, through his piano, he portrays that feeling and mood painted on the canvas of human emotion and turns it into something beautiful.

Then, “Promises” are kept through his nimble fingers as he takes you, the listener, through a timeless channel of instrumental music that delivers a soundscape of beauty and color. It is one of the most relaxing and meditative compositions on the recording.

 

There are so many Moments of Beauty in the ten tracks offered. I am continually intrigued by artists like Omar Akram. Taking one instrument and sustaining an original sound from start to finish is an incredible accomplishment. Instrumental music enhanced with synths, drums, bass, etc., makes it much more interesting, entertaining, and engaging.

 

The flow of this type of music is essential to the success you desire to bring to an audience. Omar does that with regularity in Moments of Beauty. 

 

As a listener and an individual who appreciates this kind of presentation, many factors come into play to get my attention and keep it. Many listeners approach music this way, particularly if they are looking for something that helps them spiritually or to unwind. This music will get you there quickly; I can promise you that.

 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Founder

December 14, 2023

Tracks:

01. Moments Of Beauty 3:28

02. Passage Of Time 3:25

03. Dancing On My Own 3:35

04. Sorrow 2:09

05. Falling In Love 3:26

06. Promises 3:50

07. Special Gift 3:22

08. Mystery 4:36

09. Someday 3:14

10. Walking Free 4:01

Contemporary Instrumental-New Age Reviews: Omar Akram-The Light Will Come

Release Date: April 23, 2021

Label: Twinbrook Entertainment, Inc.

Website

 

As my life goes by quicker with each passing day, month, and year, I find the addition of music is a quintessential element of my happiness. It brings forth the best in me and makes my heart smile. If it does not manage to do that I will not listen again. This is where the importance of all instrumental music plays such a definitive role in accomplishing changing my thought process, attitude, and overall mood and perception of the world around me.

So, what does that have to do with the new album release from pianist Omar Akram titled The Light Will Come you may ask? My answer quite simply is everything. This music is beautiful and full of rhythms that are easily assimilated and catchy while remaining different as you go from track to track. In the same instance, all ten tracks have a similar effect on you, the listener. This is piano-based instrumental contemporary music with a new age foundation in regards to the presentation, meaning, and pace.

It has become apparent to me over the last year in particular, that the presenting artists of this genre all have a commonality and purpose. And that my fellow listeners are to heal you in some way, shape, or form, however you perceive what you are hearing, in the end, we all hope to gain something from this experience. I am selfish in the sense that I have certain expectations and needs at the outset of listening and writing about this music. In all actuality, this is not much different than someone listening for pure enjoyment, but I have a dual purpose, and that is for my overall mental, physical, and spiritual health. I then attempt to convey what I can to potential listeners what they would hope to gain from listening. And the bottom line is it has to be excellent music and hold something extraordinary that clicks something inside me that propels me to write these words.

I do have difficulty at times identifying certain tracks as exceptional when the entire album is. In this case, that is exactly what happened with The Light Will Come. It does happen enough during the course of my listening journeys; however, I will say that the all-important first track has to catch my ear and get me focused as well. And the first and title track did exactly that, launching me into that “zone” where expressiveness becomes the key element in putting it all into words that everyone can understand. Once again, this is not that much different than just giving the music a spin for the enjoyment of it with no commitment attached, with the exception of what you are wishing to gain with one listen. The ultimate purpose for the recording artist is to garner emotion, then getting a reaction from a listener. This music is like a river of feelings the runs right through your heart, soul, and then to the brain for the last process of interpretation.

If I was asked to pick favorite tracks I would have to go with “The Light Will Come,” for starting things with energy, “Pressing On,” whose title alone held a lot of meaning for my life and the drive I have every day to keep learning and moving forward in a positive direction. And finally, the elegance of “Caught Dreaming,” and how it changed so much, and the lovely interludes of the singularity of the tinkling ivory keys that are added within the song.

The flow and rhythm of The Light Will Come is exceptional and the main reason I was able to connect to it so quickly. The fingers of Omar Akram are gifted with translating what his heart and spirit are conveying through the music. I heard that message from beginning to end and it will make you look at each title to see if it all makes sense. It did for me, and I hope it does for everyone that listens, and if you take the time to listen then The Light Will Come shining through, just in different intensity for each listener.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

April 23, 2021
 

Track List:
01. The Light Will Come
02. For George
03. Hear My Heart
04. For Merry
05. Waterfall
06. Since I Met You
07. Wish I Could See You
08. Pressing On
09. Caught Dreaming
10. New Morning Sun