Release Date: February 14, 2025
Label: Round Sky Music
"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
