Label: Orange
Band Records
A blend of classical style with improvisational flair,
this album comes to life with “Afterglow.” A melodious experience, the music
just flutters there, hovering like a butterfly on the wing.
“Cavu” is a term in aviation that describes ceiling and
visibility unlimited. This song was written and dedicated to Sweeten’s father,
a Navy Pilot in WWII. The piece floats and twists smooth as a plane drifting
through the clouds. Elements of string instruments delight and summon memories
and a moment in time that will be held deep in my heart forever. The plodding
rhythm carries you along as you experience the cohesive nature of this piece.
“Send Me An Angel” is a proclamation against animal
testing. Sit there and look out through the bars. Someone in a white coat comes
and opens your cage. A hand reaches inside and something is plunged into your
flesh. It burns and hurts, but there is nothing you can do. The hand puts you
back in the cage, leaving you there in pain. What have they injected into you?
Will it cause cancer? There is no way to know. The endless hours of staring out
and watching the world go by never cease. Sweeten captures this hopeless
feeling in poignant detail with a composition that will bring tears to your
eyes. Eloquent piano strains fill your eyes as the hope of these little animals
reaches out like an infinite prayer. Animal testing, no matter the good it may
do is still an atrocity and that will never change.
“Riversong” is dedicated to a space dear to Sweeten’s
heart. The river travels far and wide, but this place stays the same. The lull
of tempered melodies and the majesty of the Oboe, English Horn and a small part for
the French Horn within the piece bring the listener to that tranquil place
where nothing matters but where you are. The river is there and you hear its
song.
“The Great Divide” brings to life a poem Sweeten composed
about the gap between adults and their inner child. Keep the magic alive and
reach inside yourself to find that elusive light. Never forget the magic.
Sweeten’s talented fingers lead you through an inner journey; a reawakening of
the spirit.
Each piece in Tapestries
of Time is in some way a reflection of a special memory held by the artist.
Whether it is her father and his experiences in WWII in “Cavu” or an awakening
of the spirit in “The Great Divide,” Sweeten’s hypnotic compositions relax and
restore. Her plea to stop animal cruelty in “Send Me An Angel” is vitally
important. As someone who lives with rescue dogs, it warms my heart to see her
fighting for the rights of animals everywhere. Each and every track is special
and spending a week listening to it is not nearly enough time. This album has
earned a long time presence in my library. Ms. Sweeten has the fingers of an
angel and the heart of a warrior. She has won her own personal fight with
cancer and helps others to do the same all the while trying to protect the
animals that get thrown in the middle. Some people are heroes. They don’t wear
capes but they do fly. Ann Sweeten is one of those. Music is her super power
and she uses it with dead on laser accuracy. Beauty, grace and selflessness
come out of every note.
If you want an album that will take your breath away, you
won’t want to miss Tapestries of Time.
5/5 Stars
Key
Tracks: Afterglow, Cavu, Send Me an Angel, Riversong
Dana Wright
March 6, 2014
Tracks:
01. Afterglow
02. Cavu (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited)
03. Endless Sky
04. Hypnotique
05. Ventanas Al Mar (Windows to the Sea)
06. Of Clouds and Dreams
07. Send Me an Angel
08. Tapestries of Time
09.The Great Divide
10.The Hourglass
11.Riversong
Tracks:
01. Afterglow
02. Cavu (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited)
03. Endless Sky
04. Hypnotique
05. Ventanas Al Mar (Windows to the Sea)
06. Of Clouds and Dreams
07. Send Me an Angel
08. Tapestries of Time
09.The Great Divide
10.The Hourglass
11.Riversong
Review
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