Release Date: January 10, 2025
Label: Independent
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Monica Logani is about to start the new year with her latest release, The Depths. This album, which showcases a captivating blend of classical and modern elements, is sure to pique the interest of New Age music enthusiasts. Our last coverage of this artist was in 2016's Secret Garden.
"Dreams of Zagyva" opens the recording with a lovely
melody and an atmosphere that, for some reason, brings me thoughts of Italy. It
has that old European romantic sound as you take the boat down the waterways.
It is very picturesque. Zagyva is a river in Hungary (which I had no idea), so
I had the right idea.
"Stars" is intended to get a listener to look up to
the skies at night to take in all the wonders of the universe. Perhaps, as
usual, it is up to the listener. The divine piano piece helps to point you in
the right direction with calm and the rhythm of your heart.
The cover art portrays "The Depths" to give you more
thought to the album title. The sun shines through the water at the surface as
the beautiful dancer falls gently into Mother Nature's arms. The piano is
taking its time as the person in the picture is frozen in time and now perhaps
in your thoughts. Is it water ballet in all its beauty, or is she drowning?
What is the piano saying to you?
The track "Silver Lining" poignantly reflects life's
challenges and urges us to find the positive in every situation. The piano,
accompanied by the haunting sound of a violin, evokes a range of emotions,
compelling us to reconsider our perspectives.
As I have appreciated in previous tracks, "Midnight
Express" provides rhythm and connectivity through the piano keys, which is
so important. The continuous flow of this music is consistently strong and
emotive. This one sounded more classical-based than the others. The addition of
the violin and electric guitar adds more elements and layers to the story,
making it more captivating.
"Intermezzo" in music, in the most general sense, is a
composition that fits between other musical or dramatic entities, such as acts
of a play or movements of a more extensive musical work. (Wikipedia) I had to look up
this word, which I had never encountered before. Once you start listening, you
realize how nicely the composition fits that description. Again, the piano keys
seem to effortlessly float along Monica's fingers as the violin has a longing
and sadness that answers the notes emanating from the keys.
"Wonder" is an impactful word that comes to mind
significantly, and often, as I listen to the music, it envelopes me in its warm
tones and consciousness. It can always tell a story and capture my imagination.
It does so in under 4 minutes, as it begins, then pauses long enough to make
you stop to see if the song ends, but you know that much time has yet to pass.
However, the change is significant enough to sound like another track, immediately
allowing me to wonder again. It is another nice combination of the piano and
background ambiance.
"Wooden Horses" is soft and invites you into the world
of a child (?). That was my first thought. All though the wooden horse I had,
which they called a hobby horse, gave me much pain as a 2-year-old. I do not
remember the incident; however, I am told I fell off, and there was a lot of
blood, and it pushed my two front teeth up into my gums. My teeth were supposed
to come out black, which they did not, just later in life, like around 5th
grade. It's a sad story for such a beautiful composition; however, it brought
that thought back to me after decades of never thinking about it. The power of
music at work!
"Solitude" is the shortest track at 1:29. Unfortunately,
it can be that fleeting for some people. It's simple and just the piano's
expression of that singularity that everyone occasionally needs to relieve
stress or be with their thoughts.
"Diamond Gaze" brings a shine and light.
The crystal polished to perfection adorned on a gold band brings many thoughts.
In another instance, it can be a gaze from another human that is so sparkling
and pure that you cannot deny its brilliance. The piano is gorgeous on this
track; it is purposeful and relaxing like it's looking right at you.
"Offering" (longest track at 5:08) unusually starts
with a slow, thoughtful guitar with a Middle Eastern flair. It takes you down a
new path, or offering, as it were, to a new form of consciousness as the piano
joins in. The track felt more like you were waiting to see what would happen
next, like in a movie scene that puts you on the edge of your seat (in your
mind). Such a change of direction surprised me based on the previous track's
mood and atmosphere. I did appreciate the diversity and difference. I suddenly
feel a total change in the story as I look at the titles of the last two tracks.
Where are we going now?
"Resurrection" begins more like the sounds you were
getting used to before the previous track's impactful change. The mood sounds
uplifting and positive. I could picture a Phoenix rising from the ashes,
flapping its beautifully colorful feathers, and flying away to a new life. Some
acoustic guitar comes in to accompany the rhythmic piano lines. This one had a
jazz feel, with Monica taking her classical core to another level of purpose.
"Eternal" means forever, undying; where life and your
consciousness go once, they leave your body—the age-old question. We will not
find out until that time comes; however, it holds so much promise. The piano
tells me so, with the keys being so enlightening and heavenly, that I cannot
help but believe it's true. Time is irrelevant in eternity, and music is
eternal as well. Once created, it does not disappear; it remains with us until
the end. I enjoyed how the electric guitar came in towards the end, sounding like
a violin. The track was a great way to close out the album.
Monica Logani should be proud of The Depths. I think she went to the
"depths" of her soul to pull this music out, and what you will hear
are twelve tracks of instrumental beauty and emotions looking through different
windows of the soul (hers and yours) on every track. As always, the listeners
have the freedom to let it be what it needs to be, and that is the beauty of
music without words.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR
Reviews Founder
January 10, 2025
Tracks:
01.Dreams of Zagyva [3:06]
02.Stars [3:27]
03.The Depths [3:30]
04.Silver Lining [3:15]
05.Midnight Express [4:27]
06.Misty [4:11]
07.Intermezzo [1:32]
08.Wonder [3:36]
09.Wooden Horses [2:51]
10.Solitude [1:29]
11.Diamond Gaze [2:59]
12.Offering [5:08]
13.Resurrection [4:23]
14.Eternal [4:57]