New Age Instrumental Review: Paul Adams and Elizabeth Geyer-Sanctuary

Release Date: July 1, 2022

Label:  Independent

Websites: https://pauladams.org/home

https://elizabethgeyer.com/

I have familiarity with Paul Adams and Elizabeth Geyer. I had the pleasure of covering Imaginings, Deeper Imaginings, and Elizabeth's The Bridge. With July 1st right around the corner, Sanctuary continues the successful partnership.

 

There is always a story behind the music. One day, Elizabeth was suffering from a migraine and heard Paul practicing the Native American flute on the floor below. Something about the flow of the music, with its low gentle phrases and a breeze that grounded her. The migraine started to subside.

 

I love hearing about music's healing powers and how it genuinely helps people who suffer. We all need some help to relax and heal; this type of music will undoubtedly lead you down that path. I could use it daily myself, as I am sure many people would echo that statement. 

 

We have more stressors today than ever with many social issues because of the media and the social platforms, war all over the world, inflation, and the list can go on and on. It gets to be a bit much. I have decided to stop watching the news because it stresses me out and makes me negative about everything. I get glimpses of headlines from cell phones and even my laptops. It appears we cannot escape it anymore. Unless I move to the mountains and have no electronic devices, that would make me feel alone with no awareness. So, what is the answer? 

 

For my sanity, I need music, as you will hear on Sanctuary. For instance, in "Nothing Is Really Lost," the track begins with the sound of water running down a stream, and Paul introduces his flute as Elizabeth's piano comes in. It is one of the more beautiful and engaging tracks on this release. It is 5:05 minutes of new-age bliss that you can count on for meditation or simple relaxation. If you like to meditate, I suggest putting this on a loop to maintain that state of consciousness. Honestly, the entire album is well suited for meditation or deep relaxation.

 

"Graceful Waters" is another getting back to your root's tracks. With 6:00 minutes of the sound of water (from whence all life came) and that beckoning sitar and the dreamy flute sounds, it brings you into that state of consciousness you need to heal. It will get you in touch with our connectivity with mother earth and all living things.

 

Something about the Native American Flute's tones and more specifically the breathy Anasazi, vibrations, and overall feeling instantly set you at ease. The addition of various other textured layers of sounds like Elizabeth's wordless background vocalizations, electric sitar, chimes, etc., make for a completely immersive experience.

 

This music can be your Sanctuary. The outstanding production values will allow you to feel the water moving in the music and hear Paul's breathing as he plays the flutes. It is an exceptional addition to an already impressive catalog of music.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

July 1, 2022

Tracks:

1.Sanctuary 7:00

2. A Forest’s Embrace 7:50

3. Through The Tree Tops 6:50

4. An Evening’s Caress 7:30

5. Nothing Is Really Lost 5:05

6. Forest Light 7:00

7. Graceful Waters 6:00

8. An Endless Summer’s Evening 6:00

9. By The Water’s Edge 7:30

Contemporary Classical Instrumental/New Age Review: Tim Neumark-24 Improvs

Release Date: June 24, 2022

Label: Independent

Website

(The cover photo for 24 Improvs is licensed by akg-images. The original photo is the property of the National Museum - Czech Museum of Music and can be seen on display at the Antonin Dvorak Museum in Prague.)

Tim Neumark is an exceptional musician and piano player. I have heard a lot of his music over the years. 24 Improvs is the sixth album in his comprehensive catalog that I enjoy listening to and covering for review. In essence a double album. If it were on vinyl, it would be at the very least 3 LPs. So, a lot of music!

To single out any track of this music is challenging for several reasons; it's all good, all instrumental, and most importantly, each one offers the variances of improvisations that showcase this artist's capabilities. If there were vocals on half the tracks, there would be a defining line. There is no separation between the type of music, but you must know this is all excellent and tremendous piano virtuosity.

Tim embodies solo piano performances with a solid classical base and a steady undercurrent of a new age to enhance it. The music sets you at ease, removes all barriers in the subconscious mind, and allows a listener to feel the flow of the music. Without the distraction of neurons firing away inside your head after a busy day, you get the opportunity to let it calm down and appreciate everything you are hearing.

About halfway through, you are surprised how quickly it all passed. You understand why it seems so fleeting if you absorb the music as I do. It all comes about due to an intense feeling of enjoyment, healing, and any range of emotions that flips that internal switch. The time factor is essentially meaningless as the music fills your soul. All good music accomplishes this. However, when you hear piano alone, you can listen to all the different parts of the composition differently, basically unencumbered by any other instruments or sounds that can populate a more complex new-age instrumental album. Not to take away from the other more involved projects I have covered and enjoyed. The main point here is that this is a clinic on how to present various improvisations on a piano. 

24 Improvs is precisely that and much more if you can listen to it all at face value. If you are looking for the brilliance of simplicity brought to you by the ivory keys, this will be your bliss.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

June 26, 2022

Tracks:

01. Improv in C Major (Gentle Stream)

02. Improv in C Minor

03. Improv in G Major

04. Improv in G Minor

05. Improv in D Major

06. Improv in D Minor

07. Improv in A Major

08. Improv in A Minor (An Interlude)

09. Improv in E Major

10. Improv in E Minor

11. Improv Over One Chord (Social Distancing in B Major)

12. Improv in B Minor

13. November Improv

14. Improv in F-Sharp Minor

15. Improv in D-Flat Major

16. Improv in C-Sharp Minor (Numb)

17. Improv in A-Flat Major (The End of the Road)

18. Improv in G-Sharp Minor (Isolation)

19. Improv in E-Flat Major (Stay Here With Me)

20. Improv in E-Flat Minor

21. Eternity (Improv in B-Flat Major)

22. Improv in B-Flat Minor

23. Improv in F Major (Sunday Evening)

24. Improv in F Minor

Instrumental New Age Reviews: Genevieve Walker-Home Songs

Release Date: June 21, 2022

Label: Blue Yarn Records

Website

Genevieve Walker’s debut was Walking Home. Six years ago, I discovered her music. With her babies grown into little people, she is back with Home Songs. It is appropriately titled because the melodies you will hear were what she hummed to her children while sitting with her. 

Music lovers can listen to lullabies set to music via the main instrument, the violin (she does play the viola and piano as well). That is the best way I could describe it. Genevieve’s instrumentations can fill up a room. “Fathers,” for instance, starts very strong, and the realization of the power of classically-based music rings true. It then mellows out and lulls your consciousness to a state of calm. The sweetness and purity of the place it comes from make it very special, so knowing what inspired this project before listening is beneficial to potential listeners. It gives you an immediate appreciation for her presentation, its purpose, and foremost, the talent to be able to translate it all to each listener.

The songs about family are in proper order as well, the birth with “Mothers,” the support and strength of “Fathers,” then the most critical piece, “Sons,” which in the case of some people may be “Daughters,” however the meaning and intent are the same. Parenthood is a life changer, and your world becomes anew with another life to care for. That responsibility never ends, and we are always there when needed, regardless of their age. There are many lessons in parenthood, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn with my children. From their first breath to our last, we love them and support them. That is the job of a parent.

Music is the ultimate expression of emotions; the projection of the feelings of Genevieve comes through in the music beautifully. Rafe Pearlman complements her violin, viola, piano, vocals, and Noah Hoffeld on cello, Chris Seligman on French horn, Steve Gorn on Bansuri flute, Nin Rao on vocals kartals, and the producer of the album, Chris Garter on bass, complete the significant backing throughout.

The sound and production values are solid and clean. The tracks are divergent but hold the same qualities and crisp production as you progress through each offering to the end with “Shadows,” which has many intersections of change and sound. It is a beautiful way to close out the recording. It leaves you wondering what could be coming next for this artist as it is very exploratory, and I enjoyed that aspect. 

Home Songs portray the gifts of life for one family through the eyes of a wife and mother. Someday her children will be grown and come to appreciate the beauty their mother created in their honor. I know I could not have related to this music and its meaning unless I was a father myself. For those of you who are not parents yet, it will give you something to think about; for those who never will be, an appreciation of what they may have missed comes to mind or newfound respect for parenthood and the sweetness it brings so many of us. 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

June 21, 2022

Track list:

1. Constellations (5:51)

2. Saints (5:08)

3. Mothers (5:22)

4. Fathers (4:19)

5. Sons (5:16)

6. Beloveds (4:01)

07. Moons (3:11)

08. Shadows (5:23)

Contemporary/Classical Instrumental Review: Tim Neumark-Opus 8

Release Date: March 14, 2022

Label:  Independent

Website

Tim Neumark's Opus 8 album includes original compositions that Tim released as singles between 2018 and 2021, two additional solo piano tracks created just for this album, and his orchestral arrangement of Michele McLaughlin's "Hope" from her solo piano album Sketches.

While memories of the pandemic are lingering and affecting our lives in one way or another, we still have the music to shake us out of those doldrums. Opus 8 reflects the time when the pandemic was raging. When you look at this album cover, you will notice different pictures and wonder what it all means. They are intended to illustrate moments in life, the simple things that bring such joy. All those little things, and perhaps much of what we took for granted before the last few years, became more magnified. It was a wake-up call to be grateful that you are still here to enjoy those moments that bring a smile to your heart.

While Opus 8 is melancholy, the sheer beauty of Tim's playing is still good for the soul. It greets you with flowing rhythms with colorful bursts of energy. "Shining Through" is befitting the title, with some exciting playing from start to finish. At the halfway mark of the album, it was as if Tim wanted to say something that lifted your spirits. And with one listen, it most certainly accomplishes that. "The Ghost" was another favorite of mine. It all rang so genuinely and prolific when matching the music to the track title. That is a general idea, especially for any instrumental collection.

Tim Neumark's playing is a lot of things, including prolific ("Escape"), uplifting ("Shining Through"), reflective ("Lockdown"), and serving as a reminder ("The Ghost") of what was and finally to give us all something we need with the curtain closer "Hope." Perhaps, more importantly, the all-encompassing message of gratitude, joy, and all the things that make your life what it is.

The range of emotions you can feel on Opus 8 is truly remarkable. There is always something beyond the music that an artist attempts to project to the listeners. Tim Neumark accomplishes that with ease.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

June 13, 2022

Tracks:

01. Lockdown

02. February Moonlight

03. Bows in the Mirror

04. The Ghost

05. Non sequitur

06. Shining Through

07. My Love

08. Still

09. Conundrum

10. Yearning

11. Escape

12. Earth, Paused

13. Hope (An Arrangement for Orchestra)

New Age-World Review: Sharon Fendrich-Sapphire Oak

Release Date: June 10, 2022

Label:  ‎Independent

Website

Red Sky Prairie is the last album I heard in 2019 by Sharon Fendrich. I can enjoy the gorgeous soundscapes that this talented composer creates on Sapphire Oak nearly three years later.

The title track, “Sapphire Oak,” is a mesmerizing combination of word and song. The chorus is sung in Ta’ek, a language devised by Sharon as follows…

Ge klad dokh ya rade (My song is your compass)

Um yi red a kha ya size (Let it lead you to your calm)

Tzafir dokh mes mosh ta (Sapphire is the color of love)

Ek dokh stu’ah (Oak is strength) 

Tzafir ta, kmo Ek stu’ah (Sapphire is love, and Oak, strength)

The devised language is a mixture of sounds based on nordic languages, and a bit of Hebrew. I think it’s brilliant that she discovered a language of her own making. That is an excellent example of creativity functioning on an entirely different level than adding all the music to it to make it complete. To me, that is amazing. I have listed all the credits and acknowledgments for your interest. I think it is essential regarding this project.

The use of natural sounds and the interconnectivity of life are evident in this music. Suggesting the strength of an oak, and if you listen to the words, she says it can be your compass to where you need to go in that moment.

The music, separate from any vocal attributes, is very cinematic. It is full of beauty and emotion. As you listen to the ebb and tide of the music, you may think of the past and the promise of the future in your life. Tracks like “The Oaken Door” gave me chills and injected energy into my being. 

“Of Badges and Crowns” has a world Celtic flavor. I love that kind of mixture; it stands so tall and proud. I found not only the picturesque elements of cinema and emotion evident, but it was also like a reach back to times long ago when we did not have technology. A bell tolling in the background, the wind blowing softly on your face, all those feelings are present and come alive within you. This is powerful music that will quickly paint the intended picture of the artist.

At this moment, as I write, I needed to hear, feel, and absorb everything about this recording. Seek, and ye shall find, or in some cases, it will find me. Sharon Fendrich, composer, producer, and arranger, gave herself 100 percent. The instrumentation is superb, including the violin, cello, harp, Irish whistle, and the lush phrases of the Symphonic Recording of the orchestra connects all the dots and creates another musical work of art. I also need to cite the vocal prowess of Sharon and Talia Valdez, with many of the tracks adding a special touch that make it soar and envelop you.

Music always gives me what I need, and Sapphire Oak appeared at just the right time, thank you, Sharon.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-MuzikMan.net Founder

June 10, 2022

Tracks:

01. Sea of Oaks (5:33)

02. Leaves of Glory (3:40)

03. The Grove at Dodona (3:55)

04. Runic Roots (4:15)

05. Call of the Ruins (5:37)

06. The Oaken Door (3;30)

07. Dryad's Rejoice (5:10)

08. Of Badges and Crowns (4:41)

09. Under Her Canopy (5:47)

10. Sapphire Oak (3:55)

11. Carry the Oak (5:35)

Credits and Acknowledgments:

Composer, Producer, Arranger: Sharon Fendrich

Orchestration, Contractor: Joaquin Garcia

Recording Engineer: Katharina Nuttall

Mixing Engineer: Linus Andersson

Mastering Engineer: Bruce Maddocks

Orchestra: Symphonica Recording

Conductor: Vladimir Martinka

Vocals: Sharon Fendrich, Talia Valdez

Violin: Lisa Rydberg

Cello: Klara Källström

Harp: Stina Hellberg Agback

Irish Whistle and Uilleann Pipes:: Ian Harpe

New Age Instrumental Review: Rick Sparks-Speak Peace

Release Date: June 4, 2022

Label:  Independent

Website

Rick Sparks just released Speak Peace, an album for our times. We need artists like him in a world of unrest, war, ecological disasters, and many other things that cause discomfort and stress.

As his warm pictorial of the sun rising on a large field of poppies on the album cover indicates, you will find immediate serenity from the image and hopefully the same with the music. As the world turns and our lives are forever changing, the one constant we can depend on is music.

Music that soothes the soul is something everyone needs; whether you realize it or not, it is for the taking. As Rick's keyboard journeys in the eleven tracks on this album will attest, this is just what the doctor ordered. Stress will melt away, and the world's worries and the day will fade to the background. The time taken to listen to this music can make a difference in your life; that is why you listen.

The title track sets up the rest of the recording by introducing a gentle invitation to join in and hear the voices of angels accompanying Rick on the keys. This combination is an effective method to find a meditative state that you may seek; otherwise, if you are looking for a relief valve to relax, there is also a path to that found in this music.

The beauty of "Little Princess" may remind you of the innocence of a child or bring fond memories back from long ago. If you have a daughter, you may be able to relate to that; I certainly do and find myself looking back and wondering how our daughter is now a grown woman thousands of miles away. I have tears running down my cheeks right now thinking of it. It seems like another lifetime ago, come and gone in a blink. Such is the power and magnificence of music and the emotions it can stir inside you. It makes me wonder how something you are hearing is beautiful yet sad.

"Prayer For Ukraine" is an ode to that war-ravaged country being destroyed a bit at a time while taking lives and changing the world of millions. We all feel it in more ways than one. Rick's piano solo is healing personified, and the positive message of prayers will go out tenfold with each listen. The track was released as a single with all the funds sent to the relief fund for the country. 

Music makes a statement, and you will hear it in every corner of the earth. Its reach and magnitude have no limits. Listening to Speak Peace will open the door to your soul.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

June 7, 2022

Tracks:

01. Speak Peace

02. Harvest Moon

03. Little Princess

04. Dragonfly Dance

05. Lass of Inverness

06. 1912 Waltz

07. A Love That Lasts

08. Prayer for Ukraine

09. End of Day

10. We Wait Upon the King

11. Auld Lang Syne

Instrumental New Age-World Review: Joseph L Young-Into The Unknown

Release Date: July 8, 2022

Label:  Independent

Website

When I listen to Joseph L Young’s new release, Into The Unknown, I think of the color of the music. Joseph’s eclectic range and instrumentation on the flute, saxophone, and keyboards make a full-bodied presentation of tracks for the potential listener. It is a new age-world experience you will find enjoyable without fail.

Journeying Into The Unknown can be a frightening process. Having some help to ease you into that plane of existence is always the preferred route for most of us. It also depends on your end goal, what you seek, and, more importantly, what will you do when you get there?

This music is a tool, a doorway to another frame of reference, thought process, and an opportunity to shift to a relaxing meditative state to recharge those internal batteries you have drained during the day. I have been working 11-12 days for over twenty years. I can use some help in that area of my life. If you are like me or have similar days, you will surely appreciate the tracks offered on this release.

Here is a way to look at all this based on the track titles; if you are using this music to get into a fully relaxed and or meditative state and find yourself “Between Worlds,” you can look “Beyond The Horizon” of that state and find your own “Transcendence” within the music. That sounds like a logical progression, even though it’s a play on words. I can see that path before me from where I process the tracks, and I hope you can put that together for your benefit while listening.

Then, of course, there are the more experimental and spacey tracks befittingly titled “Into The Unknown.” That is quite a step away from all the other music; however, I did appreciate it, and it served as a point where you can stop and reassess where you are at in the process for your own needs. I find it interesting that it was the title track where all this reached beyond the norm to find a different sound, with all the texture and colors layered to create a different effect and result than the previous tracks.

The beauty of the music always wins the day. The compositions and production are quintessential to providing the complexities of sounds and nuances on a platform to let them shine. I think Joseph L Young has created a new age world masterpiece this year.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-New Age Music Reviews Founder

June 2, 2022

Tracks:

01. Into the Unknown

02. Remembrance of Time

03. Enchanted

04. Secrets of Stone

05. Beyond the Horizon

06. Between Worlds (remix)

07. Transcendence

08. The Forgotten

09. Eclipsed

10. Windswayed

11. Ancestral Crossings