Auralscapes: November 2018

Friday, November 30, 2018

Top 25 Albums for November 2018

Presented in alphabetical order by artist name.

Artist Name	Album Title	Label
2002	A World Away	Galactic Playground Music
Acoustic Ocean	Blue Moon Rising	Natural Health Source
Aidia	A Beautiful Fall	Kevin Keller Productions
Al Jewer & Andy Mitran	Perihelion	Laughing Cat Records
Alexandra Stréliski	Inscape	Secret City Records
Ann Licater	Quiet Spaces: Flute Meditations for Mindfulness and Relaxation	Cul de sac Mystic Productions
Brenda Warren	Beautiful Journey	Seven Mile Music
Briana Di Mara	Haven	Briana Di Mara
David Lindsay	Last Passing of Summer	David Lindsay
Deva Premal	Deva	White Swan
Dulce Joya	Reality of Dreams	CD Produktion und Vertrieb
Jim Brickman	Soothe, Vol. 4: Subzero	Odeon Records Limited
Joseph Akins	The Best of Joseph Akins	Heartsong Music
Kerani	Small Treasures	Kerani Music
Lena Natalia	Lonely Satellite	ATELIER RLS
Marcia Watson Bendo	Woodland Moons	Marcia Watson Bendo
Michael Logozar	Passage	Michael Logozar
Michelle Qureshi	Silver Chord	Heart Dance Records
Peter Sterling	Magic Kingdom	Harp Magic Music
Rick Wakeman	Piano Odyssey	Sony Masterworks
Ryan Judd	An Open Sky	Two Owls Music
Sangeeta Kaur	Mirrors	Sangeeta Kaur Music
Sherry Finzer	Acceptance	Heart Dance Records
Steve Rivera	Beyond Measures & Time	Steve Rivera
White Sun	White Sun III	Be Why

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Al Jewer & Andy Mitran

We’re excited to present an audio interview with Chicago-based recording duo and multi-instrumentalists Al Jewer & Andy Mitran. They’ve just released an album called Perihelion, which features collaborations with several notable musicians in the new age, world and contemporary instrumental genres. We’ll discuss the inspiration behind the album’s concept and the metaphorical connection to its astronomical title, as well as play some music and touch on their past releases. So please tune-in for some conversation, fun and a musical journey around the sun!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Album Review: Thankful Heart, Joyful Mind by Pam Asberry

Classically-trained pianist and composer Pam Asberry follows-up her summery Seashells in My Pocket album with a wintry Christmas album entitled Thankful Heart, Joyful Mind. Comprised of twelve solo piano compositions, the album features exquisitely elegant arrangements of both religious carols and secular holiday songs of varying moods and tones that range from delightfully cheery to solemnly reverent.

The album opens with an Italian Christmas carol composed by Pietro Yon in 1917 entitled “Gesu Bambino”, as it moves along at a brisk yet leisurely pace. The next piece is a traditional French carol entitled “Sing We Now of Christmas”, which boasts a beautifully expressive yet contemplative arrangement. Here, Asberry transitions smoothly from subtly starker chords in the lower register to more glistening notes in the higher register, before perfectly wrapping up the piece in a mysterious, minor-key figure. Likewise, Asberry impressively contrasts the deeper moods of pieces like these with that of more jubilant songs such as “Over the River and Through the Wood”, which showcases a delightfully carefree melody set to a gentle waltzing pace. This lovely piece evokes images of a sunny winter wonderland with its intermittently-placed, lightly twirling notes deftly mimicking snowflakes falling to the ground. One of my favorite pieces on the album is Asberry’s magnificent rendering of the 13th century French carol “March of the Kings”. Opening in a formidable manner with boldly striking chords, the composition eventually moves into a feathery, twinkly bridge towards the latter part, before gradually receding into its initially darker motif. Not surprisingly, with Asberry having formerly led a church choir from organ, those roots come through quite evidently on this remarkable piece, as one can easily imagine the reverent sound of the pipe organ (or in this case, her piano) reverberating throughout the church halls.

Likewise, Pam Asberry renders a couple of more accessibly familiar Christmas tunes such as “Away in a Manger” and “White Christmas”. However, overall she’s opted for more out-of-the-box and less frequently covered pieces here, which is a defining characteristic of the album that I especially enjoyed. Easily one of this year’s favorite holiday albums, Thankful Heart, Joyful Mind musically conveys both a reverence and cheerfulness that will surely delight the senses all season long! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and Google Play.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Album Review: Beyond Measures & Time by Steve Rivera

Beyond Measures & Time is the follow-up album to pianist and composer Steve Rivera’s critically-acclaimed debut release entitled Dividing the Darkness. Whereas his prior album featured piano ensemble pieces that were variably accompanied by strings, horns and gentle percussion, Beyond Measures & Time is comprised entirely of eleven contemplatively engaging solo piano compositions, of which only further highlights the immense beauty of Steve’s signature compositional style. I’m also quite fond of the album’s captivating artwork with its slightly steampunk edge, which seems slightly out-of-the-box – yet very fitting – for the album’s overall concept.

Fittingly introducing this album is the gently contemplative “Suspended Dream”, which seemingly conveys a feeling of gradually waking up to sense the warm glow of a morning sunlight. One of my favorite pieces herein is the classical-accented second track “Passing Shadows”, which opens with softly-twirling figures in the higher register that eventually give way to a somewhat brighter yet contemplative melody, before eventually reverting to the composition’s initial motif. My absolute favorite piece however is the nocturnal and shadowy ninth track “Dark Tides”, which aptly conveys an overall darker undercurrent. Seemingly flowing along in a continuum with no defined beginning or end, this subtle piece dreamily drifts along like a boat sailing the waters, as it effectively alludes to both literal and metaphorical interpretations of ‘dark tides’.

Whereas many piano players who market their music as ‘new age’ will often tend to avoid touching on darker moods and emotions, Steve Rivera’s tenderly introspective compositions perfectly elicit both light and shadowy atmospheres with a command of dynamics that is rarely heard. And while Beyond Measures & Time frequently touches on more sensitive emotions throughout – both musically and thematically – ultimately, it is an album which conveys a satisfying sense of hope, comfort and fortitude! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available at Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and Google Play.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Sherry Finzer

We’re excited to debut our first audio interview with renowned flutist, composer and Heart Dance Records label founder, Sherry Finzer. A versatile musician who currently resides in Anthem, Arizona, she’s released several solo and collaborative albums that can be heard regularly on both Journeyscapes and Aural Awakenings, with her signature style spanning ambient, world, new age and contemporary instrumental musical genres. In this enjoyable segment, we’ll learn more about Sherry Finzer, as we delve into her musical background, discuss current projects and various collaborations, as well as play some of her music!

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Top 25 Albums for October 2018