Auralscapes: Episode 013

A refreshing 2-hour set of Celtic new-age music inspired by the emerald isle.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM
0:00:00 / Ceredwen / Boudicca / The Golden Land
0:05:32 / Secret Garden / Irish Waltz / Songs In The Circle of Time
0:09:00 / Moya Brennan / Tara / Two Horizons
0:14:00 / Christina Tourin / Harbor Cove / From the Angelic Realm: The Best of Christina Tourin
0:18:48 / Afro Celt Sound System / Brid Bahn / Ova
0:24:13 / Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning / The Endless Knot / Coming, Going
0:29:52 / Adiemus & Karl Jenkins / Saint Declan’s Drone / Adiemus IV: The Eternal Knot
0:34:40 / Medwyn Goodall / The White Dragon / Clan 3: The Lands Beyond
0:38:20 / Enya / Deireadh An Tuath / The Celts
0:39:59 / Bridget McMahon / The Curragh of Kildare / Celtic Woman
0:44:30 / Loreena McKennitt / Standing Stones / Parallel Dreams
0:51:19 / Dagda / Home Again in Eireann / Hibernia: The Story of Ireland
0:56:35 / Clannad / Na Laethe Bhi / Banba
1:01:51 / Timothy Wenzel / My Siren / Immerse
1:07:04 / Eamonn Karran / Irish Skies / Celtic Skies
1:11:55 / Bill Leslie / Celtic Peace / Celtic Peace
1:15:10 / Aeone / Heartsong / Atmospheric
1:18:02 / Erwilian / Animaux (Live) / Cascadia
1:25:25 / 2002 / Lullaby / Celtic Fairy Dream
1:30:25 / David Darling / Other Worlds / Other Worlds
1:36:22 / Chris Conway / Silver Chains at the Lake / Celtic Dreamer
1:43:25 / Lisa Lynne / Maiden Dance / Daughters of the Celtic Moon
1:47:02 / Noirin Ni Rianin / Cucuin (The Cuckoo) / Celtic Soul
1:52:16 / Darlene Koldenhoven / Highand Mist / Traveling the Blissful Highway

Auralscapes: Episode 012

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world fusion & contemporary classical music for winter.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Kerani / Aurora Sky / Arctic Sunrise
0:08:00 / Monica Logani / Dreams of Zagyva / The Depths
0:11:00 / Afro Celt Sound System / Le Paix / Ova
0:17:53 / Kitaro / Requiem / Zen: Live In Katsuyama
0:24:28 / David Darling / The Pilgrimage / Other Worlds
0:31:12 / Gandalf / Al-Andalus / A Light from Afar
0:37:31 / Kristina Bennett / Dragonfly / Shakti
0:42:41 / Rick Sparks / Winter Dream / Winter Dream
0:48:06 / Timothy Wenzel / Ice / Immerse
0:53:07 / Peter Sterling / Golden Leaves of Fall / Heaven Sent
0:58:15 / Jill Haley / Splashes of Silver / Colors Collide
1:02:45 / Neil Tatar / Bella / Bella
1:07:17 / David Lindsay / So Far Away / With You
1:11:07 / Kori Linae Carothers / Joseph, Kind Joseph / On A Cold Frosty Morning
1:14:51 / Kevin Keller / Evensong 7 / Evensong
1:19:05 / Secret Garden / Cathedral / Songs In The Circle of Time
1:23:34 / Potlach / Memories / Memories
1:26:31 / Karavan Sarai / Unshakable Sarai (Palace) / Mystics, Masters, Madman, (Eastern Devotional Music, Vol. 1)
1:30:45 / Christina Tourin & Peter Sprague / Imaginings (Due Version) / Imaginings
1:35:25 / Fiona Joy Hawkins / Flight of the Snowbird / Music For Study And Relaxation
1:39:44 / Masako / Winter Tale / Lost there Found here
1:43:55 / Yuval Ron / Courage of a Leaf in the Wind / Global Piano
1:49:01 / Pangaea Projekt / Snow On Edson Hill / Winter Vol. X
1:53:43 / Michael Whalen / Winter Beach / Watercolor Sky

Auralscapes: Episode 011

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world & contemporary classical music for autumn.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Gandalf / A Light from Afar / A Light from Afar
0:05:20 / John Gregorius / Light / In Awe
0:09:08 / Erwillian / Fantasy & Dance (Live) / Cascadia
0:13:15 / Timothy Wenzel / The Gale / Immerse
0:18:25 / David Arkenstone / Eyes of Skata / Quest for the Runestone
0:23:05 / Secret Garden / Session / Songs in the Circle of Time
0:25:53 / Jill Haley / Sepia Dunes / Colors Collide
0:29:30 / Afro Celt Sound System / AM / OVA
0:34:20 / Kitaro / Silk Road / Zen: Live in Katsuyama
0:41:05 / Holland Phillips / Through the Rabbit Hole / A Sense of Distance
0:44:50 / I-One / Morning in Thailand / Morning in Thailand
0:48:30 / ENILSounds / Hush / Hush
0:52:26 / Igor Lisul / Evening Song / Evening Song
0:56:32 / Eguana / Bird Tearing Out of a Cage / Freedom
0:58:54 / Tommy Guerrero / Holding the Ocean / Amber of Memory
1:02:58 / Rebecca Harrold feat. Will Ackerman, Hannah Woods / He Shall Be Like a Tree / The Tree of Life
1:07:50 / Todd Mosby / Moonrise Samba / Land of Enchantment
1:12:42 / Masako / Walk Together / Lost there Found here
1:17:38 / Gregory Paul Mineeff / Moon Triptych / Restraint
1:20:51 / David Lindsay / In A Forest / Ever So
1:26:36 / Raphael Groten & Rebecca Kodis / Rainbow Tribe / Unity
1:32:09 / Michael Whalen / The Road Not Taken / Watercolor Sky
1:36:52 / Potlach / Beginning / The Moment
1:39:56 / Rick Sparks / Elysian Fields / Angeline
1:45:56 / Kevin Braheny Fortune / Spirit Love Notes / Dreamwalker Meditation Music, Vol. 5

Auralscapes: Episode 010

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world & contemporary classical music for springtime.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP
0:00:00 / Age of Echoes / Spirit of Adventure / Beyond the Farthest Shore
0:06:49 / Guy Sweens / Japanese Ceremony / Universal Language
0:12:13 / Opium Moon with Wouter Kellerman / Of Kiss and Wing / Where We Are Gathered
0:16:36 / Medwyn Goodall / Amulet / Earth Goddess
0:26:05 / AO Music / Into the Trees / Kutumba
0:29:50 / Max Jeschek / Sparkle of Spring / The Awakening
0:35:34 / Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Thomas Bartlett / All Good Things / [Self-Titled]
0:39:15 / Timothy Wenzel / Awaken Me / Dusk to Diamonds
0:45:36 / Bridget McMahon / Child of the Moon / Avalon Moon
0:50:00 / Chris Conway / Airmid’s Herbal Clock / Celtic Gold
0:57:45 / Llewellyn / Star Angel / Earth Angel
1:02:56 / Peter Sterling / Night Wind / Mystic Voyager
1:07:27 / Paul Sills / Rainbows End / Awaken And Dreaming
1:13:27 / Deep Forest / It’s All About Light / Burning
1:15:46 / Acoustic Ocean / Spirit Whispers / Divine Grace
1:18:55 / Jon Richards / Song of the Seasons / The Sacred Tree
1:27:27 / Lara Somogyi / Aviary II / ! (Expansion)
1:29:29 / Karl Maddison / Wishing Wheel / On The Road to Tibet
1:34:59 / Michael Borowski / Birds / Unlit Moon
1:38:23 / Tstewart / Elysian Opening / Elysian
1:41:31 / Kirsten Agresta-Copely / I Am Water / Aquamarine
1:56:01 / Fiona Joy Hawkins & Rebecca Daniel / Necessity for the Mundane / To the Wind…
1:50:05 / Bill Leslie / Celtic Peace / Celtic Peace
1:53:21 / Josefine & Trine Opsahl / Lightly Dance into the Morning / The Infinite Between Us

Auralscapes: Episode 009

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world & contemporary classical music for the winter season.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Shunia / Ong Namo / Shunia
0:05:28 / Christopher Caouette / The Fae’s Gift / Tale Of The Oakenwish
0:09:30 / Jill Haley / Glacial Albedo / Alaskan Soundscapes
0:14:50 / Fränder / Rabatud / II
0:21:35 / Ashley Davis / Fuacht / Songs of the Celtic Winter
0:25:32 / David Arkenstone / Kisses from the Falling Snow / Winterlude
0:29:23 / Robin Meloy Goldsby / Echo in Winter / Dearest Things
0:32:10 / Opium Moon / Time and Tide / Where We Are Gathered
0:36:32 / Peter Sterling / The Long Cold Winter / Mystic Voyager
0:41:12 / Mediaeval Baebes / Hail Mary / Prayers of the Rosary
0:44:46 / Suzanne Teng & Gilbert Levy / Mother and Child / Shimmer
0:51:04 / Suzanne Herman / Dancing Lights / A Seaside View
0:54:07 / Paul Avgerinos / Angels We Have Heard On High / Shanti Noel
1:04:40 / Kevin Keller / Evensong 4 / Evensong
1:10:06 / East Forest / Flittering / Music for the Deck of the Titanic
1:13:26 / Amethystium / Automne / Isabliss
1:18:20 / Áine Minogue / Womb of the Word / In the Name of Stillness
1:22:53 / Niall / Angels Gather on High / Calling My Angels
1:32:26 / Larkenlyre / Angels Will Eventually Sing / You and I and Every Sky
1:37:10 / Aionigma / Ode an die Freude / Aionigma
1:42:12 / Pangaea Projekt / Winter Time / Winter Vol. IX
1:46:38 / Kori Linae Carothers / First Snow / On A Cold Frosty Morning
1:50:02 / Cantus / Fjellheim: Njoktji / Northern Lights
1:55:28 / Stephen Peppos / Celestial Joy / Celestial

Auralscapes: Episode 008

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world & contemporary classical music.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Opium Moon / Through the Ages / Where We Are Gathered
0:04:16 / Diane Wheeler Dunn / New Beginnings / Elfin Footfalls
0:07:54 / Amethystium / Satori / Evermind
0:12:14 / Peter Sterling / Across the Great Divide / Mystic Voyager
0:17:48 / Andrea Bacci / Magical Forest / Mystic
0:21:34 / Novalima / La Danza / La Danza, Pt. 1
0:25:30 / Acoustic Ocean / A Light In The Darkness / Divine Grace
0:29:27 / Sheila Chandra / Waiting / Moonsung: A Real World Retrospective
0:35:28 / Omar Akram / Promises / Moments of Beauty
0:39:14 / David Lyndon Huff / Rhythm of Life / Worldbeat Africa
0:45:25 / Bodhiheart / Migration / Out of Doors: Meditations for Piano and Nature
0:52:32 / Vicki Logan / Spirit Wolf / Born Out of Chaos
0:56:59 / Album Spotlight: Luminous by Michele McLaughlin
0:58:09 / Michele Mclaughlin / Lanterns in the Sky / Luminous
1:01:40 / Michael Whalen / Morning Bell (ft. Michael Brook, Karsh Kale, Michael Manring & Jeff Oster) / Our April Tigers
1:06:17 / Adiemus / Cantus Iteratus / Songs of Sanctuary
1:12:51 / Kirsten Agresta-Copely / Aquamarine / Aquamarine
1:17:33 / Peter Calandra / The Highlands / The Blue Light
1:22:46 / Vucekovich & Curtin / A Thin Place / A Thin Place [single]
1:25:35 / Stephen Peppos / The Sun Sphere / Celestial
1:31:18 / Jill Haley / Fantastical Formations / The Canyons and Mesas of Bandelier
1:35:23 / White Sun / Soñadora / En Busca
1:38:40 / Lesiëm / Spes / Auracle
1:42:26 / Carlos Dengler / Golden Dawn / Private Earth
1:49:35 / Ann Sweeten / Seirios / Love Walks Through Rain
1:53:38 / Larkenlyre / Follow On / You and I and Every Sky

Auralscapes: Episode 007

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world & contemporary classical music.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Robin Miller / Mystical Moon / Sedona Nights
0:05:50 / Kevin Wood / Strength in Numbers / Kindred
0:11:40 / Sherry Finzer & Mark Holland / Evening Star / Somewhere New
0:16:00 / Scott August / Empty Highways / Beyond Summer
0:21:37 / Kitaro / Mirage / Celestial Scenery: Silk Road, Vol. 1
0:25:50 / Fiona Joy Hawkins & Rebecca Daniel / Celtic Contemplation (Duet) / To The Wind
0:32:15 / Kristin Amarie / Beloved (And I’ll Dream In Blue) / Notes from a Journey
0:38:18 / Ann Licater / Initiation (Awakening) / Whispers from Earth
0:41:13 / Ron Korb / Cordoba / World Café
0:45:00 / Album Spotlight: Luminous by Michele McLaughlin
0:46:09 / Michele McLaughlin / Moonlit Shadows / Luminous
0:49:05 / Ronan Hardiman / Ready for Life / Anthem
0:54:07 / Stephen Peppos / Fields of Stars / Celestial
0:58:43 / Acoustic Ocean / Blue Again Like Morning / Divine Grace
1:01:45 / Llewellyn / Merlyn and the Crossing / Mysts of Avalon
1:07:30 / Deborah Martin & Jill Haley / Hall of Whispers / Into the Quiet
1:13:00 / Max Jeschek / Arrived / The Awakening
1:17:27 / Tron Syversen / Surrender / A New Spring
1:22:53 / Robin Spielberg / Ukraine National Anthem / All the Best Returns, Pt. I
1:26:33 / Album Spotlight: Traveling the Blissful Highway by Darlene Koldenhoven
1:27:47 / Darlene Koldenhoven / Tropical Chill / Traveling the Blissful Highway
1:32:13 / Kenneth Hooper / Respite / As the Crow Flies
1:38:20 / Suzanne Teng & Gilbert Levy / Golden Temple / Shimmer
1:42:50 / Rose Moore / Blessed by the Angels / Spirit of Silence
1:46:14 / Michael Martinez / Time Dance / The Stillness Within
1:49:08 / Liquid Mind / Hymn for Peace / Liquid Mind XIV: Simplicity

Auralscapes: Episode 006

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world & contemporary classical music.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning / Raven Dance / Coming, Going
0:02:42 / Christopher Caouette / Forest of Mist / Tale of the Oakenwish
0:06:22 / Kori Linae Carothers / Crystal Fields (Re-Imagined) / On A Cold Frosty Morning
0:11:27 / Yungchen Lhamo / Auspicious Days / Awakening
0:15:45 / Jonathan E. Blake / Autumn / Old Souls
0:22:28 / Peter Kater / My Land, My People, My Soul / Native America
0:27:07 / Peter Sterling / Along the Way / The Winding Way
0:31:45 / Album Spotlight: Traveling the Blissful Highway by Darlene Koldenhoven
0:32:59 / Darlene Koldenhoven / Native Star / Traveling the Blissful Highway
0:37:31 / White Sun / Anik Naad / White Sun III
0:41:49 / Robin Spielberg / One Step Closer / All the Best Return
0:45:30 / Ann Licater / Luminous Morning / Whispers from Earth
0:49:48 / Sharon Fendrich / Sea of Oaks / Sapphire Oak
0:55:18 / 2002 / Jasmine Rain / Hummingbird
0:59:22 / Stephen Wallack / Wolves / Wondering
1:03:50 / Raphael Groten / Invocation / Great Blue
1:05:35 / David Arkenstone / Fangorn Forest / Music Inspired by Middle Earth II
1:10:12 / Mediaeval Baebes / Memorare / Prayers of the Rosary
1:14:37 / Album Spotlight: Life Passage by Shambhu
1:15:59 / Shambhu / Mars Dawn / Life Passage
1:21:30 / Tom Moore & Tim Sadow / An Ancient Path / Life Passage
1:26:43 / Michele McLaughlin / Droplets of Gray / Luminous
1:31:45 / Will Ackerman / Passing Baldo’s Tower / Positano Songs
1:37:16 / Rusty Crutcher / Aegean Reflections / Oracle of Delphi
1:42:55 / Donna De Lory / Where I Find You / Gone Beyond
1:48:20 / Aureliaslight / Sparks of Light / A Mystic’s Autumn
1:51:46 / Liquid Mind / Simplicity / Liquid Mind XIV: Simplicity

Auralscapes: Episode 005

A refreshing 2-hour set of new-age, world, classical & contemporary instrumental music.
(Photo credit: Tim Kuret Photography.)

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Peter Kater / Buffalo Song (feat. Kevin Locke) / Native America
0:04:31 / Joseph L. Young / Windswayed / Into the Unknown
0:10:06 / David Arkenstone / Shadowfax and the White Rider / Music Inspired by Middle Earth Vol. II
0:14:14 / Robin Spielberg / In Search of the Forest Fairy / All the Best Return
0:18:48 / Kerani / Divine Immersion / The Water of Life
0:23:54 / Elizabeth Naccarato / Shrine of the Stations of the Cross / A Southwest Story
0:27:18 / Aureliaslight / A Mystic’s Autumn / A Mystic’s Autumn
0:30:33 / Sharon Fendrich / Call of the Ruins / Sapphire Oak
0:35:44 / Album Spotlight: Traveling the Blissful Highway by Darlene Koldenhoven
0:36:56 / Darlene Koldenhoven / Jade Dreams / Traveling the Blissful Highway
0:41:47 / Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning / On Scatha’s Island / Coming, Going
0:44:53 / Maji / Believe / Flow
0:48:33 / Jill Haley / Bursts of Color / The Forests and Shores of Acadia
0:53:04 / Lynn Tredeau / Nomad / Reflection
0:56:44 / Sherry Finzer & VeeRonna Ragone / Mystic Breezes / Mystic Breezes
1:05:21 / Genevieve Walker / Saints / Home Songs
1:10:17 / Dan Chadburn / Uncertainty / Always
1:14:24 / Album Spotlight: Life Passage by Shambhu
1:15:46 / Shambhu / Shambhu / Life Passage
1:21:33 / Will Ackerman / The Tyrrhenian Sea / Positano Songs
1:27:24 / Brooks & Day / Oneness / Awakening
1:33:20 / Orchestra Indigo / Mysteries / Farewell to Memories
1:37:37 / Lis Addison / Rhythm of the Earth / Elements
1:43:28 / Suzanne Teng & Gilbert Levy / Shimmer / Shimmer
1:49:11 / Julie Hanney / Taking Flight / Taking Flight
1:52:14 / Paul Adams & Elizabeth Geyer / Forest Light / Sanctuary

Auralscapes: Episode 004

A refreshing 2-hour episode of contemporary instrumental, world, classical & new age music from across the globe.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Lis Addison / Horizon Line / Elements
0:05:44 / Roman Nagel / Mireya / Late Bloomers
0:08:29 / Elizabeth Naccarato / Sacred Land / A Southwest Story
0:13:22 / David Arkenstone / Daughter of the River / Music Inspired by Middle Earth, Vol. II
0:17:51 / Kevin Keller / Shimmer / Shimmer
0:27:31 / Carl Lord / Heaven’s Shores / Tranquil Horizon
0:31:28 / Darlene Koldenhoven / Cheerful Mohana / Traveling the Blissful Highway
0:35:35 / Victor Towle / Days Gone By / Days Gone By
0:40:51 / Vicente Avella / Where Light and Shadow Meet / Physics of Light
0:44:32 / Trine Opsahl / Return of the Light / The Moon Stays Bright
0:47:52 / Randal Meek / Mo’ollo Place / Longings
0:53:08 / Dan Chadburn / Uncharted Waters / Always
0:56:17 / Peter Phippen, Rahbi Crawford & Ivar Lunde Jr. / Triangulum (radio edit) / Galaxies
01:01:34 / Jacquelyn G. Kleine / Vesica Piscis / Glass Timeline
01:05:55 / Chad Lawson / To Hold the Stars in the Palm of Your Hand / Breathe
01:09:48 / Tim Sadow & Mike Kopp / As the River Runs / Out of the Mist
01:13:38 / Brooks & Day / Transcendence / Awakening
01:17:26 / Shambhu / Because of You / Life Passage
01:23:44 / Christopher Boscole / Romance Sans Paroles Op. 17 No. 3 - Gabriel Faure / Isle of Shadows
01:26:59 / Jill Haley / Fog On Blueberry Hill / The Forests and Shores of Acadia
01:30:58 / Peter Kater / The Path is Clear / Soul Story
01:34:38 / David De Michele / Ripples in Time / Beyond
01:41:36 / Orchestra Indigo / Twilight Falls / Farewell to Memories
01:45:25 / Fiona Joy Hawkins / Falling (Twin Peaks Theme) / Falling (Twin Peaks Theme)
01:48:41 / Paul Adams & Elizabeth Geyer / Through the Tree Tops / Sanctuary

Album Review: Traveling the Blissful Highway by Darlene Koldenhoven

Review by Lissette Cascante

Acclaimed soprano soloist and classically-trained pianist Darlene Koldenhoven boasts one of the most diverse portfolios a musician could ask for. Hailing from Chicago’s south side, and raised in a musical family, the GRAMMY® Winner and three-time GRAMMY® Nominee, with her radiant smile and her powerful 5-octave range voice, has traveled the world performing solo as well as with top industry names such as Yanni and many others in concerts and events, conducting workshops, teaching music, even appearing in blockbuster movies (both Sister Act films with Whoopi Goldberg.) Additionally, Darlene gives of her time and talents not just as an entertainer but as an advocate contributing her efforts to charities and worthy causes dear to her heart, such as her Music Matrix Foundation, to help make the world a better place.

Having already produced and recorded twelve albums on her label TimeArt® Recordings, one of which I had the pleasure of reviewing in 2021, an exquisite production for solo piano titled The Grand Piano Spa, Darlene returns with yet another masterful creation to add to our collection, this time in the New Age category with an all instrumental album of twelve tracks titled Traveling the Blissful Highway.

Darlene’s experience and exposure to varied cultures, countries and traditions have contributed positively to her broad and diverse vision of humanity and our world which comes through in her musical compositions, and especially shines on this album. She performs on keyboard synths, background vocals, singing bowls, Australian rainstick, Native drum and shaker. Four of the tracks are accented with Darlene’s vocalese which adds a subtle ambience to the pieces. She also surpasses herself in this project as producer, engineer, composer, and arranger. Collaborating on the album is an impressive ensemble of accomplished and award-winning musicians, detailed on the liner notes – such as GRAMMY® Nominated multi-flautist Ron Korb and GRAMMY® Winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, among others – incorporating a fantastic variety of instrumentation throughout the album.

A lover of travel myself, I was excitedly drawn to the theme of the album. As a long, expansive highway stretches before our musical horizon, we can sit back, relax, and embark on a scenic “auralscape” allowing our imagination to take us to our desired escapade. An uplifting melody, “Cheerful Mohana” opens the album, inviting us to leave our cares behind and embrace a more spontaneous, bohemian side of life. The album offers a nice combination of lively and soft, meditative songs which keep the listener actively engaged in the process but also promotes a carefree and calm state of being. As we glide alongside the musical notes, sounds of birds and nature, native flutes and drums, and a vast array of exotic instruments add to the wonder of our sensory cruise.

“Jade Dreams” the third track for example, transported me to balmy beaches and tucked-away coves in remote places, Bali comes to mind; while “Tropical Chill” with its ocean wave sounds, flugelhorn and breezy rhythm presented for me a relaxing beach sunset view somewhere in the Caribbean enjoying a favorite tropical beverage. “Dot Calm” took me to the rainforests of Costa Rica, reminding me of my late father’s beautiful birth country. Along the way there are ancient stars to gaze at as in “Native Star” the tenth track with its haunting flute melody, and Irish green misty mornings to savor as in “Highland Mist.” My favorite track on the album, “Osmium Glow,” is as rare and precious a melody as the precious metal it’s named after. There is indeed a glowing quality and mystique to this lovely tune. “Blissful Highway,” another favorite with its transitory feel, ends the album, but the blissful sensation endures as we return from our musical excursion refreshed and renewed, ready for the next adventure. It’s only another listen away.

Traveling the Blissful Highway is an album you will want as your musical companion, to help make your life journey a more enjoyable and beautiful discovery.  

~Lissette Cascante for Auralscapes 

For more information please visit the artist's website. Traveling the Blissful Highway is also available at Amazon, Apple Music and more.

Album Review: Music Inspired by Middle Earth Vol. II by David Arkenstone

Review by Candice Michelle

I have long been fascinated by the life of J.R.R. Tolkien and his best-selling classic epic fantasy novel series The Lord of the Rings. If there is one composer who can most perfectly pay musical homage to the enduring legacy of Tolkien’s greatest works, it’s the creatively prolific David Arkenstone. A musical novelist in his own right, as well as multi-Grammy Award nominated recording artist and Billboard New Age chart-topper whose career spans more than three decades, Arkenstone is certainly no stranger to the fantasy genre. Having mastered a diversity of musical styles – including Ambient/Chill, Celtic, World and Classical Crossover/Pop – Arkenstone frequently draws creative inspiration from ancient folklore, mythology and natural places of wonder across the globe.

The second companion to Arkenstone’s 2001 album Music Inspired by Middle Earth, Tolkien’s epic story is sonically re-imagined once again on Arkenstone’s Music Inspired by Middle Earth Vol. II – a 14-track album spanning approximately 63 minutes – whereby the listener is invited along for another enthrallingly magical adventure.

Atmospheric symphony and haunting choral figures open “The Shadow of the Past” wherein the veil between our world and the enchanting one depicted in the novels is once again lifted for a time. “The Green Dragon” follows with a festive arrangement of Celtic rhythms and violin (courtesy of Luanne Homzy) as one might imagine themselves joining the lovely hobbits for some dancing, drinking and playfulness among the green hills and pastures. Subsequently, Jillian Aversa provides ethereal wordless vocals on the mesmerizing “Daughter of the River”, a delicate and flowing piece that feels like sailing down a sparkling river in a paradisiacal elven forest.

Other outstanding pieces like “Servant of The Secret Fire” and “Minas Morgul” make use of darkly dramatic orchestration, shadowy gothic choirs and thunderously cinematic drumming, recalling the darker neoclassical mood of Arkenstone’s 2016 album Beneath a Darkening Sky.

Two other notable favorites include the back-to-back compositions “Caras Galadhon” and “Fangorn Forest”. On the watery and crystal-like “Caras Galadhon”, gently whirling minor-key orchestration conveys a bewitching suspense that feels reminiscent of "Lothlórien" or “The Palantír” from the first Music Inspired by Middle Earth album. In gentle contrast, “Fangorn Forest” recalls some of Arkenstone’s more world-tinged albums (plus the classical symphonic touch) with its native flute, rhythmic shakers and clicking percussion.

For those who enjoyed the accompanying film scores by Howard Shore to Peter Jackson’s cinematographically gorgeous and otherworldly movie adaption of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, David Arkenstone’s Music Inspired by Middle Earth Vol. II is an absolute must-have for any L.O.T.R. novel, movie, music or memorabilia fan. Variably moving along its course from dramatic to dreamy, and suspenseful to serene, Music Inspired by Middle Earth Vol. II is another poetically magnificent musical journey that could be described as ‘atmospheric classical fantasy music’ – and sure to be a top contender in the genre for this year’s best album.  

~Candice Michelle for Auralscapes 

For more information please visit the artist's website. Music Inspired by Middle Earth Vol. II is also available at Amazon, Apple Music and more.

Album Review: Into the Unknown by Joseph L Young

Review by Lissette Cascante

Composer and multi-instrumentalist, Joseph L Young has enjoyed a proliferous career as a musician unafraid to go beyond boundaries of genre, style, or sound. Joseph is an established chart-topping, award-winning musician whose music has enjoyed broad radio and internet airplay, spanning such genres as New Age, Ambient, Relaxation/Meditation, Native Fusion, Jazz Fusion, and Contemporary Instrumental. But not to be limited, he has also played with a variety of bands ranging from rock, blues, folk, jazz and even Celtic.

In his sixth full-length album, Into the Unknown, Young delves deeper into musical expanses, with compositions that explore the mystical dimensions of time, space, psyche, and spirit, normally related to the unexplained, mysterious, or concealed. The album features three songs previously released as singles: “Secrets of Stone” released in 2021, “Remembrance of Time” in 2020 featuring pianist Lynn Tredeau, and a remix of his 2019 single “Between Worlds.”

The album also showcases more of his talent as a composer and arranger as well as his mastery of the flute. “Every note I play comes from my heart and is how I share my love of music with others, it's how I express my passion for the flute”, explains Joseph. He interlaces ancient sounds with modern synth arrangements which prevail in world fusion authenticity.

Joseph holds a second degree black-belt in Chinese Shao-Lin Kung Fu and Tai Chi which evidently contribute to his unique approach to music. “I want my music to take listeners on a journey of discovery”, he expounds, “to help them work through their emotions, releasing the negative, as they grow and change, and serving as a catalyst to help with their transformation."

The title track “Into the Unknown” is my favorite piece as it abounds with mystique and features a myriad of exotic instruments, voices, and rhythms bathed in a Middle Eastern style melody. In tracks like “Remembrance of Time”, “Enchanted”, “Secrets of Stone”, “Eclipsed”, and “Windswayed”, the alluring flute and creative musical arrangements transport the listener to ancient times, distant lands, sacred ceremonies, and mysterious places.

On other tracks like “Beyond the Horizon”, “Between Worlds”, “Transcendence”, “The Forgotten”, and “Ancestral Crossings”, Joseph seems to venture into other spheres such as space exploration, and perhaps even the afterlife. Into the Unknown is a treasure chest of musical jewels you’ll delight in listening time and time again. The unknown calls us to live consciously. Joseph composes music that speaks to the human soul, and which infuses the silence with the sounds of life.  

~Lissette Cascante for Auralscapes 

For more information please visit the artist's website. Into the Unknown is also available at Bandcamp, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Auralscapes: Episode 003

A refreshing 2-hour episode of contemporary instrumental, contemporary world & contemporary classical music from across the globe.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Nicholas Gunn / Entering (Twin Falls) [Acoustic] / Entering (Twin Falls)
0:04:07 / Brooks & Day / Rising Sun / Awakening
0:07:44 / Joseph L. Young / Enchanted / Into the Unknown
0:12:12 / Elizabeth Naccarato / Wild Horses / A Southwest Story
0:15:06 / Lis Addison / Sister Wind / Elements
0:19:50 / Kerani / The Blue Wonder / The Water of Life
0:24:32 / Tron Syverson / Blossom of the Heart / A New Spring
0:31:48 / Lynn Tredeau / Deep in the Forest / Reflection
0:36:13 / James Asher & Arthur Hall / The Visionary / Energised by Stars
0:40:03 / Genevieve Walker / Constellations / Home Songs
0:45:39 / David Arkenstone / Caras Galadhon / Music Inspired by Middle Earth Vol. II
0:50:00 / Richard Souther / Far Away the Other Shore / Arc of Visibility
0:56:53 / Will Ackerman / Nighttime in the Chapel / Positano Songs
1:00:03 / Paris Combo / Axe Imaginaire / Quesaco?
1:03:20 / Juan Sanchez / Ataraxia / Touch and Sound
1:07:30 / David Franklin & Michael Manring / Ghost Tree / Passings
1:11:10 / Larkenlyre / The Sea We Cross / Quiet Like Snow
1:12:55 / Frolin / After the Battle / After the Battle
1:16:59 / Trine Opsahl / Moonscapes I / The Moon Stays Bright
1:26:14 / Sharon Fendrich / Sapphire Oak / Sapphire Oak
1:30:05 / David Nevue / Stargazing / Wanderings: The Best of David Nevue 2011-2020
1:33:22 / Rick Sparks / Harvest Moon / Speak Peace
1:38:24 / Donna De Lory / Forgiveness Prayer / Gone Beyond
1:46:29 / Cloud Runner / Touching the Face of God / Cloud Watch With Me
1:50:46 / Sherry Finzer & VeeRonna Ragone / Stepping Stones / Mystic Breezes

Album Review: Gone Beyond by Donna De Lory

Review by Lissette Cascante

 

Singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Donna De Lory has established herself as a dominant, constantly evolving artist, whose extensive and varied musical portfolio includes such genres as pop, world, electronica, spiritual/devotional, and yoga/relaxation music. Growing up in a musical family, De Lory is a veteran of the music industry, having crisscrossed the globe many times between 1987 and 2006 as a touring back-up vocalist and dancer for Madonna. Her voice has been featured on countless recordings of renowned and award-winning artists.

It was her inner voice, however, that lead Donna to embrace a more spiritual side of music and to release numerous albums in the genre throughout the 2000s to critical acclaim. Being a follower and practitioner of Hindu traditions and drawing from the infinite supply of the divine for inspiration, Donna creates harmonic prayers, mantras and chants that resonate with hearts and souls around the world, promoting wellness, healing, mindfulness, peace, and tranquility. To quote the artist “Now, more than ever, I feel like we have to go within and find heaven inside ourselves, so that we have the peace and strength to stay positive, despite everything that’s going on in the world, and make a difference.“ Her most recent album, Gone Beyond, is her 17th solo recording. All songs on the album were written and produced by Donna De Lory and were inspired during pandemic isolation.

The first track, “So Hum/Breathing In” serves as a gentle guide into stress-relieving breathwork, ushering the listener to a place of calmness and focus. The phrase So Hum is a Hindu mantra which in Sanskrit literally means “I am that” implying our interconnectedness with all that is, or the Universe. Perfect for centering oneself; whether on a quick break in the middle of a busy day, or in a meditation or yoga practice. This sweet melody is comprised of repetitive mantras wrapped in Donna’s soothing layered vocal harmonies, accompanied by piano, Pedal Steel and electric guitars, and singing bowls.

“Ma Song” was inspired by Jennifer Berezen’s popular mantra/chant "Returning". An emotive call to our “mother”, the source of our being. This track features Donna De Lory’s vocals and harmonium, beautifully accompanied by Piano, Guitar, Strings, Tabla, Bass and Cello. “Forgiveness Prayer” is probably my favorite track on the album. A sense of being lifted up and floating to a higher place where walls of pride, bitterness and strife crumble and give way to refreshing waters of love, forgiveness and healing. The vocals are transporting and beyond sublime in this piece. The cello adds a melancholy tone and the electric guitar an ethereal, vibrational experience.

The continuous flow of each track on Gone Beyond makes this album a perfect companion for a meditation and/or yoga practice, regardless of your spiritual persuasion. “I wanted to make a record that would be good for so many different experiences,” says Donna. “Yoga class, standing on top of a mountain, sacred ceremonies, healing....” It’s an expansive listening experience which conveys a quiet, holistic wisdom uncommon in today’s chaotic culture. Calmness and centeredness are the intrinsic elements in each track which I found to elevate beyond the physical sphere, helping to bring the mind, body, and spirit into true alignment.

“Om Gate Gate Paragate” with apropos meaning of “Gone, Gone, Gone beyond Gone utterly beyond” is a powerful message and teaching in Hindu tradition. A sense of liberation and self-empowerment permeates this entrancing track. While “Mary Meditation” takes the listener into a sanctuary of sound, with high and deep vocals floating on a backdrop of shamanic-like drumming. Another favorite track of mine is “Where I Find You”. I love the piano in this track.

“Asatoma Sadgamaya” is based on a mantra to the Universe for enlightenment and freedom from fear. This mantra song is beautifully adorned in rich vocal harmonies, strings, bass, guitar, and drum. The final track “Unbreakable” really brings out the sublime beauty of Donna’s voice and her talent for creating gorgeous heavenly melodies and poignant lyrics. Indeed, Donna’s striking vocals, the music she intones, and her artistic creativity really shine throughout this album. We end our session with a fuller sense of being present, and better clarity of mind and purpose, but mostly grateful to be able to enjoy this otherworldly sensory experience.  

~Lissette Cascante for Auralscapes 

For more information please visit the artist's website. Gone Beyond is also available at Amazon, iTunes, and more. 

Album Review: The Moon's Within Reach by Karavan Sarai

Review by Abdul Yamani

Karavan Sarai creates world fusion music that traverse landscapes spanning from the Middle East to South Asia. Their debut album Woven Landscapes (2015) along with the band’s follow-up releases Painted Sands (2018) and Torn In Love (2020) all peaked at high positions on world music charts and achieved much critical acclaim. 

On their latest release, The Moon’s Within Reach, Karavan Sarai takes us on a mesmerizing journey inspired by Silk Road pathways and desert sands. Here you’ll discover the spirit of Egyptian, Arabian, Turkish and Indian music fused with the lush electronic creations of two-time Grammy-nominated producer and programmer Carmen Rizzo.

Instrumentalist, vocalist, composer and producer Narayan Sijan describes images of “Sufis playing music, whirling from the deserts of India to the Nile River and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt” and “fire in the sand dunes under a starry night” among his personal encounters and experiences which inspire his musical art-form, and are captured in the album’s two meditatively flowing compositions.

On the extended hypnotic piece, “Longing in the Stars" featuring Tabeah, the Turkish saz is brought into dialogue with the Egyptian oud which are encompassed by ambient textures sustained throughout. Transcendent male and female vocal melodies eventually join along, creating a colorful cultural tapestry that speaks to the depths of the soul as a sonic perfume fills the air with a mystical scent.

~Abdul Yamani for Auralscapes

For more information please visit Karavan Sarai's website. The Moon's Within Reach is also available at Bandcamp, iTunes and more.

Auralscapes: Episode 002

A refreshing 2-hour episode of contemporary instrumental, contemporary world & contemporary classical music from across the globe.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM-EP-SINGLE
0:00:00 / Kelly Andrew / Onagar / Revelation
0:04:22 / Kerani / The Water of Life / The Water of Life
0:09:16 / David De Michele / Hope After the Storm / Beyond
0:14:55 / Omar Akram / Open Skies / Echoes of Love
0:19:41 / Opium Moon / Opium Moon: Day / Night + Day
0:27:49 / Clarico / The Wound Between Us / The Wound Between Us
0:30:26 / Secret Garden / Escape / White Stones
0:33:54 / David Arkenstone & Diane Arkenstone / The Crystal Shores / Avalon: Between Earth and Sky
0:37:42 / Yungchen Lhamo / Loving Kindness / Awakening
0:40:57 / James Asher & Arthur Hall / From the Ground Up / Energised by Stars
0:44:37 / Wouter Kellerman & David Arkenstone / Across Land and Sea / Pangaea
0:48:48 / Angèle Dubeau / Flight / Elle
0:53:10 / Peter Calandra / Caritas / Caritas
0:58:43 / Karavan Sarai / Become My Moon (part 1) / The Moon’s Within Reach
1:03:45 / Kirsten Agresta Copely / Devotion / Devotion
1:06:09 / Juan Sanchez / A Nocturne / Touch and Sound
1:11:07 / Mamak Khadem / Remembrance / Remembrance
1:16:05 / AO Music / Into the Trees / Kutumba
1:19:50 / Will Ackerman / This is Where it Begins / Positano Songs
1:24:26 / Donna DeLory / Asatoma Sadgamaya / Gone Beyond
1:31:07 / Richard Souther / No Matter What the Storm May Be / Arc of Visibility
1:37:42 / Frolin / Dusk / Eventide
1:40:17 / Lis Addison / Mother Waters / Elements
1:47:02 / Kerry Barnes / Floral Notes / Just Piano 2
1:49:52 / Sushma Soma / Nature / Nature

Auralscapes: Episode 001

A refreshing 2-hour episode of contemporary instrumental, contemporary world & contemporary classical music from across the globe.

TIME / ARTIST / TRACK TITLE / ALBUM TITLE
0:00:00 / Kerani / Ocean Tides / The Water of Life
0:05:24 / Lis Addison / Breathing Green / Elements
0:12:10 / James Asher & Arthur Hall / Between Worlds / Energised by Stars
0:16:07 / Yungchen Lhamo / Nature’s Tears / Awakening
0:18:58 / Art Patience / The Unknown / The Unknown
0:25:03 / Carl Weingarten / A Fistful of Dust / Stop Me Try
0:31:36 / Céu / Um Gosto De Sol / Um Gosto De Sol
0:35:23 / David Darling / Water Dragon / Reverence
0:38:21 / Juan Sanchez / Sands of Time / Touch and Sound
0:44:43 / Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej / Our Home / Divine Tides
0:48:08 / 2002 / Gathering the Clouds / Hummingbird
0:53:08 / Trine Opsahl / Rose of the Eternal Spring (Duo) / The Moon Stays Bright
0:57:24 / Kevin Keller / Inverness / Shimmer
1:03:21 / David Franklin / The Meeting Tree / Passings
1:07:00 / Esgazette & Edward Newell / Treasury of Reverie and Memory / Tide Tables
1:10:27 / Wouter Kellerman & David Arkenstone / The Sun’s Reflection / Pangaea
1:14:29 / Majestica / Beautiful Simplicity / Spire
1:18:30 / Donna DeLory / Ma Song / Gone Beyond
1:28:01 / Will Ackerman / Did I Dream This / Positano Songs
1:32:57 / Mamak Khadem / Dead and Alive / Remembrance
1:38:17 / Angèle Dubeau / Eliza Aria / Elle
1:41:34 / Yuval Ron feat. Úyanga Bold / Water of Forgiveness / Sacred Spiral
1:50:47 / The Living Earth Show & Danny Clay / Music for Hard Times, Pt. 4 / Music for Hard Times
1:55:30 / Richard Souther / Contrary Winds of Reassurance / Arc of Visibility

Album Review: Connections by Sherry Finzer

Review by Lissette Cascante

Phoenix-based, classically trained flutist Sherry Finzer has received many accolades and awards for her musical contributions primarily in the relaxation/meditation genre. Her branding encompasses the use of a collection of low flutes, including alto, bass, and contrabass flutes, as well as a variety of Native American-style and world flutes. Often wind instruments are mixed with sacred chants, ethereal sounds, natural and other ethnic arrangements to create her soundscapes. Sherry has recorded, toured, and performed with a variety of accomplished artists whose collaboration has also influenced her unique sound and style. She has released over twenty-seven solo and collaborative albums and numerous singles.

Sherry’s latest solo release, Connections, was inspired by the legendary American flautist Paul Horn who was a pioneer of world and contemporary instrumental music as well as a practitioner of transcendental meditation. Sherry is a firm believer in the power of music to aid in the healing process. Connections is a fitting title for this album given the uncertainty of the current times we are living in; many have suffered isolation, illness or tragedy and are yearning for the support and strength which comes from being able to share and connect with others.

After starting to livestream on the Insight Timer Meditation App in 2020, Sherry began connecting with thousands of fans and followers who shared testimonies of just how much her previous recordings, and her livestreams, were helping them through the grieving process, letting go of stress, improve sleep, or aided in lessening their physical pain. She wanted to share her gratitude and have this recording be about her listeners. All songs on the album were either created in memory of loved ones who have passed, or for someone who currently uses Sherry's music as part of their daily therapy or healing regimen. The flutes used were selected by the participants – each person selecting the flute that resonated with them most.

The album’s seventeen tracks take the listener through a continuum of healing sound and light. The first track “Resilience” serves as the impetus to elevate us to that higher place above our cares, and concerns. The song titles speak to us of familiar comforts like nature, water, new days, blessings, peace, journeying, coming home, connecting, and communing with Spirit. With each subsequent song one can cast off all encumbrances, negative energies, and unhealthy emotions.

Caught up in the gentle whirlwind of her flute sounds and melodies, one feels a sense of release and weightlessness, like a boundless floating experience. The experience is so blissful, like the end of a massage therapy or stretch/cool-down session, you’ll wish, as I did, to remain in that state indefinitely. Perhaps why some listeners say they listen to Sherry’s music 24/7. How wonderful that Sherry chooses to use and to share her musical talents with the world as a channel to bring comfort, relief, and much needed healing.

Connections is the third solo flute release in Sherry Finzer's "Naked Flute" series recorded at The Tank. Her music can be heard under her name as well as her groups Majestica and Evenfall on various international radio programming, international airlines, and overhead music channels.

Besides composing and recording, Sherry is the founder and CEO of the Heart Dance Records label featuring musicians from around the world with a mission of creating music for peace and wellness. She is also founder of the Higher Level Media promotions company, as well as one of the three founding members of the Mindful Music Association. Sherry live streams weekly on the Insight Timer meditation app.

~Lissette Cascante for Aural Awakenings

For more information please visit Sherry Finzer's website. Connections is also available at Bandcamp, Amazon, and more.

Album Review: Divine Tides by Stewart Copeland + Ricky Kej

Review by Marilyn Torres

The collaboration of Stewart Copeland (legendary drummer of the British rock band The Police) and acclaimed Indian music composer Ricky Kej in their album Divine Tides, brings us a majestic experience of sounds that capture the essence of being. If one should write what one knows, then Copeland and Kej have played what they feel in the most excellent way. 

The percussion takes center stage from the start with strong timpani in “Wonders of Life”, and fuels the eagerness for what might await ‘round the next musical note as Rasika Shekar’s vocals take over with classic Indian melodic form.

“Himalayas” is next and it renders an ethereal breadth with its chant beginning followed by Varijashree Venugopal’s vocals, which scale and crest with momentary scat reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald. The next two pieces, “Our Home” and “Art of Devotion”, also make use of timpani, sitar and Indian vocalization, and then “Pastoral India” with its uptempo invites us to dance.

“I Am Change” duplicates the melody of “Himalayas”, however the vocals are provided by Salim Merchant this time and his voice impresses as a call to action.

In the grand “A Prayer”, we are treated to the powerful blend of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Soweto Gospel Choir fittingly elevating the tone to the skies as the piece ends.

For “Gandhi”, the guitar, played by Santhosh Chandran, lends a melancholy edge and guides the listener through the various vocals and other instruments with tender but surefooted control.

As the opus concludes with “Mother Earth”, the strings make the perfect companion to the various vocals which climax on a high note; proper indeed!

~Marilyn Torres for Aural Awakenings

For more information please visit the Divine Tides website; also available at Amazon, Apple Music, and more.