Magdi Aboul-Kheir - The Garden of Make Believe
Magdi Aboul-Kheir stirs up pure emotion with a fantastical, neo-classical, instrumental album, 'The Garden of Make Believe' The Neo-classical composer, pianist and multi-dimensional artist, Magdi Aboul-Kheir is back with a sublime orchestral album that sounds like you're stepping into a magical, fairy tale of your own creation. The array of 10 tracks in the albums is all individually brilliant and deeply immersive. There's a radiant, golden-esuqe light that shines bright through this album, a deeply personal yet universally resonant emotional tone that hooks you in like all great compositions. This is the kind of album that we could se being th perfect score to a slow-burning, hopeful fantasy adventure epic such as The Lord of the Rings! The opening track, 'On the Meadow' graces its presence to us with a tranquil, meditative arrangement. At its core, a deeply expressive flute melody charts a transcendent path, upon which the orchestrasted instrumental build and grow. Emphatically, yet with great warmth, emotion, and gentleness. It's the kind of track you feel aligned to lose yourself into. To surrender to its blissful ebbs and crescendos. Such a beautiful, heart-warming opening that sets the mood for the album ahead. Next up, "If I Could Freeze Time' couldn't be more different. It opens onto somber piano melodies that unfold like a blues song. Spacious, atmospheric arrangements join, expanding the opus greatly. It evokes awe. wonder and unbridled reflections about the shared, intimate nature of our existence and that of every single thing we share this reality with. About the inevitable passage of time and the magic of moments that exist in the NOW. The symphony created is quite unlike anything we've heard. It results in an ephemeral, emotional listen throughout the track's 6+ min runtime. By far, our favorite track from 'The Garden of Make Believe'! 'Love in an Alternate Universe' paints a compelling, theatrical sonic narrative. One of gravitas, stirring emotion and grace. We love the way each track flows seamlessly from one into the next. The deeper you listen, the more you sense a larger theme unfolding in Magdi's album. One that challenges us to believe once more in the magic of our lives and this world we live in. Just like the track before, this too unfolds grandly, aligned with neoclassical structure and tone. Speaking on the album, Magdi Aboul-Kheir shares, “Sometimes, only the sound of an orchestra will do: The Garden of Make Believe takes the listener on an unabashedly romantic and emotionally resonant journey. Whether born from the delicate beauty of nature, the enchanting interplay of light, or the knowing encounter of two kindred souls, these ten pieces are guided throughout by heightened sensitivity, profound introspection, and a genuine sense of being moved. These are compositions that allow the inner and outer worlds to merge into one.” The title track, 'The Garden of Make Believe,' enchants with hopeful piano tones before it's joined in by equally captivating strings. It brings together all the emotional depth and playful, captivating melodicness of the album. It leaves you feeling rejuvenated and inspired, ready to take on the next adventure on this sublime, unpredictable journey we call our lives. 'The Garden of Make Believe' stands as a tall testament to the transcendental quality of neo-classical compositions to transport listeners to a realm of limitless imagination and possibilities. Magdi is, no doubt, a visionary composer who infuses his sonic creations with a deeply human, emotionally resonant character that makes each track feel like a journey of its own.
Social Treble - Crowded Silence
- English (US)
There’s a specific kind of silence that you only get to hear in crowded places. It is a specific kind where noise surrounds you, but none of it actually reaches you. Crowded Silence by Social Treble feels built inside that contradiction. The track opens with distance and ends with closure.
Seven Crows - Amanda On The Bed
- English (US)
Sometimes, you can sense a sort of stillness that feels almost staged. It is the kind that makes you feel like you're not sure if you've walked into a memory, a dream, or the aftermath of something unnamed. A figure rests, or waits, or simplyexists. Amanda On The Bed by Seven Crows opens like that.
Ion Odagiu - Forever In Your Arms (Special Version)
- English (US)
A song you would play in the background as you text someone you have feelings for. Think of the butterflies that stomp in your stomach. A song to accompany that feeling: Forever In Your Arms (Special Version) by Ion Odagiu.
Cries of Redemption - Patterns
- English (US)
There are movements in your life that refuse to fit in the story you planned. The shifts happen and refuse to fit into a linearity. You see the fragments of your thoughts play out in a manner exactly opposite to your imagination. The new album Patterns by Cries of Redemption is a record that plays right into the feeling.
Hanan Townshend - What We Lost II
- English (US)
On a long walk alone at night, you sit on a bench and think about the day. Your earphones are plugged in. There’s a cold breeze that passes the linen, and as you breathe, new emotions fall on your shoulders. A feeling like this is best explained by a song like What We Lost II by Hanan Townshend.
Hallucinophonics – Afternoon of Acid Rain
- English (US)
A song you would play at the afterparty with your friends. The calm enters as the chaos leaves, and you and your friends are winding down. Afternoon of Acid Rain by Hallucinophonics is just the song that would match the company.
Antonio Celotto - Vishuddha (Throat Chakra)
Breathe in and breathe out. There are times when we need a pause. A long day at work, a tiff with a friend, an unsettling conversation, or a burnt toast. Some days blow out the fire in you and push you to spaces where you keep looking for new ways to revitalise. Vishuddha (Throat Chakra) by Antonio Celotto is a song made for just this vibe.
Oxiroma – Hug & Hold the Ocean (Cosmo Symphonic Version)
You sit back on your reading chair. The book you were reading lies in your lap. A scene from one of the chapters in the book made you pause. The breaths you take remind you of the days when it was the same for you. A song plays from another room: Hug & Hold the Ocean (Cosmo Symphonic Version) by Oxiroma.
15th Bend-Distance
For a young artist that has just begun their foray into music, 15th Bend is an impressive leap. From just March 2020, 15th Bend has released several singles that tackle emotions and moments with musical breakdowns. Instrumental in nature, they are a pivotal move for the artist that wants to create. This is his single, Distance. Using a cinematic sequence of chords that set forth abstract images of vast space, Distance takes time to understand. As the background is fairly simple, several layers come together for a dense soundboard. Clean guitar leads take over to profess the emotion that guides the hand. Distance is an impressive and simple piece of art that says in no words, even what is complex can be simple. This approach and intent is clear in his other pieces as well. Wish, Loss & Ignite, each take the root source of the word and the intangible behind it. It is then melodically reproduced into this rich instrumental we get to hear as a result. Songs like Distance are a popular approach to melody, though the bare stripped nature of the songs can sometimes reveal wider gaps in the composition. 15th Bend has managed to close this gap with persevered effort and a dream that can go the distance. I definitely see this track in an intense scene in Interstellar, where Matthew McConaughey sets foot into a new world and is awe-struck by the sheer size and beauty.
Inanna - Pandora
The latest offering from indie artist Inanna, "Pandora," is an ethereal soundscape that blends mesmerizing beats, haunting melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics. The LA-based activist and artist showcase her skills as a singer and environmentalist, crafting a mesmerizing future-oriented piece that speaks to the heart of environmental activism. Named after the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, beauty, war, and fertility, the artist presents a fresh new approach to songwriting. The song opens with a haunting chant that sets the tone for the rest of the track. Inanna's voice is delicate yet powerful, creating a sense of wonder and awe as she weaves together her enchanting soundscapes. The beats are both ancient and contemporary, with Middle Eastern influences blending seamlessly with more contemporary VSTs and experimental alt-pop sounds. Inanna lends her voice to the future of nature, calling for reverence and empathy towards the Earth and all its creatures. She speaks to the heart of environmentalism, offering a message of hope and possibility amidst the chaos of our time. Inanna just dropped a killer new single! The production of "Pandora" is top-notch, with Joshua F Williams skillfully crafting a soundscape that complements Inanna's vocals and ethno-alternative sound. The song is atmospheric and experimental, transporting the listener to a world that is both familiar and otherworldly. The haunting melodies, intricate beats, and thought-provoking lyrics come together to create a cathartic spell that leaves a lasting impression. The song reminds us of fantasy movies set in the backdrop of magical forests. For example, "Pandora" could be a great fit for franchises like Lord of the Rings and Percy Jackson. Overall, "Pandora" is a testament to Inanna - the musician, belly dancer, environmentalist, and animal advocate's talents. The song is a contemporary and innovative piece of music that speaks to the heart of environmentalism while simultaneously offering a message of hope and possibility. With its carefully crafted atmospheric soundscapes and equally melodic sections that highlight the singer's unique vocal texture, "Pandora" is a must-listen for anyone interested in alternative pop and experimental ambient music. Inanna is the next big thing in LA's underground indie music scene.
Kimo Shabi-Art as Necessity
Kimo Shabi can create a world, a haven of sorts, with his music. There is a resounding meaning of the theme and the story in his work. As a singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, there is always something exciting and tantalizing from this musician's work. An example of seeing it from a fresh, complex perspective that tells a story with new morals. We explore many movements with this album, Art as Necessity. This is a genius theme to explore in itself. The music, is as exploratory as the art form was to its time. Kimo Shabi has his own view on what would generate a type of music, something that wouldn’t usually be heard. For example, his opening track, Vincent van Gogh is nothing like Don McLean’s appearance of the same. As an indie musician, Kimo merges electronic elements with vocals that aren’t of the time, but speak of it. The horror and suspense of Edvard Munch’s world is opened with the second track. The booming, resounding bass and strings create the necessary, mystery bound auras. There is a merging of sounds that creates a dichotomy of confusion and comprehension. Using ambient textures is another highlight from Kimo Shabi, where a grinding halt of the train on the tracks opens the next song. Filippo Tommaso Marinetti is next, and the absurdity is heard. In some way or the other, there is a depiction unlike any other for his art. The futurism is heard as much as it is felt. Art talking to art You almost yearn to understand the meaning behind Marcel Duchamps work. In no way traditional, he was stretching the conversation on art itself. The harrowing bassline is the question behind it, some elements from his art creating sounds as well. This is where Kimo Shabi uses his knowledge to understand these movements. With Pablo Picasso, there is a refreshing change in the acoustic sound that comes around. The percussion is unique as well, the cubism felt in the thumping notes. In that way, you’re in for the surrealism of Salvador Dali’s work. They take you places, the chords themselves transporting you. It is an acoustic delight, a folkish touch to the whole thing. Vasilij Kandinskij colour palette is explored with this sci-fi like sound. The bassline guides the listener, while superb audio production inspires. There is a percussive heartbeat to his art, which is replicated in some form, with the music. Kimo Shabi chooses to close with the elusive and highly debated work of Jackson Pollock. To some it is art, to some rubbish. I think there is a joy in ending in that question, something that has been discussed and questioned for so long. The drips and splatters are perceived layer after layer, just like viewing one of his art pieces. From At Eternity’s Gate for van Gogh, Pollock for the closing track, Edvard Munch for the biography movie-these instrumentals would be perfect. Often using songs designed otherwise, the understanding of the art is felt with this artist’s work. It is a genius attempt and executed with precision as much as perfection. Listen to his 2018 album Music with Elements as well, to change into a new world. There is a lot to explore, and he brings the world to your ears.