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.
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.
Sharon Ruchman - Another Time
- English (US)
Sharon Ruchman return with Another Time, a composition that feels quietly luminous, inviting the listener into a reflective space shaped by western neoclassical traditions and contemporary sensitivity.
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.
Anoice-The Hidden Forest
Grab your best pair of headphones and settle in for a cinematic audiophilic experience. Anoice is a Japanese instrumental outfit who have been making songs for the past several years but have escaped my radar. Their new album The Hidden Forest is out now, and is a journey in symphony and a lesson in composition that we can all learn from. The artful concept The concept for the album is an avant-garde attempt at perception. Through the eyes of musicians, the music that is produced from a visual can be stunning. What Anoice do is imbibe the essence of 17 paintings perfected by Naoko Okada and provide s soul-stirring experience of listening to a visual. The treat is to listen to all the songs, then see the visuals and experience the song once more. It is like hearing a dream, however surreal that might sound. Anoice create a reservoir of emotion to draw from, ranging from the melody of long story or the melancholy that they draw from a perfect day for a funeral. The songs tend to transcend time, as you search for the visual, something you haven’t seen yet. It is a niche and beautiful concept, stretching what the creative mind has maintained to be boundaries. The ambient sounds draw us closer to the emotion-like the moments that freeze time like Zimmer’s scores. Quiet wish is an expose of the capacity of the instrumentalists, while into the light can be heard as a transitional. Each song is gripping a certain still, and is very evident by the work put in to depict it. For a song like heartbeat, they take a stirring, thriller part filled with suspense and the work of Zimmer’s own magic on the ivories. Magnolia is an encapsulated moment of joy, with the piano and ambience alone justifying the means. Curating an audio museum Listen to songs like the promised day if you want to be in awe of the seismic display of strings and synths complementing each other. As I mentioned earlier, diving into the reason behind these songs will be foolishness. The true art lies in appreciating what it can do. Takahiro Kido, Yuki Murata, Utaka Fujiwara & Tadashi Yoshikawa do a fantastic job of this passion project. That is what it feels like, moments into something that has effortlessly mastered what its intention was. Converting visuals into music isn’t easy, the picture doesn’t speak a thousand words every time. Some words perish before reaching the listener. That is where Anoice succeed. A sure fit for the series Peaky Blinders without a doubt! Check out the classic series here - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/peaky_blinders
Peter Uher-New Reality
There are genre fusions. There are intra-genre relations that give birth to exciting sounds that are rare to hear. The third category is chasing fumes of otherworldly delight. That is where this artist, Peter Uher comes in. His latest album is a compilation of his work through the years, a debut that tries to create his own envelope with the fragments of sound. This is a New Reality. For a short track, Mirror Door is your transcendental portal to Peter’s dimensions. Mere mortals cannot walk through this door, so Peter holds it open for you. It is a confluence of jazz, rock and classical strokes you witness, in a all out medley of leviathan proportions. Exciting, raw and real-you can hear every note as it was composed, as the other instruments dance around the protagonist. To create a flow like a brooks’ babble, Peter chooses and uses a traditional foundation. The gentle whisper of the flute & soft sax guide the track, Look Ahead. His guitar comes in smoothly, in due course of time, carrying with it the magnanimous effect of a leading dancer. The drama, penchant for frills and flourishes is still there, albeit in a new tempo and style. Time seems to melt away by the time the solo acoustic moments create ambient shells for the guitar to caress. What will be tomorrow is the track that now includes parts of ambient progressive. Hopefully you catch the subtle changes listening on your headphones, because they are a psychedelic introduction to the track. The beats have a dissonant echo while the guitar gets by on its minimal pizazz, creating a layered approach to ambience. Building to the name The title track is a jazz fusion number, with an addictive progression by the bass and the guitar. The drums shine as well, as the silent spine of the song, ever adapting. The tone changes are incredible, truly a sound to behold. The shift in the song is not only unexpected, but an exciting approach to song composition, with different instruments taking the lead every time. A prog-jazz number if you will, by the time the mid-point rolls around, we’re in a Silencers song. The solo jam at the end has to be heard several times to be believed. Vivien’s Dream is a wonderful short track, with the saxophone taking the cake. The guitar gently dances around this, with cat’s feet as it takes no attention away. A track that just melts through the fog and rests in your head for a while. With an R&B approach, Recently is Peter Uher’s sound palette cleanser. It makes the required impact, the strings echoing through to create a beautiful loop that melts through the framework of the song. Second by second, the track bleeds through. Riverse is what you would expect to hear, a song that sounds just as intense and unbelievable in reverse. The magic of jazz being the unpredictable nature of it. All the instruments dance with their destiny in mind, in control of the notes almost. It is a long, progressive track with plenty of elements to unpack. Peter Uher closes the album with a simple Epilogue that seems to weld fragments of his favourite sounds together, with another enchanting tone on his guitar. If this is his debut, I am excited to hear what a young artist like this has in store for us. He has not only stitched a continuous tapestry of fabric for experimentation, but composed it to a level that everyone can appreciate this art. This is a new reality we would choose to explore. When you're in the dissonance of movies like The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo or in a Jack Reacher like thriller film, you better bet this sound will punctuate the gritty scenes!
Carter Fox-Cosmic Sunrise Live at Everloft Studios
Carter Fox has a unique approach to music. His hunt for tone and meticulously crafted compositions is his driving force. Ranging from chill hip-hop tunes to experimental jazz as well, this virtuoso is constantly looking for sources of inspiration and expanding his sonic horizons. This is his latest single, Cosmic Sunrise Live at Everloft Studios. With a silky, floating synth background, the bass interacts for a liminal conversation. It is in tandem, the growth and syncopation, each telling its own tale within tone and rhythm. In parts, the instrumentals break off to create their own lead pocket, becoming this exciting being that vibrates with a newfound energy. As each forages for its own path, there are chance interactions, crafted through the sorcery that lies in music. Steve Honz collaborates for this one, and the live play-by-play is an interesting outcome to watch. I encourage you to take a look at the breakthroughs and joys of a live recording session. I could hear this music for any focused transition, especially in biographies and travel logs where a picturesque setting captures the eye. The fresh outcome of the track and the powerful overlaps create their own biosphere, and so much is achieved with the keys. This leads to the top of Carter Fox and his pyramid of growing surprises. Without realizing, you might have come across many of his tracks. Songs like Eclipse and M87 are some of his hottest numbers, streamed constantly on Spotify. His compositions are a relaxing haven, and there is always something tantalizing for the senses. Carter Fox is an atmosphere god, listen to his tracks and explore his catalogue!
Alec Berlin-Minir Maad
Some artists can’t do without lyrics. Alec Berlin aims to do without them. His songwriting has a vocal ghost that trails it, making each instrumental part seem like choice verse sections. From the time I heard his single Life in the Bog, there was a tectonic shift. Phrasings and alternates to create this saucerful of notes is what we aim to hear. This is his latest single, Minir Maad. Shuffling through minor keys, Alec Berlin takes us through an Arabic wonderland. For this track, call him Scheherazade, because he is narrating an enamouring tale with just his stringed instrument. So the name of the track comes from Minor Mod, and the Algerian strain makes it something exotic! The choice of instrumental sorcery is abundant and scarce, shifting through paths and alleys to show us what he experienced. The “chorus” has some exciting bends and twists, making this song the carpet ride that it is. Here, Alec Berlin details a documentary as a traveller through the Arabian Peninsula. I could definitely see this featured on Somebody Feed Phil and Dark Tourist. Shows that definitely try to expand and broaden the horizons of thought with different takes in culture, that you must check out. If you truly want to hear Alec Berlin’s sound, you better shuffle through his entire catalogue. Each sound and approach is different. President’s Day, What I Wish I Had Said and Patchen Avenue are some favourites. So go ahead, travel the world of sounds with this talented guitar virtuoso.
Alec Berlin-Patchen Avenue
Alec Berlin can personify any place with sound. He has done it with his unique, vocal like approach to compositions. Each song has a different tonality and aspect of musicality to it. This is the title track from his popular EP, Patchen Avenue. Another guitarist who has this unique ability is Eric Johnson. Each of his songs actually sound like the music he makes, Alec Berlin has the same soul to his music. With a bluesy ring to his guitar, Alec makes a tantalizing composition that has a light marching percussive quality to it. Around this, he makes a simple, ringing chord change. There are some strong alternates to the lead, bringing you down different parts of the lane in Patchen Avenue. It is like he has a direct wiring to the place and completes the soul search with this booming sound. The soaring, joyful sound is accented by the wailing guitar sounds in the far background. The exceptional production work allows every part of Alec Berlin and his guitar voicing to be heard and understood. This is where he excels in his sound and performing capability, bringing the house down with arrangements that stick in people’s mind forever. Another listen, another playlist. This sound would have been a perfect interlude piece in Boyhood, or even in one of my favourites, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It is as fun as it is deep, almost a sketch of the lane and the happenings. Alec’s sound is something that is enviable, and has grown to be more unique and signature to his sound. We expect to keep hearing exceptional compositions from him. Till then, follow and listen to his brilliant compositions here!
Raynald Grenier-Doux Instants
Raynald Grenier paints pictures with his notes. His mature tunes show experience and learning, and the dramatization of his music results in some wonderful music to be experienced. His music has always been cinematic, used in dramas and plays, encapsulating themes with wordless grandiose. This is his single, Doux Instants. The English translation for this would be Sweet Moments. This is exactly what you feel as an impulse, as soon as you hear his music. I have always found it to be easier, writing about instrumentals, due to the subjective moments that are captured within it. Raynald Grenier is a poet of expression and abstraction in a delicate balance. This crystal scale is gauged in this song, where figments of rumination are spent through meditation. There are no specific connotations to it, the expression is joyous, and speculative of myriad futures. It takes a master composer to incite such thoughts, and none can do it better than this accomplished maestro. The first film that came to mind was A Beautiful Mind. All of James Horner’s arrangements break down dramatic renditions very well, which Grenier does with grace in this song. The Tree of Life was another film that I could associate it with, rich imagery and complex emotions being explained through music. Raynald Grenier can be experienced through his magical arrangements on Spotify. His 2020 album Dolci Momenti is highly recommended, so are Beth & Noa: The Ballet. He is no stranger to transcribing imagery through his music, and it is a joy to listen to his music. Listen to his single and follow him for more transcendental music!
Parjam Parsi-Dialogue
Parjam Parsi conducts conversations with his environment. A musician with a wide range of tastes, his music often sees it all come together. From far-fetched ideas to idiosyncratic music elements, they all fit when Parjam composes music. This is passion at play. His 2012 album is called Dialogue. What you hear is more than it seems. As you hear Without Words, you understand the psyche at play. With the core piano riff as the undertone, he takes steps in all directions, making a meditative exploration with nuanced details. The ambience always helps in the directional and creating a canvas of picturesque standards. If You Forget Me is a self-portrait in rumination. Delving into parts of his own personality, Parjam might be creating something particular to him alone. The flowing around the same imagery, you get a kaleidoscopic view, one instant producing so much more. Everything Carries Me To You has a rhythmic percussion within the composition. Using note after note to create something so simple yet reminiscent of a story is impressive. Appreciating sound Black Bird might not depict flight yet. It dissuades, escapes searching for meaning in the beginning. Parjam Parsi wants you to view it as the simple being it is, full of purpose and understanding of its role. An Ode to the River had to imitate the flow of water. Simple to do with a formulaic style, Parjam uses something different. The running rhythm section is a brilliant foray into warm, recognizable pockets of melodies. It can be heard in principle in This Rain as well, though the nature differs. Parjam Parsi isn’t in a position to break down what he sees with his music alone. Nature is far too complex and wholesome for that. This is a dialogue between his instrument and him, regarding the different concepts of nature. The majesty is beyond our understanding, and this is the closest iteration you will find. The thoughts and translations are merely appreciations of what unfolds, and no instrumentalist in recent times has come as close as Parjam, to just adore nature through his music. Nature as you hear it The Forgotten Dialect and Doubtless use a contrast of tempos to create frequencies of instrumentals that just admire. It is impressive to see how this “compositional” mind of Parjam’s works, it is complex yet as simple as a singing melody translated into instrumentals. Round Star is also like a narrative, almost spoken word, in the way it is performed. Enigmas is like an acceptance, of something that will continue to evade us about nature. God lies therein, in the existence and us humans, not understanding the beauty of the visual and tactile. Lilacs and Umbria close an album that is an ode to the spectacular organism that is nature. In adulation and spectacle, Parjam Parsi creates a breathtaking experience that is scintillating, yet engages in thought and appreciation. It is one that would fit any Damien Chazelle experience, especially Last Man, for the gentle instrumentals and transitions. It is a spellbinding effort, and one of many to come from this artist. Listen to his album and follow him for more instrumental magic that transports you to a world beyond this.
Ronald Van Deurzen-Seashells
Ronald Van Deurzen might be able to align stars with his music. A cinematic edge, superior vision and climactic compositional ability gives him an edge like none of his contemporaries. Deep, creative and engulfing, his music is of the moment and the moment alone. What he imagines is what we see, and that’s the mark of a great musician. This is his latest single, Seashells. When David Attenborough explains the beauty of the sea, I am usually taken aback. It is a world like none other, practically broken by the threshold of an element. We have explored the sea, but never experienced it truly. Ronald Van Deurzen changes that in many ways. If an instrument is to imbibe emotions without lyrics to help, it is much more complex. Radiohead might have done a good job with Blue Planet, but I would take Ronald’s immersive music anyday. With Seashells, there is a journey back to the origin as well, and the rhythm is felt like the waves. The percussion is soft and spreads evenly. Creating a reverberating wall of sound, it feels almost like marine creatures conversing. This is where genius lies, in conversing with the effect of the experience. Though as mentioned earlier, I’d have used this in many Nat-Geo/Discovery documentaries, the compositional skills deserve a standing ovation. Swelling and dipping, it imitates the ocean and relationship with the shore. Just like a seashell. His most popular track might be Hopeful Bliss, but all his songs explore the spoken word quality of instrumental music in detail. Follow him for more expressive, enigmatic music!