An Interview with Monica Williams at the Heart Dance Records Summit

Here’s an interview with flutist Monica Williams that was conducted earlier this year at the Heart Dance Records Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. In this segment, we highlight her stunning debut album, Journey of Tears, which mesmerizingly weaves classical, world and Native American-style flutes among hauntingly beautiful soundscapes.

Music from the album Journey of Tears can be heard throughout this interview.

Album Overview: Toward the Horizon by Craig Padilla & Marvin Allen

Toward the Horizon is the collaborative debut album by electronic music veteran Craig Padilla and electric guitar wizard Marvin Allen. Beautifully sculpted from analog and digital synthesizers and featuring classic Berlin School sequencing, these retro-futuristic sound passages are further illuminated by soulfully stratospheric guitar figures immersed in shimmering multi-tonalities. Alternating throughout between electrified rhythmic patterns and free-floating cosmic expanses, Toward the Horizon is a mesmerizing masterwork of otherworldly time-traveling dreamscapes! ~Candice Michelle




Available at Amazon and other retail and streaming platforms. 

An Interview with ANAAMALY at the Heart Dance Records Summit

Here’s an interview with Phil Strickland who records as ANAAMALY, which was conducted at the recent Heart Dance Records Summit in Phoenix, AZ. Although Phil originally started out as a composer of hip-hop and other beat-driven styles of electronic music, he began shifting his focus to creating experimental ambient soundscapes after being inspired through meditation and yoga practices.

Music from ANAAMALY’s albums Fields of Light, Urban Metta, Vol. 2 and Urban Metta, Vol. 1 can be heard throughout this interview.

Album Overview: Sound Currents by Tom Moore & Sherry Finzer

Sound Currents is the third collaborative release by multi-instrumentalist Tom Moore and flutist Sherry Finzer. Weaving electronic sequencer patterns among earthy shamanic soundscapes, the album seemingly evokes a sensuous intangible mystery and the unlocking of ancient secrets conveyed by the compositions’ deeply resonating atmospheres, which enshroud exotically meditative flute melodies throughout. Easily the duo’s most impressively stunning collaboration to date, Sound Currents is surely destined to be among this year’s favorite albums! ~Candice Michelle




Available at Amazon, Bandcamp, iTunes and other retail & streaming platforms.

An Interview with Cass Anawaty & Doug Blair at the Heart Dance Records Summit

Here's an interview with electronic music composer, guitarist and producer Cass Anawaty (who is one-half of the duo Majestica) and guitarist Doug Blair, which was conducted at the recent Heart Dance Records Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. In this segment, we talk about some of the current projects Cass has worked on, particularly in the ambient/chill/downtempo realm, including the latest Majestica release, along with Doug’s trippy new album titled Horizon.

Music from the albums Auriga to Orion and In the Midst of Stars by Majestica, as well as Horizon by Doug Blair, can be heard throughout this interview.

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Nicholas Gunn

We’re honored to present an audio interview with the legendary Nicholas Gunn, where we’ll be discussing his new album entitled Riding the Thermals. He initially rose to prominence in the early 1990’s with his unique brand of Southwest American-flavored world music and landmark albums like The Sacred Fire and Music of the Grand Canyon. He later founded Gemini Sun Records which released notable works by other trailblazing artists such as David Arkenstone and Johannes Linstead.

More recently, Nicholas Gunn signed with the dance music label giant Armada Music as his trance music act name Limelght. Released under his own name, his latest album, Riding the Thermals, is a sultry chill-out offering of ambient trance music. So please tune-in for some insightful conversation and a taste of musical paradise!

PGM 214: LOVE POTION 2

A sensual brew of lush ambient & downtempo chill.

No. ARTIST – TRACK
01. Bryan Milton – Only You in My Heart
02. Mythos – Eros
03. Tristeria – I Love You (Dimitra)
04. Lab’s Cloud – A Kiss is the Best Medicine
05. Craig Padilla – Lost in You
06. Gold Lounge – Sahara Mon Amour (2018 Re-Work)
07. Moonlik – Alone with You
08. Charlie Roscoe – Open Heart
09. Thomas Lemmer & Andreas Bach – Embracing Love
10. ELEON – Will Your Heart Dance With Mine
11. Nicholas Gunn – I’ll Always (feat. Alina Renae)

Album Review: Lonely Satellite by Lena Natalia

Lena Natalia is a Chicago-based pianist and composer who initially captured my attention a couple of years ago with her second album entitled Rendezvous in Paris (and follow-up to her debut release, Sundays in Paris). What especially drew me to Lena’s music was her unique brand of ambient-piano and classical minimalism that intriguingly sets her apart from a plethora of comparatively more “contemporary” and “new age” defined piano albums that I’ve heard over the past few years. Comprised of 15 compositions spanning 42 minutes – with all but one piece clocking in at under 4 minutes – Lena’s latest album titled Lonely Satellite further expounds on the subtle direction of last year’s release, Almost Home, with its uniquely processed effects applied to her piano. Utterly transforming Lena's otherwise solo instrumental pieces into duskily atmospheric, multi-tonal soundscapes, I find her compositions deeply affecting and often wistful with an air of reminiscent longing.

From the opening piece, “Ballerina at Night”, we’re met with an instantly memorable melody and Lena’s now-familiar style of interlocking piano figures. One of my favorites, “Munich Train 7H04”, is a shining example of Lena’s ability to imbue her compositions with a sense of haunting nostalgia. Here, as with other pieces, she achieves that by applying an echoing, reverberating effect and underlying rhythmic pulse. On “Lonely Satellite”, mellifluously cascading piano notes seemingly fall all around like raindrops onto an encircling puddle of water – making this an exemplary classical ambient piece of supreme beauty and coy elegance.

Overall keeping in line with a more minimalistic approach, Lena’s music isn’t noted by particularly overt crescendos or musical peaks throughout. Rather, her generally understated yet undeniably intricate compositions tend to beguilingly shimmer like filtered light beneath a watery surface. A musical genius in the realm of modern piano music, I expect Lena Natalia’s star will continue to rise ever-further in its sky! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available at Amazon, Bandcamp and other retail & streaming platforms.

Album Review: Perihelion by Al Jewer & Andy Mitran

Al Jewer and Andy Mitran are a supremely talented multi-instrumental duo who’ve released a handful albums over the past several years. Having first heard their incredible music via their 2011 landmark album Music of the Earth, I’ve not only followed their work ever since, but have enjoyed witnessing both the musical evolution and stylistic progression over the course of their artistic careers. Likewise, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jewer and Mitran, as they shared deeper insight into their work and specifically their latest album entitled Perihelion, which is named after an astronomical point when our earth is closest to the sun during its yearly orbit. For the duo, perihelion also signifies the “burning off of artifice and unconsciousness”, noting its metaphorical parallel to a process of enlightenment.

Blending ambient-world and contemporary instrumental motifs, the duo variably showcase numerous instruments throughout, with Jewer performing on several woodwind and brass instruments while Mitran plays an array of keyboards and global percussion. Guest musicians include Miriam Stockley (vocals), Erik Scott (bass), Michelle Qureshi (acoustic, electric and slide guitar), Sherry Finzer (alto and bass flute), Peter Phippen (shakuhachi), Bob Lizik (bass), Richard Gannaway (bouzouki), Biff Blumfumgagnge (violin), Lisa Downing (piano) and Ian Maksin (cello).

Resulting in a congruous melding of the traditional and old-world with the contemporary and technological, the overall sound feels both earthy and grounded yet dreamlike and transcendental.

Listeners familiar with Erik Scott’s work will immediately recognize his signature bass licks on the opening “Gathering Heart”, a rhythmic and lively piece which effectively signals the starting point of an exciting journey ahead. My absolute favorite piece herein is the more ethno-ambient styled “Awakening”, which employs beautifully hypnotic poly-rhythms consisting of bells, hang, djembes and talking drum. Further topping it off is Peter Phippen on Shakuhachi, a Japanese flute accompanied here by other woodwind instruments. A warmly shimmering piece that I simply never tire of, this one always makes me think of being on an exotic safari and watching the sun set through the trees. The aptly-named “Full Circle” serves as a mesmerizing closure to the album, and also symbolically marks the earth’s completion of its journey around the sun. Intentionally meditative, both Native-style and silver flutes gently lead the piece in tandem with soothing violin amid beautiful bell-tones and electro-atmospherics of which seemingly convey misty twilight imagery.

Notably echoing aspects of the duo’s previous Transmigration and Two Trees albums, their lush soundscapes often paint mental images of either Southwest American deserts or African jungles and wildlife, depending on the piece. Likewise accompanied by stunning cover and inlay artwork depicting earth-space photographs, the album’s images further help to convey an appreciation of nature, culture and human potential that’s seemingly reflected in these pristine musical environments. Another outstanding effort from Al Jewer and Andy Mitran, Perihelion is guaranteed to find much appeal, especially, among many fans of both ambient and world music! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available on Amazon, iTunes, and other music retailer & streaming platforms.

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Lena Natalia

We’re excited to present an audio interview with Chicago-based composer Lena Natalia. Possessing a signature sound and style that could be described as ‘minimalist classical meets ambient piano’, she released her fifth album last year titled Lonely Satellite, which was named one of the top 25 albums of 2018 on Journeyscapes. In this segment, we’ll learn more about Lena Natalia, as well as her inspiration for Lonely Satellite. So please tune-in for a casual yet insightful conversation about music, the moon, and her muse!

We’re delighted to present an audio interview with the band 2002, which is comprised of family trio Randy and Pamela Copus along with their daughter Sarah Copus, who is a more recent addition to the lineup. Often described as ‘neoclassical new age’ music, 2002 integrates Celtic harp, ethereal vocals and cinematic orchestration into their enchanting soundscapes. We’ll be discussing their brand new album entitled A World Away as well as highlight Sarah Copus’ recent debut solo album called Moorland Winds. So please tune-in for some conversation, music and a glimpse into A World Away!

Album Review: Lotus Rising by Chronotope Project

Review by Candice Michelle

Following-up the fantastic album Ovum released in 2017, Chronotope Project returns with another stunning release on Spotted Peccary Music titled Lotus Rising. An Oregonian-based electronic music composer and cellist, Jeffery Ericson Allen is the musical architect behind Chronotope Project, with the artist’s latest album drawing upon his thirty-year study and practice of Zen Buddhism. The most recognizable symbol in the Zen tradition, the lotus is a strikingly beautiful flower that only grows in mud, opening its flowers one-by-one in the light of the sun, only to sink back under the murky waters again at night. Comprised of eight compositions spanning nearly an hour, the music tells “the story of an aspirant’s journey of self-actualization on the Buddha Way” and stresses “the importance of the moment”. Likewise, Lotus Rising musically unfolds and transmutes along its captivating course, as if being artfully synchronized to the vivid imagery it evokes of this inspiring phenomenon beheld in nature.

Introducing the album is “Crossing the Great Water” with a rhythmically continuous stream of watery sequencers that are punctuated by extended arcs and tonal stretches of Haken Continuum Fingerboard. An integral component of Chronotope Project's signature sound, the hauntingly mesmerizing quality of this unique instrument often acts as the lead ‘voice’ on these lushly hypnotic soundscapes. Following next is the stunning title piece, “Lotus Rising”, in which the murky depths of the unknown seemingly blossom into an outward unfurling towards the light. Fluidly woven together, the piece gradually evolves with increasing layers in a spiraling motion, eventually culminating in a sound collage of multi-textured, electro-organic luminescence. Also noteworthy is the darker-hued and three-dimensional “Opening the Hand of Thought” with its churning sequenced rhythm, as the occasional dash of chimes seemingly pierce its veil of atmospheric density. Perfectly concluding the album is “Homage to the Three Jewels”, which effectively hybridizes sequenced patterns with subtle world percussion. Seemingly evoking a sense of having embarked on a long sojourn to a faraway hidden place, this subtly-driving piece is further mysteriously illuminated by the distant chants of Buddhist monks.

An avid fan of Chronotope Project ever since having heard the first of Jeffrey Ericson Allen’s four albums released on Spotted Peccary to date, Lotus Rising easily ascends to the top of this artist’s already impeccable body of work. Intensely enthralling and profoundly sensuous, Lotus Rising epitomizes a particular kind of affecting beauty and indescribable depth that can only be achieved via the inspiration and application of an authentic sacred tradition. Arguably one of Spotted Peccary’s finest on the label’s remarkable roster, Lotus Rising is a hypnotic masterpiece of tribal-esque ambient and electronic (inner) space music!

~Candice Michelle for Journeyscapes Radio


 

Lotus Rising is available at Spotted Peccary Music, Bandcamp and Amazon.

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 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!

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Byron Metcalf

We’re proud to present an audio interview with renowned world percussionist, ambient composer and shamanic practitioner Byron Metcalf. Based in Prescott, Arizona, Byron has an extensive history in the music industry with many albums he’s worked on and recorded to his credit. In this segment, we’ll be discussing his new album entitled Inner Rhythm Meditations Vol. II, which features Norwegian guitarist and electronic music composer Erik Wøllo, along with world flutist Peter Phippen. We’ll also discuss his recent collaboration with Jennifer Grais for an album entitled They Were Here, as well as his other recent works with Erik Wøllo on the albums Earth Luminous and Inner Rhythm Meditations. So please tune-in for some conversation, music and shamanic musings!

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with David Helpling

We’re honored to present an audio interview with ambient/electronic music composer and guitarist David Helpling. Based in San Diego, California, David has released a handful of widely-acclaimed solo and collaborative albums over the years on the Spotted Peccary label, as well as produced works for other recording artists. Some of the highlights in this segment include discussion about David’s recent work with ELEON, who just released his debut album Dreams Beyond Terra on Heart Dance Records. We'll also talk about David’s most recent solo album A Sea Without Memory, as well as his work with fellow Spotted Peccary label mates Jon Jenkins, Sverre Knut Johansen and more! Additionally, we’ll hear a piece by ELEON that David co-produced and performed on, as well as two additional pieces throughout the conversation.