Featured Track: Dyan Garris-Forest Whispers

Dyan Garris is an award winning new age artist and author. She is multi-talented and touches upon all of the arts within the new age genre and is a classical trained on the piano and violin.

"Forest Whispers" is a recent single track that is the feature I speak of.  It is a new age journey as beautiful, natural, and inviting as the cover indicates.

The birds are chirping with delight as the sounds of new age combined with world music fill in the space around you.

It takes you there immediately. That my friends is exactly what any recording artist wants!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

 

More About Dyan Garris: DyanGarrisMusic.com

Dyan Garris is a multiple award-winning New Age recording artist, an award-winning author, and an official music reviewer for Zone Music Reporter (ZMR), New Age CD, and Spirit Seeker Magazine. Garris has recorded and produced 13 albums. Garris’ recordings include a series of independently tested music and meditation CDs that earned The National Health & Wellness Stamp of Approval.

Her latest CD, Mystic’s Nine, was released 11/1/2016 and won a Global Music Award. The song Mystic Sea from the same album won the 16th Annual IMA (Independent Music Awards) VOX POP WINNER award, New Age Song category. Her music is available on Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Sirius XM, MoodMusic, Muzak, Music Choice, and more.

Dyan Garris started playing the piano when she was four years old. Her mother bought a baby grand piano and soon thereafter brought in a piano teacher. The piano teacher was an interesting choice because he was totally blind. 
At the first lesson Dyan asked him how he was going to teach her to play the piano since he could not see, and she asked him to take off his glasses so she could see his eyes. He obliged. They were beautiful blue and they were definitely blind. But even then through those obscured windows, she saw his soul. He was brilliant.

And he said to her, “Child, we do not need to be able to ‘see’ to play this instrument. We only need to be able to feel the music. Music is not about seeing. It’s about feeling.” With that, he took her hands and placed them atop of his and they played the most wonderful music.
Garris is a classically trained pianist and violinist. She became and maintained first chair, first violin throughout high school orchestra and still loves the way the two instruments blend together in perfect harmony. 

Her interest in meditation and music for relaxation goes back to early 1993 which is when she first began creating guided meditations. Music itself, of course, has been a way of life.

Featured Track: Grant Maloy Smith-I See You

Grant Maloy Smith has a beautiful track titled "I See You."  Grant is the performing artist and it was co-written by Mike Greenly.
 
This is one of the most moving and powerful tracks I have heard in quite some time. The video is what really gets you. It will touch your heart and soul.

The acoustic guitar and vocals are a perfect match and I felt chills and wanted to cry watching the video. It reminded me of those that have passed and the direction we are all headed one day.

It was released with the support of Masterpiece Living, an organization dedicated to creating better lives for our elders. They adopted the track due to their work.

This is country, folk, and Americana at its very best and if this track does not touch you in some way you had better check for a pulse!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck 

Grant Maloy Smith is a Billboard Top 10 recording artist and Music Row Country Breakout charting songwriter of AMERICAN ROOTS music. His latest album, Dust Bowl - American Stories spent 17 weeks on the Billboard charts, including eleven weeks in the Top 10.
 

 https://www.grant-maloy-smith.com/epk

Featured Track: Grant Maloy Smith-I See You

Grant Maloy Smith has a beautiful track titled "I See You."  Grant is the performing artist and it was co-written by Mike Greenly.
 
This is one of the most moving and powerful tracks I have heard in quite some time. The video is what really gets you. It will touch your heart and soul.

The acoustic guitar and vocals are a perfect match and I felt chills and wanted to cry watching the video. It reminded me of those that have passed and the direction we are all headed one day.

It was released with the support of Masterpiece Living, an organization dedicated to creating better lives for our elders. They adopted the track due to their work.

This is country, folk, and Americana at its very best and if this track does not touch you in some way you had better check for a pulse!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck 

Grant Maloy Smith is a Billboard Top 10 recording artist and Music Row Country Breakout charting songwriter of AMERICAN ROOTS music. His latest album, Dust Bowl - American Stories spent 17 weeks on the Billboard charts, including eleven weeks in the Top 10.
 

 https://www.grant-maloy-smith.com/epk

Rock Review: Mandoki Soulmates-Living in the Gap + Hungarian Pictures

Release Date: June 19, 2020

Label: 2020 Purple Pyramid Records

Website 

Mandoki Soulmates debuted in 1991. The band consists of many members but, the founding three are Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, and Al Di Meola; along with Leslie Mandoki. Often coined as a ‘supergroup,’ Soulmates present themselves as a unified front. They direct the band as one whole unit, rather than several different bodies and voices just up on a stage. While most artists and bands either remain on one side or the other of the political aisle or keep their personal politics out of their artistry, Mandoki Soulmates lightly sprinkles political undertones throughout their music, especially on the newest released album Living in the Gap + Hungarian Pictures.

Now let’s get down to the business of the music. “Living in the Gap” starts the album with a big-band/jazz, funk-fusion that is quite fitting for such a time as this. The group sings of unity and bridging the ‘gap’ to where we separate from others intentionally on almost every subject nowadays. It also hints of a thought that there is no “right and wrong” rather, it’s a matter of collective agreement or disagreement.

“Young Rebels” is a shout to how all different young individuals, each with varying backgrounds and experiences are trying to get through each day of this world and possible change in a peaceful but ever-so-nonchalant manner. In the same way, they cannot decide whether they are trying to bring about some old ideals as a youth, or much older but with youth mindsets and hopes. “Turn the Wind” takes a bluegrass-like spin in the record. It comes down to simply a relaxed tune, but, it does beg the question within, “can we stop anything, anymore, at all?” Or, is it a lost cause in trying to make a big change? “Where We Belong” sings of this back and forth between feel-good moments and some that dig in a little deeper in pain or sorrow.

What I might call the ‘anthem song,’ “Let the Music Show You the Way” is a bright and uplifting tune to bring anyone out of their funk. Completely void of any particular signaling or message, it simply enlightens the listener that music is the universal peacekeeper as it allows us to align our feelings to any song we choose. “Too Much Pride” belts out a trumpeted jazz message of an overwhelming sense of pride, unable to move out of our own way to see more clearly, other individuals and how they see and feel through life.

“Old Rebels” is a continuation of “Young Rebels” but, carries the same message from before with a wiser, somewhat opposing perspective. “Welcome to Real Life” eerily fits well with today’s political and human climate. Between the unrest of all of us being quarantined and innocent individuals dying all across the country, the lyrics ring too true, wherever your viewpoints may fall. “Hottest Queen of Cool” invokes a sexy, sleek, jazzy number to a woman who absolutely dominates what seems to be the entertainment lifestyle, almost emulating a Hollywood starlet, turning everything before her, about her.

“Wake Up” is a call-out type of song to all who will listen to change the things we see going on in the world before it might be too late, according to the band at least. Singing of “dark hearts and free minds,” one can imagine, the song is to be about making the world as bright and light as can be. “Mother Europe” follows with a song seemingly of a love of the European continent as though they are defending the nation. “I’m Not Your Enemy” begins with a 2-minute and fifty-second instrumental, cool and mellow guitar-turned-keyboard-turned trumpet solo. Afterward, the singer comes in calm and peacefully proclaiming how she and another do not have the same mindset of anger and resentment. Instead, she speaks of how she will always remain by the other’s side. Another minute and a half instrumental solo takes place before the chorus chimes back in.

A stroke of a piano keyboard twinkles the next song, “Sessions in the Village.” While the singer sings of what sounds to be a very poetically structured verse, the song then cuts from her to a synthesizer party, including a trumpet at times;  making waves in this piece to make it seem like it is a village celebration. “Utopia for Realists” brings back a male vocalist to explain how the band sees modern awareness of the world’s happenings as a glimpse of the utopia beyond. “Transylvanian Dances” is a piece of periodic verses and an overall somber tone. At the 12:22 mark, it begins to speed up for about a minute and eight minutes, turning into an all-out rock fest. Then, ending it out, it slows back down to a man singing of his son being pointed towards open roads.

“You’ll Find Me in the Mirror” is the singer looking back and reflecting on what might have been of him and now he longs for that same trust and security back that he once had. Then comes in “Return to Budapest,” and it’s exactly what you’d expect from that title. It’s a soothing, alluring song of tradition and simplicity. “Barbaro” does give off the initial impression of barbarianism with its rush of drums. When the trumpet kicks in, it turns into more of a jam session of beautifully blending instrumental families. With the piano, it kind of throws a bit of a side curveball but keeps the dramatization of the piece going, sounding like the song is growing faster and faster; thus, more exciting. Ending out the entire album, “The Torch” sings of empowerment and strength to those who come after the singers, in relaxed, chant-like fashion.

Key Tracks include: “Living in the Gap,” “Too Much Pride,” Barbaro,” and “I’m Not Your Enemy”

Gregg Keniston - MuzikMan.net Staff
July 15, 2020

Track Listing:
01.   Living in the Gap
02.   Young Rebels
03.   Turn the Wind
04.   Where We Belong
05.   Let the Music Show You the Way
06.   Too Much Pride
07.   Old Rebels
08.   Welcome to Real Life
09.   Hottest Queen of Cool
10.   Wake Up
11.   Mother Europe
12.   I’m Not Your Enemy
13.   Sessions in the Village
14.   Utopia for Realists
15.   Transylvanian Dances
16.   You’ll Find Me in Your Mirror
17.   Return to Budapest
18.   Barbaro
19.   The Torch

Crossover Prog Review: Fatal Fusion-Dissonant Minds

Release Date: July 10 2020

Label: Apollon Records

Website

I have been a follower of the band, Fatal Fusion since I heard a track from an early album. Fatal Fusion was formed in Oslo, Norway in 2008, and utilize classic instruments, vintage synthesizers, mellotron, and Hammond organ as they pay homage to the 70’s prog bands, but they have their sound.

That sound has been described as a blending of different genres such as rock, classical, metal, blues, jazz, and even psychedelia and Latin. The band has released four albums, from the debut, Land Of The Sun (2010), through The Ancient Tale (2013), and Total Absence (2016) and onto the album being reviewed, Dissonant Minds (2020).

Fatal Fusion has had a settled line-up since its inception in 2008 and the 5 members appear on all albums; Knut Erik Grontvedt (vocals), Stig Selnes (guitar), Erlend Engebretsen (keyboards), Lasse Lie (bass) and Audun Engebretsen (drums, percussion).

Dissonant Minds is a four-track release with a running time of just over 43 minutes (43:08), with track 3, “Beneath The Skydome,” the shortest at 4:23 minutes and the final track., “Broken Man Pt 2,” is the longest track on offer at just under 17 minutes (16:42).

The opening track, “Coming Forth By Day” (14:22), is straight to work almost immediately with the band into full flow with 2 distinct passages, the sound building up, dropping away and then this flow repeating, so when the 3-minute mark is reached, the sudden arrival of an acoustic Spanish style guitar passage is a great surprise. The electric guitar puts in an appearance, now and again, before the acoustic passage is joined by a flute, which heralds the entrance of the instantly recognizable vocals of Knut Erik Grontvedt. Initially, there follows a very gentle passage before the vocals harden, and the band starts to rock, changing the style, before a switch back into the gentle, almost meandering passage, which then repeats ensuring the listener is kept on their toes (aurally speaking). Around the 7:10 minute mark, the electric guitar of Stig gets the opportunity to shine and he carries the track until the vocals return around 9:00 minutes. By 9:30 minutes, the pace has changed again and the band is in full flow with the keyboards of Erland getting the chance to come to the forefront. A more choral style keyboard passage appears around 11:20 minutes and the vocals return, as does the electric guitar of Stig and the band start to drive towards the finish. However, at 14:00 minutes, the band leaves the finale to the vocals of Knut Erilk and the superb piano of Erland.

I feel that the opening track to any album requires to be one that will grab the listener and “Coming Forth By Day” does just that. The listener is taken on a journey from the soothing and gentle to the harder and rockier areas which leave the listener looking forward to the rest of the album.

The final track, “Broken Man Pt 2” (17:22), is the second epic-length piece of music on the album and it has taken from the debut album in 2010 to come up with Part 2 of “Broken Man” which graced that earlier album. The opening of “Broken Man Pt 2” starts in a relatively gentle style with the band working as a tight unit with bass (Lasse Lie) and drums (Auden Engebretsen) setting down the solid foundations of the track. By the 6th minute, the style changes with keyboard swathes and an insistent drive from the powerhouse, the bass, and drums, behind Knut Erik’s vocals. The keyboards and that driving beat then switch with the entry of Stig’s electric guitar around the 9:00 minute mark. The track continues to drive along with the keyboards to the forefront and similar to track one, the listener is frequently teased with “retro snippets” which hark back to time away in the past, but no sooner have they appeared then they are gone. Around 11:45 minutes, everything drops away leaving the solitary piano playing a plaintive theme, which heralds the appearance of the vocals again, which are similarly plaintive, before the band are off and running, if not quite as fast as earlier, before again taking a backseat as the vocals come to the fore. The band again gets to flex their collective muscles with a keyboard-driven passage taking the track onto 15:30 minutes. Stunning guitar work just after 16 minutes heralds the impending end of the track, with the sound building to a crescendo and then simply vanishing.

A terrific final track, with the regular movement from the gentle to the more aggressive style, gives the track an edginess and the stunning solo passages, both from guitar and keyboards, completing the superb ending to Dissonant Minds.

Fatal Fusion has continued to build from the foundations set down in 2010, and Dissonant Minds is the culmination, thus far, of the evolution of the band. If you like your prog rock to sound fresh, but still give a nod of the head to the prog scene from the ’70s, welcome to the sound of Fatal Fusion. This is an album that should find its way onto many listeners CD shelves or storage areas, so give it a good listen and if this is the first Fatal Fusion release you have heard, be prepared to dig deep to collect the earlier albums.

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson - Prog Rock Music Talk Staff
July 9, 2020

Tracks:
1. Coming Forth By Day (14:22)
2. Quo Vadimus (7:41)
3. Beneath The Skydome (4:23)
4. Broken Man Pt 2 (16:42)

Crossover Prog Review: Fatal Fusion-Dissonant Minds

Release Date: July 10 2020

Label: Apollon Records

Website

I have been a follower of the band, Fatal Fusion since I heard a track from an early album. Fatal Fusion was formed in Oslo, Norway in 2008, and utilize classic instruments, vintage synthesizers, mellotron, and Hammond organ as they pay homage to the 70’s prog bands, but they have their sound.

That sound has been described as a blending of different genres such as rock, classical, metal, blues, jazz, and even psychedelia and Latin. The band has released four albums, from the debut, Land Of The Sun (2010), through The Ancient Tale (2013), and Total Absence (2016) and onto the album being reviewed, Dissonant Minds (2020).

Fatal Fusion has had a settled line-up since its inception in 2008 and the 5 members appear on all albums; Knut Erik Grontvedt (vocals), Stig Selnes (guitar), Erlend Engebretsen (keyboards), Lasse Lie (bass) and Audun Engebretsen (drums, percussion).

Dissonant Minds is a four-track release with a running time of just over 43 minutes (43:08), with track 3, “Beneath The Skydome,” the shortest at 4:23 minutes and the final track., “Broken Man Pt 2,” is the longest track on offer at just under 17 minutes (16:42).

The opening track, “Coming Forth By Day” (14:22), is straight to work almost immediately with the band into full flow with 2 distinct passages, the sound building up, dropping away and then this flow repeating, so when the 3-minute mark is reached, the sudden arrival of an acoustic Spanish style guitar passage is a great surprise. The electric guitar puts in an appearance, now and again, before the acoustic passage is joined by a flute, which heralds the entrance of the instantly recognizable vocals of Knut Erik Grontvedt. Initially, there follows a very gentle passage before the vocals harden, and the band starts to rock, changing the style, before a switch back into the gentle, almost meandering passage, which then repeats ensuring the listener is kept on their toes (aurally speaking). Around the 7:10 minute mark, the electric guitar of Stig gets the opportunity to shine and he carries the track until the vocals return around 9:00 minutes. By 9:30 minutes, the pace has changed again and the band is in full flow with the keyboards of Erland getting the chance to come to the forefront. A more choral style keyboard passage appears around 11:20 minutes and the vocals return, as does the electric guitar of Stig and the band start to drive towards the finish. However, at 14:00 minutes, the band leaves the finale to the vocals of Knut Erilk and the superb piano of Erland.

I feel that the opening track to any album requires to be one that will grab the listener and “Coming Forth By Day” does just that. The listener is taken on a journey from the soothing and gentle to the harder and rockier areas which leave the listener looking forward to the rest of the album.

The final track, “Broken Man Pt 2” (17:22), is the second epic-length piece of music on the album and it has taken from the debut album in 2010 to come up with Part 2 of “Broken Man” which graced that earlier album. The opening of “Broken Man Pt 2” starts in a relatively gentle style with the band working as a tight unit with bass (Lasse Lie) and drums (Auden Engebretsen) setting down the solid foundations of the track. By the 6th minute, the style changes with keyboard swathes and an insistent drive from the powerhouse, the bass, and drums, behind Knut Erik’s vocals. The keyboards and that driving beat then switch with the entry of Stig’s electric guitar around the 9:00 minute mark. The track continues to drive along with the keyboards to the forefront and similar to track one, the listener is frequently teased with “retro snippets” which hark back to time away in the past, but no sooner have they appeared then they are gone. Around 11:45 minutes, everything drops away leaving the solitary piano playing a plaintive theme, which heralds the appearance of the vocals again, which are similarly plaintive, before the band are off and running, if not quite as fast as earlier, before again taking a backseat as the vocals come to the fore. The band again gets to flex their collective muscles with a keyboard-driven passage taking the track onto 15:30 minutes. Stunning guitar work just after 16 minutes heralds the impending end of the track, with the sound building to a crescendo and then simply vanishing.

A terrific final track, with the regular movement from the gentle to the more aggressive style, gives the track an edginess and the stunning solo passages, both from guitar and keyboards, completing the superb ending to Dissonant Minds.

Fatal Fusion has continued to build from the foundations set down in 2010, and Dissonant Minds is the culmination, thus far, of the evolution of the band. If you like your prog rock to sound fresh, but still give a nod of the head to the prog scene from the ’70s, welcome to the sound of Fatal Fusion. This is an album that should find its way onto many listeners CD shelves or storage areas, so give it a good listen and if this is the first Fatal Fusion release you have heard, be prepared to dig deep to collect the earlier albums.

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson - Prog Rock Music Talk Staff
July 9, 2020

Tracks:
1. Coming Forth By Day (14:22)
2. Quo Vadimus (7:41)
3. Beneath The Skydome (4:23)
4. Broken Man Pt 2 (16:42)

Space Rock Review: Alan Davey-Four Track Mind

Release Date: May 22, 2020

Label: 2020 Purple Pyramid Records, a division of Cleopatra Records, Inc.

Website

You may not believe your eyes at how gigantic this piece of work might be, but, it won’t take long to tell you of this powerful album. Take a trip. That’s exactly how you’ll feel after listening to Four Track Mind. It’s interstellar, out-of-this-world. You might recognize this badass bassist and guitarist from his Hawkwind days. For 12 years from ’84 to ’96 and then again from 2000 to 2007, he rode high on his band’s success. In the space of that four-year hiatus, Davey took the time to mold his own career as a solo artist. During his second run of Hawkwind, his solo projects diminished. With this new solo release, it’s almost as if he had one final trick up his sleeve…that we know of.

Four Track Mind is not for the average, every-day music lover and or consumer, (even some aficionados might find some difficulty in getting through this heavy tracklist). The album lures the listener into a trance-like state. Alan Davey shows a great variance of techniques in utilizing a blend between two instruments – a bass guitar, and a synthesizer. As you play through the album, it begins to feel like a movie soundtrack from an alien domination film. The tone intensifies as tracks like “Lost in the Smoke” and “Greenback Massacre” come on, where the beginning 10 tracks and others like “Fire Tribe” are play-on beatmakers that play almost like individualized ringtones to old-fashioned cell phones.

Imagine, if you will, a hypnotical spiral where it continues to infinity. That is what much of this album represents. Four Track Mind is the kind of album you need to allow yourself to get lost in. Dedicate a day of meditation or intention to this record. The varying sounds and tones through the combination of the guitar and synths send you through an out-of-body experience like no other. But a piece of work of this magnitude also requires the discipline to go from start to finish and understand how to make essentially four separate albums cohesively flow together.

Gregg Keniston- MuzikMan.net Staff

June 30, 2020

Track Listing:

01.     Spiritual Modulator
02.    R.E.M. Time
03.    Chinese Whispers
04.    Transient
05.    Slumber Head
06.    Dragon Chaser (1986 Version)
07.    Hypno Trip
08.    In A Sphere
09.    E-On Strings
10.    Wind of Ghosts
11.    Dark Light
12.    Moody Motion
13.    Flight to Andromeda
14.    Sunrise Assassins
15.    Moonstone
16.    Dragon Chaser (1988 Version)
17.    Sword of the East
18.    A Shot in the Dark
19.    Spiritual Modulator
20.    The Call
21.    Fire Tribe
22.    Return To…
23.    Simulator
24.    Chased
25.    Dragon Chaser
26.    Drive
27.    On Acid Bass!
28.    Hitze Seeker V
29.    Of Wings
30.    Out of My Box
31.    Robby’s Rap
32.    Jigging
33.    The Noise
34.    Abab Fed
35.    Backwards Thru Water
36.    Tribal Daze
37.    Lost in the Smoke
38.    Snake Charmer
39.    Up and Up
40.    The Animal
41.    Deep Space Rock
42.    Don’t Fret
43.    From the Deep
44.    Blue Shift
45.    Osc Squared
46.     Stan’s Middle 8
47.    Astron Belt
48.    Special Place
49.    Received
50.    Fear at Night
51.    Endoparasitoid
52.    Wave Upon Wave
53.    Space to Go
54.    Greenback Massacre
55.    Shahadah
56.    Many Voices
57.    Bird Nebula
58.    Creamy
59.    Holosuite Program
60.    Assimilation
61.    Alien Fingers
62.    The Wind
63.    Be Still
64.    Magic B
65.    Lgm
66.    In the Game
67.    Reality Foil

Featured Track: Nick Duane-That's What You Want

Nick Duane has a new single out titled "That's What You Want." 

The fuzz guitar sound throughout the rockin' track reminded me fondly of that buzzing sound on The Ventures track "2000 Pound Bee." It is one of the first things I could think of. But there was more to it than that...

I thought of Bowie being an influence in his sound and approach. I am sure there are lot of influences there but that was top of mind for me.

I really enjoyed the track so much. It is a combination of rock, alternative, and garage with a punk attitude. All the flavors that provide endless energy for listeners to stay tuned!  Just like he Nicks says in the track "Too Cool For School."

Check out the stream and video provided. 

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck 

Nick Duane is an alternative-rock indie songwriter whose style has embraced a wide range of musical genres and influences. His songwriting brings to mind the classic pop-rock tracks that came out of both England and the US during the late 80s and 90s. He has played both Bass and Guitar with several New England regional acts and is a long time advocate for original music.

Nick Duane Facebook Page

Nick Duane Bandcamp Site

Blues Review: Dion-Blues With Friends

Release Date: June 5, 2020

Label: Keeping The Blues Alive

Website

Dion was born, Dion Francis DiMucci in Bronx, New York. Throughout his career, he has seemingly done it all. Although at 80 years old (almost 81), you could expect that. While his musical beginnings link back to 1957, it was not until 1960 that Dion went solo and started to experience some true momentum in his music. Having gone through several different phases in his career, he has fiddled with so many different genres from rock to Christian, and R&B. I mean who else can form several different bands, break out into a solo career, and genre hop so effortlessly to arrive at 80 with such a short album discography? That has been revealed through Dion’s ventures with the Belmonts, himself, and revolving from Christian back to secular music. Recently he released Blues With Friends.

When “Blues Comin’ On” starts up, you immediately understand why the “blues” could be both uplifting and also get you right in the gut. It starts the album off with a very positive chord and tone, while the lyrics are reflective and not exactly light and positive. “Kickin’ Child” is a cruiser of a tune. With the top-down and the wind blowing through your hair, it offers a continuation of a feel-good spirit. Then you get the jazzy-influenced “Uptown Number 7” to conclude the trio of overall positivity.

“Can’t Start Over Again” at first, sounds like a country song. It’s like the singer is a rolling stone trying to find his way. But, when you listen more closely, it’s more of a heartbreak that acts as a roadblock in his life because the point of a do-over is so tough to comprehend. “My Baby Loves to Boogie” bounces right back to a funk beat. The song is a great way to step onto the dancefloor and…boogie. I’m reminded of the Blues Brothers here. “I Got Nothin’” is a cool message of letting a partner know that one might not have a lot of material goods or a lavish lifestyle, but in the end, they do have the capability to still make one another happy. “Stumbling Blues” is a great play-on song lyrically of the way we often feel when we first become infatuated with a new love interest.

Moving forward, “Bam Bang Boom” is a happy ode to a woman who gave new meaning to the singer’s life and he seemed he couldn’t be more thrilled because of it, just like that. “I Got the Cure” lays out the singer’s confidence in himself as well as for the perfect remedy of a bad day or mood. The album then switches up to “Song For Same Cooke (Here In America)” which is a wonderful reflection on the famed singer, Sam Cooke. It spoke of a bond between the two artists that went deeper than just music.

“What If I Told You” is a twist on the typical cheating or wronged love song. The song tells of how the singer is on to his lover’s actions and feelings (or non-existent feelings) towards him and toward someone else. Knowing he is above the tomfoolery of the back-and-forth of a breakup or fight, he just gives off premonitions of how aware he is of her actions.”Told You Once In August” pairs well with the prior song. Another cheating song told in a different form, holds more of a western vibe to it this time around.

Rounding out the final tracks, “Way Down (I Won’t Cry No More)” sings of hurt and pain from love but, speaks more to the redemption of the singer’s attitude. He will in-fact, rise above this temporary pain of betrayal and be better for experiencing it. This leads us to the finale. Although sounding initially like a somber tune, a very positive, reflective message shines through.

Speaking of the Lord, Dion directs the listener to always look towards God to overcome the greatest adversity. This last track is an opposite mirror effect of his first track “Blues Comin’ On” where the lyrics are gloomy, but the tone and sound are both happy; whereas “Hymn to Him” is sounding more slow and dark but, a very powerful message prevails.

Key tracks include: “Hymn to Him,” “Kickin’ Child,” “Stumbling Blues.”

Gregg Keniston - MuzikMan.net Staff
June 30, 2020


Track Listing:
01. Blues Comin’ On
02. Kickin’ Child
03. Uptown Number 7
04. Can’t Start Over Again
05. My Baby Loves To Boogie
06. I Got Nothin’
07. Stumbling Blues
08. Bam Bang Boom
09. I Got The Cure
10. Song For Sam Cooke (Here in America)
11. What If I Told You
12. Told You Once In August
13. Way Down (I Won’t Cry No More)
14. Hymn To Him
 

Featured Track: The Song Gardeners - Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu (May all beings be well)

The Song Gardener's return to Rate The Tracks with another single titled "Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu," translated it means "may all beings be well."

After hearing the words and music you cannot help feeling empowered with all the positive spiritual energy this fantastic trio puts out into the universe.

Once again Corrie Dunn (vocals, piano, guitar), singer/songwriter Mary Gospe (vocals, guitar, flute), and Chris Day (bass), make their mark in the world of new age music with a classic mantra.

May all of you beings be well and listen to the music to help the healing along the way. Give it a listen now, the good vibes will relax you and and put a positive spin on your day!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck 

http://www.TheSongGardeners.com

https://www.facebook.com/thesonggardeners

Featured Track: The Song Gardners-Love Flows

The Song Gardeners is a musical trio from the San Francisco Bay Area featuring singer/songwriter Corrie Dunn (vocals, piano, guitar), singer/songwriter Mary Gospe (vocals, guitar, flute), and Chris Day (bass).

This song is titled "Love Flows." As the love flows, so does the gorgeous vocal harmonies as I am certain you will agree when you listen to the stream provided.

This is new age themed music with a clear and concise message of positiveness, spirituality and above all, love.  Listen now and get ready to be transported to another dimension of total relaxation with "Love Flows."

Keith"MuzikMan" Hannaleck


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http://www.TheSongGardeners.com

https://www.facebook.com/thesonggardeners

Blues Review: Shirley King-Blues For A King

Release Date: June 19, 2020

Label: Cleopatra Records, Inc.

Website 

Powerhouse? Check. Musical family lineage? Check. Try as you might, to find a smoother summer sizzler than Blues For A King, you won’t have much luck. Shirley King, the daughter of famous blues legend B.B. King, arranges a collection of 11 feel-good tracks of classic covers and original pieces. Not much is known of Ms. King personally. She was born in 1949 and unfortunately, most of her adult life remains spotty, other than the fact that she was an exotic dancer since 1969. In 1990 she switched over to the blues and has done her father’s legacy well.

Looking at the artwork for this record, it is simple and colorful. Much like the genre it embodies, the album is bold and captivating utilizing color and animation. Blues finds a way to show the same concepts keeping the lyric structure symbol and coloring the singer’s tone beautifully with the emotion of often strife and trouble.

With two albums under her belt, Blues For A King soars into the stratosphere with songs holding mainly a strong, upbeat tone. Select songs such as “Can’t Find My Way Home,” “Gallows Pole,” and “Hoodoo Man Blues” do carry a more serious, darker sound but, not so much so that it completely changes the mood of the entire record for the listener.

“All My Lovin’” and “Feelin’ Alright” starts the album off as  “good morning world, how are you today?” and “sultry meets self-confidence” songs respectively. How can you not turn the volume up when the singer exudes so much love of life. “I Did You Wrong” is far from wrong at all. It acknowledges the pain the singer caused her significant other, feeling nothing but remorse for her part in a failed relationship. She then wants to reach out somehow to attempt to repair the damage in front of her.

We turn the volume back up to 11 when “That’s Alright Mama” comes blaring on. It’s an ode to what comes through every child vs parent situation, regardless of age, in terms of big decision making. One party might be uncomfortable with a decision like moving on or out, while the other party objects to any notion of the idea. “Can’t Find My Way Home” is calling upon those who live with their heads in the clouds or who might feel superior to other people or a group of persons. In this case, the singer is struggling to focus on the journey back to her home to spend more time searching for something greater than her home, not acknowledging a sense of superiority; rather comfort in simply being a wanderer for the time being.

“Johnny Porter” resembles a lot of a similar story-teller song “The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia.” It speaks of a child who is making careless, destructive decisions on the streets. Meanwhile, his mother is worried sick about his well-being. The song is a coming-of-age combined with testing waters theme like no other.

This “Feeling Good” rendition is smokey, intense, and powerful where it often is light, bright and airy. Though, it still manages to keep a positive tone with the obvious lyrics and guitar accompaniment. “Give It All Up” is the honeymoon phase of life. Ready to throw caution to the wind and feel some constant goodness in her life, Shirley King is laying it all down for the one she loves. Then, we arrive at “Gallows Pole.” Another darker song on the record shows how human life can turn into a value for some people, with not a care in the world to rethink their action.

“Hoodoo Man Blues” is a struggle to find out why everything seems to be going topsy turvy in the singer’s world at the moment. She calls out for the Lord but, it seems the message isn’t getting through. Rounding out Blues For A King, a wonderful cover of “At Last,” makes the album shine and feels as though there is peace among the blues.

Key tracks include: “That’s Alright Mama,” “At Last,” and “Gallows Pole.”

Gregg Keniston- MuzikMan.net Staff
June 11, 2020

Tracks:
01. All My Lovin’
02. Feelin’ Alright?
03. I Did You Wrong
04. That’s Alright Mama
05. Can’t Find My Way Home
06. Johnny Porter
07. Feeling Good
08. Give It All Up
09. Gallows Pole
10. Hoodoo Man Blues
11. At Last 

Neo Prog Review: Airbag- A Day At The Beach

Release Date: June 19 2020

Label: Karisma

Website: www.airbagsound.com
  

The Norwegian band, Airbag, was formed by high school friends away back in 1994 but the release of their first EP heralds the fresh start as a “proper” band. They released a second EP which was freely downloadable from their website, as indeed, was the first release.

In 2009, the band was signed to the Norwegian label, Karisma, and the first album, Identity, was issued. This included more fleshed out versions of tracks on the two EPs, which were subsequently deleted. Three more albums followed, All Rights Removed (2011), The Greatest Show On Earth (2013), and Disconnected (2016) before the new album under review, A Day At The Beach (2020).

Initially a 5 piece band on the debut, there was a change in the drum seat for album 2, the same line-up for album 3, before a drop to a 4 piece outfit for album 4 and a further drop to a trio, comprising Asle Tostrup (lead vocals/keyboards/programming), Bjorn Riis (guitars/keyboards /backing vocals) and Henrik Fossum (drums) on this new release. Asle and Bjorn are original members with Henrik joining as the drummer from album 2, so a very settled core to the band. Guesting on A Day At The Beach, is bassist Kristian Karl Hultgren from fellow Norwegian band, Wobbler.

A Day At The Beach is a 6 track album with a combined running time of just under 49 minutes (48:50), with the opening track “Machines and Men” clocking in as the longest track at 10:48 minutes and “A Day At The Beach Part 1”, track 2, the shortest at 3:55 minutes.

The opening track, “Machines and Men” (10:48) is unmistakably Airbag, that is, if you are conversant with earlier releases by the band. As with a few Airbag introductions, there is a quiet section before any sound becomes detectable, and that first sound appears to be provided by the guest musician, Kristian Karl Hultgren’s bass. This repetitive riff is soon joined by the guitar of Bjorn Riis and the characteristic vocal of Asle Tostrup, before a more 80’s style electronica passage settles in with the band in full flow; bass, guitar, and drums perfectly in synch behind the vocals. Around 5:30 minutes, the sound falls away leaving a bass and guitar passage before the vocals return and the driving sound restarts with Bjorn’s guitar coming through loud and clear at around 7:15 minutes. The vocals arrive again nearer 8:00 minutes and an excellent instrumental section leading to the sound simply fading towards the track finale will have kept the listener’s attention. This track flows through light, airy passages and heavier, darker areas and is a superb opening track to the album.

“Sunsets” (8:16) is track 4 and starts with a little drum rhythm before the band kick into play. A slow passage that builds, then drops to leave bass and drums, and that expressive voice from Asle. A verse later and the chorus kicks in at a higher level before returning to the atmospheric music that Airbag is renowned for. Just after the 3:00 minute mark, the towering guitar provided by Bjorn takes over and drives the track along. Over the 4:00 minute mark and there is another “doff of the hat” to some 80’s electronica, before Bjorn “ups the ante” even further. Asle’s characteristic vocal takes over again before leaving the way open for the guitar of Bjorn to sweep the track on from around 6 minutes, until 7:45 minutes when it is atmospheric to the finale.

This album, A Day At The Beach, is a stunning release from the band. They have perfected, in my opinion, a “less is more” attitude with the quiet passages being as powerful for the listener, as an all-out blast from the guitar. They paint superb aural landscapes on each album and A Day At The Beach is no exception. I will happily admit to being a huge fan of Airbag, but the band has always produced “the goods” with each successive album. My advice is simple, go out and buy this album and you will not be disappointed, and it might tempt you into purchasing their back catalog.

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson - Prog Rock Music Talk Staff
June 4, 2020

Tracks:
1. Machines And Men (10:48)
2, A Day At The Beach Pt 1 (3:55)
3, Into The Unknown (10:28)
4, Sunsets (8:16)
5, A Day At The Beach Pt 2 (5:33)
6, Megalomaniac (9:50)

Jazz Review: Rhy Dongju-Lions’den II: Arium

Release Date: May 15, 2020

Label: 2020 Dongju Lee

Website

Rhy Dongju is a youth progressive jazz and classical musician who grew up in the Republic of Korea. As a multi-disciplined, growing young man, Dongju exited the military in 2017 and then began to watch his music career blossom. Having released five albums so far, his latest Lions’den II: Arium, is his newest venture, creating an explosion of big-band flavors fused with jazz stylings.

“Ricasso” begins the album like the introduction of a theatrical performance as the curtain draws up, the number is exciting the listener for the start of the show. The tone almost makes the track sound as though it came from a spy movie. It’s a wonderful track to start with as there are no sudden or extreme changes, rather it is a simple, soothing piece.

As track two begins, and you glance over at this particular album artwork, you see a driver’s side car mirror. It's black and white, city street depiction is perfect for this album as it makes you feel like your right in the heart of a city That appears to be the theme of the record, along with a little throwback glance at the 1950’s scenery, painted in the listener’s mind. “Pp,” with a build-up of what might sound like a crescendo of tension, quickly dissipates back into a steady stream of uptempo, staccato strumming. What makes this track so appealing is that there are four different stages within the song; one which circled back to the crescendoing tension again to end out the song.

“Elvis Remember,” simply put, is pure fun. The song bursts with a cheery fanfare that becomes a toe-tapping two-minute tune. It’s appealing to the ear for as quick of a number as it is. Then, we fall into “Revenue” is the first track to have a bit of a somber note to it. The drumbeats offer up a variance of flavor to just having the guitar play through the entirety of the track. “Venue” starts as a dream sequence. It's light, piano keys offer beauty to the piece soon incorporating in the drums and as the guitar sets up to play, allowing it free reign. During the two to three-minute mark, the climax of the song has probably the most interesting exciting release of music throughout the whole album.

When “Syren” comes on it offers a cooler, mellow tone, and though it may be a little more melancholy than that of “Revenue;” it is still sleek with intervals of hill and valley moments particularly at the three-thirty to the four-minute mark. “Aroes Intro” is full-on spooky. It is a minute of elusiveness and piano pleasure. Getting into the main tune of “Aroes” is exciting and simplistic at the same time. There is a fair and even balance between the guitar and piano arrangements within “Aroes” which complement the track to have it be the standout track of the entire album.

Full of downbeats and dark tone “Rachmaninoff Rhapsody, Pt.1” is short but, a severe throw off course of what the listener has become accustomed to hearing through Lions’den II: Arium. As it’s follower, “Rachmaninoff Rhapsody, Pt. 2” comes to play, it offers a variance to its counterpart. While it sounds very dramatic, it gives off a vibe of a very high-speed chase or action-packed scene that might result in a grand finale. Coming to a close, “Arium” is the closing credit everyone can gather and stand and applaud to as victor has won or the hero is now enjoying a moment alone or with their love interest, after having accomplished whatever had needed to be done. It has a smooth and warm tone sure to leave you satisfied and just enough to want to know what the future might have in store for this rising, accomplished artist.

Key tracks include: “Venue,” “Arium,” “Ricasso,” and “Elvis Remember.”

Gregg Keniston- MuzikMan.net Staff
May 30, 2020

Track Listing:
01. Ricasso
02. Pp
03. Elvis Remember
04. Revenue
05. Venue
06. Syren
07. Aroes Intro
08. Aroes
09. Rachmaninoff Rhapsody, Pt. 1
10. Rachmaninoff Rhapsody, Pt. 2
11. Arium

Adult Contemporary/New Age Review: Richard Shulman-Life Seasons

Release Date: July 1, 2020

Label: Richheart Music

Website

Richard Shulman has recorded 28 albums and collaborated on dozens more. The soon to be released Life Seasons is the next proper album.

I like the thought of the seasons theoretically and how it fits each individual's age and current life situation. For instance, the winter of your life would likely be your seventies or eighties dependent on your health.

I would consider Life Seasons as a new age album thematically but musically it is adult contemporary with different elements sprinkled in. Richard’s beautiful piano playing takes center stage and he creates each track like the colorful pictures on the album cover.

“Summer Solstice” is performed by Richard’s trio. The lazy season is given the proper treatment with some cool jazz-inflected laid-back sounds. In the same frame of reference “Bohemian Summer” is a nice jazz number to kick off your shoes and soak in. As the notes are created your mind is set at ease, imagine just floating on a soft billowing cloud.

As we move into the changing seasons “Pre-Autumn” segues into “Sweet Autumn.” The tides of the music change with the season as the paces slow down and speed up in different parts of the composition, intimating the real-life changes you can see when nature does its magic. As autumn ends then we go “Spinning Into Winter” with a nice vocal performance from Wendy Jones, to follow is a solo piano performance from Richard titled “Winter Solstice.” His solo playing is very elegant and appropriate for the distinctiveness of the winter season and all its beauty as it covers the mountains and trees.

“Winter Solstice Dream” continues our seasonal walk through one of mother nature’s most celebrated seasons. It is the most prolific track that includes a spoken word performance from Wendy. The dialogue is significant and reflects much more than the actual season. It goes beyond relating to us as humans and how we translate mother nature’s work. The track runs for 9:52 with a backdrop of Richard’s tinkling ivories leading down the path of realizations as the spoken word continues telling a fascinating story. It is an exceptional track and presented beautifully.

The cycle continues with “Hope for Spring” and the beginning of the thaw with “Early Spring.” Richard’s piano is alive and thriving with exuberance and a consistent rhythm.

Now that I have heard all of the piano instrumentations, I have the belief that the foundation of this music was derived from classical and morphed into a new age, contemporary, and jazz leanings type of listening. All of it made for a perfectly enjoyable listen from beginning to end.

Life Seasons is quite the journey, offering each listener a taste of every season through the eyes and hands of many talented artists through the piano and other assorted instruments. Everything that went into this recording is just as dissimilar as all the seasons. That is the one element that I found the most interesting and relatable. Of course, every listener will find something different and that is what makes it so unique and special to those that choose to listen.

The personal for this diverse musical collection includes:

The Trio:
Richard Shulman - piano, all compositions and arrangements,
Zack Page - bass on all except #8,10, 13.
Rick Dilling - drums on all except #8,10,13

Vocal Quartet:
Wendy Jones - soprano #4,7,9,10,13 and flute on #7
Paula Hanke - alto #1,4,9,13.
Sherman Hoover - tenor #4,9,13.
Bob Bencze - bass/baritone #4,9,13.
Ron Clearfield - cello #1,7

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
June 5, 2020

Track List:
01. Life Seasons - 5:00 - vocal feat. Paula Hanke
02. Summer Solstice - 4:40 - trio
03. Summer Night - 4:02 - trio
04. Bohemian Summer - 4:13 vocal quartet
05. Pre-Autumn - 5:13 - trio
06. Sweet Autumn - 4:33 trio
07. Spinning into Winter - 3:30 vocal feat. Wendy Jones
08. Winter Solstice - 3:39 - solo piano
09. Velvet Shoes - 3:22 - vocal quartet
10. Winter Solstice Dream - 9:52 - spoken word feat. Wendy Jones
11. Hope for Spring - 5:20 - trio
12. Early Spring - 5:36 - trio
13. The Fairy of Mystery Blue - 3:14 vocal quartet


Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

New Age Instrumental Review: Bernward Koch-Becoming

Release Date: May 15, 2020

Label: Myndstream

Website

Bernward Koch is a German multi-instrumentalist and Becoming is his fourteenth proper recording.

On Bernward’s website, he says "Music gives wings to a brighter life“ That statement is so true especially with what the year 2020 has brought the world. With all the pain and suffering on this planet, we are desperately in need of more artists like Bernward to keep making music that heals.

I also found something else noteworthy on his website that touched my soul. The US organization "Massachusetts Fallen Soldiers" uses his music to heal suicide-prone soldiers who have come back from crisis areas in different places in the world and often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I am from Massachusetts; I am a vet, and my father served in WWII so this means so much to me. Thank you Bernward.

This music is graceful, filled with beauty, and ultimately a wonderful tool for relaxing, meditation, contemplation, or simply listening enjoyment. That is without a doubt the entire reason this man makes his music. I am sure every time he records it is a process but a labor of love at the same time. He gives away sheet music on his website for two of his albums! I find that so generous of him to do that. Aspiring piano players can learn and play his music. So, the fact he gives us such beauty and peace through his music is one thing, then to give his actual sheet music away, well that is just amazing. May all of that good karma come back to you tenfold sir!

Listening to this music really helped me today. I had to walk away from the news that has been coming across our TVs and step back and take a breather. We all need it, especially now. I personally need to know that there are still loving and giving people out there and Bernward is surely one of them.

“Sparkling Eyes” was one of my favorites and I added it to my NAMR Spotify Playlist. It reminded me of my wife when I first met her and she still has that sparkle to this day. It is a gift to listen to this music and go through so many feelings, memories, and at times, sadness is coaxed out of me but I still feel good when the music finishes. This is music that puts me in a place that is not of this earth, we call it heaven. Maybe there is some truth that we choose our parents and start in heaven and return once we leave our bodies. It is possible, anything is if you believe.

Becoming is a very significant word. It can mean any number of things dependent on who you are and what frame of mind you are in when you are listening to this music. For me, it is about being me with no mask or wall to protect me, just me taking all of the sounds, textures, and colors in, then processing it all. What I get in the end is something very special, spiritual if you will, whatever one can call it, it is a blessing that I receive with a lot of gratitude. Every second of my life I am Becoming who I am, evolving, learning, growing, and sharing my experience, strength, and hope with everyone I know and meet.

I hope each and every listener can find a road to take within this music that allows healing. You just never know where Becoming is going to take you but that is exactly what makes it so intriguing. Every listener will find their way through this music, whether it is intentional or not, I am guaranteeing that these tracks are going to affect in you in a prolific manner, but you must let it happen, just listen and Benward, he will take you there.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
May 30, 2020 

Track List: 
01. A Magical Dream
02. Lavender Fields
03. Moments of Love
04. Sparkling Eyes
05. Alone on the Way
06. Becoming
07. Mysterious Afterglow
08. The Bright Spring
09. The Harvest  
10. A Swan Dream
11. Floating Leaves
12. September Impressions
13. Long Long Time Ago


Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews