Showing posts with label Nathan Speir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nathan Speir. Show all posts

1/05/2019

New Age Instrumental-Chamber: Nathan Speir-Searching for Nepsis

Release Date: February 1, 2019
Label: Neptic Music

Nathan Speir is a working man’s artist. He works during the day as an Electrician and makes music when he is not on that job. I personally can relate to that as I have been in the same type of lifestyle for over twenty years now. It is a choice and one that I have found to reap many benefits that I would otherwise never had.

I am talking about the music of course. So, besides the respect I have for indie artists, I can appreciate the whole picture. In other words, I get it. I understand how difficult it is to get balance with two livelihoods and also pay attention to your loved ones.

Nathan has a lot of music out there and Searching for Nepsis will be released in less than a month. The information I received put the entire project in proper perspective: Searching for Nepsis is an acoustic-electric album of ambient chamber music filled with cellos, violin, piano, singing bowls, electric bass, acoustic guitar, some synthesizers, a duduk, and cajon. 

The music is considered to be new age chamber. So, you definitely will hear the strong classical influence that is made up of many small instruments accompanied by the piano. I would not hesitate to add world to the overall genre of this recording, considering the array instruments like singing bowls, duduk, and cajon.

There is a steady drone that is created by the cello on this album in many of the tracks. I think that was brilliantly executed throughout. I actually thought it may be the duduk (which is on one track), which is an ancient double-reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood. It reminded me of a recent album I heard that had Indian music. The drone sound is a point of concentration, like when you meditate, however you are able to hear all the other instrumentation. 

If you enjoy a lot of different instrumentation and some beautiful piano that leads the way then Searching for Nepsis will be a very satisfying listen. “Song Cycle for Creators” is a wonderful example of Nathan’s artistry. It is flourishing with emotions, colors and the grace of the heavens. It comes together in one track like the movement of the planets around the sun, it is a meeting of time and space with a specific reason.

Nepsis is the art of being watchful, and that can come in many forms.  As with any frame of reference, it all depends on you, the one listening to this music. As always, each individual has their own interpretation of what they hear, the artist that presents the music does have a goal in mind.  I would think the main function of this relaxing and contemplative set of tracks would be for you to focus, relax, center yourself and find peace within This can be a significant space in time that pertains to the title of the recording. 

Nathan Speir is an incredibly talented individual that creates amazing music for hungry souls to ingest and assimilate. For this listener, the end result is always positive and energizing. Get your ticket now for the journey.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
January 5, 2019

Founder of:

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Tracks:
1. As the Sun Set 
2. Into the Night 
3. Forest Lights 
4. Warming Up the Heart 
5. Searching for Nepsis 
6. Stars Float in Shadows of Glory 
7. Song Cycle for Creators 
8. Morning Twilight

 

1/17/2018

Ambient Instrumental Review: Nathan Speir-Romantic Electrons

Release Date: January 11, 2018
Label: Neptic Music

If you have not heard of Nathan Speir by now it is time to listen. The creative wizard just released his 10th solo release titled Romantic Electrons.

As advertised on the artist website, Romantic Electrons is filled with some ambient, chill and downbeat sounds. These tracks are interesting and entertaining at the same time. It does require a lot of creativity for one person to put together music like this and I can appreciate the time and effort that goes into it. The fact that I have always been intrigued by synthesizers and computer-generated sounds and those textures and vibes did not hurt my attitude giving this disc a spin. It opened the door to my mind and feelings. I could not ask for more.

On the inner sleeve of the CD cover Speir asks the question “Why do metaphors exist?”

met·a·phor 

Synonyms: figure of speech · image · trope · analogy · comparison · symbol · word painting/picture

Definition: A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.

So, is this music symbolic of electrons that are bent and twisted and turned to create the sounds of music that you are hearing, or is there romance involved with these electrons? I think for my own interpretation it would be the artist romancing those electrons to do what he wishes; thus, you have 11 tracks of some very atmospheric and intriguing sounds to hear. 

You can ask yourself all these questions after the one question the artist poses or just listen and enjoy, not thinking about anything. Once again, for my pleasure I like to do both. I asked myself that question, why do we need metaphors and why can’t we just accept what is and not try and put labels on anything? This can apply to anything and everything that is abstract, but again are these electronic sounds abstract or devoid of anything you can touch, feel, or get an emotional response from? The CD is an inanimate object until it starts spinning (and it comes to life) and you can hold in your hand. You cannot do that with sound, you process it the way you see fit, cerebrally and or emotionally. I am not trying to provide a thesis here, I am merely reacting to the question asked. It really made me think!

In the end, what we have here is some very cool music that can be listened at any time day or night. It does have moods, textures and colors. I cannot ever deny that vibrations which come from any kind of music have an effect on me, positive or negative. In this instance Romantic Electrons was a positive experience for my senses and it made me look at the whole picture. This is something I endeavor to do with all the music I hear. Each individual listener has the freedom to do with it what they desire, which makes it all more enticing to explore!

4/5 Stars

Keith “MuzikManHannaleck
Jan 17, 18, 7:06
Founder of:

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Tracks:

01. Charged on the Drizzle
02. Analog Transit
03. Admittance
04. Waveguide
05. Floating Ground
06. Late Blossom
07. Lost Proton
08. Propagation
09. Relaxation Oscillation
10. S.I.P.
11. Telegraphy