Award-winning cinematic and classical composer and pianist Antonija Pacek turns her passion and expression towards the Christmas classics this season, offering a refreshingly warm, intimate and honest instrumental album, perfectly titled Heartwarming Christmas Compilation.
Instrumental
On those occasions when we’re gifted the experience of something truly purposeful and moving in art and music, may we seize the opportunity entirely, to speak with truthful enthusiasm, passion, and promise. As such, I can whole-heartedly encourage you to spend some time, and I assure the value of, listening and exploring in full, The Price Of Salt.
In defining the process or purpose of this album, Stewart Lane notes that ‘each piece traces the build-up to ecstatic release’. This is something you can hear and feel throughout these seven compositions, a unique and gentle progression, growing and culminating in some huge emotional presence and weight, suddenly peaking, and then being relieved or lifted away.
Another call out to please, please draw your focus to the authentic artists, musicians and composers at this time – those who make music from their own fusion of qualities driven by the heart and mind united. The organic, the honest, and often – the unplugged.
Guitarist and producer Davide Rizzo lets pure creativity drive – arranging original compositions around dreamy guitar tones, light rhythms, and a genre-free kind of playfulness that’s endearing, and a pleasure to let play.
Impressive playing but modestly presented, a track reliant on groove and melody, vibe and intention, rather than simply showing off. Italy’s Dark Aries Project engage and energise, with the slick instrumental metal appeal of Save The Number 66.
Fearlessly taking modern music fans down a dark, intense and impressively creative new pathway, drummer Lior Izhaki (of The Takeoff Band) collaborates with guitarist Guy Shemi, for an unexpectedly ambient, juxtaposed explosion and subsequent enchantment of intoxicating sounds.
Reclaiming the audio landscape with an exceedingly rare balance of emotional conviction and intricate attention to detail. Australian composer and ambient producer Darren Harris presents a compelling and provocative yet boldly healing audio journey, and takes on the concept of time repeating itself for all of eternity.
An instantly unorthodox, quirky and likable fusion of melodies and world rhythms – an artistic blending of classical and bachata symphony. Witness the structure and depth of classical, the Dominican flavours and cultural diversity of Bachata, intertwined for a stylish and uplifting original sound.
Following a string of collaborations and subtle shifts in genre, established producer and artist Big O returns to an immersive conceptual pathway this season, with the immensely atmospheric, soulful to funky new album When It’s Not Said, But Done.
An enchanting organic arrangement akin to a live performance – modern jazz-fusion with a certain ethereal, ambient softness to the capture. The Skylark Quartet excel themselves this season, with the autumn vibes, alluring melodies, and imaginative grooves, of Luna Rossa Al Belvedere.
Ambient and incredibly delicate solo piano music, recorded with authenticity and feeling, which seems able to bring the outside world to a momentary pause; an essential moment of stillness, calm, and reflection.