Featuring a pristine intertwining of delicate synths, a choir of breathy vocal layers and modest organic rhythms, This Life feels like a near-euphoric ode to the atmospheric musicality of eras past – as well as an inspiring and uplifting celebration of life and the world itself.
Instrumental
Aviram Spies ensures the connection between title and experience. A work that perfectly encapsulates the implications of its name – On The Edge of an Endless Forest takes you to precisely the purity and vastness promised. The sound is that of a nostalgic movie-made classical realm, familiar but unpredictable, and softly spellbinding to let play and surround you.
Intertwine the pulsating bass and beat combo of Gotye with an intoxicating but subtle blend of jazz, trip hop and natural word ambience, and you’re almost on track to imagine the creative embrace of Koyla and Tensky’s Nomads.
Known for their purely improvised albums, the self-defined instrumental cult Mycena are a Croatian collaborative project with four albums already to their name. Their approach is to fearlessly push the boundaries of musical expression, to find new flavours of psychedelic intensity and depth, and to limit nothing and no one during that process.
CYBERSYMPHONY is ultimately a techno and trance driven track, carving out an ever-evolving soundscape while these relentless rhythms and distorted synths maintain an hypnotic loop of contemplation and rising energy. From unexpected instrumental shifts to the industrial-meets-tribal tumble of the drums during the final third, the whole thing feels like an audio movie in and of itself.
Promising delicacy and warmth evolving into energy and possibility, Delayed Maturity perhaps quite wonderfully encapsulates the implications of its title. These gentle worldly observations, the quiet whistles and panning rhythms, depict a sort of youthful view of the world, and the later sections, as the intensity rises, relay a kind of confidence, depth and determination.
The immense weight of static appears as if like a sudden storm of power and presence. Those choir-like voices still linger amidst the outer layers though – a wealth of humanity clinging onto its calm and sanity, as the wires and weight of the future rain down around them.
“All music comes from within. Just by playing a melody on the piano or guitar, a blank appears. Then an arrangement is written.”
Illeeria recently received her silver 100k award from YouTube, a milestone many can only dream about, and she continues to expand her reach with consistently launched singles of uniquely versatile expression and musicianship. A memorable introduction to an artist who is swiftly proving a force to be reckoned with.
“I’d describe my music as jazz, but in the widest definition of the word. I’m allowing myself to constantly explore different genres, including ambient music, funk, electronic classical/orchestral and pretty much everything in between. This includes music for film, TV and video games.”
Imaginative instrumental guitar music gets the mind wandering to blissful new plains – established guitarist Mark Leedham blends strong grooves and hypnotic melodies, throughout Towers Of Plain.
Simple by design, complex in the depth of its cinematic, imaginative embrace – composer and pianist Angelo Nicola Giuliano captures the raw essence of intimate piano playing, with the beautifully authentic Whispers Of Love.