Nickie’s Niches #23: November 2023

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1. 

   Zen

   by Tony Romero’s Vortex
   favorite track

   Bali

   Now and zen, I do play some music that goes into almost new age territory, which this does. It’s all music designed for relaxation and meditation, and Tony gathered the right friends to bring this to fruition. He plays a variety of keyboards, with Robert Schindler on synthesizer, Steve Bonino on bass, and Peter Matuchniak on guitar. Tossup between One with Meditation and Bali, but went for the bell-like sounds of Bali to represent this release.

   1. 

      Paradigms

      by T.A.P
      favorite track

      Terminus

      This blend of indie prog artists blend their talents into a brew of progressive music, garnished with some twists of psych, ethnic music, and jazz. The usual suspect instruments are here, guitars , bass, and drums, along with keyboards of all stripes and finished off with violin, flute, tamboura, and oud. Primarily instrumental, with some vocal choir effects, this is tasteful, rich, and delicious music to be savoured.

      1. 

         Peace Is Really Cool

         by Jano Brindisi
         In all of the years I’ve known Jano, she’s shape-shifted from folk singer/songwriter to punk folk, rocker, and now she’s back home to roots and folk. She has such a lovely way with words, usually right to the point, whether it’s a direct dive into an unpleasant situation or a simple love song. Here she brings a timely song of love and peace, using just her voice and guitar, with Ned Doherty on bass, and it is really cool.

         1. 

            The Navigator

            by NOVA CASCADE
            favorite track

            Safe Haven

            Ambient/classical progressive band Nova Cascade returns with a stellar release. It is almost entirely instrumental, although there are a few sung and spoken vocal parts. Various keys, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, violin, and flute round out the instruments. The music is very classical in feel, with lush orchestration, and is best heard in it’s entirety to achieve it’s full effect.

            1. 

               Spine

               by Myrkur
               favorite track

               Devil in the Detail

               Danish artist Amalie Bruun returns with her signature sounds of Nordic folk, post-rock and black metal. The shimmering, atmospheric tracks are tempered with some driving heavy metal, for a depth of contrast. Drawing on her experiences, she introspectively sings of the mysteries of motherhood and childbirth, in all of it’s complexity.

               1. 

                  Great North Star II

                  by Great North Star
                  favorite track

                  Towers Will Fall

                  Second outing from Dean Thom (guitars) and Phil Considine (production), the music is inspired by the moors of Northern England. This music is pensive and melancholic for the most part, meditative and reflective. It shows what heights can be achieved with understatement, being composed simply of layered guitars with muted electronica and percussive elements.

                  1. 

                     What Magic Is This?

                     by The Witching Tale
                     favorite track

                     They Will Come

                     As promised by the title, this is ghostly, eerie, and otherworldly atmospheric music. Katharine Blake (The Mediæval Bæbes) and Michael J York bring some friends along to this hypnotic offering, with drenched vocals and keyboards of all sorts, recorders, bagpipes, duduk, electric guitar, violin, lyre, harp, zither, guzhen, taishogoto and saw. Altogether bewitching.

                     1. 

                        Vanaprastha

                        by Armchair Gods
                        favorite track

                        Hero I

                        Very cinematic offering from the UK, self-described as “English Zen Rock.” Instrumental, with angelic female and male vocalisations. Only two male musicians are credited, perhaps the female (or both) voices is/are synthesized. Exquisite acoustic and electric guitars with orchestral backing and light percussion make up the overall sound. This release clearly tells a story, and cleverly included as the final track are all seven tracks presented as an 18 minute epic.

                        1. 

                           Brefjære

                           by Spurv
                           favorite track

                           Krokete, rettskaffen

                           

                           Post-rock, with more than a nod to classical music, and even some Nordic folk style, comes to us from Oslo. Plenty of heaviness and thick layering, washy guitar galore, as one would expect, flutes, horns, and contemplative contrasts as well. Vocals are both male and female, plus some female choral parts that conjure up visions of Valkyrie, as well as some that are more traditional in feel.The Emerald Dawn “In Time” The Emerald Dawn have released another incredibly gorgeous album. A reflection on the nature of time, all of the tracks have a sense of eternity. There are only three pieces of music here, but the opener is a sweeping & elegant epic suite of just over 23 minutes. Male and female vocals, piano and other keyboards, flute, acoustic & electric guitars, tenor & soprano sax, fretted & fretless bass, and drums make up the band. (FOR IN SHOW: The epic is my favourite track but for the sake of time in the show, I am presenting only the extended version of the second part of the suite.) Favourite Track (FOR SHOW): A Moment In Time ext (4:33)

                           Seth Himmelhoch “The Clarity of Hindsight” Accomplished multi-instrumentalist Seth Himmelhoch emerges from the worlds of classical guitar and academia, branching out into rock, jazz, folk, pop, Latin, and experimental music. The virtuoso performs on classical, steel string and electric guitars and also violin, and is ably joined by several others on keyboards, vibes, drums, and bass. The resulting compositions are a fine representation of this master musician’s wide-ranging vision. Favourite Track: Dario’s Journey (4:28) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWGWt5xFzwQ

                           Seth Himmelhoch “The Clarity of Hindsight” Accomplished multi-instrumentalist Seth Himmelhoch emerges from the worlds of classical guitar and academia, branching out into rock, jazz, folk, pop, Latin, and experimental music. The virtuoso performs on classical, steel string and electric guitars and also violin, and is ably joined by several others on keyboards, vibes, drums, and bass. The resulting compositions are a fine representation of this master musician’s wide-ranging vision. Favourite Track: Dario’s Journey

                           1. 

                              Poisoned Waters

                              by Maer
                              Anna Murphy (Cellar Darling) and Marjana Semkina (iamthemorning) are back with a second single, which, even with my single-phobia, I just could not resist. Opening with the chorus, the verses’ melody at first echo TFF’s Mad World, but then veer off into the kind of dreaminess and passion that their first single introduced us to. They are a master class in vocal harmony, as their lovely voices intertwine with orchestral backing. More, please.