New Age Music World

Archive for the ‘Music News’ Category

NewAgeMusicWorld.Com & NewAgeMusic.nu are proud to announce an interview with Gandalf has now been scheduled and will be presented at our websites in the very near future, giving our website visitors an inside look into the life work of a globally recognized musician living in Vienna Austria.

Gandalf is currently planning his next orchestration event to celebrate his 30 year Anniversary in 2011 and composing this next album to become the centerpiece for the celebratory occasion, plus a live performance in Vienna will accent the milestone achievement of this renowned World artist.

Gandalf’s 30 year anniversary event is highly anticipated by many and also happens to be the very first topic of the interview John Olsen is preparing, which promises to be a lengthy and comprehensive conversation about his lifework and music, giving our visitors an inside preview during the remaining months just prior to Gandalf’s 30 year anniversary in 2011.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         We want to express a special word of thanks to Gandalf for taking time away from his work and allowing us this opportunity and invite everyone to visit the gandalf.at hompage and then his discography page. You can read our pages dedicated to Gandalf and find all of our interviews with top artists by clicking here then our 2010 reviews right here.

NewAgeMusicWorld.Com is a music blog dedicated to the outstanding musicians defining the music world today. 

We would like to take a minute to thank the artists, promoters, and producers for providing their reciprocal website links to this music website.  Here is a article about New Age Music World you may read by clicking here. 

New Age Music World will continue in our role as review publicists to provide our visitors feature Interviews and Reviews with today’s top musicians.  We publish many Music Videos defining music that currently shapes the New Age music industry today.  You also have an invitation to visit our affiliate website NewAgeMusic.nu.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       You can visit our Main Pages by Clicking Here or on the above Home Tab if you have just found us.

Then read our Interviews with Top Musicians and our many New Age Music Album Reviews of their music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Thank You for visiting today.  We hope you Bookmark and visit with us again tomorrow.

Your Friend In Music, John P. Olsen

Editor / Host for New Age Music World

Many musicians are content to remain within a specific genre and are a complete success in their artistic focus. Then there are other notable musicians where a natural progression is realized, developing into a unique artesian style and by their inner convictions, become a virtuoso by what they offer the music world.

Gandalf is an internationally acclaimed composing musician and producer from Vienna Austria first identified as a New Age, Contemporary Instrumental and World artist. While transitioning over the past 30 years of his career, his progressive directive and persona has helped neutralize the customary social borders in multicultural music for years.

Gates To A Secret Reality on the Prudence label is an open manifest of his ambitious return to classic World music. This 1996 album is one of fascination and perhaps a secret gaze into what Gandalf is planning for a future orchestration slated to celebrate his 30 year Anniversary in 2011. This future CD currently being composed is the centerpiece for the occasion, plus a live performance in Vienna will accent his milestone achievement.

It was during continental travels to Europe, North & South America and Asia where Gandalf began to realize the prevailing attitudes and many similarities of every continent greatly unites each of us, verses creates a divisional line between countries. This open border view is much a part of his global World Music ambitions, and perhaps why his style encompasses a unique image while making a valid statement in relation to his cultivated talents and international status.

Gates To A Secret Reality featuring 11 songs with over an hour of world class music is an earlier expedition not to be missed. Gandalf is a multi instrumentalist performing acoustic and electric guitar, charango, piano, keyboards, mellotron, balaphon and many indigenous percussions. Enlisting Emily Burridge from England and Peter Aschenbrenner from Vienna, Emily performs vocals & cello and composed 3 songs while Peter is another fine talent on flutes, soprano saxophone and some backing vocals.

This ensemble in unison has made the album a unique listening experience and beginning with 3 songs Dreamcatcher ( Part 1 ) vocals and flute instill a celestial atmosphere while Gandalf steps up to give an astounding Rock styled electric guitar anthem. This is much in relation to The Power Of Nature & Man’s Promise To Mother Earth performed by the united trio where vocals, flute, keyboard and electric guitar proclaims a powerful majestic atmosphere and is most memorable by any standard.

Many songs journey along more moderate terrains regarding style and tempo yet the fascination remains deep and on a grandiose scale. Footprints In Red Sand is relaxing by the flute and keyboard interludes before building momentum with electric guitar that greatly increases depth of the impression.

Majestic Mountain View is an apt title shown by cello, keyboard and flute setting their sights on a light background depth and then again in following windswept song Voice In The Wind, then bells signal the tonal imagery in piano and guitar melody on Along The Milky Way.  Some songs like Ascending On The Eagle’s wings, Dreamcatcher ( Part 2 ) & Floating Down The Silent Stream are ballads elevated by cello flute, keyboards and saxophone that give a cinematic feel by lighter orchestrations portrayed in a lavish way.

The Wheel Of Life is a moving concerto lightly revolving in time, thought and deliberation, swaying in a gentle way by an enchanting flute melody backed by wondrous piano rhythms. Cello is fluently engaged to intensify the atmospheric warmth and progressive movement this song and the album in entirety envisions, perhaps giving us secret insight into the celebratory atmosphere Gandalf has in mind for us in the year 2011.

Visit Gandalf.at to sample his music and find out more on his biography page. Visit the Munsing Germany based bscmusic.com homepage and then his BSA Music profile page to sample / purchase his music.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto – EcoShot

The ZMR Music Award Winners were announced on March 14 2010.  Many of the artists we write about were category qualifiers, nominees, or chosen winners in specific categories, and it is always good news when outstanding artists get recognition they deserve.

Every musician in our genre has produced some outstanding music this year,and we have enjoyed writing reviews about many of these musicians at NewAgeMusic.nu & NewAgeMusicWorld.Com this past year. 

In fact, some were recognized in our own NewAgeMusic.nu Best Albums of 2009.

There is no denying that every musician has made a significant contribution to our beloved genre and in our minds, has already become a winner.  We enjoy writing about these deserving individuals and look forward to writing even more  about our featured musicians in the days ahead.  B.T. Fasmer and I would like to congratulate everyone !

Our listing of Qualifying Artists we feature here, along with their websites can be found by clicking on the ZMR News Tab located at the top, or by clicking on the provided links in each review or interview.

Visit zonemusicreporter.com to see the complete  Category Awards List  and then be sure to read our NewAgeMusic.nu Best Albums of 2009  right here  or in the above Music News tab above.

Expect this website to bring you even more about the musicians we feature here.  Below are the individuals we have been writing about who received top honors at ZMR for 2009.

                                                                          Fiona Joy Hawkins 

                                                                          Blue Dream Album

                *Album of the Year *Best Contemporary Instrumental *Best Contemporary Instrumental / Piano

                      David Wahler                          Michael Brant DeMaria                      Michael Brant Demaria

                      Antiquus Album                      Ocean Album                                     Siyotanka Album

                     *Best New Artist                      *Best Ambient  & *Best Relaxation     *Best Native American

                      Michael Stribling                          Bruce Michell                                   9  Muses

                      The Promise Album                      New Earth Goddess Album               Feel to Heal Album

                     *Best Electronic                             *Best Neo Classical                          *Best Chill / Groove

Again we invite our readers to visit each individual artist website by our links provided within every review.  You can find their individual reviews by scrolling down our main pages or by clicking on their names in the right hand module to visit their dedicated page here at NewAgeMusicWorld.Com.

The ZMR News Tab at top lists every qualifying musician we have written about this year at NewAgeMusic.nu & NewAgeMusicWorld.Com.  Every artist has a home here, and we will be posting more about them in the future.

NewAgeMusic.nu from the very beginning has brought its readers top articles, news, interviews, and reviews, about many defining artists in the New Age music industry, and you can expect us to continue the tradition at this website. 

NewAgeMusicWorld.Com had just begun online posting when, on Jan 1, 2010, NewAgeMusic.nu had announced our Best New Age Album of 2009 decision to our readers.  Since I was just beginning as a webhost here, the following article was not posted at my website.  I am proud to be a contributing member writing content for NewAgeMusic.nu and would now like to display the Best Album of 2009 article by B.T. Fasmer for my website visitors.

                                           NewAgeMusic.nu article on The Best Album Award of 2009.

                                                           By B.T. Fasmer on January 1, 2010.

2009 is history – and before we move on, lets take a look at the many new age music titles that have given us so much joy this past year.

New age music is not different from other genres; the myriads of home studios and the power of internet are transforming the music scene in a profound way. While the fan before had to rely on mainstream radio and the selection in the local music store, she now can choose from millions of tracks and just as many niche stations like New Age Stars. Music has never been this accessible, and we here at .nu enjoy every minute of it!

In 2009 we have been able to sample every album released under the “new age music” umbrella on Amazon and iTunes, without even leaving our living room. The quality of the titles is generally very high – and we continue to be amazed of the creativity and love the artists (and the labels) put into their work. We, the fans, can only say thank you, thank you, dear artists, for an amazing year of music!

The titles below are our favorites of 2009. We have without a doubt missed some titles here, but to our defense all titles mentioned below are for sure in the “best of the best” category.

1. Cadence Spalding – Save the World

It wasn’t hard for NewAgeMusic.nu editors to choose the top title for 2009. Rarely have we been presented for a title that answers the “what is new age music” question better. Cadence Spalding’s Save the world illustrates everything that is great about new age music. To quote John P. Olsen’s review: “Save The World is classical New Age pop, hosting a pleasant mix of ballads finely tuned to perfection in the purest sense. Classical touches of soft angelic vocals appears as lullabies at times, gently rocking you into a contented state, while anthem stanzas increase in momentum, rising above to greet the occasion. “

Save The World is, as the title implies, an album with a message. We all have to do our part to save mother Earth – it is a message that has to be repeated again and again. How to save the world? Trust in love. Cadence Spalding’s album is not to be missed.

Sample the album on CDBaby

2. Clifford White – The Gods Of Olympus

Clifford White is a true new age music legend. His album Ascension from 1985 is one of the finest albums from the 80s, and a “must have” for any NA music fan. After 14 years of silence, Clifford White this year returned with a massive release. The album The Gods Of Olympus is a journey of epic proportions.

BT Fasmer wrote in his review: “The Gods Of Olympus is really a new age music treasure chest. If this was a novel, it would have had more than 1000 pages for sure. In the world of literature it is not uncommon that a successful author returns after 10 to 15 years of silence with a brick of a book. This is the new age music equivalent of that phenomenon.”

The Gods Of Olympus has 14 extremely well made tracks, and is over 70 minutes long.

Sample the album here.

3. Kitaro – Impression Of The West Lake

I cannot think of a more magical and mystical album than Kitaro’s Impression Of The West Lake. On this Grammy nominated release Kitaro does what Kitaro does best; he creates an unforgettable world of music, that is both East and West, beautiful and magical, all at the same time.

There are two 12 minute long tracks on the album. They are like two separate albums, with a massive and interesting build-up. Hopefully Kitaro will get a Grammy this time – he sure deserves it!

Sample the album here.

4. Medwyn Goodall – Medicine Woman 4 – Prophecy 2012

It has become a tradition in the world of new age music. Every fifth year or so Medwyn Goodall’s many fans get a new installment in the Medicine Woman series. Since the release of the first album in the series in 1991, it has become one of the most popular in the genre. This year we saw the release of Medicine Woman 4 – Prophecy 2012.

BT Fasmer wrote in his review: “Prophecy 2012 has the good old Medicine Woman atmosphere, pure and simple. This sound should have been patented, put on a bottle and sold to a big pharmaceutical company, since it is truly a healing experience. But I guess that the Medicine Woman is more about herbs and spells, than pills and bills.

Medicine Woman 4 – Prophecy 2012 offers, like the previous albums in the series, almost endless replay possibilities.

Sample the album here.

5. David Wahler – Antiquus

One of this year’s most surprising and welcome releases was Antiquus by David Wahler. This debut can been described as New Age Ambient, Neo Classical, and Electronic – yes, even Orchestra and Chill Out.

John P. Olsen wrote in his review: “The mood is indeed very dreamlike and relaxing by a mod tempo rhythm that offers a positive connection by retaining your interest and imagination throughout the entire album. Shifting tempo and key changes are what I believe give this album an effective transition in thought and feeling, linking the valuable bond between our very distant past and our ever changing future.”

David Wahler is one of the new stars of new age music – and we feel confident that he will be on our best of list next year too! Antiquus is simply a marvelous album that any NA music fan must check out.

Sample the album here.

6. Paul Heinerman – Oases

The phrase Music can take you places might sound like cliché, but you will see the truth in it after listening to Paul Heinerman’s album Oases. This album will take you on an unforgettable musical journey to Ireland, Greece, North America, India, China and Native America.

Oases is hands down ethnic fusion at its very best, played with integrity and force – and, in the process, perfectly blending modernity in all its shades, illustrating the melting pot of East and West.

All in all, Oasis is an interesting and quite different new age music release – and one of the finest albums released in 2009!

Sample the album here.

7. Joel Kanning - Ubiquitous Frequency Oscillation

Another debut album that made 2009 into something special was Joel Kanning’s Ubiquitous Frequency Oscillation (UFO). BT Fasmer wrote in his review: “Albums are often released labeled as “sounding like Enigma and Deep Forest”, but this reviewer finds that these albums rarely are on par with masters such as Michael Cretu and Eric Mouquet (the men behind Enigma/Deep Forest) . Some of these albums are quite good, but hardly more than that.

But sometimes it happens that a new star is born, and one artist that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Cretu and Mouquet is Joel Kanning. His brand new album UFO, or Ubiquitous Frequency Oscillation, is a true feast for fans of the above mentioned artists.”

While Enigma and Deep Forest are big names of the past, Joel Kanning is a man for the future. This was the UFO-landing we all were waiting for!

Sample the album here.

8. Transcend with Time – A Haunting Presence.

Everyone always says that they are looking for something new, something different and exciting. Well, new age music fans – we urge you to check out the album A Haunting Presence by Transcend with Time/Mark Mendieta. This album truly is different and exciting in a whole new way; A Haunting Presence has the atmosphere of progressive rock and the sound of new age. Mark Mendieta takes everything that is great about new age and adds, what he calls, “a twist of Dark Progressive”. It creates a totally different atmosphere, unlike anything else you are likely to find in this part of the forest.

TwT is not easy listening, and that is also the case with the new release. But if you give is some time, you will for sure be amazed of the richness in sound.

Sample the album here.

9. John Adorney – The Fountain

One of the new stars in new age music is John Adorney. His albums The Other Shore, Waiting For The Moon and Trees of Gold are considered modern classics. This year John Adorney gave us the album The Fountain. John P. Olsen wrote in his review of the album: “The itinerary moves into Middle Eastern style keyboard navigation before boarding acoustic guitar verses reminiscent of India. Circling the globe by Southern route, Brazilian tempo celebrates the festivities before a final touchdown into John Adorney’s home country of America, arriving well relaxed by one of his more adventurous musical arrangements, in the luxurious comfort we have come to expect.”

If we were given the chance to create a trademark defining term for a new music genre that everyone could easily recognize for a new description reference, we would confidently term the compositions of John Adorney as Comfort Music.

Sample the album here.

10. Nexion Project – The Isle of Freedom

We are fond of island music here at .nu. This year we added a title to our “best of island music”- list. The title of the album is The Isle of freedom by The Nexion Project.

It is not entirely a new release (some of the songs have been featured on previous Nexion Project albums – but some new songs were composed to this compilation). BT Fasmer wrote in his review: “Is it possible to make something that already is perfect, like the dream of a tropical island, even better? Yes, the Nexion Project’s The Isle of Freedom is a proof of this. It takes the island theme to the next level, creating a dream sphere that is both relaxing and energizing at the same time. It is everything and more, just like paradise itself.”

So if you need some well deserved time off, why not take a trip to the Isle of Freedom?

Sample the album here.

AND NOW: 2010 here we go, with new age music in our ears and hearts!

Your friends in New Age Music,

B. T. Fasmer and J. P. Olsen, Norway and USA

See our Top New Age Music album of 2008 list here.

Valentines Day is a super time to make one’s heart beat a little faster, and since February 14, 2010 was also the first phase in the annual Zone Music Reporter ( ZMR ) Award Category Nominees announcement, I can almost hear the rhythmic pace increase for the candidates we have been writing about at NewAgeMusicWorld.Com & NewAgeMusic.nu. 

Click here to see our NewAgeMusic.nu Best of the Best Album Awards for 2009.

ZMR has decisively placed many of the artists we write about as Category Nominees, so naturally we are happy to see many of the artists we have met and consider friends being placed on the ballot.  The next date to watch for is March 14, 2010, when ZMR makes their final decision.

My previous article about just some of the candidates can be seen by scrolling down our pages below or by clicking here.  Complete details and the entire list of candidates can be found at zonemusicreporter.com here.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – yoga heart

New Age Music is already an exciting genre to be involved with for many reasons and now the excitement is going to the next level since Zone Music Reporter ( ZMR ) has taken the first step in announcing their Annual Music Award Qualifiers.

Every musician in our genre has produced some outstanding music this year, and we have enjoyed writing reviews for some of the current Award Qualifiers at NewAgeMusic.nu & NewAgeMusicWorld.Com this past year, so we too  feel the excitement of hearing the final outcome of this years ZMR awards decision.

B.T. Fasmer and I know making a final determination is a challenge, and there is never an easy way to go about the task of deciding who will receive the highest recognition, having recently made our Top New Age Album Award of 2009 at NewAgeMusic.nu shown here.

There is no denying that every musician has made a significant contribution to our beloved genre and in our minds, has already become a winner simply by qualifying.  We wish everyone the very best in ZMR’s annual awards, and again thank every artist for producing music everyone can be proud to call New Age. 

Below is our select listing of 20 qualifiers we have been writing about this past year by our reviews or interviews, and is a nice sample of the many outstanding musicians now under consideration.  On a personal note, I deeply respect everyone I have met and have enjoyed getting to know some artists even more by our recent interview together, and only wish I had time to request an interview with everyone.  With that said, you may click on the links to visit the artist’s official website, and then our dedicated pages to 20 of the qualifying artists and my review of their current album or interview. 

ZMR will announce the Category Nominees on February 14, 2010 & the Award Winners on March 14, 2010.  You can see the complete listing of the categories & 2009 qualifiers at zonemusicreporter.com when you click here.

Picture Copyright BigStockPhoto – pkruger

    NewAgeMusicWorld.Com  &  NewAgeMusic.nu  ZMR Qualifying artists.  Albums shown in alphabetical order.

                               The click on Word Links are [ Website ]  & [ Review ] for each artist listed below.

                David Mauk / davidmauk.com [ website ]  12 Months Album [ review ]

                David Wahler / davidwahler.com [ website ]  Antiquus Album [ review ]

      Fiona Joy Hawkins / fionajoyhawkins.com [ website ]  Blue Dream Album [ review ]

           Arturo Mayorga / arturomayorga.com [ website ]  Cascades Album [ review ]

           9  Muses /  Sample at cdbaby.com [ here ]  Feel to Heal Album [ review ]

             Ciro Hurtado / cirohurtado.com [ website ]  Guitarrista Album [ review ]

             Paul Avgerinos / roundskymusic.com [ website ]  Love Album [ review ]

         Bruce Mitchell & Ron Korb. newearthgoddess.net [ website ] Album [ review ]

 Christopher Boscole / christopherboscole.com [ website ]  Presents of Angels [ review ]

       Christopher Boscole / christopherboscole.com [ website ]  O Christmas Tree.

                Michael Brant DeMaria / ontos.org [ website ]  Ocean Album [ review ]

            Michael Brant DeMaria / ontos.org [ website ]  Siyotanka Album [ pages ]

         Matthew Labarge / matthewlabarge.com [ website ]  October Album [ review ]

         Terri Liles Mason / omgaiamusic.com [ website ]  Om Gaia Album [ review ]

  Cadence Spalding / cadencespalding.com [ website ]  Save The World Album [ review ]

            Anewday / anewday.ca [ website ]  Summer Reflections Album [ review ]

   Lawrence Blatt / lawrenceblatt.com [ website ]  The Color of Sunshine Album [ review ]

          Nick Farr / nickfarr.com [ website ]  The Ever Present Now Album [ review ]

          John Adorney / johnadorney.com [ website ]  The Fountain Album [ review ]

   Paul Jensen / juancarlosproductions.com [ website ]  The Other Side Album [ review ]

        Michael Stribling / leela-music.com [ website ]  The Promise Album [ review ]

           Kori Linae Carothers / koritunes.com [ website ]  Trillium Album [ review ]

The 2010 New Years celebrations are just a recent memory for many of us now, but the year 2010 also marks a new time for celebration with many of our friends at MG Music, based in the United Kingdom.

Legendary musician Medwyn Goodall himself has achieved a milestone by his 25th year anniversary as an artist, and we will be telling you more about the events MG Music has in store for us soon, and you may read the announcement here.

Right now, there are two great artists I have been in contact with recently, who are considered family members at the MG label and are playing a major role in the 2010 celebrations by their latest release, and wanted to tell you more about them today.

Clifford White is considered an early pioneer in New Age music beginning with the Ascension album, which became a remarkable hit and rightfully became the strong foundation to Clifford’s music career.  He has produced some great albums since then, and it is wonderful news that Clifford has now created a sequel to be released in late February crafted from this original project, with the albums description looking very promising indeed.

Ascension ll  The Healing Touch is his latest creation that is being described in the context of divine, graceful, and gentle, giving an great indication of what everyone can expect in the weeks ahead. I do enjoy listening to his first Ascension album, and can only anticipate what will follow in this revitalized profile of Ascension ll.

Clifford White is also the web host of NewAgeMusicNews.com, and our longstanding network friend at NewAgeMusic.nu, and now here at NewAgeMusicWorld.  As a trusted source of current info regarding current music news, we invite you to visit Clifford at his website regularly by the banner link provided on the right hand side or by clicking here. 

Click here to read B.T. Fasmer’s review of Clifford White’s current album at NewAgeMusic.nu.

Paul Sills is another MG family member I have written about recently and enjoy listening to his deeply spiritual brand of music that in no shape or fashion could ever be called ordinary.  His music style finds a wonderful resting place where deep orchestration resides beside lighter melodies that soon transform into a dramatic conclusion you will find very personal.

Devas  is Paul’s latest to be issued later in the year, holding the promise of an energetic and new approach to nature that Paul has written from a new angle in his already well crafted brand of celestial music, taken to a whole new level.  For me, Devas is another highly anticipated release and I really did like the sample track Paul sent recently.

Paul Sills and I had an insightful discussion about his music career and life at MG music during our recent interview together also, and I have reviewed both of his prior albums, so when you click here, you may read the pages dedicated to Paul Sills.

The 25 year Anniversary at MG Music has more in store for us, and B.T. Fasmer has also posted an article about this talented circle of friends at the MG label.  Songs from both artists are featured on Stars Radio, so you may listen to both artists on a regular basis at Stars.