The Summer season has just improved by the release from a music team living in the second largest country in the world. This country shares the longest common border with the United States from East to West then North to South, in a federation comprised of 10 provinces and 3 territories.
Canada is the geographical location of 2 New Age artists who make up the artist title of Anewday. Their discography includes Autumn Musings, the newest release Summer Reflections plus 2 more are promised to complete the 4 seasons. I have listened to both albums and must say their music is very exciting and everyone should look forward to every release from Anewday since these 2 musicians are more than just a pretty good team.
Anewday was formed several years ago by Rob Miller and Ron Huestis who now reside in the Southeastern Coastal providence in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rob composes and plays the piano, while Ron provides the orchestrations, each performing their part in a meeting of minds between these friends who both have roots in Classical music.
This Canadian team’s first album Autumn Musings was nominated for 4 NAR lifestyle awards, ending up in the final round as Best New Artist in 2007, which is not a surprise after listening to their first album with a slightly more Contemporary Piano tone.
Summer Reflections is their current release now making an impact on the public by a beautiful blend of Classical Piano Orchestration in a Contemporary, Celtic, and a great Cinematic influence. There are some interesting angles to this album, having a variety of Orchestra and Piano Instrumental pieces along with some in a light Celtic flavor, in a distinct balance that is pleasing to everyone and many songs that could easily become a beautiful score in the perfect movie soundtrack.
Anewday has done very well with their Summer Reflections. The abundant piano and orchestration gives a variety of moods that transition wonderfully throughout the entire album, giving New Age fans some great music to enjoy this Summer, and the complete 4 seasons in our future.
While the Providence of Nova Scotia is a long distance from the Northwest Passage, many songs made me think of the present ecological changes and political issues occurring in the upper most reaches of Canada, where melting ice packs due to global warming is creating a new expansion for the shipping industry in what was once impassable frozen wilderness.
The song Future Beginnings starts with a single piano phrasing in a Contemporary Celtic tone, when measures later, orchestra begins to build then breaks into powerful crescendos with strings and woodwinds.
Over and over again, then wave after wave of emotion come crashing down in a moderate tempo theme, creating thoughts of ice breaking vessels carving a new trade route in the Northwest Passage, where tidal waves of piano and orchestra movements first break together in strong dramatic sweeps, and then gently give way and flow beside one another in a new harmonious way.
Whispering Streams is a powerful and dignified song, exemplifying the indigenous Inuit people who habitat the Northwest territories in the Arctic Region. Beginning with a wondrous piano scale melody, the Inuit lifestyle, traditions, and culture can be shown by the dignified piano note movements that trickle in upper octaves with calm and solitude.
When full orchestra enters, an element of beauty and danger is notably presented by the evolving tone, sharply contrasting with the natural beauty of the region by strings that echo the piano melody. When the symphonic orchestra begins a dramatic back and forth rhythm in a contrasting melody, a wondrous new element of cinematic intensity emerges while upper octave piano boldly enters, telling of the evironmental hazards that are also present in this narration. The piano movements in the upper most ranges confirm the skills acquired over centuries needed for survival in this beautiful yet dangerous environment in the future Arctic sea route.
Visit anewday.ca by clicking here. Sample at CD Baby, iTunes or Indie Rhythm.
Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – Larspowa.