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Binkelman's Corner by Bill Binkelman |
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Bill Binkelman is a long-time icon in the industry. |
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| Love |
| By Paul Avgerinos (w/ Kevin Braheny) |
| Label: Round Sky Music |
| Released 8/18/2009 |
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| Love tracks |
1. Love Is
2. Acceptance
3. Oceans of Bliss
4. Seven Deep Breaths
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5. Surrender
6. Healing Touch
7. Rivers of Love
8. Tranquil
9. Always Within You
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Love |
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Once again working with Kevin Braheny Fortune (formerly just Kevin Braheny), multi-instrumentalist Paul Avgerinos has released a literal musical homage to the greatest and most powerful of human emotions. Titled simply Love, the CD epitomizes the subgenre which has come to be known as "romantic spacemusic." Of course, with these two notable spacemusic pioneers guiding the listener, he or she is assured of a wonderful trip on wave after wave of bliss and contentment, since their pedigree contains such gems as Braheny's classic The Way Home and Avgerinos' recent highly lauded releases Words Touch and Phos Hilaron. As well acquainted as I am with both of these musicians and their considerable talents, even I was surprised at the resplendent beauty of this album's nine tracks. Love may very well be their masterpiece as collaborators.
Musically, the CD displays the perfect blend of stylistic variety across the tracks while also maintaining a unified cohesive theme so as to not jar the listener's mood. Braheny Fortune plays his (now trademark) electronic wind instrument (EWI), as well as clarinet, alto flute and soprano sax, while Avgerinos once again demonstrates his virtuosity across a spectrum of instruments: cello, bass violin, assorted guitars (12-string acoustic, electric swell, and echo slide), synthesizers and vocal choirs.
Song titles paint an accurate picture of what to expect in the way of the music's mood – Acceptance, Oceans of Bliss, Healing Touch, and Tranquil to name just four of the nine selections. However, as I mentioned above, while the album has an overall dreamy romantic feel to it, the individual cuts explore distinctly different approaches. Part of this is because of the variety of instrumentation, track by track, employed by the two artists, but the music itself also traverses an assortment of sonic territories. The opening Love Is has Braheny Fortune weaving a soft lilting sensual melody on clarinet over a bed of Avgerinos’ lush synth washes, twinkling bell trees, and great swells of spacemusic keyboards. Acceptance opens with an echoed guitar note refrain against a backdrop of shimmering tones and morphs into a patient soundscape featuring a blend of Avgerinos' great slide guitar as well as the same opening style of gently strummed electric guitar notes. Oceans of Bliss marks the first appearance of the luxuriant EWI which is Braheny Fortune's stock in trade, set against a backdrop of a multitude of spacy (yet gently applied) synths, some of which have a recognizable retro sound to them (pleasantly so, I might add). Seven Deep Breaths showcases a type of "wide vista" spacemusic, harkening back to the aforementioned The Way Home. Layered synthesizers, choirs, and what I think is cello (or bass violin) merge together seamlessly, forming cosmic musical waves, softly ebbing and flowing with grace (a smattering of bird song is, surprisingly, a nice touch).
The five remaining tracks hold many more delights, from the neo-classical influences on Surrender to the softly playful flute of Healing Touch to the closing ethereal transcendence of Always Within You (which has an angelic yet celebratory and uplifting feel to it, as if the music was meant to convey a tired soul being lifted up to heaven).
Avgerinos dedicates Love to his parents, both of whom have passed on, and the deep emotions the artist must feel towards them flow throughout the entirety of this CD. Whether you share this beautiful music with a loved one during a moment of intimacy or romance, or you simply show some love towards yourself and bathe in its warm glow, you will appreciate the care and "love" that went into the making of this album by two musicians who clearly are at the peak of their creativity here.
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Rating: Excellent  |
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- reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 1/25/2010 |
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