First of all, let’s get this out of the way. Hiromi is a badass on the piano. No. Let me say it louder for those that didn’t hear me in the back. Hiromi is a badass on the piano. I SAID WHAT I SAID! This track starts off with a fun synth lead, it’s an …
Picture: Brendan Holmes You are a multifaceted producer and sound engineer, how did it all begin for you? Well, I played in bands and wrote songs as a kid but at some point decided that I might be better suited for the studio side of making music and so I went to Berklee College of …
This is such a gentle track, all built around synths. The thing that caught my ear was the way that the chords started, keeping tempo and then all the elements being added in. It’s just two chords but sometimes that’s all you need. There’s an arpeggiated synth in there that’s quite subtle but then there’s …
The faves start off beautifully today with a piano instrumental. Most of you will know that I play the piano so this is right up my street. It’s gentle, there’s a tendency to add strings or augment piano instrumentals with synths to bulk it out, but this is not the case for this one. The …
The Music Of Sound X Minimums – First Light This has such a cinematic feel to it, and I wouldn’t expect any less from Minimums having played and reviewed their work before. This is like an overture to the album and it’s an inspired choice both in choice of remixer and the sequence in which …
We lost a man whose voice is instantly recognisable to multiple generations. James Earl Jones passed away earlier this week at the age of 93. This track is from the Lion King album the gift which is made up of tracks featuring sound bites from the film, this is the interlude that comes before probably …
Congratulations on the release of “Beyond The Sun Road” how does it feel? Well, now. Thank you very much. To be perfectly honest, I’m absolutely thrilled with it. It took a long time to complete and now it’s finished it’s a huge weight off my shoulders. I can actually enjoy listening to it now without …
This track is full of 80s goodness! What do I mean? Well, this track has what I reckon is a LinnDrum machine – very much that synth pop vibe, combined with synth chords with a touch of vibrato, and that bass line is part of the Yamaha DX7 playbook – Lately Bass at least? This …
While everyone’s gripped in election fever, I thought I’d revisit a track that holds a lot of good memories for me. Not only is it a track from a film that holds a very special place in 80s pop culture it’s also a pop culture reference in itself. That film was Beverly Hills Cop, and …
Diana Torti is an improviser, singer, and composer who specialises in jazz but blends ancient music, bel canto, and contemporary repertoire. Her performances have encompassed many prestigious venues, and she has collaborated with Ennio Morricone and Mula Francesco among other luminaries. Her project On A Cloud was mentioned among the best jazz albums of 2019 …
