The album's first track, "Clouds All Around Us," begins with what could be a celestial voice, a ray of light breaking through and hitting us. The music then gently invites us to its realm, welcoming us, the guitar work soothing us. And in the current madness of the world, we could all use exactly this sort of thing. We could all use a moment to breathe, a moment to cast our gaze away from strife and troubles. There is a beauty here, and an overall meditative feeling which I appreciate. "Perfect View" also has a soothing aspect from its start, the music telling us it's all right to take a break, and reminding us to accept our small place in this great universe. We exist for but an instant, so let's not rush it. This is music that slows our breath, re-aligns our pulse with a rhythm outside of us.
There is a different sense at the beginning of "Vast And Bulbous," something like an air of mystery, of the unknown, though without any fear, without any sharp sensation of danger. It just that we are faced with something new, something unknown. And it soon becomes clear that we are within this mystery, within this new realm. We can feel the air swirling around us, moving steadily past, circling us, with lights twinkling, perhaps communicating. And if we could just access a certain part of our brains, we could understand what is being expressed. And then there is a joy promised, isn't there? Then, in "Astrolab," there is a light, like the sun beginning to rise from around the moon. And here we find ourselves farther out there, though possibly with each step outward we are also moving inward. For in space, what is louder than our own thoughts? Our thoughts seem to take form, and move out from us, become their own light, and it seems we are obtaining knowledge that approaches us in near-solid form. This one has a more electronic sound, with synthesizer rather than guitar dominating the track. And it is from that instrument that the track gets its title, the Arturia AstroLab synthesizer. Though of course the title also gets us thinking of the exploration of the moon and of other planets, and of lunar terrain vehicles. This track soothes us in its own way.
"Euphoria" seems to tell us that happiness can be found in letting go, in opening ourselves up to the greater cosmos and finding our place within that. And in leaving echoes behind, for the movement creates these waves that spread out behind us, as we hear from the guitar. Our lives touch other lives, and our actions, our movements are felt by the universe. Isn't there joy in that? Even if there is a hint of darkness at the very end of this track. That's followed by "Beyond The Blue," which has a full sound that seems to indicate our voices are not alone, that we are not alone. It expresses this appealing idea of exploring the universe with joy, of approaching new situations with joy and wonder, something we should take into our everyday lives. Like bright vessels that remain so even in the darkest of corridors. The final section of the track brings us in contact with an otherworldly intelligence, as we step into a new place.
There is an excitement, a readiness at the beginning of "Moving Through The Sky," an eagerness for exploration, for knowledge. It's interesting the way the track then breathes just as it's beginning to build in intensity. And perhaps there is a lesson there too, for pulling back is not stopping, it's not retreating. But it does give us the chance to appreciate the beauty around us, for this track certainly has a beautiful aspect to it - in its sound, and in its attitude, its approach. And then toward the end it begins to build again, before slowing and easing to its conclusion. That's followed by "Circles Above." When I glanced at the CD track list for the first time, this title reminded me of The Monkees' "Circle Sky." But the feeling of this song is much more peaceful, relaxing, with some really pretty guitar work. We might be put in mind of celestial orbits, or the orbs themselves, and soothed by the natural rhythms of the universe. Partway through this track, things bcome a little darker, or more somber, but that doesn't stop the motion. It simply changes the way we interpret it somewhat, the way we feel.
"Heaven" at the start offers a gentle, almost tentative embrace or welcoming, like fingers causing ripples in the cosmos. And then the sound begins to grow, to swell, as if the voices are becoming more confident. Then it relaxes somewhat, or we do, as we become accustomed to our surroundings, to this reality. The welcoming is repeated until we are certain, until we are secure. The album concludes with "Oneness," a beautiful look at our world, like light dancing down upon us, descending from the heavens in steams that we can see and perhaps even grab hold of, and use to swing ourselves up out of our normal surroundings to explore things from a different perspective, a different angle, taking it all in. Yes, life is so good. Isn't it incredible that we are here at all? If only for a glorious moment.
CD Track List
- Clouds All Around Us
- Perfect View
- Vast And Bulbous
- Astrolab
- Euphoria
- Beyond The Blue
- Moving Through The Sky
- Circles Above
- Heaven
- Oneness
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