Blue Landscapes V: Forever the Sea by
Robert Thies & Damjan Krajacic
A Meditative Voyage in Sound

When the sea calls, it does so not with thunder but with a persistent whisper, drawing us toward its infinite horizon. Such is the experience of Blue Landscapes V: Forever the Sea, the fifth and most recent offering in the celebrated Blue Landscapes series by pianist Robert Thies and flutist Damjan Krajacic, released on August 22, 2025, through Gentle Rain Music Records. This album is not merely an invitation but a gentle immersion—an improvisational odyssey into the heart of meditative, acoustic beauty, shaped entirely by the hands, breath, and inspiration of its creators.

The Blue Landscapes series has, from its inception, sought to forge a deep connection between music, nature, and the
listener’s inner world. The heart of this vision is the dynamic partnership between Robert Thies and Damjan Krajacic. Thies, a Grammy®-nominated and internationally renowned classical pianist, brings a refined touch and contemplative spirit to the piano, while Krajacic—whose artistry draws from jazz, Latin, and Eastern European folk—infuses the flute with a lyrical, expressive freedom. Their combined sensibilities make Blue Landscapes V a work of rare intimacy and resonance.

Internationally celebrated as a classical pianist, Robert Thies possesses an artistic curiosity that reaches far beyond the concert stage. Raised in a musically rich environment, Robert began improvising and composing at a young age, absorbing not only formal techniques but also the spontaneous language of jazz from his father.

Robert’s musical worldview expanded further as he discovered the “European jazz” of ECM Records and the pioneering aesthetic of the Windham Hill label. These influences awakened in him a passion for blending structure with freedom—a desire to engage in musical conversations that are unguarded, inventive, and deeply expressive.

This album presents Robert with a canvas to revisit these passions, providing the freedom to explore heartfelt improvisation and honest interplay. Here, his performances shimmer with openness, revealing a pianist who listens as intently as he plays, always in pursuit of authentic musical expression.

Damjan Krajacic stands as a musician whose artistry transcends boundaries, weaving together the colors of Jazz, Latin Jazz, and the subtle threads of his Central European heritage. Grounded in classical training, yet always drawn toward experimentation and stylistic fusion, Damjan’s trajectory as an artist is both compelling and uniquely his own.

From his earliest years, Damjan felt the irresistible pull of Latin sounds. This affinity was nurtured at home, where his father—a classical guitarist with a profound appreciation for Spanish guitar—filled the air with evocative melodies. Yet, Damjan never let go of the rich tradition of classical flute playing, treasuring its expressive depth and technical demands.

Notably, the album features a guest appearance of Grammy®-winning Vietnamese-American soprano Sangeeta Kaur, whose luminous voice graces the vocal version of “(I’d follow you) to the edge of the world.” The lyrics, penned by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse, add another layer of depth and enchantment to this aural journey. The production team, which includes Krajacic, Thies, Vlasse, and Greg Scelsa, ensures that each note is lovingly crafted and every nuance captured.

Blue Landscapes V is born of spontaneous improvisation—a creative process that privileges the momentary over the planned, the organic over the synthetic. Recorded at RoBear Studios in Santa Clarita, California, during the late summer of 2021, the album’s 14 tracks are shaped exclusively by acoustic piano and flutes, eschewing electronics in favor of unadulterated sound. The mastering, handled by Drazen Sabian at Fullsound in London, polishes these performances until they gleam with clarity. At the same time, Michael Aarvold’s engineering ensures the intimacy of the live studio experience is preserved.

It is worth noting that Robert Thies performs on a Steinway piano, whose warm resonance and rich dynamic range are ideally suited to the album’s reflective tone.

From its first notes, Blue Landscapes V: Forever the Sea sets out to create a contemplative, immersive environment. The opening track, “Forever the sea,” acts as a thesis for what follows: a peaceful, undulating interplay between piano and flute. The two instruments are equals in conversation—one supporting, then yielding to the other, creating a fluid partnership that evokes the ever-changing surface of the ocean. The piano provides a solid foundation, allowing the flute to soar, then, in a subtle reversal, the flute fades away while the piano explores gentle, melodic eddies.

This sense of ebb and flow, of motion and stillness, permeates the entire album. Each composition is an invitation to quietude, imagination, and connection—not only with the natural world that inspired it, but with the emotional landscapes within the listener. Thies and Krajacic understand that music is not only heard but felt, and their improvisational approach offers the luxury of freedom: each performance is unique, each phrase a discovery.

Among the album’s 14 songs, several stand out for their grace and emotional resonance. The titular “Forever the sea” is a masterclass in subtlety and restraint, while “(I’d follow you) to the edge of the world” (vocal version) is profoundly moving. Sangeeta Kaur’s crystalline soprano, supported by Vlasse’s evocative lyrics, adds a human voice to the wordless landscapes the album explores elsewhere, creating a moment of pure, devotional longing.

Throughout the album, the music remains intimate, each track gently drawing the listener inward. The interplay between piano and flute feels spontaneous and deeply felt, yet always purposeful. There is a delicacy to these compositions—a sense that they are at once fragile and eternal, like the shifting shapes of shoreline sand.

Listeners will find that the music “wends its way into their souls,” as if the melodies themselves are a tide, gradually enveloping the spirit with warmth, comfort, and quiet wonder. It is the kind of album best experienced in solitude, with eyes closed and heart open, allowing the soundscapes to conjure visions of endless horizons, windswept beaches, and tranquil waters.

The production values of Blue Landscapes V are impeccable. The decision to use only acoustic instruments gives the album a pure, organic texture—each breath into the flute, each key pressed on the Steinway is rendered with loving clarity. The engineering and mastering enhance this warmth and immediacy, making the listener feel as though they are seated in the studio, sharing in the moment of creation.

The album’s recording dates—from August 30 through September 17, 2021—capture a specific window in time, yet the music feels timeless. There is nothing artificial or forced here; every sound is rooted in the earth, in the gentle rhythms and cycles of nature.

The improvisational nature of these compositions lends them a freedom and unpredictability that mirrors the natural world. Like the sea, they are in constant motion—at times tranquil, at others stirring with hidden depths. The emotional range is wide but always understated, the intention never to overwhelm but to invite reflection.

The music encourages stillness, a rare gift in an age of perpetual motion. Each track serves as an invitation to pause, to breathe, and to connect—with the earth, with the self, and with the mystery and wonder that lie beyond the horizon.

Blue Landscapes V: Forever the Sea is more than an album—it is a sanctuary in sound, a space where the listener can retreat from the noise of the world and find peace, beauty, and inspiration. Robert Thies and Damjan Krajacic, joined by the exquisite Sangeeta Kaur and supported by a gifted production team, have crafted a work of rare artistry and emotional resonance. Their improvisational approach, rooted in acoustic purity, honors not only the beauty of nature but the depths of the human spirit.

For those already acquainted with the Blue Landscapes series, this fifth installment is a natural evolution—familiar yet fresh, a reaffirmation of the power of music to heal and transform. For new listeners, it serves as an ideal entry point: an invitation, at once gentle and profound, to join the endless dance of waves and wind, and to discover the quieter places within.

Together, Damjan Krajacic and Robert Thies embody a spirit of exploration—a willingness to honor tradition while fearlessly venturing into new sonic territories. Their backgrounds, though distinct, intersect in a shared love for improvisation, creative dialogue, and the pursuit of musical truth. The result is an artistry that is as heartfelt as it is boundary-defying, inviting listeners to embark on a journey through the many worlds of sound.

This is music for reflection, for renewal, for journeying to the edge of the world and beyond. In Blue Landscapes V: Forever the Sea, the ocean sings—and we are grateful to listen.

“Forever the sea shelters our voices in the blue.

And when she plays in the rain, she affirms our path,

to guide us tonight she becomes a mirror —

a mirror of floating stars”

(I'd follow you) to the edge of the world lyrics

Sangeeta Kaur - vocals

Reviewed by Michael Foster for Ambient Visions

Tracklist:

1. forever the sea (6:28)

2.  our sails know the way (5:15)

3.  mirror of floating stars (4:52)

4.  (i'd follow you) to the edge of the world (5:50)

5.  through the mist (4:29)

6.  elle joue sous la pluie (she plays in the rain) (3:18)

7.  beneath the sky (3:56)

8. voices in the blue (4:44)

9. where love flows (4:57)

10. quiet shore's lullaby (4:15)

11. no map, just sky (5:15)

12. the waters between us (3:14)

13. and so it shall be (3:25)

14. (i'd follow you) to the edge of the world (5:50) vocal version
(featuring Sangeeta Kaur, with lyrics by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse