AV Review

Escape to Dream by Solace Road

With their fifth studio album, Escape to Dream, Solace Road returns to the forefront of contemporary music, inviting listeners on a transformative journey that blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination. Scheduled for release on February 13, 2026, this seven-track opus features the talents of The Stillhet for all instrumentation, creating a singular, immersive sonic experience. From the outset, Escape to Dream promises not only a musical adventure but also an introspective odyssey, offering a sanctuary for contemplation and a canvas for emotional clarity.

Solace Road has always demonstrated a penchant for thoughtful artistry, but with Escape to Dream, they delve deeper into the theme of transcendence. The album explores the enigmatic process of moving beyond the immediate and venturing into a surreal state of mind. The dreamlike quality that permeates every track is more than an aesthetic choice—it’s a conscious invitation for listeners to leave behind the constraints of everyday life. This journey asks us to reflect, find joy in the moment, and seek clarity amid swirling emotions. As the title suggests, the album is not just an escape—it is a passage to a realm where dreams shape perception and music becomes the medium for self-discovery.

Click here for the rest of the review

Melancholy Moments
by Brannan Lane

AV Review

Melancholy Moments by Brannan Lane

American composer Brannan Lane’s latest EP, Melancholy Moments, stands as a testament to the transformative power of ambient music. Seamlessly blending field recordings, soft synth textures, and delicate electric piano (e-piano), Lane crafts a soundscape that is both reflective and deeply soothing. Across its brief runtime, the EP gently explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, inviting listeners to slow down and engage in peaceful contemplation.

From the first moments, Lane establishes a tranquil mood. Wisps of field recordings—perhaps gentle rain, distant bird calls, —coalesce with understated synth pads, creating an immersive, natural atmosphere. The gentle interplay between these organic sounds and shimmering e-piano notes is mesmerizing, evoking a serene place where the everyday world fades into the background. Lane uses minimalism not as a constraint but as an expressive tool, allowing each sound to breathe and resonate.

Click here for the rest of the review

Divine
Ratio of Love
by Renée Wilson &
Jeff Oster

AV Review

Divine Ratio of Love by Renée Wilson & Jeff Oster

In a musical landscape teeming with covers and reinterpretations, few projects demonstrate the delicate artistry and fearless vision needed to transform iconic songs into something wholly new—something simmering with the mystery and soul of midnight jazz. With their five-track EP, “Divine Ratio of Love,” vocalist Renée Wilson and flugelhorn virtuoso Jeff Oster embark on such a challenge, inviting listeners to step into the dusky glow of a hidden club where familiar melodies, shrouded in velvet and smoke, emerge as revelations. This is not your typical covers EP. It is a testament to transformation, courage, and the ineffable power of musical chemistry.

From the outset, “Divine Ratio of Love” signals its intent: well-known songs, chosen for their thematic kinship with love in all its hues, are to be deconstructed and lovingly rebuilt in the image of jazz. The repertoire is nothing if not ambitious—ranging from the swaggering groove of the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You” and the gentle yearning of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” to the soulful affirmation of India Arie’s “Ready For Love,” the enigmatic tenderness of Björk’s “All Is Full of Love,” and the bittersweet introspection of Fiona Apple’s “Slow Like Honey.” The selection spans genres and decades, but under the stewardship of Wilson and Oster, these disparate threads are woven into a tapestry that is remarkably cohesive and deeply moving.

The greatest danger in reimagining songs so deeply rooted in the popular consciousness is the risk of either slavish imitation or radical misinterpretation. “Divine Ratio of Love” sidesteps both pitfalls, choosing instead to inhabit a liminal space where respect for the original rubs shoulders with playful innovation. What emerges is not mere novelty, but a sense of musical conversation—a dialogue between past and present, between the source material and the creative impulses of the performers

Click here for the rest of the review

Arcadia
by Kevin Keller

AV Review

Kevin Keller’s latest album, Arcadia, arrives as both a continuation and an expansion of the sound world he so poetically unveiled in 2023’s Evensong. The new release, comprised of eight meticulously crafted tracks, enlists the same ensemble that breathed life into its predecessor, yet it forges ahead into uncharted territory with a renewed sense of purpose and imagination. Through an intricate blend of medieval echoes, wordless vocals, and deft modern production, Keller has created an album that feels at once ancient and utterly contemporary—a tapestry of serenity, longing, and subtle revelation.

At its heart, Arcadia is ambient chamber music in its most evocative sense. Keller’s vision is to conjure a place that exists beyond the limitations of geography or era: the mythical Arcadia, that Greek ideal of an eternal paradise, here reimagined as an inward journey toward peace. With each track, the album weaves together the tonalities of early music, the harmonic subtlety of modern minimalism, and the gentle pulse of ambient textures. The result is an immersive sonic landscape where time seems to slow and the listener is invited to wander through fields of memory and possibility.

From the opening moments, Keller’s deft touch is apparent. His keyboards and electric guitar blend seamlessly with the string trio—Sarah Zun on violin, Angela Pickett on viola, and Laura Metcalf on cello—creating a foundation that is both warm and translucent. Over this, the four vocalists (Sofía Campoamor, Danya Katok, Katherine Wessinger, and Wendy Baker) offer a palette of wordless harmonies and intricate choral lines that hover like mist over ancient hills.

Click here for the rest of the review

Two Shores
by Jim "Kimo" West
& Michael Whalen

AV Review

From the first notes of "Two Shores," it is clear that the musical partnership between Grammy® winner Jim “Kimo” West and two-time Emmy® winner Michael Whalen is a meeting of creative souls destined to craft something deeply moving and enduring. Released on August 15, 2025, this album is more than a collection of instrumentals—it is an emotional voyage that transcends the expanse between two distinct lives lived on opposite coasts, weaving together the energy of New York City, the sun-drenched ease of Los Angeles, and the serene spirit of Hana, Hawaii.

The album’s title, "Two Shores," is both literal and metaphorical. West and Whalen, living worlds apart in NYC and Los Angeles, found common ground in their devotion to the art of music. Despite the physical distance—separated by thousands of miles, time zones, and lifestyles—their mutual passion for creation and expression bridges that gap, forming a singular artistic vision. This spirit of unity pulses through the album’s ten tracks, each standing as a testament to the duo’s synergy.

The cover art, depicting a guitar and piano perched on a quiet beach at sunset, is the perfect visual metaphor for what awaits within. The image suggests a calm meeting point, a place where music is both a language and a landscape, inviting listeners to sit alongside the instruments and watch the daylight gently fade into the golden hour.

What sets "Two Shores" apart is the pure musicianship at its core. Every note, every chord, and every subtle texture is performed, arranged, and produced by West and Whalen themselves. In an age of digital shortcuts and endless collaborations, there is something profoundly intimate about two artists handling every instrument and every part—from conception to final mix.

Click here for the rest of the review

Beautiful Chaos
of Truth
by Drifting in Silence

AV Review

Beautiful Chaos of Truth marks the latest full-length release from Drifting in Silence, the enduring ambient project led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Derrick Stembridge. Since its inception nearly two decades ago, Drifting in Silence has been synonymous with ambient music that transforms quiet into substance and stillness into movement. Stembridge’s approach is less about creating a backdrop and more about sculpting an experience—a presence that gently envelops the listener and invites introspection.

This new album, released August 11, 2025, sees Stembridge further honing his craft. He has always been drawn to the interplay of truth and sound, as evidenced by his 2007 album Truth. Still, Beautiful Chaos of Truth pushes deeper into the mysterious spaces where memory, motion, and emotion weave together into a spectral tapestry.

Beautiful Chaos of Truth is ambient music that refuses to be mere wallpaper; it’s ambient as presence, demanding the listener’s attention even as it soothes and envelops. The album is constructed from low, slow waves of sound—each tone stretching, breathing, dissolving, and reforming, carrying with it a subtle sense of transformation. Melodies flicker in and out of existence, and every sound seems to move with intent, though nothing ever insists. The result is a bewildering drift where something profound begins to shimmer just beneath the surface.

Stembridge doesn’t chase emotion with volume or drama. Instead, feeling arrives in texture, in the pacing of each track, and most notably, in the persistent low static that underpins the entire record. There’s a quiet power in the restraint—a sense that what’s withheld is just as important as what’s revealed.

Click here for the rest of the review

When Shadows Talk

by Fiona Joy Hawkins

AV Review

In “When Shadows Talk,” Fiona Joy Hawkins presents an evocative collection of twelve neoclassical and new age solo piano pieces, each carefully crafted and emotionally impactful. Released on May 15, 2025, this album marks a new chapter in Hawkins’ ongoing journey of musical storytelling and self-exploration. Fiona Joy Hawkins, renowned for her deeply evocative piano work and masterful compositions, has once again graced listeners with a profound and moving album: When Shadows Talk. This latest release extends Hawkins’ reputation as an artist capable of translating the complexities of human emotion into poignant musical narratives. Within its tracks, the album confronts the sorrow and devastation of war while also offering moments of tender beauty and hope. Hawkins once again welcomes listeners into a deeply personal world where music serves as both mirror and window—reflecting introspection and illuminating hidden corners of our inner lives.

Fiona Joy Hawkins is well known internationally. An Australian pianist, composer, and singer, she has performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie’s Weill Hall in New York and has been featured on Echoes/NPR Radio. Her piece
“Grace” was included on a Grammy-winning album in 2014, and she continues to explore new frontiers in contemporary instrumental music. For this recording, Hawkins selected a rare and exceptional instrument: a 97-key handmade Australian Stuart and Sons concert grand piano made from Huon Pine. The extended range and distinctive timbre of this piano give Hawkins’ compositions a rich and clear sound, creating an album with a remarkable blend of grandeur and intimacy that makes it stand out.

CClick here for the rest of the review

Wander EP

by Michael Borowski 

AV Review

"Wander," the latest solo piano EP by Michael Borowski, released on August 15, 2025, is an exquisite testament to the power of heartfelt simplicity. Composed, performed, and recorded in the quiet intimacy of his Philadelphia home studio, Borowski crafts an experience that invites listeners to slow down and rediscover the subtle joys tucked within each moment.

From the very first note, "Wander" establishes itself as a soulful journey through sound—a harmonious blend of melodies that encourages reflection and inspires wonder. Each track unfolds with delicate artistry, as if Borowski is gently guiding the listener along a winding path, offering moments to pause and consider not only the music but also the quiet beauty of life itself.

What makes "Wander" so immediately affecting is Borowski’s uncanny ability to connect directly to the listener’s heart. The music is at once delicate and powerful. In its most fragile, whisper-like passages, the piano seems to express the very vulnerability of human existence. Borowski’s restraint allows the space between notes to breathe, making every phrase feel intentional and imbued with emotion. The six compositions on this EP are subtle in their presentation, yet they communicate a depth of feeling that resonates beyond the confines of melody and harmony.

Click here for the rest of the review

Blue Landscapes V
by Robert Thies & Damjan Krajacic

AV Review

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.

Click here for the rest of the review

Dune Meditations
by Siddhartha Barnhoorn

AV Review

Dune Meditations by Siddhartha Barnhoorn

In the realm of ambient music, few albums offer the listener as immersive and genuinely introspective an experience as "Dune Meditations" by Siddhartha Barnhoorn. A composer and multi-instrumentalist based in Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, Barnhoorn has already established an impressive career scoring more than seventy films, with credits in celebrated projects like "Tears in the Rain," "BEYOND," "Antichamber," and "The Stanley Parable." Yet, with "Dune Meditations," Barnhoorn turns his creative focus inward, inviting listeners to join him on a deeply personal journey inspired by the tranquil beauty of the Dutch dunes.

"Dune Meditations" is the product of a unique creative process deeply rooted in place and presence. The album was born from a series of ambient guitar jam sessions, each one sparked by the meditative calm instilled during walks through the dunes of Katwijk aan Zee. Barnhoorn describes slipping into a flow-state upon returning from these walks, using his guitar to channel the subtle, wordless impressions left by the landscape’s shifting sands, whispering winds, and undulating horizons.

This connection to nature is not mere background to the music; it is its lifeblood. The dunes become both muse and medium, their silent wisdom and expansive calm echoing through each note. The result is a collection of meditative pieces that function not only as soundscapes, but as invitations—an open door to the listener’s own inner world.

Click here for the rest of the review

Chrysalis

AV Review

Chrysalis by Carolyn Fok

To listen to Carolyn Fok’s latest album, Chrysalis—released August 1, 2025—is to embark on a journey that traverses the infinite expanse between atoms and stars, between the invisible spark of a universe’s birth and the delicate miracle of a human life taking form. Over the course of 12 tracks, Fok, a pioneering Asian-American composer, painter, and writer, invites us to contemplate creation in both its cosmic and human dimensions.

Carolyn Fok’s artistic pedigree is as singular as it is profound. An award-winning painter, experimental electronic musician, and writer, she has carved an indelible niche in the world of avant-garde audio-arts. Her work has appeared in publications such as Electronic Musician, Keyboard, and Bikini, and her collaborations include such boundary-pushing artists as Elliot Sharp, Jack Hertz, Tim Story, Kevin Kendle, and Joaquin Lievano. Yet for all her accomplishments, Fok remains an intensely private creative force, choosing introspection and sonic experimentation over the trappings of public acclaim.

Fok’s fascination with music began in childhood. Recording stories into a tape recorder at the age of nine in 1976, she drew inspiration from her father’s homemade drum machine and reel-to-reel recorder, igniting a lifelong devotion to audio innovation. Growing up in the California suburb of Walnut Creek, she developed an idiosyncratic, self-taught approach to songwriting and sound design. This approach would serve her well as she began releasing solo records as CYRNAI in the mid-1980s, all while still in her teens. Her formative years were influenced by UK electronic pioneers like Cabaret Voltaire and The Human League, but it is the unique blend of popular rhythm constructs, raw sound design, and autobiography that defines her signature style.  

Click here for the rest of the review

Untethered Heart
by Peter Kater

AV Review

Untethered Heart by Peter Kater

Peter Kater, the Grammy-winning pianist and composer whose touch has graced new age, film, television, and theatre, returns with a luminous new album: Untethered Heart. Scheduled for release on August 22, 2025, this seven-track collection stands as both a culmination and a new beginning for Kater—an album that, true to its name, dances at the threshold between the familiar and the uncharted, between bittersweet farewells and the hopeful embrace of the unknown.

Untethered Heart is suffused with the profound and universal themes of release, transformation, and liberation. It is an album that acknowledges the weight of past attachments and the courage required to surrender them. In the hands of Kater, this journey is distilled into music that is at once deeply intimate and expansively cinematic—a rare balancing act that he executes with grace and wisdom.

From the opening notes, there is a sense of emotional candor—a willingness to be vulnerable and an invitation for the listener to do the same. The album’s narrative arc traces the movement from the first breath of freedom through flights of spirit, moments of enchantment and remembrance, and finally, the arrival at a state of boundlessness.

Kater’s signature solo piano remains the album’s beating heart: clear, resonant, and full of nuance. Yet, in Untethered Heart, he pairs this intimacy with lush orchestral strings, weaving a tapestry that is both personal and panoramic. The interplay between the
piano’s clarity and the strings’ sweeping emotion creates a soundscape that feels both immediate and infinite.

Click here for the rest of the review

Here Is Where

bby Paul Ellis

AV Review

Here Is Where by Paul Ellis

When Paul Ellis releases a new album, devotees of electronic music take notice. His latest offering, Here Is Where, recorded throughout 2024, stands as a testament to both the enduring legacy and the continued evolution of the Berlin School tradition. For those familiar with his oeuvre, this album feels like a refined distillation of Ellis’ deep understanding of sequencer-driven composition, ambient drift, and the art of musical storytelling through sound. For newcomers, this is an open gateway into a world of kaleidoscopic sonic landscapes, where the familiar boundaries of rhythm and melody dissolve into something altogether more expansive. This album was Paul’s project from beginning to end, including all the recording, producing, and mastering excellence that you will hear as you listen to this album. Paul did have help from Per Thomav on additional keyboards for the 23 minute Nostalgia for the Infinite track that ends out this project.

To appreciate the inventiveness and artistry of Here Is Where, it’s essential to trace its roots. The Berlin School, an influential style of electronic music, emerged in the 1970s—fueled by the pioneering synthesizer explorations of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, and Manuel Göttsching. Rather than relying on traditional song structures or pop hooks, Berlin School compositions are built on evolving sequencer patterns—repetitive, hypnotic, and subtly shifting. Early analog modular synthesizers were often the engines behind these sequences, generating looping melodic and rhythmic figures that provided a scaffolding for further improvisation and atmospheric layering. Pads, drones, and airy leads would meander over these foundation patterns, creating an experience as immersive as it was transportive.

Click here for the rest of the review

Cosmic Odyssey

(Releases August 15, 2025)

AV Review

Cosmic Odyssey by Jim Ottaway

In the ever-evolving landscape of electronic and ambient music, few names resonate with the same pioneering spirit and dedication to craft as Jim Ottaway. An international award-winning Australian musician and composer, Ottaway’s musical journey spans decades and genres, yet it is his ability to evoke emotion, imagination, and wonder through sound that has earned him a devoted global following. With the release of his latest album, Cosmic Odyssey, Ottaway once again invites listeners to embark on an auditory voyage—this time, into the limitless vastness of the cosmos.

The story of Cosmic Odyssey is itself a tale of time and transformation. The album’s ten tracks represent the culmination of a creative process that began as early as June 2005. Over the course of two decades, Ottaway meticulously recorded, revisited, and refined each composition, drawing from years of experience and the evolving possibilities of electronic music. The final touches were laid down in May 2025, and the album is set to be released on August 15, 2025. This extended gestation period is not simply a testament to Ottaway’s commitment to quality, but also reflects the organic, exploratory nature of the music itself.

Cosmic Odyssey is a sweeping journey across multiple sub-genres, unified by Ottaway’s unmistakable artistic voice. The album’s heart lies in space ambient music—a genre characterized by its lush sonic textures, ethereal atmospheres, and capacity to conjure images of starfields, nebulae, and cosmic phenomena. Yet, Ottaway refuses to be boxed in by a single style. Hints of neo-classical composition emerge in the album’s more structured pieces, lending an air of sophistication and emotional depth. Subtle nods to the Berlin School tradition—a movement known for its sequencer-driven patterns and hypnotic repetition—add rhythmic propulsion and a sense of retro-futurist nostalgia.

Click here for the rest of the review

Beloved

AV Review

Beloved by Paul Avgerinos

Paul Avgerinos, a luminary in the world of Ambient and New Age music, returns with his latest opus, Beloved, released fittingly on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025. As a Multi-Grammy® winning artist and producer with a staggering 300 million streams, Avgerinos has established a legacy of albums that invite listeners into profound states of peace, reflection, and deep emotional resonance. With Beloved, he crafts a sonic temple dedicated to love in all its forms—romantic, familial, spiritual, and universal.

From the first notes, Beloved beckons listeners into a world of luxuriant sound, where each track is imbued with an atmosphere of romance and tranquility. Avgerinos sets the tone with a simple, yet profound invitation: “Whoever, whatever you love the most, just love deeply with all your body, mind and soul, until you and the beloved become one.” This sentiment pulses at the heart of the album, guiding the listener through a journey of affection and unity.

The album’s lush production is immediately evident. Avgerinos, a classically trained multi-instrumentalist and singer, takes charge of vocals, cello, guitars, bass, and keyboards, weaving together textures that are both sensuous and deeply soothing. The slow, seductive belly dance beats that undergird many tracks provide a gentle rhythmic foundation, while the vocals, both lead and harmonized, caress the ears like a warm embrace.

Click here for the rest of the review

Depth

AV Review

Depth by Jaffe

With over three decades of musical experience, Jaffe stands as a multi-award-winning, genre-blending artist whose versatility and deep-rooted love for music have shaped a career defined by innovation and heartfelt storytelling. His artistry, recognized across various musical platforms, emerges not merely through technical prowess but also through a profound creative vision—one that consistently seeks out new sonic territories and ways to connect with listeners.

Now, with his second release on Wayfarer Records entitled Depth, Jaffe returns to present a beautifully crafted project that invites the audience to explore the profound and often mysterious realms of his musical imagination. Produced, composed, performed, mixed, and mastered entirely by Jaffe, this record serves as a testament both to his extraordinary range as a multi-instrumentalist and his singular approach to musical narrative.

Jaffe’s musical journey began more than 30 years ago, traversing a wide landscape of genres and influences. Over time, this rich background has nourished his unique perspective as an artist, enabling him to seamlessly weave together sounds and styles in ways that feel at once innovative and comfortingly familiar. Whether drawing from classical, jazz, ambient, or experimental idioms, Jaffe brings to each work an unmistakable voice—rooted in musicianship, guided by curiosity, and elevated by a storyteller’s touch.  

Click here for the rest of the review

Celestial Lullaby

AV Review

Celestial Lullaby by Brannan Lane and Billy Denk

Celestial Lullaby, released on July 18 by Wayfarer Records, marks a significant milestone in ambient music—a long-awaited collaboration between Brannan Lane and Billy Denk, two revered figures within the genre. For the first time, these celebrated artists have come together, blending their unique sonic signatures to create ten entirely new compositions that shimmer with creative synergy and captivating beauty.

Known individually for their evocative explorations of ambient, electronic, and chillout soundscapes, Brannan Lane and Billy Denk have each carved out distinctive paths within the genre. On Celestial Lullaby, they join forces not only as performers but also as co-composers and co-programmers, bringing a seamless unity to the album’s aesthetic. The result feels less like a merging of styles and more like a meeting of kindred spirits, each artist enhancing the other’s strengths.

Celestial Lullaby is awash in the gentle, expansive textures that define both artists’ discographies. Synthesizers are the primary palette: shimmering pads, nuanced melodic motifs, and subtly shifting harmonics drift together, conjuring a sense of serene weightlessness. The album’s electronic core never feels cold or mechanical; instead, there’s an organic warmth to the programming—a testament to the artists’ collaborative intuition and technical prowess.   

Click here for the rest of the review