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Review by Bill Binkelman Don't be dissuaded by the title of this CD from multi-genre artist Calvin Coolidge II. Yes, the serene and beautiful synth choral music within could be taken as a spiritual treatise or a literal meditation on God (as the title indicates). However, what someone like yours truly (an agnostic) hears in this album is a recording comparable in sound and mood to releases from Liquid Mind (Chuck Wild) and Larry Kucharz. Like Wild, Coolidge works with multiple flowing synthesizers, glowing warmly with positive tonalities, as well as lush synth chorals (male and female) to craft peaceful soundscapes which surround the listener with waves of smooth electronic comfort. On some tracks, similarities to Larry Kucharz's choral recordings surface, as Coolidge's music can be sparse, even minimal, and makes strong use of the identical way that Kucharz integrates chorals with synth chords and washes. Coolidge's engineering and production is close to that of both Wild and Kucharz, but this is his first foray into this subgenre, so you can't expect the technical aspects of this CD to measure up to those two "old-timers." Wild, in particular, is among the most meticulous and perfectionist artists recording today and his albums sound like it. Still, Meditations On God and the Meaning Of Life is solid and has no flaws that I could discern. In Coolidge's favor is a fair amount of variety (given the limitations of working within a narrow scope) between songs. "Presence" for example is more minimal and even somewhat spacy when compared to some of the other tracks, such as the opening "Entrance" which is sprinkled with twinkling tones and carried along by a combination of chorals and church organ chords. "Benevolence" is particularly peaceful, almost as if the music was wrapping its arms around the listener, seeking to comfort and protect him or her. There are eight tracks on the album, duration varying from under-three minutes to the closing "Requiem" which clocks in at more than twelve minutes. Some pieces do have a stronger slant toward overt hymn-like qualities, such as the ethereal "Ode," but I still maintain that forming a religious or spiritual connection to this CD is not necessary in order to enjoy it. You can just as easily light a few candles in a darkened room and savor the slowly unfolding charms and serenity of "Requiem" (which, despite its title, is seldom if ever sad, mournful, or elegiac, instead being softer and more comforting in emotional content). Having released well-done albums of guitar-centered-ensemble adult contemporary music (Seconds) and a bouncy excursion into contemporary electronica (Club Tiaj), Meditations On God and the Meaning Of Life is not just a surprise thematically and musically, but also underscores how comfortable and accomplished Calvin Coolidge II is in yet another genre. For fans of Liquid Mind and Kucharz's choral works (or other similar artists), this CD should merit strong consideration. Also, if you are looking for de-stressing music, it doesn't get more peaceful than this. Whatever your religious affiliation, even if none at all, the album carries my recommendation as an excellent example of floating electronic music with a warm positive feeling behind it. |
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