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review by Bill Binkelman Serenity Now is a pleasant and enjoyable trip back to the glory days of new age music, played out on an assortment of electronic keyboards by Rob Wallace. I haven't heard (newly-recorded) music like this in many years. Twinkling bell tones, lush synth strings, wind-chime-like keyboards - yup, it's all here, and I, for one, am glad to have someone recording music unabashedly colored with optimism, love, and light once again. Of course, don't misunderstood my enthusiasm for this recording as a knock on the current practitioners of what is considered new age music - there are plenty of artists today whom I enjoy as well. And, in fact, some of Wallace's music reminds me of Kevin Kendle's (my favorite new age music artist) earlier recordings (such as Eventide and First Light). There are twelve songs on Serenity Now and, while each one varies from the others in subtle ways, there are also obvious commonalties in mood and instrumentation. Almost every track derives any sense of rhythm whatsoever from the melody - there are no overt beats here (one track has some percussive textures, though). Practically every note played is in a major key - you'll find little or nothing dark or scary here either. While some keyboard "sounds" are repeated, Wallace also mixes it up - sampled flute, some soaring strings, and a harpsichord ("The Calling"); warm wind-chime-like bells and softly angelic synth choruses ("Serenity Now"); bell tones hovering over warm synth washes with a pan flute lead melody line ("Forest Spirit"); and gentle plucked guitar strings riding on top of a loping sampled hand drum rhythm and an undercurrent of synths ("Waters of the Pantanal"). Audio purists may hear a certain sameness to the keyboards throughout the album, and I admit it's there. Identical bell tones, in particular, are in evidence throughout many tracks. But I like those bell tones - a lot! So, I say, bring 'em on! Perhaps some people will hear the keyboards as being a bit under-produced. That's part of the album's appeal for me, personally. I get tired of too many "gee whiz" electronics in the mix sometimes. Another potential failing to the CD (although it's not for me) is the obvious "heart on his sleeve" sincerity that Wallace displays. Cynics may think they've wandered into some fantasy magical kingdom (there is that feel to some songs, in fact). Likewise, lovers of "warm" ambient music may find the overt new age music elements and musical textures too sweet or even cloying. Hey, no single album can please everyone. Serenity Now, however, will warm your heart if you (like me) remember the mid to late '80s (and maybe even the early '90s) when metaphysical bookstores were selling all kinds of albums like this one. In my opinion, with how screwed up the world is now, many of us could do with a little trip back to some simpler times (even if just musically simpler) - a time when the crushing weight of realism/pessimism was yet to be felt as heavy as it is today. Rob Wallace has crafted a fine album of classic new age music that will help the hopeless romantics (like me) and the hopeful idealists (also like me) forget our troubles - at least for a while; and, that is more than enough for me to give Serenity Now a solid recommendation. |
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