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review by Bill Binkelman Eclipse, Music of the Soul, will appeal to music fans who enjoy their new age music with a decidedly neo-classical sound to it. These thirteen electronic keyboard instrumentals may remind astute listeners of the Baroque and other similar periods. Overtly romantic and structured around melodic refrains, the songs on the CD are enjoyable and pleasing to the ear, both as background accompaniment during activity and also as direct listening. It's worth mentioning is that there will be little doubt to the trained ear that these are sampled instruments, especially the wind instruments. To Davis' credit, his composition skills are solid so that any weaknesses (and I use that term in a subjective way) of less-than-realistic instrumentation is balanced against music that is dramatic, well-recorded, and interesting to absorb over multiple playings. I'll admit I never cared for the opening "anthem of the heart" with its in-your-face trumpet fanfare, although it fits with the song's title. However, the second track, "many years past," opens with a wonderfully lush string passage and ushers in what I consider to be the "meat" of the album. Delicate plucked-string keys and piano on that cut are blended in with bowed-strings to craft a softly romantic piece. Davis' piano work throughout the CD (a digital piano, if I'm on the mark), is a highlight. "yearning" is appropriately somber and low-key, while the next track, "emerald hills" offers up a jaunty "countryside" vibe undercut only slightly by a slightly shrill solo string sample. But I enjoyed the sprightly melody and cheeriness of the piece. Davis' strengths are his attention to detail in his compositions and the music's thematic continuity that runs through the entire recording. When I went for a walk and listened to this on headphones, it proved to be an excellent "soundtrack" to the leisurely stroll. I especially liked Davis' warmth and feeling in pieces such as "contemplation" (piano-centered) and "picnic in provence" (sampled acoustic and bass guitar). The best word to describe Davis' music is probably "genteel." In some ways, some of these pieces remind me of Jim Chappell's piano and ensemble albums like Living the Northern Summer or Acadia, although Davis favors electronic keyboards versus Chappell's acoustic piano. Where Chappell's compositions lean toward the adult contemporary genre, Davis aligns closely to classical music. Personally, I wish he had explored the laid-back jazziness of the song "view to the bay" more, because I think this is also one of the album's strongest cuts, in that the electronic nature of his music is less hampered here than it can be in the classical genre (although, again, this is a personal opinion with my bias showing). All in all, Eclipse, Music of the Soul, is a well-executed recording. It's obviously not for ambient or EM fans. It's unashamedly romantic, wearing its heart on its sleeve at all times. Davis has written appealing music and he plays it with conviction and style. That's good enough for me. |
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