Browsing Tag

Meditation Music

Tha Blaqsmith crafted a monastery-esque mindscape with the lo-fi beats in his latest release, What is Meditation

The Last Day EP by Tha Blaqsmith

In the bustling sphere of modern music, Tha Blaqsmith, a California-Las Vegas based producer, crafted a unique auditory experience for their latest release, What Is Meditation, and invited his listeners on a voyage into the realms of inner peace and heightened consciousness, led by the guiding light of Edwin “Tha Blaqsmith” McCain’s innovative spirit.

From the outset, the mindfulness bells resonate, echoing the sacred sounds of a Tibetan singing bowl. This introduction is not just an opening but a ticket into a sanctuary of serenity. The bells set the stage, transporting the listener to the tranquil corridors of a Buddhist monastery, a setting where the mind finds solace and the soul, harmony.

As the journey unfolds, a crackling spoken word recording emerges, reminiscent of an old sage imparting wisdom on the essence of meditation. This element adds a layer of authenticity and warmth, bridging the gap between the ancient practice and the contemporary listener. The lo-fi beats then make their entrance, maintaining the tape recording crackles, a subtle nod to Tha Blaqsmith’s affinity for vinyl records and drum breaks. This fusion of the old and the new creates a soundscape that is both nostalgic and refreshingly novel.

The ambient elements that flow into the track further enhance this meditative experience. Tha Blaqsmith’s skill in blending these sounds demonstrates his unorthodox approach to music. With no formal background in composing, his natural inclination towards music shines through, offering a raw, yet refined essence to the hip-hop genre.

What is Meditation was officially released on December 31 in The Last Day EP; stream the EP in full on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Andy Hobson brought ascending melodicism to sonic meditation with his latest single, Rise

https://soundcloud.com/andyhobsonmusic/rise/s-P1ghFdxlrW2?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The London, UK-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and spiritual teacher Andy Hobson is so much more than a diamond in the rough. With his latest single, Rise, he is the calm in the ever-calamitous storm that can’t seem to break away from our shores.

From the outro, you will feel some Nick Drake nostalgia. From there on out, the ethereal orchestral strings under the vibrantly ascending acoustic strings deliver heightened emotion exclusive to Hobson’s meditatively inventive take on alt-rock.

If you merged the plaintive sting of The Verve, the unrelenting compassionate tenacity of Nada Surf in their Let Go era with Radiohead-style gravitas and a burning sense of responsibility to spill the equanimity, the end result wouldn’t be too far away from the profound alchemy in Rise.

Here is what Andy Hobson had to say on his latest single:

“This is a bittersweet song about the passing of time and seeing the ups and downs of life as the same thing. Both can lead to new adventures. The song started as a dance track with big drums and a groovy bass line, but the emotion of the melody and lyrics didn’t really fit, so I stripped it back to acoustic guitar and wrote a haunting string section to give a final lift in the outro.”

Save a spot on your radar, as Hobson’s debut LP is due for release in 2023.

Rise, which was mastered by Stefano Ferracin and features Tom Meadows (Kylie/Will Young) on drums, is due for official release on July 8th, 2022. Check it out on Spotify & SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

When Mountains Speak pays homage to Coltrane in their celestially Avant-Garde release Electric Trane

When Mountains Speak

‘Electric Trane’ is the latest spiritual-to-the-point-of-celestial ambient world music piece from the Coltrane-inspired artist, When Mountains Speak (Steven Wright Clarkson).

Between the entrancingly tribal drums, the Eastern-inspired strings, and the gorgeous layers of dark and light electronic effect, Electric Trane brings ambient music into a brand-new realm. Sure, it hits you with a heady dose of catharsis, yet, by permitting this track to arrest your rhythmic pulses and allowing the soundscape to get darker and more enticing as it progresses, Electric Trane became so much more than a sonic experience. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to a Glenn Branca Fan, yet, the 8-minute release is undoubtedly one of the most spiritual I will hear this year.

Check out Electric Trane for yourselves by heading over to When Mountains Speak’s website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast