Goddess Album Review – One World Music Radio

Take a moment to read in words what I created musically. A wonderful review of my new album. Thank you Steve Sheppard at One World Music Radio.

. https://www.oneworldmusic.co.uk/album-reviews/4577256830

“Goddess by Earth Tree Healing is one of those albums that captures your heart as it plays, it has 14 tracks within the album, but each one is manifested with such unique methodology and musical prowess that you never drift off and you literally can’t wait for the next offering to arrive.
To be honest this has been a refreshing change for me and one that I really enjoyed immensely, I have no problem recommending this release, it is inventive, artistic, well thought out and professionally produced and played, this album is what the new age music genre really needed right now.”

Earth Tree Healing Music Links http://hyperurl.co/ef3qxg

Full Review By Steve Sheppard at One World Music Radio https://www.oneworldmusic.co.uk/album-reviews/4577256830

Goddess By Earth Tree Healing Written by Steve Sheppard I first came across Earth Tree Healing (Claudine West) just a few years ago with the release of her impressive album 8 Sabbats. The album intrigued me as does this latest release Goddess. Be ready now for a voyage of voyages within the realms of this release and our starting point is Artemis. As you can imagine we have many buildings with this name here in Cyprus, the Greek goddess of the hunt and a daughter of Zeus. The steady purposeful movement on the keyboards here is a reminder of her stealth and guile perhaps. Next up is one of the most beautiful tracks off the album, it’s has a wonderfully reflective quality and quite mournful in parts, and called Selene. Selene is the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister of the sun-god Helios, the latter very well known here on the island, at just short of ten minutes, this is the longest track off the release and to be honest I wouldn’t have minded if it had been 19 minutes long it is simply divine, this is new age ambiance at its very best. The shadow of Hecate now drifts over our senses, the goddess of magic and all that moves in the dark realms of the night. This is the complete opposite of the last track with an intense percussive beat and some fantastic string work, creating an atmosphere of ritual and energy being raised, a full flowing harp also adds weight to what is a superbly powerful composition. How can one not get swept away by the sheer beauty of this next offering called Gaia, for those who are not sure, she is the Greek goddess of land and Earth, the mother of all life, and we must all be grateful she lets us walk on her back. The keyboard structures a really charming musical narrative here that is almost film score in style, and draws the portrait of our mother with a pristine clarity through music. I must admit I was really looking forward to this one, as we live on the island of love and just a few miles from Aphrodite’s birthplace at Petra tou Romiou, a beautiful place to visit and just a few miles east of my current location. The composition Aphrodite is idyllic, I could sit at her rock by the ocean and listen to this piece; it is so redolent of the subject matter. The gentle keyboards remind me in parts of some of the more ambient work of UK electronic musician Kevin Kendle and yes you have guessed it, this was my favourite piece off the release. I have now played this three times in a row, simply stunning indeed. Goddess Temple is now upon us, there is a real lightness of spirit about this offering that is so very compelling. There is a slight intensity of performance here which is fantastically alluring and the perfect track to place, as we edge ever closer to the mid-way point in the album, very classy work indeed. So that mid-way juncture has been reached and by doing so we have opened a portal up to the next composition called Bast, as now we travel over the ocean to Egypt to find, the protector of Cats, the warrior daughter of the great Ra himself. The smooth performance on this offering gives us an image of this sun drenched location with ease, and the keyboards and effects really manifest something so redolent of the subject matter. It seems as if this album was destined to land in my lap as now I move to the land of my ancestors in Wales and we visit the goddess Cerridwen, she who is the mistress of rebirth, transformation and inspiration. Listen out for the melody on this track it is addictive and beautifully constructed and the performances on keyboards is delightful and crafted sublimely. Now we must watch and enjoy the tones of this next composition with a deep seated interest, as we are presented the piece Morrigan, and our journey has taken us over the sea once again to Ireland. Morrigan, the great queen of the phantoms is a rhythmic track of great percussive quality and a stylish bass line. The Irish energy is strong in this one, as is the almost hypnotic performance on keyboards, a compelling arrangement indeed. One of my other favourites now plays before us, as we stay in Ireland for the track Brigid. The guitar here is so full and colourful it is a total pleasure to listen to, add the keyboards to this majesty and you have a truly poetic offering, which of course should be a given, as Brigid was considered the patron of arts, crafts and poetry among other things. This has to be the most charming arrangement off the album with ease. The percussive start for this next opus entitled Athena is startlingly superb and almost a little rocky in parts, which I have no problem with at all, the keyboards manifest a wondrous composition about the goddess who is credited to have brought and been responsible for, bringing the first Olive Tree into the world. There is a really clever regal element weaved into this composition which make it so powerful and attractive to listen to. We have now entered into the deeper waters of the release and have journeyed long and far to the east for this next composition called Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity. The performance here almost manifests a slight chill out styled motif, one that has a specific sense of the subject matter beautifully portrayed, with a stylish percussion and a delightful and fluent keyboard all contained within. For our penultimate offering we stay in India and pay a visit to the goddess of time, creation, destruction and power, Kali. Now you may have expected an all guns firing rhythmic offering here, but the artist has been really clever and crated a composition the flows with the benevolence of a mother who protects her children from misfortune. The sensitive performance on keyboards here truly shows what a class act the artist is and further highlights a whole new side to the goddess Kali. So to finish this project off with style, let’s raise the energy for the last offering called Dance of the Goddess. This is a track that simply does what it says on the can, a smooth dance motif is created by a compelling performance on keyboards and simply the most relevant way possible to close down what has been a simply fantastic journey of myth, magic and goddess for us all to enjoy. Goddess by Earth Tree Healing is one of those albums that captures your heart as it plays, it has 14 tracks within the album, but each one is manifested with such unique methodology and musical prowess that you never drift off and you literally can’t wait for the next offering to arrive. To be honest this has been a refreshing change for me and one that I really enjoyed immensely, I have no problem recommending this release, it is inventive, artistic, well thought out and professionally produced and played, this album is what the new age music genre really needed right now.

GODDESS ALBUM COVER ART

Claudine West Music

Music Links 

Apple Music

YouTube Claudine West Channel

Official Site

Claudine West Art on Red Bubble

Facebook

Facebook Claudine West Music

Facebook Earth Tree Healing

Twitter

@claudinewmusic

@claudsville75

@earthtreeheal

Instagram Claudine West  @claudsville

Claudsville Blog https://claudsville.wordpress.com/

Claudine West Art https://claudinewestart.wordpress.com/

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Goddess Album )0( Earth Tree Healing

Goddess by Earth Tree Healing released 2nd February 2019.  New Age instrumental music From British composer and multi-instrumentalist, Claudine West. Recorded in 2018 in Nottingham.

Available now on digital stores. CD’s from Amazon Music. 

Music Links (iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play) Earth Tree Healing Music

https://open.spotify.com/embed/artist/6mPpC4hlyq6kpVHhpPehOx

Watch here:

Track Listing

  1. Artemis
  2. Selene
  3. Hecate
  4. Gaia
  5. Aphrodite
  6. Goddess Temple
  7. Bast
  8. Cerridwen
  9. Morrigan
  10. Brigid
  11. Athena
  12. Lakshmi
  13. Kali
  14. Dance Of The Goddess

Sometimes I create my best works when I feel vulnerable, at a loss with life. My escape into Claudsville, into rapture. Music is my Panacea. I’ve struggle at times with depressive episodes. If I don’t look after myself.  If sustained stress encapsulates me, I fight but eventually crumble into a desert wilderness. Low mood, the fog, hopelessness surrounded me in 2018..many many months.

A sustained draining and soul destroying circumstances bled me to the brink. I’d put on the acting face of ‘everything is ok.’ Eventually my health and wellbeing became cake left out in the rain. Deterioration lead to the inevitable health, emotional and mental health issues. I’d gotten quite poorly so took time out to heal. I didn’t want to lose my relationship or sanity.

Cycling round the lake. Being amongst the beauty of the trees. Meditation, and music making. Months later.. week by week. I began to feel like myself again. It became a very private withdrawn time. Talking about it did not help. My recuperation plan worked. My Lesson: Never let the day job damage and drain me to the walk to the edge of a chasm and dip my toes in the despair. When the sunshine gets shut out during a heatwave, it’s time to swim upon the tides of the moon.

The experience I am grateful of… As I will never have to suffer it again. I won’t allow it to happen again. I let myself down and others by not being fully honest with myself and allowing the harm and anger to take hold. We are all accountable for our actions. Humans can be selfish. Some don’t care about the ripples in the water they create, that build up to tidal waves. Life lessons are there to teach us. In some ways I’m far too sensitive to exist in this maddening world. Put an empath in a tunnel of pain and observe the carnage.

I found Zen creating this album. This infinite and connection to Goddesses.

There were days when I’d call upon a particular Goddess. But a different one appeared. The music poured, oh how it eloquently poured out. It was like lying on snow looking up to the sky. With every detail of snowflakes tinted with rainbows. My breathing returned after being stifled. The warmth embraced and travelled beyond the timeless gentle deeper dark of my meditations. The connection to Earth, Trees.. the healing of the skies. The composing became a cycle of daily therapy. It energised. It comforted. I indulged in sunsets and horizons. It made my world more alright.

The Triple Goddess, The Maiden, The Mother, The Crone )0( I sought Goddess of the hunt, Artemis in the wilderness. Under a magical moon I meditated to Selene. At the crossroads I asked for guidance and protection from Hecate. I became one with the Earth in the woods and the sky with Mother Earth, Gaia. In my darkest times I reached for the sea and asked for the return of feelings and love from Aphrodite. I retreated into meditations often in the Goddess Temple. Protector of Cats, Bast… Our 3 cats were very much part of recording this. I enjoyed further inspiration, music and creativity with Cerridwen. I called upon Morrigan, Goddess of war and fate. To help me endure my battles within. Healing came from The Celtic Goddess of Fire, Brigid, which I have also honoured with my track Imbolc from my album 8 Sabbats  Athena gave me direction and taught me how to better cope. We drove around Snowdonia under blue skies to her sounds. Asking for assistance from Lakshmi Goddess of abundance. We lit candles in the dark. Helping us see the way and what we have to do for the self sustained life we aim for. When you dance with death, there is the liberation of rebirth and Motherly love. I thank Kali. The 14th and final track in this album is Dance Of The Goddess. It comes from Blood Moon We end this journey with honouring and free movement and expression of dance for all. New beginnings…

Breath in the awe-inspiring. Recharge by the sea. Be well, indulge, connect, ask, sleep well.

~ Claudine

Claudine West Music

Music Links 

Apple Music

YouTube Claudine West Channel

Official Site

Claudine West Art on Red Bubble

Claudine West LinkedIn

Soundcloud

Bandcamp

Facebook

Facebook Claudine West Music

Facebook Earth Tree Healing

Twitter

@claudinewmusic

@claudsville75

@earthtreeheal

Instagram Claudine West  @claudsville

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Claudsville Blog https://claudsville.wordpress.com/

Claudine West Art https://claudinewestart.wordpress.com/

The Band

Strange Currencies 

Twitter @strangecu https://twitter.com/strangecu

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Claudine West 2018

Discography – Earth Tree Healing on digital stores:

  1. Goddess (2019)
  2. Reiki (2018)
  3. Candle Gardeners (2018)
  4. 8 Sabbats (2017)
  5. Archangel Divination 2 (2017)
  6. The Journey (2017)
  7. Archangel Divination (2016)
  8. Citadel (2016)
  9. Meditation Chronicles (2014 only on Bandcamp)
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Claudine West & Angela Barker