stevesheppard – Claudine West Music

Album Review by Steve Sheppard at One World Music Steve N Chrissie Owm “Western Mystical Tradition by Earth Tree Healing in my view is the best work

so far by the artist, each and every composition, each and every work of art is

gratefully received by these ever eager ears; this must go down as one of the

most remarkable new age styled albums to have been released this year, one I

have absolutely no problem recommending.”

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

file:///Users/claudsville/Downloads/Western%20Mystical%20Tradition.pdf

Western Mystical Tradition By Earth Tree Healing

Written by Steve Sheppard

There has never a better time to bring good healing music into this world than right now, when the very fabric of all that we once knew is being torn apart, by a lust for power, enabled by fear and negativity. Now with albums like this the gentle fight back of love and light will rise up, and this could well be the musical backdrop with which it happens.

Western Mystical Tradition is the latest release by Earth Tree Healing, who took us on a fine journey with Goddess earlier this year. This voyage of plenty starts with a lively short form musical introduction entitled Capodastro.

At this point we are delivered a composition which must be one of the best in this genre I have heard for years. The track is called Ethereal Sunset 432 Hz, the sound of the universe sweeps over our senses; this is the most beautiful piece of music that you’re ever likely to hear, the vibrational tone works for me, bringing chills to each and every hair on my arms, and the major minor chord structures, along with the build and progression here is utter quality, so much so I never wanted it to end.

Only twice have I see this actually occur, firstly the track is Murmuration and secondly for those who do not know, this refers to the phenomenon that results when hundreds, sometimes thousands, of starlings fly in swooping, intricately coordinated patterns through the sky. The swirling sounds and clever narrative on keyboards is absolutely perfect for this occurrence and one that is deeply fascinating to listen to.

On Mantra we are right in my ball park, to coin a phrase, or even an Americanism, the eastern values are strong here, but there is also an extremely cleverly crafted guitar, aiding what I think is a harmonium. When we gather the energies all together, a careful beat and percussive ethic joins this musical fray and completes a composition that almost takes me back to the late 60’s.

We are now nudging the middle of the album and some sumptuous acoustic guitar and a delicate keyboard greet our ever eager ears, as we herald the arrival of the track Sorrow of Souls, the further addition of strings here just creates a further lush dimension of sound to revel within.

Archipelago is our next docking port, and the gentle sea can be heard lapping up onto its shores. We have many stretches of water further west of us that have many small islands and a beautiful site it is as well. The multiinstrumental nature of this track alone is so well performed, and with such a mindful sense of balance as well, one can easily picture this scene through the music and be simply swept away by its overall chill out nature, a totally divine offering indeed.

The shortest track off the album is this one called Motion of the Moon, but even at only just over two and a half minutes long, it is one heck of an attractive offering, especially the performance on guitar in partnership the keyboards, one that manifested something quite graphic and addictive for us all.

We have three long form pieces now, so to our first spacious room of tone and vibration and it is called Orbital Ghosts, we now see a vast realm of musical brilliance open up before us, one so deep, yet bathed in a spectacular calmness of utter ambience. At just under ten minutes this breath-taking opus seems to drift over our senses like a late autumn mist, across a deep and dark lake, we are never quite sure what may or may not happen next, but the hovering anticipation of the keyboards and synths are just absolutely sublime.

Our longest track on the album is the following composition entitled Zodiacal Light. It partners the previous offering perfectly, but now also has that certain Kevin Kendle, super space music vibe about it as well. One could easily feel themselves floating up into the darkness of space to this one, perhaps even to watch the lights from the Orion nebula themselves. Synths and keyboards are the ship we now traverse the universe in, and the sublime sense of being able to just float within this composition is idyllic, if this track had lasted a whole hour I would not have minded.

Our penultimate piece is called Moonlight Arc, music akin to watching the moon rise on some distant world, a veritable soundtrack for this magical moment, the deep bass sound here was so incredible, the slowness was literally the arc of light gently rising to its zenith, this for me was one of my personal favourites on the album, and one that manifested something so very emotive and powerful as well.

Eulogy is our very last offering, a solo piano piece that takes us out of an album that has been incredibly impressive, a fine ending to a sublimely crafted and quite stunning release. Western Mystical Tradition by Earth Tree Healing in my view is the best work so far by the artist, each and every composition, each and every work of art is gratefully received by these ever eager ears; this must go down as one of the most remarkable new age styled albums to have been released this year, one I have absolutely no problem recommending.

https://www.oneworldmusic.co.uk/home/4576642839

Blessed, Grateful – Claudine October 2019.

Music Links

https://linktr.ee/earthtreehealing

https://claudinewestmusic.com/earth-tree-healing-music/

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.