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The Sounding Board by R J Lannan |
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RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board. |
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| Dreams of the Forest |
| By Marc Enfroy |
| Label: Dream Score Music |
| Released 6/12/2012 |
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| Dreams of the Forest tracks |
1. The Forest Awakens
2. Waiting for Sunrise
3. Miracle in the Glade
4. Woodland Waltz
5. Nocturne
6. Fireflies
7. Goodbye Summer
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8. Reaching for the Sky
9. Pines in the Mist
10. After the Rain
11. In the Still Air
12. The Return of Spring
13. Fawn's First Leap
14. Postlude
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Music Gone Green |
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Marc Enfroy has changed his tune, literally. Or more specifically, musically. I have known Marc's music for some time now and he is usually prone to gentle, romantic ballads, but his new album Dreams of the Forest is different. It is not just New Age piano, but ethereal vocalise, warm strings, and placid nature themes. Yes, Enfroy has gone native and we are the better for it. Dreams of the Forest is the kind of album I have not heard in a while. You would think that they are a dime a dozen, but they are not. Not the good ones. This is one of the good ones.
The recording opens with a glorious tune called The Forest Awakens. It is a time of half light as the stars fade and the horizon brightens with a glow of gold. Life stirs from branch, den, nest and warren. Any moment now a bird will call and insects will buzz with new life. Moisture will build up on leaf and twig and warmth will spread with every nuance of shadow. The day becomes full of light and Waiting for Sunrise reminded me of something Jean-Pierre Rampal would do. There is a remarkable haunting flute courtesy of Jack Chen in it that adds an otherworldly tone to the song. I could sense the light as it traveled along the earth, grew in the sky and finally became dappled in the tree tops. The rays were solid to the eye as the motes stirred in the air and the light became palpable.
Miracle in the Glade has some wonderful orchestration in it which makes it sound quite cinematic. A light, insubstantial voice drones in the background, sounding celestial as the warm piano theme plays on. The miracle is the beauty that I could envision as light and water, coming together in a clearing, make the place beautiful with green growth and flora that defies the imagination. White rhododendrons, pink mountain laurel and wild flame azaleas combine in a rainbow of delicate pastel colors. I had help with this tune as I had just returned from an outing on the Blue Ridge Parkway where Marc’s music seemed to be quite at home.
You can keep your 4th of July fireworks on a hot summer’s night. Marc’s song, Fireflies reminded me that Nature has her own living fireworks all summer long and they are yet to be bested. Pinpoints of animated green light speckle the night like olivine jewels reminding me that even when the lights go out, there is continuity in life. I admit that the song Goodbye Summer put me in mind of many of Gary Stadler's fairy tunes. Very airy and delicate, the song is a farewell to the heat and heart of the year. Everything happen in summer; the height of Nature's activities, the growth and the blossoming of the earth. It will be hard to say farewell. Marc's piano theme is, not surprisingly, like a love song, an ode to a season.
The album closes with something appropriately called Postlude. Away is the heat and bright light and it will soon be replaced with shorter days, cool breezes and falling leaves. It is a time when petals fall from the flowers, seeds bursts forth and the green begins to turn to russet and tan. Nature wastes nothing and all that falls or disappears will become part of the nourishment of the earth. Thinking that, it is not so sad.
Dreams of the Forest has become my favorite Marc Enfroy album hands down. The themes were gentle, the compositions were splendid and the moods were very easy going. Perfect for a summer night or any night. I hope he continues in this natural vein, as I believe he has struck musical gold. |
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Rating: Very Good  |
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- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 8/24/2012 |
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