Agrelia’s Castle – ELDERS & ANCESTORS: The image you see on the left is of two very special musicians; husband and wife Paul and April Brown created the beautiful music on this release as a part of their journey together through the challenges of cancer. I have listened to (literally) thousands of songs that use electronics, flutes and vocals to enhance your spiritual connections, and can say (without qualification) that this one, particularly on pieces like the opening title track, “Elders and Ancestors” (14:23), capture the beauty more poignantly than anything I’ve listened to in the last 10 years. As you listen to April’s vocal work on this one, you will know the true power that music can bring to life – I loved this piece!
The playing is primarily by April and Paul, but they did add some talent to assist them with the production of these beautiful tunes – Paul plays Hammond B-3, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion and April does Vocals, Native American Style Flutes, Drums, Percussion, BGVs and they are joined by Mike Farris on Vocals (Track 6), Tom Shinness doing Harp Guitar, Guitar, Cello, Bass Guitar (Tracks 3, 5, & 6); and Richard Cushing playing Sitar (Track 3) – and the talent they have assembled is clearly up to the task, especially on their rendition of the traditional “Wayfaring Stranger”… it runs for 10:22, giving plenty of time to build the tune from the flute intro to a full-bodied magical experience like you’ve never had… Mike’s vocal on this one is just WONDERFUL (this was the tune that I learned how to sing solo spirituals on many, many years ago – so it’s definitely a favorite) and will fill your heart with both sadness and joy!
What is most noticeable about what these two folks project through their music is the contentedness and peace they have in life, and they are able to do that without coming across (in any way) as pretentious, or “too new-agey”… having just been diagnosed with prostate cancer myself, I feel their message conveyed most effectively on tunes like the beautiful “Spirit Dreaming”… the mix of vocals, flutes and powerful keyboard work made this one my personal favorite of the seven offered up for your pleasure and enlightenment; I listen to this tune whenever I need encouragement (much more often these days, I can tell you).
I would recommend (very strongly) that you reserve an hour of totally quiet time, with your headphones on, for your first experience of this music… it’s filled with healing power and you owe it to your spirit to immerse yourself in that! I give Agrelia’s Castle a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of (a perfect) 5.00 – meaning that this also gets the “PICK” of 2015 for “most powerful healing music”. Get more information at the Mysterium Label page for this splendid and astounding release
