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Artist: Bradley Joseph Reviews:
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Minneapolis-area resident Bradley Joseph departs dramatically from the previous more explosive and dynamic music on his first two recordings, Hear the Masses and Rapture, on this album, his fifth release. One Deep Breath has two separate "personalities:" piano and keyboard-based ambient/new age soundscapes (primarily the first and last tracks) and more adult contemporary/classically-flavored songs. From a purely subjective standpoint, I prefer the former, but all the songs are solid compositions and are performed with sincerity, grace, and an abundance of technique. "Is This a Dream?" which is the opening track, features a Tim Story-like simple piano refrain draped in minor-key synths and occasional mixed (i.e. male and female) choir samples singing what sounds like Latin. The somberness of the piece and the minimalism won me over on first listen. Closing out the album (and the most ambient track on the CD) is the ten minute-plus title song and it is stunning, both in its execution and how radical a change it is from what has come before. Fantastic Liquid Mind-like ultra lush synth washes serenely caress the air while muted background keyboard textures add soft "coloring" (along with water sounds/waves crashing on the shore). As the lushness wears away, a simple pleasant drone courses underneath a sustained bell-tone, but after a brief music-less (just the waves) interlude, another ambient texture is introduced, spacier and yet also just as beautiful as the earlier passages (again reminiscent of Liquid Mind as those lush choral effects re-emerge). Another interlude with just waves occurs, followed by gentle sparkling high tone bells and lower register warm drones and synth chords. More melodic stretches of elegant synthesizer washes lends an air of contentment to the later stages of the track. As the song concludes, the music fades farther and farther into the background until only the sound of waves remains. Of the other eight tracks, some are similar to the work of artists like David Lanz, Kevin Kern and others who bring a rich melodic sensibility to piano-led new age/adult contemporary music. "Wildflowers" is sweeping and romantic, while "Dreamer's Lullaby" is child-like and delicate in its simplicity, featuring excellent use of electronic keyboards intermixed with the piano on plucked strings and bells. I might've softened up the rhythm accompaniment just a smidgen, especially when the snare drums enter the cut, though. "A Moment's Rest" blends nostalgic-feeling ambient/new age washes with romantic melodies on the piano, assisted by flute and oboe (I think) samples later in the track that have a gentle lilting air to them. "Inside the Sky" opens with floating synth chords fused with ethnic percussion samples and twinkling bell trees, but soon develops into a reflective piano tone poem enhanced with discrete use of synth strings and keyboard textures here and there. I prefer this side of Bradley Joseph over his more classically-influenced neo-romanticism, but that's my preference so take it as you will. "If I Could Fly" is a light-hearted uptempo number played primarily on assorted electronic keyboards. It's far and away the catchiest number on the album, especially when the kinetic loping rhythms are wedded to synth chorals. As I stated earlier, One Deep Breath is an album with two distinct "feels" to it: the more serene new age/ambient soundscapes that bookend the inner tracks and the more radio-friendly and mainstream music in-between. That Bradley Joseph is adroit at both (especially his abilities with the mostly ambient title track) impressed me to no end. While I doubt fans of Liquid Mind or other mainly electronic new age music artists would wholly embrace the overt romanticism of piano-led tracks like "Dancers Waltz" or "Dreamer's Lullaby," there is definite appeal on the album for fans of adult contemporary piano pieces as well as for lovers of the more minimal approach to new age music. I'll admit that I'd love to hear Bradley explore the ambient territory further on a future release, but for now One Deep Breath is a refreshing blend of the more traditional with the ethereal.
Author Jules Verne took his characters "Around The World In Eighty Days." However, musician Bradley Joseph takes us around the world in one play of this 51-minute long CD. Partially a conceptual project, Joseph presents World Christmas melodies that have endured for centuries making this a unique Christmas project that allows you to enjoy it all year long. Joseph is a native of Minnesota and while he made progress within his home state, his first big break came courtesy of touring with Yanni from 1990-1995. The constant paycheck and eye-opening experience transcended into his first solo album Hear The Masses that also featured Yanni's drummer Charlie Adams. Though Yanni influences were apparent (and clearly respected considering his recent return to touring with Yanni), he also showed his unique style that includes keyboards with an underlying vocal expression. The self-produced solo album was enough to attract the attention of the little big label called Narada who signed him. This resulted in the magnificent "Rapture" followed up by the scaled down introspective 1999 "Solo Journey" that while simplistic was still breath-taking. Which brings us to this 2000 Christmas release that, though unique in concept, does not quite meet the high standard that is associated with Bradley Joseph. The intent was to bring a very unique Christmas recording and that he does with flying colors, transporting us around the world in one play of the CD. Unfortunately, the concept is offset by a limited thin and sparse production. This weakness is most evident via the upbeat "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" that includes poor use of loops and drum machines. The creative world theme originates in Eastern Europe courtesy of the Polish carol "Quickly On To Bethlehem." Joseph proceeds to globetrot around the world from northern Norway to Russia to Japan to the United States to Mexico back to the Mother Country England courtesy of the traditional carol "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Tradition is further supported by the more common carols "Silent Night"(Austria), "Joy To The World" (Germany) and "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" (also of Germany). Yet it appears that Joseph's stronger arrangements are via the less traditional ventures evident via the exotic Mexican rooted carol "Riu, Riu Ciu" and the self penned "Far Away On Christmas Day." The latter show's influences of the fluid and flowing Bradley Joseph I have come to know and love. The only other self-penned composition is "A Minnesota Snowfall" that reflects a more naked bare-boned ballad approach. It is my hope that returning to the Yanni road show will give this very talented musician the opportunity to secure the support and budget of a record label. Despite mixed results, largely due to the production, the concept clearly supports the continued ambitious talents of this creative and warm musician. |