Soul Mates & Kindred Spirits

Label: Geofonica
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 645498000721
EAN: 0645498000721
ASIN: B0002OPLHQ

Release Date: 2004-08-03

Related Categories:

General

| New Age | Styles | Music

Jazz

| New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Listmania:

Most Requested Dinner Music: Non-Intrusive INSTRUMENTALS
GUYS: a little ROMANCE FOR YOUR GAL (from A to Z)
with gratitude for a friend, indeed

Tracks:

Kindred Spirits
Gift of the Heart
Found A New World In A Friend
You Inspire Me
Wild Ponies
Listening
The Buddy System (Fugue for Fast Friends)
Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall
Forgive, Forget
Two Pairs of Old Soft Shoes
In The Moment (Earth & Mars, 8.27.03, 2:51 AM)
Our Share of Craziness
Just Being There
Thinking Good Thoughts About You
Air for Soul Mates
Giving Wings (To Help Each Other Fly)

Similar Items:

Music for Rest & Renewal (with nature sounds)
Siesta Beach: Spanish Guitar
Montana: A Love Story
Detaching the World Vol. 1 - Ambient Music for Massage/Relaxation/Meditation
Piano Cascades

Customer Reviews:

A Soothing And Romantic Instrumental.......2005-04-28

The talented and creative Bradley Powell is the Candlelight Guitarist. His music is original and some of the most soul soothing I have ever heard. "Soul Mates and Kindred Spirits" is his second CD and is sure to receive the same warm reception as his first, "Music For Rest And Renewal." The original release had Mr. Powell playing solo on the acoustic guitar, accompanied by sounds from nature, including the ocean, birds, rainfall, a stream and waterfall, fireside and night sounds. This latest offering has more of a contemporary, romantic, smooth jazz sound, which is good, although I'm a nature person myself. I live in NYC and am really deprived of natural white noise.

Other musicians join Powell on the 16 new tracks offered here, adding a fuller instrumental sound to the mix. A few of my favorites include, "Gift of the Heart," backed by strings, as well as some of the sounds of nature I am so taken with. "Wild Ponies," with its percussion rhythm, is a track I particularly enjoy, as well as many of the cuts with flute accompaniment.

I often come home from work stressed-out to the max, put this CD on and after a while the tension just flows away to the strains of this easy-on-the-ears music. A perfect instrumental album to play during a cozy dinner for two, or on a rainy Sunday afternoon - just the right sound for kicking back and relaxing. Accompanying Powell here are kindred spirits, Joey Cataldo on drums; Perez D'Agostino, percussion; Gilberto Hildavio, alto, soprano and bass flutes, English horn, clarinets; Mark Massey, Rhodes piano (on cuts 3, 12, 14); Darius Channing, keyboards; Mark Adams, French horn; and David Siebels, conductor on tracks 2, 8, 16.

The artist features a quotation on his Website, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which is extremely appropriate to the music he makes, "Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting -- a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I highly recommend "Soul Mates and Kindred Spirits." It has quiet soul and is good for the heart.
JANA

A Place Where the Heart Finds Joy........2005-03-29

In 2001, Bradley Powell released a CD entitled "Music for Rest and Renewal" under the name The Candlelight Guitarist: stirred by that September's events, and as his contribution to the healing process that followed and that is still ongoing. Three years later, he returned with "Soul Mates & Kindred Spirits;" like the 2001 album a collection of gentle guitar melodies, but this time adding not only nature sounds, flutes and oboes but also other instruments, such as string bass, drums and percussion, keyboards, and French horn.

Powell picked up his first guitar at age ten and later had the opportunity to study, inter alia, with jazz guitarist Joe Pass, Dr. Ronald Purcell (including one master class taught by Andres Segovia), and David Rose of "Little House on the Prairie" fame. It is that latter influence, and his work with studio composer Mike Post, that shines through here more than on "Music for Rest and Renewal:" Whereas on his first CD, his guitars are soothing voices speaking to all those looking for a few moments of peace and quiet, many of the pieces on "Soul Mates and Kindred Spirits" indicate a composer visualizing his topics as well as hearing them: There are those little horses' fast hooves in "Wild Ponies," there is the multi-voiced interaction of a group of friends in "The Buddy System," as well as the progress, but also the harmony of the seasons in "Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall," you do see those "Two Pairs of Old Soft Shoes" sauntering and gallivanting about, and you can picture some of those Soul Mates "Giving [each other] Wings" to help each other fly, as the closing piece's subtitle suggests. Most of the pieces are upbeat and, generally, faster than those on "Music for Rest and Renewal," but there are also a few slower, reflective tracks reminiscent of the first CD's general mood (e.g. "Gift of the Heart," "Listening," "Forgive, Forget," and "Just Being There"). Powell's fingerstyle technique is clear and a particular joy to listen to on the pieces that, like the better part of his first CD, put his guitars front and center: "Listening," "Forgive, Forget," "In the Moment" (inspired, as the subtitle suggests, by the astronomical snapshot of Earth and Mars at 2:51 AM during the night of August 27, 2003; and thus again reflecting a visual stimulation), as well as "Just Being There" and "Air for Soul Mates."

Contacted by email, Mr. Powell was reluctant to give specifics as to the types of guitars and strings used in the recording, but kindly confirmed that most of the pieces are played in standard tuning, with the guitar tuned down to D for only one track ("You Inspire Me"). He also mentioned the place that both guitars featured on this CD have in his life: one, his everyday companion; the other, a guitar that has been in his possession since college and has been fine-tuned by the hands of luthier Jose Oribe.

With his music, Bradley Powell wants to take you to a place "where tension is cast off, simplicity is embraced, the physical body is most relaxed, and the inner spirit is lifted up," he writes on his website; and he continues: "You don't really *think* in this place (does a bird *think* about flying?) ... you fully participate in the moment. It's a peaceful place, where the heart finds joy." In that, Powell succeeds admirably.

Gorgeous music.......2005-02-07

Have you ever had one of those days? You wake up on the wrong side of the bed. You stub your toe getting out of bed. You burn your toast. Miss the bus. Late in to work and the boss yells at you. You miss a deadline, you miss lunch, and then you miss the bus again. You pay an exorbitant fee for a taxi home, and when you get there you find that there's nothing for dinner. Well,...you're not alone. That is when you need a Soul Mate & Kindred Spirit. Pop this cd into your stereo and let these gorgeous sounds relax and restore you. The only thing it cannot do is stop the grumbling in your belly...so go get some food. Food and this cd...YEP...you'll go to bed feeling restored...guaranteed. :)

Plays the Guitar Like a Man In Love.......2005-01-29

Bradley Powell, playing as the `Candelight Guitarist' has composed a lovely and enjoyable CD in SOUL MATES & KINDRED SPIRITS that one can at once sense his affinity for the instrument as he loves, caresses and plays it as one would their lover. He plays it moodily, playfully and imbues his audience with both a sense of peace (tracks Kindred Spirits, Giving Wings) and playfulness (Two Pairs of Old Soft Shoes) along with plenty of other tracks that were also wonderfully produced and played.

I found this to be a sensitive and very relaxing CD that would be a perfect companion on a long drive or just kicking back with your significant other or a fabulous book! AND not to make light of the music but I not only found the music delightful but I thought that the original cover art of the album was also most excellent and right in tune with the tunes!

A relaxing instrumental album with an upbeat feel.......2005-01-28

Candlelight Guitarist Bradley Powell does a nice job of combining his soothing guitar melodies with other instruments--including bass, drums, flutes, woodwinds, horns, piano, and keyboards--as well as some soft ocean sounds. The result is a sort-of upbeat, pleasant background soundtrack which works well to set a relaxing mood at home, work, or in the car. Personally, I favor Powell's previous album, Music for Rest & Renewal, which I found to be a bit simplier: soft and slower with less instruments and more nature. However, those who prefer their instrumental music to be a bit more lively are likely to enjoy this CD.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Sones Jarochos Y Huastecos ~ Various Artists

Maniqui ~ Lissette

Soul Mates & Kindred Spirits

Sunset Over Yellowstone ~ Various Artists

Rainy Night In Georgia

A Moment's Pleasure ~ Millie Jackson

Con La Sonora Matancera ~ Daniel Santos

24 Authentic Tamure ~ Tamure Tonic

Exitos de Siempre ~ Banda Novillera

Hechizo de Amor: Cien Por Ciento Norteno ~ El Chapo de Sinaloa