Lifegiving - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Lifegiving is the music

Music

Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...

album

Album

An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...

debut by Australis

Australis (musical project)

Australis is the name for the Utah based Electronic New Age musical project by multifaceted Peruvian-born composer/producer Oscar Aguayo, although this name is often used to refer to him directly.He named his project "Australis" because that word symbolizes his origins and the places where he...

Album History

"Lifegiving" was produced and recorded in Utah

Utah

Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, and was independently released by Australis

Australis (musical project)

on May 30, 2005.
By early 2006 "Lifegiving" was licensed and re-released in Southern Asia by the Orange Music record label.
In August 2006 two tracks from this album were included in the New Vibes Music's compilation Echoes of Tuvalu. The tracks included were "Conciliation" and "The Sound of Hope". That same month this compilation reached the top position in the New Age charts, according to New Age Reporter.
As a result of his collaboration for "Echoes of Tuvalu", the Italian magazine "New Age Music & New Sounds" published an article about Australis

Australis (musical project)

in October 2006 (issue № 166), and included the same two tracks from "Lifegiving" in the corresponding compilation compact disc they release with every issue.

Album Overview

"Lifegiving" is a compilation of ten musical tracks of varied styles including Ambient music

Ambient music

Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...

, World music

World music

World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...

, Electronic music

Electronic music

Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...

, Ethnic music, Symphonic music and Soundtrack

Soundtrack

A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...

.

One of the main characteristics of this album is the contrasting styles between the tracks. This feature tends to create an impression of surprise in the listener as each track switches to a different style than that from the previous track, developing a whole new musical landscape. The end result is a fresh, stimulating and entertaining experience.

Although one of the tracks on this album had a collaborator (Alvaro Aguayo, playing the charango

Charango

The charango is a small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family, 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo. Primarily played in traditional Andean music, and is sometimes used by other Latin American musicians. Many contemporary charangos are now made with...

in "Sacred Earth"), all the tracks were composed, arranged, produced and recorded by Australis

Australis (musical project)

.

This album appears to be available physically through online music retail stores like Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...

, CD Baby

CD Baby

CD Baby is an online music store specializing in the sale of CDs and digital music downloads from independent musicians to consumers. The company is also a digital aggregator of independent music recordings, distributing content to several online digital music retailers.CD Baby has achieved recent...

, etc. Additionally, it appears to be available digitally through digital music retailers like iTunes store

ITunes Store

The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...

, MSN Music

MSN Music

MSN Music was a part of the MSN web services. It delivered music news, music videos, spotlights on new music, artist information, and live performances of artists. In 2004, Microsoft created an MSN Music download store to compete with Apple's iTunes Music Store, though its sales in comparison were...

, Rhapsody

Rhapsody (online music service)

Rhapsody is an online music store subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version...

, etc.

For reviews about "Lifegiving", please see the External Links section below.

Track listing

"Lifegiving" – 4:02
"Conciliation" – 4:40
"Turning Point" – 5:28
"The Sound of Hope" – 4:45
"Fire Tamer" – 3:49
"Forbidden Scents" – 4:49
"The Enchantment" – 3:33
"Between the Sun and the Moon" – 4:51
"Barren Lands" – 4:33
"Sacred Earth" – 4:25

Tracks Overview

Lifegiving, the title track, initiates the album with the nocturnal sounds of the forest while a somewhat mysterious melody builds slowly. Soon a piano intervenes together with a soft arpeggio as the piece heads towards its climax. After a second instrumental verse based on piano and violin, the intensity is built one last time to reach its culmination as the piece ends fading into the sounds of the night.

The second track, Conciliation, uses more electronic instruments. It starts with a rhythmic electronic pad and a delicate piano a little bit later. Slow tempo percussion enters the instrumentation as the music develops into spacious (although slightly dark) sequences that eventually lead to the build into the main refrain. In contrast with the instrumental verses, the also instrumental chorus brings light to the melodies and the rhythm.

Turning Point starts with a very intense orchestral sequence that closely evoke epic film scenes. That short sequence gives way to a very quiet segment with long pads and heavy-hearted chords. Later a dramatic melody builds over that foundation as an ethnic rhythm introduces a heartfelt violin. There are brief segments of light and more hopeful melodies towards the middle of the piece. However, as the track approaches its end, it sets in a sequence tinted by sadness and determination.

The Sound of Hope is by contrast a piece marked by a much more luminous atmosphere. It begins with a soft piano melody over electronic pads. The piano is soon accompanied by a flute and a non invasive rhythm as the piece develops towards its climax. The refrain combines the same elements (pad, rhythm, piano and flute) with the addition of vocal pads, to create a decisively positive climax. A moment of quiet indecision interrupts the piece only to allow its refrain to resume with the same positive taste as the piece reaches its end.

Fire Tamer is the first purely electronic track of the album. Its intense rhythmic background starts almost from the beginning and is soon complemented by a wide range of other instruments among which are piano, arpeggio, synthetic leads and a wide assortment of other electronic sounds. The piece gallops with an almost uniform intensity from the start to its unexpected ending creating a dynamic and playful mood.

Forbidden Scents begins with soft sweeps giving way to a seductive rhythm where the now characteristic long reverbed piano draws an introductory melody. This track has a distinctive exotic flavor. Its suggestive and long melodic sequences built with piano, bells, and even ethnic winds, create an atmosphere of "anxious relax" connecting the listener with her/his own senses as the piece reaches its climax in the last 85 seconds.

The Enchantment is an orchestral movement that begins with a harp and strings. In a waltz tempo, the piece soon unravels its whimsical nature inviting other instruments like oboe and a very light percussion based on timpani and tambourine. But then the fanciful mood is suddenly interrumpted when the intense refrain arrives with winds and a much stronger percussion creating a sense of danger. The magic returns later when the calm of the first verses is resumed; but then, like an unavoidable reality, the refrain develops again, ending the movement in a dramatic combination of intensity and dark tranquility.

Between the Sun and the Moon can be perceived as a fusion of electronic music and smooth contemporary jazz. It begins with a sequence of pad and cello and later a verse of electronic percussion and piano. A synthezised flute is used for the bridge and for the second verse an acoustic guitar accompanies the piano. The refrain is built over pads, synthesized arpeggios, a fully electronic lead and later some bell accents. This piece has a more "modern" structure (verse, bridge, refrain, etc.) and has a more "pop" feeling to it.

Barren Lands evokes some of the epic images from "Turning Point". It begins with the sound of desolated winds as the piano introduces a dramatic yet simple introduction. Another dramatic segment formed by strings, piano and bass ensues, and eventually gives way to yet another dark sequence by piano and a soft pad in the background as the wind blows again. It is only then that the piece is finally unchained reaching an engaging and suggestive - although still dramatic - refrain with a middle-eastern percussion and electronic keyboards.

In Sacred Earth Australis
Australis (musical project)
Australis is the name for the Utah based Electronic New Age musical project by multifaceted Peruvian-born composer/producer Oscar Aguayo, although this name is often used to refer to him directly.He named his project "Australis" because that word symbolizes his origins and the places where he...

explores yet another style. This piece has a clear ethnic flavor that brings images of native southern cultures. With wooden flutes and wooden percussion, together with some synthesized pads; the track builds with intensity to create a scenario where dance and hope blend seamlessly. Alvaro Aguayo plays the charango
Charango
The charango is a small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family, 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo. Primarily played in traditional Andean music, and is sometimes used by other Latin American musicians. Many contemporary charangos are now made with...

a couple of times in this track: in a bridge between the first and second verses, and at the end as the rhythm is fading away.

Personnel

Australis (Oscar Aguayo)
Australis (musical project)
Australis is the name for the Utah based Electronic New Age musical project by multifaceted Peruvian-born composer/producer Oscar Aguayo, although this name is often used to refer to him directly.He named his project "Australis" because that word symbolizes his origins and the places where he...

- composer, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Alvaro Aguayo - collaborator, charango
Charango
The charango is a small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family, 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo. Primarily played in traditional Andean music, and is sometimes used by other Latin American musicians. Many contemporary charangos are now made with...

player in "Sacred Earth"

Album History

Album Overview

Track listing

Tracks Overview

Personnel

External links

See also