Typically, I listen to New Age music when I am either reading or doing yoga. The source of the music is most times the SiriusXM SPA radio station. The station provides a wide range of New Age music and I have discovered countless New Age musicians by listening to SPA.
Yoga Soundtrack: Convergence – Erick Wøllo and Michael Stearns
Anyway, a few nights ago I decided to use a newly released New Age album instead of SPA when I was doing my nightly yoga routine. The album I chose was Convergence, the new release from Eric Wøllo and Michael Stearns. I have listened to Erik Wøllo‘s music previously , but not Michael Stearn’s Convergence, is their debut collaboration. John Diliberto of Echoes wrote the following about their collaboration...
A new Michael Stearns album is a rare treat, but teaming up with Norwegian guitarist Erik Wøllo is a move that was unexpected but makes exhilarating sense. Stearns crafts ambient landscapes for Wøllo to stretch out on his skyscraping, icily poetic guitar solos. I never pick a CD of the Month so far in advance, but who is going to release something better?”
While on his website Erik Wøllo wrote the following…..
It became obvious when working with Michael that the music would reflect a very visionary and vast landscape. During the album sessions, I had a dream about the music and about an expedition into a totally unexplored endless, surrealistic desert-like territory,” notes Wøllo. “Inspired by this dream, we named some of the album tracks for these visions. And it ended well; the last piece on the album is calm and melodic, reflecting memories of the travelogue that yields new, positive and open doorways.” From Review at Bsndcamp
EK Adds Ambient and Space Music to his Musical Palate
For many years, the New Age music I listened to was predominately music from acoustic guitar or Native American flute. Over the last few years though, I have become a fan of both ambient and space music. Ambient through the music of Marconi Union and Space music through Jonn Serrie’s music.
I now love the feeling of closing my eyes relaxing and floating through space! That’s the feeling I get when I listen to Convergence. From a review at Echoes.org….
Convergence is an album we need right now. Erik Wøllo and Michael Stearns launch you off the surface of the planet and into the vast expanse of space where Earth is a harmonious blue-glowing orb of promise, wonder and mystery. It is a true convergence of two 21st century master musicians.Full Echoes Review
So Check out Convergence. Sit back and enjoy traveling through Erik Wøllo’s and Micheal Stearn’s dreamscapes, while maybe creating some of your own!
As for me, I’m listening ErikWøllo‘s 2000 release Guitar Nova and wondering how I missed this great guitar album!
Here’s the awesome video for “The Nomad’s Journey”from Convergence!
ErikWøllo and Michael Stearns Biographical Info.
ErikWøllo (born 1961) is a Norwegian composer and musician, guitarist and synthesist. He is most known for his electronic and ambient musical soundscapes which are often fall into the genres of space, drone, new age, and electronic music
Michael Stearns (born October 16, 1948) is an American musician and composer of ambient music. He is also known as a film composer, sound designer and soundtrack producer for large format films, theatrical films, documentaries, commercials, and themed attractions.
