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 There is almost no improvisation in new age music today, even though the genre itself was created out of freeform jazz and Tony Scott’s legendary jam session – resulting in the groundbreaking album Music for Zen Meditation (1964). In the world of digital audio workstations (DAWs) and virtual synths, there is simply not much room for this, due to the way music is carefully constructed.
But in Harlan Mark Vale’s brand new album, The House of Many Mansions, there is plenty of space and room for improvisation.
With a few mostly improvised notes, master pianist Vale fills all the
rooms of the mansions with music, expression and colors. He shows that
improvisation is the key to truly divine music.
I must admit that Vale’s previous solo piano effort, Bright Angel,
is one of my all-time favorite titles. I make sure to always have it
with me, on my iPod, living room CD-player, PDA and PCs. I love it for
the way it creates a world of its own in sound while I listen to it
– much like Tony Scott’s album mentioned above. This year’s release is
a little warmer and brighter than…well… oddly enough (refering to the
name), Bright Angel.
It is always a good idea to listen to what an artist says about his or her album. Harlan Mark Vale says:
The House of Many Mansions was inspired by the
metaphor that each ‘mansion’ is another aspect within the “dwelling
places” of consciousness. These portraits of the infinite interior life
are the sweet fragrances of the Divine Mystery embodied in us all.
I think it is wonderful to find an album that is so close to the artist’s intention. The opening track Doors of Surrender
is like an album in itself; the 12min30sec long piece is like a walk
into a dream mansion, where you go through a door and an enormous,
beautifully decorated hall (in red and gold, like the cover), only to
find a new door is waiting at the end of the hall. It is simply
marvelous, an outstanding performance by a master at work. Since it is improvisation, that’s what it is; a performance just as much as it is a track on an album.
 Track
two is the title track. It is highly melodious and positive, with a
very nice, 7 minute long build-up. The best word to describe it would
be “colorful”. Another simply amazing song is the enigmatically named Forgiveness – Allowing the Circling Planes to land – which is not surprisingly the most dramatic song on the album. And yes, the plane lands safely after some quite heavy turbulence.
Harlan Mark Vale’s albums are never easy listening, and that is also the case with the House of Many Mansions. It is not background music, but demands active listening.
But it is worth it; this album has given this reviewer one of the most rewarding listening experiences ever. I find that there is this almost
magical quality to Vale’s music that just captivates the listener. Even
if you are not into solo piano music at all, you will experience that
the House of Many Mansions is something quite different. Give it a go, and you’ll might get a glimpse of the Divine Mystery. Hearing truly IS believing.
Sample the album here. It is available in high quality FLAC or 320k mp3 (and other formats as well). Click here to visit Harlan Mark Vale’s homepage.
I think that some of the most interesting new age music is to be found in the crossing point between ambient and soundscapes, in the vast borderland referred to as space music.
This music is without a doubt the most artistic music in our genre, and
not even the most serious music critic can label it as “easy
listening”. One such album is Harlan Mark Vale’s Eternus Conscientia. It is space music of the most distant form, with never ending soundscapes and lush ambient melodies.
 When
talking about space music one cannot help thinking about the sound of
analogue synths of the 70s and 80s, masterly done by Tangerine Dream,
Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis.
This is not such an album. Eternus Conscientia
rather has the high pitched glass/ice sound of modern VST synths –
which is also nice, but more sterile (but so is space, one can argue).
Like Vale’s previous albums, this one is also heavily improvised.
In this setting improvisation is a very nice effect, making it more
alive, in a contrast to most sequenced space music albums that have the
precision of modern computers.
The album has six tracks with beautiful, otherworldly sounding names – like Ingressus Counstituo Prodigium and Valens Laetor; unique titles for sure. There
are no real melodies here, but plenty of melodic segments that come and
go. The key word here is atmosphere. Most of the tracks have a
pleasant, warm sound – while other are more icy. My favorite track is Appareo Ex Informis, which has that larger-than-life feel of Vangelis’ music.
The only thing that is missing, is that you don’t get a feel
of just how great a pianist and keyboardist mr. Vale is (like you get
on his piano albums). But the arrangement is tasteful and professional in all respects. The sound quality is, as expected, very good.
Eternus Conscientia is a must-have album for the
space music enthusiast – or anyone who is tired of waiting for space
tourism. This is your ticket while here on Earth! Eternus Conscientia is as beautiful as it is vast, and offers almost endless replay possibilities.
Sample the album on Amazon.
Before sitting down to listen to Bright Angel, I was not in the mood to
listen to over an hour of piano music. Harlan Mark Vale had other plans
for me though. Two minutes into the opening title track, I was in the
mood because he put me there.
The entire album has wonderful piano playing and arrangements, and
though Vale’s music is labeled as ambient, it will certainly hold your
attention. Vale never lingers on one theme too long and each movement
the music takes is wonderful.
The songs of Bright Angel were composed while Vale visited the Grand
Canyon and stayed at the El Tovar Hotel. Vale’s playing does an
excellent job of capturing the view he saw on a daily basis. There is a
majestic quality to the songs and he isn’t afraid to stretch out the
space between the notes. After all, the Grand Canyon is really a big
space. It’s clear that Vale is trying to evoke and create emotions and
visions with his music, unlike some instrumentalists who sound as
though their only goal is to prove their technical proficiency.
Another interesting aspect of Bright Angel is that Vale believes it to
have healing powers. On his MySpace site, he writes, “The Bright Angel
CD has been shown to calibrate at over 700 on Dr. David Hawkins'
consciousness scale. This is the level of pure consciousness. Hawkins
theorizes that anything at this level can produce healing effects.” He
goes on to say that, he has performed at-home tests on listeners’
muscles and claims that they test stronger after listening.
How one determines the level of pure consciousness, I don’t know. And I
don’t know if that is supposed to prove that Bright Angel is somehow
better than other music. Luckily, most people don’t need a calibrated
scale to tell them something sounds good and Bright Angel most
definitely does.
Such beautiful music should not be hidden from our world. Harlan Mark
Vale has delighted us at Catsask with his astonishing musicality and
seemingly simple piano licks.
Don't be fooled by the ease of which his playing is delivered...
Mr. Vale's piano skills are miles beyond what one might call simple.
The emotionally driven runs and trills are comparable to some of the
most enlightened pianists you'll hear. Truly remarkable.
Most of our visitors are aware that Catsask.com does not obtain many
opportunities to listen to such beautiful classical music submissions
per se, but we are extremely pleased to have been given such a blessing
in this instance.
Described as a free flowing river of the Divine; Harlan Mark Vale's own
proclamation is on the mark. Having trained formally at the Evergreen
State College in Washington State, it is obvious that Harlan has put
his gifts to work in a big way.
Some of Harlan's most notable life accomplishments include the release
of his latest album "Bright Angel", as well as having performed with
Trillium, The New Art Orchestra and many others; creating free
improvisational jazz and experimental genres while playing piano,
synthesizer and percussion. It appears that he has returned to his
heart of hearts... the piano.
We thank you for your wonderful music Harlan and wish you loads of success in your obviously blossoming career.
Duss Rodgers - Catsask Music & Entertainment (Oct 11, 2008)
"I started listening to Bright Angel and could not stop. I love your music"
Eddie Watkins Jr. - Director of Music Ministries Spiritual Life Center of Las Vegas (Sep 24, 2008)
RATING SCALE
"1" Indicates the Lowest Score
"5" Indicates The Highest Score
Recording Quality/Production: 4.5
Musicianship: 5
Music Composing: 5
Melodies: 5
Song Arrangement: 5
Overall Score: A+
Dear Harlan,
Thanks for submitting the material for the evaluation.
I enjoyed listening to the songs and learning more about you. It's nice
to see someone using their talents to create positive music and be a
vehicle for things good and spiritual. Well done!
Your composing as well as playing are outstanding. There's so much heart and emotion in every single note.
To give you insight to the scoring scale above, the majority
of artists score in the 2.5 to 3.5 range in the various categories.
Whenever an artist sees a 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 or 3.5 as a score in a
certain category (or categories) it means that's an area I feel they
need to improve and develop.
When someone sees 4, 4.5 or 5 as their score in a category, that tells
them, to me, they are in the professional league and have strong
potential. It's a validation from a pro, letting you know you are doing
a fine job.
Every artist should work hard to earn 4.5 to 5 in every category.
It's a very competitive business and people averaging in the 3's (or
less) will probably not get too far without a great deal of improvement
and development.
I don't give out 4's and 5's easily, so any of those you see, you have earned. Well done!
Eugene Foley - Foley Entertainment (Sep 23, 2008)
Harlan Mark Vale Contest Semi-Finalist! - 100% Music Songwriting Contest (Sep 15, 2008)
At times evoking Ryuchi Sakamoto, experimental John Cale, instrumental
David Sylvian, or *gasp* George Benson, Harlan Mark Vale’s music
summons delicate things in the imagination - a water spider skating
across the surface of a lake, a meditative gaze beneath a willow tree.
But there is something edgy about his work that keeps it in step with
the most contemporary artists, reserving the bright sincerity of it all
from the glibness of an easy listening pile.
"very beautiful, very meditative'
Harlan Mark Vale: Bright Angel
2008 (CD, 77:18); independent release
Style: Ambient/jazz/new age
Sound: **** Composition ** Musicianship: ***1/2
Performance: ***1/2 Total rating: 13
I'm always intrigued by musicians whose works are inspired by visual
stimuli. In this case, pianist Harlan Mark Vale presents six lengthy,
spontaneous ruminations on the Grand Canyon's majesty and serenity. Can
Vale help the listener "feel and hear" what he sees? It's easy enough
to go along with the notion of this album serving as a soundtrack to
Mother Nature's special handiwork, but the beautifully introspective
quality of this music should not be limited to one vista in the mind's
eye.
Vale's compositions certainly conjure the feelings of awe and
reverence, and occasionally (as during some of his more active
"flourishes") joyous inspiration. Bright Angel most definitely carries
a spiritual vibe, reflected in some of Vale's song titles (the title
track of course, "Buddha Temple" "Intuition Suite"). But this is far
from saccharine lullaby music; a certain transcendent honesty abides
throughout, inviting serious introspection.
The three-part, 24-minute "Intuition Suite" closes this disc with some
of Vale's more experimental/unstructured musings. Close your eyes, open
your ears ... what do you see?
John Collinge - Progression Magazine (Aug 20, 2008)
Aloha Harlan,
I received your CD submission and was very impressed by your
compositions and sound quality on "Bright Angel". I have listened to it
several times. I have received many piano submissions over the past few
years and I only play a small percentage of what I receive on the
Smiling Ear. I have chosen "Bright Angel", "Buddha Temple" and
"Intuition Suite III, Manifestation" for the Smiling Ear play list.
Producing and performing a successful piano only CD is in my opinion,
one of the most difficult undertakings by a musician. You have created
a beautiful body of work that is both completely relaxing and
inspirational. In each of your compositions you have created a unique
place or setting, and then take the listener on a gentle journey which
allows the imagination to explore and wonder. The variations of tonal
scale and contrast throughout your CD invokes visions of dancing light
on water, amorphous cloud formations and majestic landscapes.
I would recommend "Bright Angel" as the perfect background for relaxing
and melting away the stresses of the day, meditation and yoga
exercises, and creating a peaceful atmosphere for doing creative work.
Again, I would like to commend you on the excellent sound quality of
this CD, the packaging and for properly including the mp3 tags for each
song.
I will pass this recommendation on to my sister who is a Yoga teacher. Her website is www.spiritualwellnessctr.com
All the best!
Steven Parente
Producer: Smiling Ear Internet Radio --
Parente Studios
Animator, Concept Artist, Designer, Consultant
www.parentestudios.com
P.O. Box 1241
Hilo, HI 96721
parentestudios@gmail.com
808-938-5302
Some artists have the ability to create a world of sound for the
listener. A world where the mind is free and there are no boundaries.
When you put this music on, you don’t have to meditate to meditate.
Your mind drifts along, either you want it or not. Harlan Mark Vale’s
solo piano album Bright Angel is that special kind of music. With a few
gentle strokes on the piano keys, he takes you into this magical world
of sound. It is a warm and beautiful sphere, filled with angels and
light.
But don’t get me wrong; Bright Angel is not an easy album. It demands
attention. There is a lot of improvisation in Harlan Mark Vale’s piano
works, and you have to tune your ears to it. This is not background
music. But when you take the time to listen - to explore the world of
the angels - you are rewarded.
The title track, Bright Angel, is the perfect introduction to Vale’s
style. The first sharp tones grip your attention at once. For the first
4 minutes you can hear and feel the improvisation; it is like a river
of sound. I guess this is where a few listeners will quit, because of
the lack of melody and consistency. But if you close your eyes and let
your subconsciousness do the work, you will see that this is not random
notes. Suddenly more and more elements of a melody emerge. And when it
does, your mind reacts. The intertwining melodies on this first track
are truly beautiful, and the piano sounds divine; the last 3 minutes
are tones from heaven itself.
Track number two is called Buddha Temple. The first seven minutes are
gentle and you can hear some Asian influences in the use of sharp and
flat notes. For me it is like seeing the Buddha Temple manifest itself
out of a fog. The structure is built by 4 minutes of powerful melodic
elements. The piano is beautifully played, and definitely shows how
talented Harlan Mark Vale is. The ending is quiet. Suddenly the Buddha
Temple disappears into the fog it came from.
World of Good is track number 3. The atmosphere is positive and light
from beginning to end, so it is easy to understand why it has such a
name. Most of the song is played in a gentle way, but some parts in the
middle are more powerful. The song ends with a pleasant shower of
tones. Warm and uplifting at the same time.
Decisions & Fate is a dramatic song. Some elements are dark, other
lighter. Here is room for the feelings of both defeat and greatness. It
is interesting to hear how fast Vale can change from one theme to the
next.
Track number 5, The White Phase, is like a winter day. You can almost
see the falling snow and feel the cold on your skin. But it not a dark
song; it has a positive vibe. After all, winter is only sleep and not
death. Soon spring will come knocking on the door. This is what I feel
this song is communicating.
The last part of the album is the Intuition Suite. It is divided into
three songs; Delivered Fresh From Eternity, Touched By Infinite
Possibility and Manifestations of the Heart. Here Harlan Mark Vale goes
much deeper into his artistic project. The three tracks have the same
form; an intro with improvisation, and then beautiful melodic elements.
There is a weightless feeling here, which make them perfect for
meditation and relaxation. I just have to point out the great sounding
names on these tracks. They are very poetical, don’t you agree?
The quality of the recording is very good. You can hear that it is not
a studio recording. But I think that this gives the album a more
authentic feeling. After all, piano music is live music.
Bright Angel is not uncomplicated or easy. But at the same time it is
perhaps the most relaxing music I have ever heard. When you buy this
album, you are not only getting beautiful music – you are also getting
an instant meditation kit; press play and your mind takes off. Since
large parts of the songs are improvisation, the replay possibilities
are almost endless. You don’t get tired of these songs easily - and
when you are finished listening, you know that you have been touched by
an angel.
BT Fasmer ~ NewAge.NU (Aug 2, 2008)
Bright Angel is something of a sonic landscape. It's a series of
watercolors in piano that represent the daydreams of Harlan Mark Vale.
The compositions themselves do not so much take the listener anywhere
as live in the moment and noodle where they may. The music is
contemplative, like light rain in a puddle or dew on the grass. This is
not music that will grab you, but music you must surrender control to
in order to enjoy. There aren't specific highs and lows to point to.
Bright Angel ebbs and flows like the ocean -- by the time you've
noticed the crest you're part way to the trough, and vice versa.
Bright Angel is a mellow and reserved flash of beauty, lapping at your
ankles as you walk along the water's edge. Harlan Mark Vale is but the
curator, interpreting his vision into sound.
Harlan Mark Vale - BRIGHT ANGEL: If you've been reading this 'zine
since it started back around 1990, many of you know that I've been
playing music with this gent off/on since the late 1970's... Mark &
I met up in Olympia, Washington & have been making strange (&
sometimes beautiful) sounds ever since. I've reviewed many of his
synthesizer/drum works along the way, & can tell you that this
piano excursion is (clearly) a "return to his roots"... it is, quite
simply, the best playing I've ever heard him do. Highly inspired
acoustic keyboard compositions and improvisations that easily shunt all
the other "new age" (& often uninspired) works from other players
to the side. Vale has always been a creative, in so many ways they
can't really be itemized here... the titles on this album are
evidence... "Delivered Fresh From Eternity" & "Touched By Infinite
Possibility", just to name a couple... but what becomes even more clear
as I listen through the radiant light-strewn and full-bodied chords of
"The White Phase" (my favorite on the album)is that Mr. Vale has
transcended earlier musical pathways and (now) joined the players who
are truly universal in their ability to act as a channel for the spirit
inside them! In/through this piece I'm transported backwards to a
journey I once took through the end-channel (yes, I do mean an OBE)
& am able to feel the same warmth I felt at the end of that
tunnel... without doubt, Mark is in touch with the spirits that escort
you to the higher plane & source of all light. His earlier
influences (improvisation, jazz & progressive) are reflected
brilliantly here, too, which makes the album so much more enjoyable
than many solo piano excursions. I rate this a definite MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, and also declare it to be the "PICK" of this issue for
"best inspirational piano" CD! Get more information at
http://brightangelcd.com/ Rotcod Zzaj
Dick Metcalf - Improvijazzation Nation
Eric Wallack / Harlan Mark Vale - "Molten Glass: Images"
Aural Innovations
I'd been familiar with Harlan Mark Vale's work on several
collaborations with Rotcod Zzaj, and on Molten Glass: Images, Vale's
keyboards team up with Eric Wallack on Chapman Stick for some gorgeous
jazz/prog/soundscape/avant-garde improvisations.
(More at website)
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