Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful debut recording reminiscent of Deuter, July 14, 2007
Passages took me by surprise. I snickered at the cautionary note on the jacket ("This music is intended to promote relaxation. Please refrain from listening to while driving.") and was not encouraged by the lack of a web presence for the artist or even a mention of a previous recording or or other musical endeavor.
Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover, or a recording by the lack of promotion and marketing.
Mike Wall is an American producer and multi-instrumentalist who has participated in a number of recordings, both as a performer and engineer, but always, he says, for friends and family. Except for engineering work for healing artist Barbara Cox (a 2005 project entitled "Guided Imagery and Relaxation Techniques for Parents"), none of these recordings has ever been commercially released. Perhaps in a few years after a string of successful recordings, writers will be referring to this as Wall's developmental period.
Deeply passionate about the healing properties of sound, Wall developed the music for Passages in cooperation with massage therapists. Clocking in at 62 minutes and featuring only four tracks, the album is a journey along a quiet path, a slowly unfolding expanse of sound created by synthesizers, acoustic and electric guitars, Native American flutes, bowls, chimes and bells, and samples of nature recordings, including bird calls and ocean waves.
The opening track begins with an extended tone, a deep cello-like resonance. A flute sounding much like a duduk calls plaintively , answered by a lighter, higher-pitched flute. The two voices circle each other, the cello resonating in the background, until joined by the electric guitar, whose delicately plucked strings add a bit of shimmer to the dance. The trio of voices fade into waves washing up on the beach, segueing into three extended thematic variations on the same.
Passages is album of open space and redolent tones, perfect accompaniment for massage, a quiet hour with the headphones, or as aural decoration to your workspace. Those who enjoy the work of Deuter, Kitaro, Terry Oldfield, Kamal or Tim Wheater should also enjoy Passage.
I look forward to Wall's next release.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Passage is entrancing, January 23, 2008
Mike Wall's music can induce relaxation and tranquility. If offers a respite from stress, a complement to home or work tasks, and an enhancement to meditation and yoga practice. In addition, it can be an effective pain management tool. Relax, heal, enjoy, buy this music!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite CD, August 26, 2008
This CD has spoiled me for all others. I can't seem to find anything quite as relaxing as this. I haven't stopped playing it since it arrived. I can't recommend this highly enough.
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