At around 9pm on a late summer evening there's the echos of the Edmonton Folk Festival reverberating across this part of the city and there's the delivery of a CD that's a consequence of a collectively orchestrated effort of the Light of Peace Performing Arts Society and a great composer lyricist by the name of Yevhen. We listened to the CD immediately but it's taken until now to get to that part of our 'reviews rack' and to the review for the rather bright and beautiful little CD - Light of Peace.
Light of peace opens the album with an enormously positive and spiritually uplifiting sentiment in a song led by Yevhen's heart warming lead vocal and the literal chorus of angelic little voices from a whole load of Edmonton kids that have been umberella'd by some nice graceful piano, engaging and subtle midi and tight percussion. It's the opening theme that grabs your attention... love, dreams of a better way forward, and the simple gift of joy.
Senorita yo te amo - an extravaganza of immensely inspired guitar playing, versed and intelligent percussions and an enchanting summer evening Spanish/English vocal that's skilled and accomplished. There's a hint of reflection of the kind of vocals that made Julio Iglesias an eternal presence but the musical arrangement here is very much part of Yevhen's uniqueness and soul enriching delivery.
Children fly takes you half across the Caribbean with it's calypso/steel drum elements and equally flavoured melodies. It's a really nice colourful song that encompasses empathy and reflection with childhood while demanding skilled control of it's adult perceptions in the arrangement. Yevhen's vocals are flawless in expression and the lyrics are doubly emphasized by the children's choral arrangements courtesy of Susan Sereda.
Enlightened spirit opens with some nicely presented harp work and almost Christmas-like midi controlled orchestrations in this wholly instrumental work of beauty and presence. The track is a really nice and clever bridge between the previous vocal tracks and is every bit as enchanting as it's title suggests. Nice production work and an equally nice arrangement make the track one to remember.
All that I ask for is somewhat uncomfortably reminiscent of Paul McCartney's Mull of Kintyre in certain places, but the intent is not to plagiarize... it's to emphasize yet another aspect of the special deep and sincere emmotion that most of us carry with us through life. Yevhen's lyrics are quite remarkably balanced between elements of optimism and sincerity and the vocal arrangement is one that would be equally comfortable in any setting but more particularly for a season's festivities and the communal joy that comes with it.
In your eyes meanwhile, has been produced and engineered with some excellent bass and sax work working together completely synchronously. Yevhen's vocal and lyrics espouse the same positive energy found throughout the CD and you get the feeling that the spirit of the album, no matter what the backing is conceived to be doing, remains true to form and spiritual meaning.
Gypsy passion brings back elements of the Mediterranean that we encountered earlier in Senorita yo te amo with a musical arrangement that's heightened and focused. I have to say that the musicanship and composition throughout this Cd is of a very high calibre and it's made completely and abundantly clear here.
Light of peace (extended), is naturally the full version of the main theme track and it's nice to have that little bit extra for what is perhaps the best track on the album. Watch out for the hauntingly beautiful vocals at the end... truly spellbinding!
Perhaps the main goal of this project was to bring like-minded individuals together to bathe in what is essentially a symbolic 'Light' of Peace at a time when much of the world is suffering in the deafening silence of the shadows of war. Either way, this collective approach to harmonization, good will, and outstanding hope and optimism is something we all need to appreciate and perhaps spend a little more time than we do in becoming a part of. It's a nice introduction to what the Light of Peace Performing Arts Society is all about, and for the rest of us, it's a timely reminder that there is also love in the world.
