Search - Billy Smiley :: New Night

An Ethereal Masterpiece

03/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This instrumental album took about 5 listens before I actually began to appreciate the music. This rare type of music shouldn't be judged too quickly. Give this disc time to grow on you. I now consider this album to be one of my all-time favorites. I own quite a collection of various styles of music and I have to say that this is one of the most unique. It definitely isn't rock or light jazz, nor does it compare with any other so-called New Age music I ever heard.



This disc is full of musical instruments that I never really appreciated until this work came along. It mainly consists of synthesizer, trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion. There is also just enough acoustic piano and acoustic guitar to make the music more "real" and not too mechanical like some new-age albums sound to me. It was recorded with a very moody, ethereal and cosmic atmosphere that is just beautiful. It gives me the feeling of being in a great cathedral or flying through a billowing cloud during a colorful sunset. The sunset feeling is evidently what Smiley set out to convey since 3 of the tunes come under the heading of "Three Feelings of the Sunset."



Some may find this disc too melancholy, but I think it is pleasantly melodic and relaxing. There is a touch of sadness in the music though. This sadness is actually one of the discs strengths. But one would hardly expect an upbeat feeling to a song entitled "All the Crying Eyes."



All the tracks have a slow tempo except for one. The song "Nouveau Noi" is a little upbeat and the synthesizer is slightly monotonous. It kind of breaks up the laid-back and mellow flow of the album. This is the track that is my least favorite. It is the only song NOT written by Billy Smiley. I still enjoy and love the song, only not quite as much as the others.





I never would have thought that I could love an album so much that was permeated with horns and synthesizer. But the way it was recorded and the beautiful melodies themselves have converted me. I'd like to thank Mr. Smiley for his gift of music in "New Night." It's the closest thing to heaven that I've ever heard. I truly believe these melodies are forever and that perpetual generations of people will hear this masterpiece throughout eternity. It sounds like it was divinely inspired. I wish he would make another album with the very same instruments and mood that he masterfully created on this record.



This is a recording that has sincerely blessed my soul like no other. It's sad that so few have heard it. "New Night" deserves much more recognition than the majority of music out there today. If you want a high-class piece of musical artistry, you'll find it in "New Night.""