Ryan Farish Beautiful
Neurodisc
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Electronic / New Age
ASIN: B0001XALNW
Artist: Ryan Farish
Year: (2004)
Britt Gillette's Beautiful CD Review
Ryan Farish in his first commercial release Beautiful creates
a portfolio of sound and emotion a fan of the Electronic & New Age
genre will want to make a pillar of his personal collection for years
to come. Unlike many first albums, Beautiful should be more aptly
labeled a "greatest hits" release because every track from one
to fourteen is a masterpiece of sound and production.
The CD case itself is a work of art, sporting a clean, high-quality cardboard
fold-out instead of the traditional (and cheap) Jewel-case plastic with
paper insert. With the vision of a beautiful seashore at dusk dominating
its cover, both inside and out, the CD itself blends into the background,
creating a level of quality typically seen in high-dollar commercial releases.
With above average quality CD packaging, Beautiful is a bargain
at the listing price. I highly recommend it for music collectors who cherish
the visual beauty of their discs.
Although every track is amazing, I have a few personal favorites. "Chasing The Sun" (Track 3) is a tune I can't get out of my head. A modern electronic melody is coupled with a creative piano interlude that is quite uplifting. "Full Sail" (Track 8) could easily have knocked off James Horner as the lead for the Titanic soundtrack. The mood is inspiring, the song crisp... "Secret Garden" (Track 9) is a unique, one-of-a-kind musical experience, with modern keyboard strokes to excite the listener. The song could easily fit into an Apple commercial, and most reminds me of the scene in Real Genius where Val Kilmer sneaks into the top secret military plane to tamper with its laser circuitry. Last but not least, "Holding Faith" (Track 12) is an energetic synergy of sounds most reminiscent of Vangelis and Chariots of Fire.
If you enjoy Vangelis, Yanni, Enya, or the Electronic / New Age genres in general, you will be floored by Ryan Farish's Beautiful, for Beautiful is truly perfect...
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Posted on 2 March 2005