I often think about childhood experiences. Don't you? Remember those magical moments of discovery of how something in this universe truly works or the slow disintegration of fiction into reality or the self-guided journey into a fantasy, knowing full well that it's really imaginary and yet completely giving in, and letting it absorb you into other worlds? For me, there were adventures into outer space, of alien planets and improbable lands, of other beings just like us, and yet completely different in every way. It's no wonder that many of my fantastical voyages were accompanied by music, made, of course, by instruments unknown. This "space music" is what continues to attract me to some aspects of the cinematic, electronic, and experimental sounds of today. It's no wonder I still attempt to recreate each voyage with the lush pads of my synths. For British composer and musician Angus MacRae, this reflection on childhood imagination comes in a form of his new album, Vivarium. Across twelve pieces, each representing a specific memory, MacRae uses the immediate presence of acoustic instrumentation (piano, strings, woodwinds, and even voice) to capture the emotional experience of the unreal worlds. Today I am premiering a track from the album titled "Flame" which is due out as a single on September 1st. This is a gorgeous and dynamic piece, pairing a gently wavering piano melody in a whirlwind of a rising emotional gust. Listening to this piece you can't help but get lifted into a torrent of a sentimental storm and get carried away into those other worlds. "Written against the backdrop of a changing world, this need to escape inside the vivarium, to recapture the magic and mystery within, and to ultimately learn the limits of the glass - seemed to me more important than ever."

Vivarium

Flame

TRACK PREMIERE : Angus MacRae - Flame

some original solo piano pieces...  some mixes from my podcast... some exclusive track premieres...  and some tracks from the albums I review for Headphone Commute... Enjoy!