Lightning Does Strike Twice

I was quite taken with David Wahler’s first album, Antiquus. It went far and beyond ancient history to offer incredible ambient music that was stunning and intricate. Well, I am happy to report he has entered the modern age and accomplishes the same thing on his latest release A Star Danced. The fourteen-track album is filled with brilliant textures that seemed to engage in an exultant life all their own, and I could not be helped but be inspired by them as well.

David Wahler is a graduate of not only Lawrence University Conservatory of Music and Mannes College – The New School of Music in New York, but also the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. I guess it helps if you start playing piano by ear at age seven as David did. A stint in the world of business was unrewarding for him and the voice of music one more became his muse. His music seems to crossover from the classical to the Impressionists and into modern composers such as Eno and Vangelis. The combination seems to work quite well for him.

Quest, the opening track, seems to demonstrate that David has added a great deal of depth to his music. There are improved textures and instrumental combinations. Voice and trumpet or perhaps flugel horn counterbalance into a dizzying theme. The spacecraft is launched and the stars wink blithely as we travel into space unknown.

Could there be a greater miracle then when the heavens, hearing incredibly joyous music are moved to dance? Sparkling synth, pulses of quivering sound and a scintillating background provide an everlasting sensation of brilliance and movement on the title cut A Star Danced. There are whispers of the angels in the mix, the passing of time by a metronome-like pulse and an elusive, wispy melody that is perfect for dreaming.

The Seeds of Time is without a doubt my favorite on A Star Danced. It has that gossamer quality of a free-floating dandelion seed that is gently persuaded by unseen stellar winds to explore the heavens. There is a pleasing inorganic chorus in the mix, a glistening guitar with visions of Spanish grandeur and a horn-like lead that invites you to remember the journey with every note.

If your transcendent freedom comes with the darkness then you can access it within the tune Come Gentle Night. Quavering horns sing a melody that is like pulling down a velvet shade and transforming twilight into night. The tune rises in the shimmering starlit sky like soul-powered fireworks.

Yvonne is a sweet European tune. It has a mix between an improvisation piece and a cinematic score. Whoever Yvonne is, she must be unforgettable. The music suggests that she is the awe in your heart as you watch a fallen star streak across the pitch-black, summer sky.

Gabriel Faure’s Requiem in D is the inspiration for Pie Jesus, although this song usually is performed by soprano voice. David’s rendition is beautiful and haunting as Faure’s original prayer. The piece soars above the cathedral of the mind and into the starry night sky. Faure’s was criticized because his requiem did not represent the fear of death. His was more than that; it was the musical expression of “the rapture”. There can be no doubt that David follows in some very distinguished footsteps.

David Wahler’s new album is an emotion-filled recording. The sense is smooth flowing and heartfelt as he explores the heavens in a poignant collection of stellar ambient tunes. I invite you to explore the starry, starry night with this master musician and composer. This album is highly recommended. Rating: Very Good + - reviewed by RJ Lannan on 9/5/2010 ]]> http://davidwahler.com/?feed=rss2&p=387 0 http://davidwahler.com/?p=373 http://davidwahler.com/?p=373#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:36:42 +0000 admin http://davidwahler.com/?p=373 Sometimes you can tell by the packaging of a CD – and its title – what kind of music you might expect to hear. This is very true of David Wahler’s second album, A Star Danced. The elaborate and elegant digipak design casts a charming-looking bear dancing under the stars, and the music conveys the same celestial, wondrous feel.

Composed and performed entirely by Wahler on keyboards and synthesizers, with a guest appearance by guitarist Brent Gunter on “The Seeds of Time,” the music is a magical mix of sampled guitars, basses, drums, percussion, horns, and strings, resulting in a kaleidoscope of sound that exudes ethereal ambiance and cosmic sweep anchored by strong themes and melodic hooks. This is the perfect soundtrack for a long night drive under a starry sky.

The opening and closing tracks set and summate the tone for this sonically mystical album. “Quest” and its concluding reprise literally sound like a synthesis of Miles Davis and Herb Alpert soloing over layered textures by Vangelis and Tangerine Dream. The result is pure aural bliss.

The quality of the compositions, performances, and sounds recalls similar keyboard/synthesizer artists such as Michael Stribling, Pat Metheny collaborator Lyle Mays, Genesis member Tony Banks, and Miami Vice composer Jan Hammer.

If you do listen to this under the night sky, the stars will seem as if they are dancing, and so will your senses.

–Raj Manoharan

RajManReviews

The pitfall of releasing a stunning debut CD is that your follow-up is critiqued with a much more discerning ear than is usual. David Wahler’s Antiquus was roundly praised and recognized as a very strong first effort. His follow-up, A Star Danced, certainly smashes the myth of the sophomore slump—it’s a worthy successor and reveals that the artist is no flash in the pan or one trick pony.

It’s not without any flaws, though. In fact, I’d argue that the opening and closing track, both titled “Quest” (the closing version is subtitled “Reprise”) are weak bookends to the much better stuff “inside.” I didn’t care for the horn/trumpet sound and the piece itself struck me as somewhat “schmaltzy.” The other twelve tracks, though, emphasize that the praise heaped on Wahler (including by yours truly) was more than justified.

Overall, though, A Star Danced, is an accomplished and self-assured release. You can sense how Wahler trusts his musical instincts throughout the album. This self-confidence results in songs that “sound right,” such as the second piece, the title track, which features a mellow chill-out beat anchoring a late-era Serrie-like romantic new age keyboard melody. “The Seeds of Time” weaves delicate, feathery flute, harp, and guitar (accompanist Brent Gunter) on top of an underlying myriad of keyboards. The guitar lends a subtle Mediterranean influence with a resultant romantic evocation contained in the gentle warm lead melody. With the fourth track, “Come Gentle Night,” Wahler finally hits his stride. This song is as good as it gets for soothing, melodic, yet gently rhythmic new age music. Wahler’s expertise at layering his many keyboards is that of someone who has been at this for years and years—not a relative newcomer.

Later in the album, Wahler injects new life in the usually clichéd Debussy’s “Reverie.” His ethereally-inflected spacemusic-ish treatment is a revelation and refutes the truism of not being able to teach an old dog any new tricks. From track 7 until the second to last song, Wahler paints one mellow, serene, but never somnambulant, soundscape after another. He wields enough of a keyboard/sound variety that I was always engaged and entertained, sometimes anchoring a piece with echoed piano, such as on the lovely “Sigh Away Sunday” which is warm, wistful, and reflective. His knack for romantic longing/melancholy lends the relatively sparse (piano and subtle accompaniment) “Missing You” a sincere feeling of gentle sadness while “Unsunned Snow” (now that is an original title!) is even more restrained in production yet infused with a palpable sense of longing and reflection (the echoed piano put me in mind of the late Dan Hartman’s New Green Clear Blue).

While I would imagine, nowadays, few people buy CDs based on cover art, especially with the explosion of digital download sales, I still wish to convey that the album cover of A Star Danced is a let down after the bold artistic statement of Antiquus. There is nothing “wrong” with the cover, but I will admit that were I to see it in a store, it would not compel me to reach for the CD, although Antiquus’s catch-your-eye graphics certainly would have had that affect. Cover art not withstanding, A Star Danced is a worthy successor to Wahler’s debut and should convince anyone with a taste for electronic keyboard-based new age (and, to a lesser degree, chill-out) music, that David Wahler remains someone whose career should be followed as he further self-defines his artistic persona through high quality recordings.

Rating: Very Good

Bill Binkelman
Zone Music Reporter

A Star Danced

(c) (p) 2010 Darius Productions

In silent windless night

The voices of the distant stars

Are ringing in my heart

This music is filled with transparency. It conveys very simple and clear emotions which purify the heart and arouse the spirit. Some sentimental notes are felt in the music of the album “A Star Danced” by David Wahler. These are voices of silent nights when you are alone with your own essence and naked in front of the unfolding endlessness.

The sampled electronic music of David Wahler is full of individuality. It speaks its own very personal language. Sometimes the celestial nocturnal tunes of “A Star Danced” remind me of the music of Jonn Serrie. But David Wahler definitely has his own style. Maybe the comparison with Jonn Serrie occurs to me because the music of “A Star Danced” has an evident healing effect. It rehabilitates the mind and raises the spirit. The piano of David Whaler is warm-hearted and moving.

One wants to say also that the music of “A Star Danced” is bewitchingly beautiful. David Wahler is a magnificent composer. “A Star Danced” is listened to in one breath. This release is a very precious sample of music therapy.

Serge Kozlovsky

http://sergekozlovsky.com

Upon the heels of David Wahler’s stunningly successful debut album Antiquus, in 2009, comes his much anticipated second album, A Star Danced.  Contemporary electronic composer Wahler takes us on a personal journey through the highs, lows and in-betweens of his recent life experiences, creating a highly sensitive musical diary of his life. In doing so he invites his listeners to recall and celebrate their own life experiences.

David started with music at age seven. But he sought formal training and studied music at several universities. He acted as musical director and played around Chicago with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. He also gave music lessons to support handicapped  and disabled children. During the eighties and nineties he worked with in electronic music. During that period he was influenced by a wide range of artists, ranging from Kitaro to Stravinsky, Satie to Eno. Last year I celebrated his debut CD “Antiquus”, which was based upon Greek mythology. It was a beautiful CD, the perfect soundtrack for ancient mysteries. I was not the only one who thought so, because the album landed at number one on the charts. Now his second album, and the title refers to a sentence of William Shakespeare in “Much Ado About Nothing”, namely “… a star danced, and under that was I born.” David takes us on a personal journey through The ups and downs of his recent life experiences. And the opener ‘Quest’ is dedicated to anyone who stands on the threshold of a personal journey of challenge. It is an anthem of hope and courage that is soft and very atmospheric. I get the impression that I am floating when I listen to. The title track lets you go float, followed by “The Seeds of Time” in which acoustic guitarist Brent Gunter is wonderful to hear. With “Come Gentle Night” David calls from the night, again with a soaring melody. “Peaseblossom” is a peaceful song, followed by “Reverie” (Debussy). For a family that fights breast cancer, he composed the beautiful “Yvonne”. “Sigh Away Sunday” is equally beautiful, almost ethereal and elusive. With “Vespera” We continue hovering above the Earth, followed by “Pie Jesu” (Faure), which features panpipes.  “Missing You” is an intimate song, full of melancholy. “A Rose Distilled” and “Unsunned Snow”  follow, after David ends with the revival of “Quest” (Reprise).

“David, this time it was not the mysteries that inspired you, but your personal experiences. Still the music is extraordinary. Clearly you are in a category of your own! But I’m still wondering if you’re going to Pursue the other musical mysteries of your debut album. Keep up the good work!”

Patrick Van de Wiele (4)
KeysandChords.com

A NEW STAR IS BORN

“…. a star danced and under which I was born,”  was a quote by William Shakespeare. This quote has also been taken to heart by David Wahler for his latest album “A Star Danced”

After his debut album “Antiquus” Release Date shortly after the election to the best debut album by New Age Reporter, and has won 8 months in the charts, so the expectations were high on his new album.

A Star Danced is a very personal album, in which David gives his thoughts and feelings expressed. The song “Yvonne” was written for a family member, who still leads the fight against breast cancer. When composing of “Missing You,” he remembered his father’s funeral.

More information about David and his music, learn it on its revamped website at www.davidwahler.com

Without doubt he was born under a dancing star … dancing as a new star in the New Age – Music Heaven.

Erich Boeck,  NewAgeMusicRado.de