How fortunate am I to be able to share with you the latest in David Arkenstone album releases? David Arkenstone has undeniably been one of the finest instrumental composers ever. The renowned musician has proved his mastery as a class musician in different genres like New Age, Celtic, and cinematic music.
This enormously talented and prolific artist has released over 30 purely instrumental albums that easily set his imaginative and innovative compositions. He has achieved the distinguished honor of 5 Grammy nominations and contributed his musical talents to film television, and gaming projects. He composed the original score for the hugely popular online game World of Warcraft. His sound and talented instrumentation have enhanced productions for NBC Sports and independent films. With nearly 300k monthly listeners and more than 9,500 followers on Instagram, he has certainly created a niche for himself in the new age as one of its most gifted, talented musical pioneers ever.
His most ambitious work to date may well be the completion of his latest epic musical saga, “Quest for the Runestone.” Thirteen complex compositions find Arkenstone fashioning a dense collection of sound experiences that immerse listeners in a supernatural journey. The concept album, inspired by Celtic and Viking folklore, revolves around a story his son, Dashiell, wrote. Throughout there are musical motifs that depend on themes of prophecy, magic, discovery, and redemption.
The instrumentation of Arkenstone is at full tilt: guitar, cittern, saxophone, flute, whistle, melodica, drums, bass, handpan, vocals, and keyboards. The opener “Prophecy” lays down the narrative through energizing arpeggiated phrases and a climactic choral build. The layered introduction unfurls, much like mist clearing, and readies listeners for an adventure. “The Soothsayer Speaks” shifts to a sentimental, but still engaging meter; Arkenstone adeptly varies the timbre, switching between vibrating strings and stimulating woodwinds.
It’s on “Ancient Magic Awakens” that the magical undertones start to bleed through. The listener is surrounded by druidic drones and spiritual chants, while beautiful Uilleann pipes lines summon invisible mystical forces. Textures thicken, and the spell takes hold on the 4th track, where the woodwind instrument introduces the sublime track “Réann,” its elegiac phrases giving way to a sense of sublime otherworldliness.
The swirling atmospherics of “Eyes of Skata” persist, with transcendental keys, strings, and fluttering flutes that sweep listeners over mythic vistas. “Oceans Of Ice” has a growing string ostinato to build suspense. It’s an icy landscape, evoked by arctic textures: glockenspiel, celeste, and wind chimes evoke glacial winds as bowed strings lean into towering formations in the light of the night sky, glowing.
“Path of the Mountain’s Bones” is a frivolous romp across rugged landscapes and forgotten ruins; it embodies sonically the pure energy of nature. Passionate and evocative, the music draws one right into the heart of adventure. “Stars Without Light” is a heavenly meditation. You feel the gates of heaven open alongside the vocalized intro. The music is ethereal, and evocative, and sets the listener to ponder mysteries such as the cosmos. “The Arbos Stirs” pulses with the awakened energy of ancient spirits and powers forgotten, dropping you breathless in awe. “Inscriptions” is a journey mystical, a sonic exploration into the secrets of the past. The music is haunting and evocative, hauling one right into the midst of mystery dramatized. But the poetic use of flute and violin in “The Keeper Of The Flame” leaves one inspired and uplifted. Touches of magic and wonder explode throughout this haunting track, with the Uilleann pipes. The album concludes with “Réann Reawakened”, a poignant and delightful piece, with strings both delicate and powerful bringing the album to a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion.
Having been such a huge fan of David’s music over the past several years, to be given the chance to experience some new music from an artist whom I not only admire but also hold in extremely high regard is special. David is a modern New Age music master, this time outdoing himself in weaving together an album people will return to for its depths of mystique and adventure. You can check out the album today on Spotify, or any major streaming site of your choice.
