Kerani, Arctic Sunrise

KEYBOARDIST KERANI MAKES A BIG SPLASH INTO POLAR OCEANS WITH NEW CD

Kerani may be a new name to most people (although she has three albums out), but she is a definite rising Northern Star in the field of new age music. If you like beautiful instrumental music that combines synth and piano, but also includes some acoustic touches by real musicians playing violin, cello, guitar, flute and trumpet (and maybe English horn, hard to say and it’s not in the credits), then this is a CD for you.

Heralding from The Netherlands by way of Belgium, Kerani is a female film composer by day and a new age recording wondKEer by night. She has recorded and performed with British new age singer-songwriter-guitarist Asher Quinn (also sometimes known as Asha). Kerani also has published a children’s book and arranged classic children’s music for a DVD for disabled children. But her talent for composing, playing assorted keyboards, arranging and producing really blossoms when she creates her own CDs.

This third recording, Arctic Sunrise, was inspired by both the Arctic Circle and Antarctica -- opposite poles, our most extreme regions, the coldest places on our planets, and wilderness areas that are rapidly changing as modern climate melts the ice. She certainly captures the feel of the cold climes, but she also keeps the music warm and human at the same time, a rare feat.

The album starts soft and slow, and gets even softer and slower on the fourth track, but then the next three tunes are mid-tempo and the final number is almost uptempo (or at least, after what preceded it, that piece feels upbeat). A couple of the tunes start out almost ambient, but soon build into soaring, sweeping, melodic compositions. There is percussion and drums scattered throughout, but it is very subdued and low-key (way back in the mix). There is a tiny bit of singing (some wordless) and speaking, but this also is all back in the mix (very unobtrusive).

This is masterful music (or would it be more politically correct to say mistressful music?). Regardless, Kerani puts powerful feelings into generally soft music and has a visionary scope and wide range with her arrangements and techniques. Well done.