Music can take you places. Different sounds evoke different landscapes, even if they only exist in the dreams of their artist. For Maarten Rischen, this means you can guide your listeners through the wilds of your mind without having them get lost. If you want proof then just listen to his latest release, “Serenity?”
The calm synths mixed with the sounds of flowing water feels like exhaling a deep breath and allows the listener to focus before the ethereal guitars enter the track. The feeling is uplifting and curious, as if the listener floating through this sonic landscape as opposed to moving through it. The thoughtful piano keys add to the dreamy aesthetics the track sets up, with the track fully embracing its own mystique around the 3 minute mark.
Right before that minute is over, the track breaks free of its contemplative mood and kicks into overdrive. Guitars wail and drums get heavy before the instrumentals boom as they fall into a high-energy groove that you can’t help but move your body to. It’s a total one-eighty from the ethereal dreaminess that lures the listener in during the intro. The pianos flutter playfully while the track rocks out and fully embraces the energetic dance groove led by the bass drum that takes over the spirit of the instrumental track.
The amped-up action then calms itself and moves into a more contemplative mood. The faint percussion left over from the high-energy dance section remains to keep the pulse of the song, but the rest of the instrumentals slow down as if to reflect on their previous outburst of power. The sounds of nature return, the rushing water and the noises of animals temper the powerful instrumentals. This reflective mood is beautifully spellbinding and leads to an ending that will shock those who were captivated by its allure.
“Serenity?” is a track that will take you on a journey. It leads the listener through beautiful sonic landscapes, accented by the evocative sounds of soothing natural phenomena. The track is full of surprises and the emotional impact the music may have could potentially shock the listener. The numerous musical surprises that amplify these feelings are impossible to hear in just one play and it’s hard to not hit the repeat button once it’s over to try and hear them all. This makes the experience that “Serenity?” provides a powerful one and shouldn’t be skipped.
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