Below are selected review excerpts of Al's latest album.
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: Inside World Music
Reviewer: Matthew Forrs
Date: December, 2011
"The powerful mythology of Norse folklore graces the musical foundation of Al Conti's 2011 Grammy® Award -nominated release for Best New Age Album. The eleven-track release contains compositions that are mostly instrumental and inspired by various Norse references, including Ragnarok, Valkyria, Baldur, Odin, and Thor. The rather dark connotations of Norse mythology are brightened by Conti's uncanny ability to create spritely rhythms and melodies with the aid of uillean pipes, fiddles, piano, Celtic whistles, acoustic guitars, and assorted percussion. The atmospheric backdrops fill in the melodies and provide an awe-inspiring journey for all who listen. A nice mix of Celtic, New Age, ethnic, and instrumental melodies are more upbeat than anything from Robert Rich or Steve Roach. However, the scintillating music is more in-line with Ireland's Ronan Hardiman. Nevertheless, Conti knows how to create visionary compositions that are entirely unique and refreshing. Conti breathes life into the mythological void of imagination and lore."
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: Zone Music Reporter
Reviewer: RJ Lannan
Date: March, 2011
"Conti's instrumental music is always vivid in scope and very strong in content. He is quite adroit at creating musical compositions that do for the aural what film does for the visual. This album contains orchestral, electronic and acoustic mixtures with haunting vocals and a somewhat cinematic feel. It is the perfect blend to tell the chronicle of the Norsemen...The music is oddly Celtic sounding at times, but it is completely understandable. It represents the romantic side of the tales while the contemporary orchestrations symbolize the trepidation of the time. Overall Conti's blend is delightful in every way. The fury of the Northern Seas is always in the background, but the magic of the era is kept well in the balance."
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: New Age Retailer
Reviewer: Bill Binkelman
Date: February, 2011
"Keyboard artist Al Conti turns his attention northward from the parched desert sands of his previous release, Scheherazade, to the homelands of the Norse gods’ followers on Northern Seas. Joined by guest vocalists and instrumentalists on fiddle, Uillean pipes, and Celtic whistles, Conti once again whisks the listener away to faraway places and long-ago times with his meticulously recorded instrumental music. While not as exotic as Scheherazade, Northern Seas is equally enjoyable and may be more accessible to the casual New Age music fan. Conti fuses his engaging New Age melodicism with gentle, unforced rhythms, while also liberally incorporating Celtic influences on selected tracks".
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: Reviews New Age
Reviewer: Alejandro Clavijo González
Date: January, 2011
"Al Conti should feel more than proud in this, his last work, which is still garnering praise around the world with radios and reviewers who continue to offer five stars for each and every one of this marvelous album’s compositions. And it is no wonder, as these are eleven extraordinary pieces that have been created by one of the masters of New Age. Northern Seas is an album VERY highly recommended and one to which I give my highest score."
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: Improvijazzation Nation
Reviewer: Rotcod Zzaj
Date: December, 2010
"Ever since I reviewed Al’s marvelous orchestral works in issue # 87, I’ve been anticipating his next release… & lo/behold, here it pops in through my mailslot. I’ve listened through all 11 tracks numerous times (at least 12 or 13, some with speakers only, other sessions with the headphones), and it’s still just as beautiful as the first time I listened to him. The promoter has offered me an interview with Al, and I’m going to make sure that happens. I don’t care how hidebound you may be in your jazz traditions, your ears will find something to love on this beautifully serene CD… try on “Spring Maiden” for size… relaxing, picturesque, yet full of the passion of both spring and maidens. For something a bit more percussion (and energy) oriented try “Song Of Rig“… I loved this one & listened to it over and over! My absolute favorite experience on this CD, though, was “Dans for Loki (Loki’s Jig)“… if this doesn’t get you kickin’ up your heels – nothing will. Decidedly “new age” influence, but again, something for every listener, I think. I give it a clearly MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.97"
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: Creations Magazine
Reviewer: Mark Abushady
Date: November, 2010
"With Northern Seas, Al Conti demonstrates his musical fluency in yet another area of world, successfully utilizing music idioms to call forth images of Celtic and Scandanavian lands and Norse mythologies. In the opening Veil of Mist, one can feel the sensual rising and falling of the seas, and the pieces go on to span many moods, from lullaby-like, to proud and insistent, to introspective. Song of Rig and Thor’s Journey are especially notable. The album holds well to its central theme of the North, and includes performances on guitar, fiddle, Uilleann pipes, Celtic whistle and the occasional mystical vocal. The Rainbow Bridge brings a beautiful close to this compelling musical adventure and very enjoyable offering!"
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: New Age World
Reviewer: John Olsen.
Date: November, 2010
"Al Conti is a name many recognize in U.S. and international audiences as a composing musician having a natural ability for producing some of the most vivid story based music in the New Age & World genres, and for those who are wondering, his ability to intermingle these exciting tales of intrigue into each of his award winning projects originates from life experiences and global travels.
Northern Seas is the fourth narrative from Al Conti that made a grand impression on me after hearing this new release for the first time. On Northern Seas the ancestral homeland and Nordic heritage of Scandinavia is the theme presented in a manner you will find intensely glorious regardless of your own family coat of arms since the perceptions in imagery and rich instrumental landscape valiantly hold the high ground on this resolute masterpiece.
Al Conti has crossed yet another threshold with this exciting new release having every telltale sign of award winning success given his intriguing music portraiture of Scandinavian countries centered by Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The majestic highlands, islets and fjords bordering the Barents, Baltic and Norwegian Seas have become the phenomenal harbor setting for this striking new album christened Northern Seas."
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: The Borderland
Reviewer: John.
Date: October, 2010
"As soon as the digipack for the above album slid out of the envelope I was impressed. A triple panel with cover art of stormy seas battering high cliffs, a tall shard of rock jutting out of the ocean with shards of light shooting off it. And hidden away under the impressive fonts used for the track listing on the second panel is the image of a Viking long ship battling the storm. Impressive imagery and raising expectations of a concept prog rock folly. But no, this is the new album by multi-instrumentalist Al Conti. So while still a concept album, it is drawn from the Norse legends. The music is more a cross between folk and electronic, with a strong vein of Celtic sounds in there for good measure. And what a thoroughly delightful album it is. As with Mr Conti's previous album Scheherazade, the audio quality of this CD is excellent and will sound stupendous on any really decent hi-fi speakers. I review a lot of CDs every year and most get played no more than a couple of times, but I have been drawn back to this album again and again when I grow bored of whatever else I am listening to. There is a depth to the music that requires repeated listening, and the payback is an album that just gets better with every listen. Northern Seas just has to one of the best albums of the year."
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: RajMan Reviews
Reviewer: Raj Manoharan.
Date: October, 2010
"The Norse legends of old come to vivid, sparkling life in this multifaceted musical tapestry woven by actor, composer, and musician Al Conti. The fourth album from the multi-instrumentalist is steeped in Viking lore and, as such, brims with the mystery and mythology of those ancient times.
While the album generally falls into the category of New Age and world music, the most apt description is that it specifically sounds like what might be called medieval pop. In other words, it sounds like Sting at his best post-Police, except without Sting’s vocals. In fact, Sting and Al Conti should get together and collaborate. Sting could use the inspiration.
Northern Seas is definitely a keeper. It’s worthy of the gods, and worthy of your attention"
CD Review: Northern Seas
Publication: Mainly Piano
Reviewer: Kathy Parsons.
Date: October, 2010
"Northern Seas is Al Conti’s follow-up to his award-winning 2008 release, Scheherazade. Two years in the making, the eleven original tracks are based on Norse mythology from the time of the Vikings. A multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, acoustic guitar, violin, electronic keyboards and percussion, Conti has created a vibrant, cinematic tour of ancient times and places. Additional musicians add wordless vocals, guitars, fiddles, Uilleann pipes, and Celtic whistles. Also an actor and world-traveler, Conti brings a wealth of life experience to his music, giving it plenty of substance tempered with the wisdom to keep the music accessible. The music ranges from dark and stormy to absolutely buoyant and carefree - all of it paints vivid pictures of mythological characters and their fabled lives. In addition, the colorful liner notes summarize some of these tales and explain how the music was conceived - a beautiful package well worth the few extra dollars more than a download.
We begin our journey on Northern Seas with “Veil of Mist,” a dark, exotic, and very mysterious piece that evokes fear of the unknown as well as the thrill of a new adventure. “Northern Seas” has a strong rhythm that moves it forward while keyboard, voices, guitar, and various other background sounds convey a spirited optimism. “Song of Rig” becomes more dancelike with a catchy beat and a simple, lively melody. I love “Dans For Loki (Loki’s Jig),” the most carefree piece on the album. In mythology, Loki was known as a trickster, but this jig focuses on his playful, fun-loving side. Complete with Uilleann pipes, fiddles, and many other instruments, it’s a dance of joyous celebration. Delightful! “Odin The Wanderer” tells of the father of the gods and his quest for wisdom. Darker in mood and conveying the feeling of searching, it’s another beauty. “Valkyrja” was a group of goddesses whose task it was to choose warriors lost in battle and take them to the afterworld. The majestic sweep of the piece suggests strength and honor - gorgeous! “Ragnarok” is the name for the demise of the gods and the ultimate battle between good and evil. Haunting and almost without hope, the feeling of loss is heartbreaking. Our journey ends with “The Rainbow Bridge,” a bridge that unites our world with the realm of the gods, offering hope to all.
Northern Seas is another truly great album from Al Conti and is available from www.alconti.net, Amazon, CD Baby, and iTunes. Highly recommended!" ~