Aquamarine
Valcope, 2023
8/10
The harpist and composer Kirsten Agresta-Copely makes quite an impression for this 3rd album, where New Age ideas are front and center for songs inspired by her late mother.
The twinkling harp of the gorgeous title track opens the listen with incredible attention to detail and much warmth, and “I Am Water” follows with a poetic intimacy that’s soft and agile via Agresta-Copely’s elegant vision.
“Deep Blue World” arrives in the middle, and is full of introspective and careful progressions of profound beauty, while “Surfacing” features Tess Remy-Schumaker’s stirring cello for the dreamy album highlight.
Approaching the end, “Coralline” resonates with a gripping, emotive appeal that’s minimal but impactful, and “Into The Mist” welcomes Dave Eggar’s cello and Maggie Gould Wilson’s violin to the atmospheric and eloquent finish.
All of the tracks here are originals, and they all tip their hat towards the mystery of the deep blue sea, where Eggar, Remy-Schumaker and Wilson’s contributions certainly add nice accents to the engaging and soulful harp playing that really meshes New Age with chamber ideas superbly.
Travels well with: Danny Fox Trio- Time Took Care Of It; Timothy Schwarz- The Living American