“The Road We Chose” by Curtis Macdonald
Album Review by New Age CD and New Age Notes Radio Staff
We each choose a road to travel on our journey here. And said road has its own soundtrack whether we realize it or not. We have only to listen. And perhaps dance to it. The new 9-track chill/pop album from Curtis Macdonald, “The Road We Chose,” is both danceable and reflective, and is the perfect backdrop for whatever road you chose.
Curtis Macdonald has been creating music and entertaining fans of New Age/Jazz/Instrumental Pop/Electronica for over 35 years. He is a graduate composer from California institute For the Arts, Valencia, California, and his music ranges from jazz to world beat to ambient and EDM.
Here we have in about 34 minutes and across 9 tracks, an engaging concept album with cinematic flair. The album opens with the hypnotic title track, leading us nicely into the journey. With its acoustic piano melody line and an array of synths, along with a wonderful beat, this is great driving music to be sure.
We may have noticed that we can’t travel our road without some kind of change. It’s inevitable. What can we do when we come upon the unavoidable? I would say roll with it. “Change On The Horizon” invites us to gracefully embrace whatever we come across. Again, a great piano melody line atop a fabulous, uplifting beat amid cool synths, reminds us to keep going right on through.
Almost feeling like a continuation of the previous, we seamlessly find ourselves in the space of “Always Find A Way.” And this we must do. “Designing Life” with its percolating beat and enchanting piano line is a favorite as it seems to open the heart and invites us to remember that we are the architects of our experiences no matter what road we chose to travel upon. I really like this.
“Masquerade” is slower and more contemplative and just as engaging as all the rest. Many times, we distract ourselves from whatever we don’t want to see or deal with. “The Depth Of Our Distraction” takes us effortlessly through those emotions. And have you ever taken that last flight out of somewhere? There’s a palatable starkness about sitting there waiting for that plane. And yet, at the same time, we have time to fully contemplate what comes next as well as what has been. This is a great song. I really like Curtis’ signature piano lines over his uplifting beats throughout the whole album.
Is ”goodbye” ever really goodbye? We carry a piece of whatever transpired with us always. “It’s Never Farwell” perfectly conveys these emotions. Synth strings along with the piano and moving beat make this very special.
This wonderful album closes out appropriately with “Clear Skies.” Optimism abounds here as we look behind and forward to whatever comes next as well. I love this, and if you haven’t already, it’s time to dance.
The whole album: Super cool.
Get it here: https://www.cmmpmusic.com
