“A Day on Venus” by Michelle Qureshi
Album Review by New Age CD and New Age Notes Radio Staff
The energy and effect of Venus has always been fascinating. In mythology, Venus is known as the “Goddess of Love and Beauty.” The Rose of Venus – as depicted on the album cover of “A Day on Venus” by Michelle Qureshi – is the sacred geometry pattern the orbit of Venus forms as she dances with Earth.
Michelle is a musical artist well-known for her guitar playing. With millions of streams on global streaming platforms she’s doing something right. What is not as well-known about her is that she is a multi-instrumentalist.
The music on this album is unique, not just from track to track, but also within the body and composition of each piece. With its shifting moods, varied timbres and textures, and its diverse instrumentation, the music reflects the ambiance of all that is Venus.
Here, we have 18 tracks and about 1 hour of very special music that is designed to take you out of linear “Earth time” and help you enter a state of meditative flow where time ceases to exist. The album opens aptly with “Stars By The Pocketful,” which incorporates soft synthesizers along with nylon and steel string guitars. Right here, from the beginning, is where you start letting go of man-made time and enter that meditative flow. It’s a perfect opening.
Following is the hypnotic, guitar-based, “American Prelude.” This is soft and gentle and takes us further into the intrigue. A favorite on this album is the wonderful, “Luminous Fields,” which was released as a single from the album. Haunting flute opens the piece and calls us deeper into the serenity. Soft synth underneath helps take us to a whole other place.
Muted piano with good use of the lower registers, synth, and keyboards wrap us in a warm cocoon and bring us even further into tranquility on “Being There.” We are “there” effortlessly.
There is so much to love in this album with all its subtle nuances, layers, and textures, but we can’t address every track here. Here are some things of further note: “Within This Night” is a gentle solo guitar piece. And later in the album we find “Without This Night,” which re-imagines the aforementioned solo piece. Through the spacious atmospheric ambiance of ambient beds and bass guitar we find ourselves further immersed in the mystical night.
I’m quite fond of “Electric Blue” with its “space music” feel created by the soft electric guitar. “Rain In Heaven” has that same vibe, as does “Wondrous” with its singing bowls and guitar. These are songs to get lost in.
“Dusty Springs” has a truly enchanting melody and showcases Michelle’s flute talent. And “Before You Speak” is wonderful with its subtle harmonies between guitar and ukulele.
This is a very special album, and you will undoubtedly want to get the whole thing. Let the entrancing energy of Venus help take you to a whole other place where you will want to spend more than a day.
Releasing January 19, 2024, get it here:
Pre-save: https://soothesounds.lnk.to/ADayOnVenus
Pre-order https://music.apple.com/au/album/a-day-on-venus/1720862305
Official artist website: https://michellequreshi.com/
