Drifting In Silence – “Echoes Beyond” | Progressive Rock Central.com

Derrick Stembridge and his driving force, Drifting in Silence, has returned, with a new album, Echoes Beyond; which will be released on September 20^th on Labile Records. Derrick Stembridge is a multi-instrumentalist, who creates some of the most amazing synthesizer and keyboard music that I have heard, since the passing of so many of my keyboard heroes like Vangelis. Stembridge, is one of those few artists who are trying to save and grow, the instrumental, ambient and meditative stillness, genres, for all of us fans. He knows how to create instrumental and keyboard driven music that retains aspects of what we remember from our past, while at the same time, he charts a new and adventurous course towards the future.

On Echoes Beyond, Derrick Stembridge unites with new-age musician and fellow instrumentalist, Suseti, (Sunil Sharma); who is famous for using more natural sounds to help create the symphonic garden of symphonies, which fill his critically acclaimed albums. The blending of their rhythms, beliefs, influences, nuances and visions of music; creates some of the most profound meditational and mind relaxing music written, in quite some time. Their music is simultaneously evocative, thought-provoking, and relaxing. Together their music fosters dream creation, mental examination, and idea generation.

The album opens with “Silent Reflections”. A slow introduction of morning light shining, synthesizer and keyboard effects, that permeate the senses and allow tranquility to reign. Some of the keyboards and synths mimic small choirs of voices humming in unison. There is a natural presence to the music, like awaking to the new day.

“Mirage of Stillness”, is filled with more natural sounds, within the rain forest like magic of the synth and keyboards, encompassing the soundscape. The ancient Asian sounding chord instruments, chimes, and sounds, blend perfectly with the slow and continuous synths that fill the soundscape. The bell-shaped key sounds provide wonderful patterns that stimulate the rhythm of the sound.

“Dreams Embrace”, adds even more natural sounds to the pallet of this wonderful album. Water, or ocean waves, helps add an exactness and rhythm of reality to the spacey effects unfolding from these keyboard wizards. This track is deeper, emotionally, than the first two tracks.

The title track, “Echoes Beyond,” is the closer for this drifting silent, meditational pull of music. It blends the ambient with the natural sounds of bells, chimes, and an ancient Asian melody, that helps generate a profound journey of sound, which imparts its refreshing ‘nutrients’ to settle and renew the brain.

Echoes Beyond is a short, but meaningful passage of music that will hopefully make you reflect upon your life and your overall wellbeing. It will hopefully be a chance to set down your phone and all your “real-world” possessions along with reality; and allow your mind to venture into paths unknown or untraveled. Maybe it will allow you to come to grips with something that has nagged at you for some time. Whatever the experience, Echoes Beyond, allows you that time of passage, to review and contemplate all that has happened and all that is still…beyond.

Album Track List: