Ataraxia - The Precipice [ALBUM RELEASE]

The Precipice is track 1 from the album "Shades of Living Light," released on October 29th, 2021.

Stream & Purchase Shades of Living Light:

"The brightness that I see is not spatial, yet is far, far more lucent than a cloud that envelops the sun. I cannot contemplate height or length or breadth in it; and I call it “the shadow of the Living Light." And as sun, moon and stars appear mirrored in water, so Scriptures, discourses, virtues, and some works of men take form for me and are reflected, radiant in this brightness."

— Hildegard von Bingen in a letter to Guibert, translation adapted from Peter Dronke.

Shades of Living Light is an orchestrated, conceptual, gapless piano album borne out of the desire to both celebrate and explore the process of becoming. In creating these compositions, I drew from the emotional experience of realizing a sudden shift in consciousness: viewing some immutable reality with a new lens. Standing in the same spot with someone you love year after year. Interpreting the lyrics to a song you love differently after an immensely kairotic moment. Hearing a younger version of yourself play the notes of a song your mother wrote years before you were born on a set of long-forgotten cassette tapes.

All of these experiences share similar colors of nostalgia, melancholy, the comfort and discomfort of unanswered questions, and the quiet, unmistakable, beautiful fear of all that is yet to come.

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The Precipice credits:
Composed, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Emmy Pehrson (Ataraxia)
Piano recorded by Emmy Pehrson (Ataraxia).

Visualizer created by Reverie

☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰☰

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[MarkGeislerMusic]

Stunningly beautiful are the first two words that come to me when trying to describe this album. From the very opening notes the music grabs my attention and holds it. For me to listen to an album front to back without stopping is very rare, and to like every track on an album is even rarer. That's what this album does for me. Shades Of Living Light is a real treasure trove and definitely a stand out in my vast music library.

Ataraxia's Emmy Pehrson is an amazingly multi-talented one person band who essentially does it all on this project (with a little help from some friends) - composing, arranging, producing and recording all the material. A truly gifted musician with an exceptional vision, his many talents shine forth on this album.

The music is haunting, rich in emotion and clearly comes from a deep soul level. I was moved to tears from the very first listen. I am also impressed by the numerous and diverse layers of production presented here. Emmy creates a multi-textured soundscape in which these beautiful songs can float, swim and frolic to their hearts' content - and mine.

Awesome album. Five stars. Two thumbs up. BUY THIS ONE.