Gene Newton: Press

Electronic keyboardist Gene Newton's Elemental Suite is an ambitious and mostly successful attempt at painting musical portraits of the six elements: wind, earth, fire, water, creation and pneuma. His palette for this album includes floating ambient style synths and synth choruses, dramatic full sounding keyboards, a la Vangelis or Burmer, and even some German EM sequencer textures.

There are also some classic new age elements (including, unfortunately for me, dolphin or whale song) but most of the recording is well-engineered and listenable electronic music, that, at times, brims with energy and imagination.

The album opener starts off as a low key ambient excursion and soon develops into a fast paced quasi-Richard Burmer number, replete with unique percussive effects, "wall of sound synths", and sparkling melody lines. But this CD is not to be pigeon-holed, as Newton paints with lots of hues and tints. Thunderstorm sounds, along with heavy use of synth chorus accompany the pretty "Mystic Breeze." The German-style EM shadings in "Primal Fire" are well done, as the song builds from its slow start with minor key ambient washes to mid tempo heavily rhythmic EM. If you can get past the whale song on "Cetacean Dream" the piece eventually becomes a lively (with nice synth harp arpeggios) good-humored and also highly dramatic (courtesy of timpani) song. "Gaia's Melody" with synth pan pipes and nicely-blended nature sounds (crickets, et al.) is beautiful and serene, possibly the album highpoint.

Diverse in textures, yet with signature touches (synth chorus, unique keyboard washes and chords), Elemental Suite is not perfect (sometimes the mix is a bit busy with overly "synthy" synths) but it is a solid effort from a promising keyboard artist.

Eternity is only Gene Newton's second album, but he has planted his flag in the electroterritory of Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream. Pumped up with four Korg synthesizers, Newton harnesses mighty spacewinds, rocket roars, spacious caverns, angel choirs, ominous gongs, radio tweaks and chirps, and TD-style rhythm sections. Each piece offers interesting progressions, from freefloating to driving rhythms, from engaging melodies to infinite thought. Although there are some pressing and haunting spaces, the overall experience is one of brash and resilient adventure. Don your headphones, crank up the bass on your speakers, and take a trip. They don't call this spacemusic for nothing.

Celestial Plea is the first album from composer and synthesizer artist Gene Newton. The introduction to "Dreamscapes" offers an inner panorama of bubbling lifeforms, a caldron of crickets and swarming noises; the melodic theme, played by the harpsichord, strikes out with heartfelt assurance as angel voices light the way. The path of "Interstellar Echoes" is set by angel voices; a racing cadence and spacewinds quicken the pace, as melodies are handed off and embellished between instruments. Overall, Newton's sonic interpretation of the astral planes (most tracks are titled "Blue Ether," "Angel Dances," and the like) are crystalline, with each sound vividly etched. "Astral Matrix" begins with a cosmic blues refrain played by a lonely flute, then offers a cross-stellar romp to equal that of Vangelis. The album ends with the title track, a stately anthem of victory which could almost be subtitled "the meek shall inherit." The rock guitar track, "Flight of Fancy" seems out of place in the celestial firmament, but the spirit of the whole album is heartening (especially knowing that Newton is a high school music teacher. Wish my music teacher made this kind of music.)

The sparkles and shimmers of the universe can be experienced in this musical exploration of the Tarot deck, arranged as one might proceed through a reading. Composer and synthesizer artist Gene Newton uses the futuristic visionary Rohrig-Tarot Deck (designed by Carl-W. Rohrig) as his source of inspiration. The album begins with the "Meditation"; a choir gently sings while the cosmos chirps merrily in the background. "Invocation of Truth and Light" embraces the listener with heartbeats, church bells, cosmic breaths, and mysterious dolphin songs--a winning combination. A steady pace accompanies "The Spread," music for placing down the cards. "The Major Arcana: Breathing Reality" offers crystalline chimes, a flute melody set against metallic breaths; it's unrelenting cadence gives a sense of destiny. The four suits--Wands, Cups, Swords, and Disks--each have their own track, and the album ends in another "Meditation." Throughout, Newton balances equal portions of synth orchestral instruments (strings, flute, sax, harpsichord) and engaging melodies with atmospheric electronic space sounds. The saxophone melody of "Wands: Crystal Passion" wanders oddly (perhaps there is something shifty about this Tarot suit that I don't know about), but then the harpsichord melody of "Cups: Emotional Grace" is endearing. The gentle space winds are like angels whispering in your ear.

Together with the four natural elements, Gene Newton has incorporated the "spiritual elements" such as Ether and Pneuma into this terrific composition. The music stretches from extremely melodious segments to soft and meditative pieces. It is ambient music that remains appropriately light with ethereal textures. Great!

Space music fans will rush to embrace this vitalizing trek though the astral planes. Luxuriant soundscape with occasional phrases. Synthesizer music filled with energy and joy.

The synthesizer sounds that Gene Newton produces are unique and refreshing. The sounds will relax you whether you are reading, meditating, or sleeping! I have all four of his CD's and find them equally wonderful. Take your pick!

This is Gene Newton's first album and a definate "keeper". Never far down in my stack of CD's this album captivates the listener with its skill and musicianship. A very talented composer and musician and a wonderful recording.

Together with the four natural elements, Gene Newton has incorporated the "spiritual elements" such as Ether and Pneuma into this terrific composition. The music stretches from extremely melodious segments to soft and meditative pieces. It is ambient music that remains appropriately light with ethereal textures. Great!