Review of Christel Veraart’s New Album: Pleiades

If you ever wanted to verify the power of sound in its tonality and vibration, this is where you can feel it–like a scoop of an earth-moving crane, Christel’s vocals carry you and transport to the starry worlds, where mysteries become mystical and unknown becomes the most cherished companion.

The crystal clear vocals carry you to some special and spatial places, allowing your mind to rest and explore within. What a stabilizing sonic journey Christel offers through her new album ‘Pleiades’!

Album Name: Pleiades

Artist Name: Christel Veraart

Total Time: 52:31

The Pleiades, or the famous ‘seven sisters’ of the constellation, has been a subject of history, science, and folklore. Christel offers seven songs in the album, each named after the individual stars. What I marvel at is the confidence, the audacity, the faith that Christel has shown while conceptualizing music for such an out-of-the-earth subject. It is not an easy task to think about creating such an album, leave aside the act of actually putting it together. Bravo!

The opening track “Taygete” sets the expectation right–the effect of her voice is so stunning that you feel completely disconnected from the world as if meditating somewhere among the stars and the universe is talking to you. In the right frame of mind, the song can give you so much spiritual joy.

“Maia” is in the same genre and you feel the power of her voice running through your aural receptors. It flows like a waterfall.

The mood changes from deep contemplation to a conversation in “Asterope” and a bit of rhythm is also introduced. Feels like a country-side folksong.

“Merope” is very ambient in its approach and gives you the true galactic vibes. She showed her true range at 2:33s in this song when she turned to base notes and you almost feel goosebumps.

Rhythm, mysticism, and a bit of moodiness enter the longest song of the album, “Celaeno.” The deep contemplation is subdued and the mind feels at ease, relaxed, and accustomed to the calls of the higher planes. Once again, very suitable for meditation.

As we reach another star, “Alcyone,” the depth and the intensity returns. Christel’s voice feels like a passionate “call to the home” in the vacuum created by the humming sound from the keyboards. It does not allow you to belong to the earth–you are verily star-dust!

Like Celaeno, “Electra” is also a lengthy piece going a bit over 10 minutes. It opens slowly like a petal and moves lucidly. Unlike the other songs, the keyboards accompany the vocals as if there is a slow, twinkling dance of the stars.

Vocal music is often limited in its reach due to the language cognizance of the audience, but this music defies all such boundaries. It shows the power of sound, and you just can’t escape it.

I feel so happy I got the chance to listen to this album–what a wonderful gift Christel has offered to this world, capable of bringing calm and peace to the mind! I call upon the listeners to expose themselves to this wonder.