Review of Dean and Dudley Evenson’s New album: Monet’s Garden

Think of history, inspiration, invention, vision, and art at their finest–this is what sums up the origin and expression of this album by the husband-wife duo. Dean and Dudley Evenson have brought the French Taste to the world! It has the detailed observation of subtlety and the focus on finer aspects of vistas that can help transport you to a very special place where you marvel at the wonders of nature and make an individual impression based on your own style and preferences.

Welcome to a sonic Monet’s Garden, which offers you a touch of tranquility and inner peace as you explore the elements offering stimulus and emotions within you. Free of any compulsion or limitations imposed by any genre or category, the album enables you to take a sortie of your own–levitating and enjoying the freedom that weightlessness offers. There is no hurry to come to a conclusion for it lets you roam free. Very delicately done, indeed!

Album Name: Monet’s Garden

Artist (s) Name: Dean Evenson, Dudley Evenson

Total Time: 65:24

There are twelve songs on the album. “Water Lily Nymphs” invites you to the beautiful garden carrying you softly on the sound of silver flute and synchronizing your gait with the plucking of harp strings. There is playfulness and freshness that will set the tone for the whole album. The bird sounds recording live from the fields add an excellent natural touch.

There is a breath of mystery, wonderment, and awe in “Wisteria Foot Bridge”. Overlapping cedar and silver flutes sustained by ambient sounds of the keyboard make beautiful loops.

Welcome to the “Golden Tones”. Meditative singing bowls and harmonizing flutes transport you to East Asian plains. The song has a lot of depth for a serious listener or someone who likes to practice yoga or meditation.

“Splendid Irises” opens up beautifully like the petals of a flower. The high-pitched chirping of the birds and deep-ocean-like sound from the keyboard make the flute sound better and better. The story continues with “Water Garden” and “Spring Impressions”.

With “Enchanted Garden Path”, as the name indicates, there is a hint of mystery–the subtle string effects of the harp and the deep ambient sounds from the keyboard make it very effective. Somewhere, a stroke on the singing bowls would enhance the quotient further.

“Field of Flowers” is a very reflective piece–moving slow enough to let you enjoy every second of it. I felt it is seeping the tiredness away from my body. The time seems to stand still and let you rejuvenate from the very core of your being. This is the power of thought and the ability to put that visualization into such an effective sound. Definitely one of the most soothing pieces you will hear out there!

As you admire the pond among the flowers, it is obvious you will ponder on the reflections and reminisce on your life–what a soundtrack it would make for a movie clip where a person is meditating and ruminating over his/her life! I marvel at the ease with which Dean and Dudley have touched the depths of such emotions with “Pong Reflections”.

“Cascading Willows” moves you right in the center of the woods–deep and far. You are alone with your surroundings and surely at peace.

“Play of Light” is again a very reflective piece, allowing you to settle down and focus on the finer details. The singing bowls bring that “bell” effect that immediately captures your being and aligns all the energy to one thought process.

The album closes with the smallest song of the album, “Evening in Giverny”, the place where all the conspired. What a magical time it would be to roam around the garden and admire the careful attention given to everything that could last for the posterity of nature lovers.

A piece of art is worthy of preservation for it fructifies in inspiring so many other expressions of art across time. This is what Monet’s Garden, the physical place, and of course, the idea behind Monet’s art has done for many artists across the world–this album is one such wonderfully inspired work among possible many.

For me, this is probably the most difficult album to review that I have come across–why, because once you listen to it, you are left with no intention to write; to express; to speak. The whole idea behind the album is to hush up the agitation, the activity of the mind so that you could go deep within yourself and enjoy peace and calm. And with what efficiency and definiteness it achieves the goal. I am truly speechless! (With one wish, of course–maybe, one day, I will set foot in that garden and experience the magic!)