The Passenger — Album Review

Traveling From The Seen To The Unseen – The Spiritual Escape

The word “JOURNEY” doesn’t only mean ‘travel’, it is rather a symbol widely used in poetry, life, philosophy, and spiritualism. This profound word can mean growth, development, progress, learning, and success. In a spiritual sense, Journey can also mean the process of becoming, evolving, or maturing. In the same way, the term “Passenger” can either mean a ‘traveler’ or might symbolically refer to an individual on a virtual journey: a voyage geared towards achieving a cherished goal or undergoing the process of becoming something better.

The Background

An ambient record conceived, composed, mixed, and produced entirely by women, the story of how “The Passenger” was born is something highly interesting and awe-inspiring, making it a rare kind of musical work and indeed a special album.

“The Passenger” was born at the end of an excruciating phase in Cheryl B Engelhardt’s life. Just at the time before setting her hands-on producing this album, she had lost her very dear comrade for cancer, who she valued so much in her life. The pain she underwent forced her to work with her emotions in solitude within the confinement of a roomette for nine days. During the end of this trying time, Cheryl found a kind of escape when she plunged into producing this album.

What is special about “The Passenger”?

“The Passenger” is an exclusive kind of work in many regards.

Firstly, it teaches the art of using the scenes and experiences of life to steer one’s journey inward. Therefore, it is based on an exceptional kind of theme. The goal of the album is journeying the listeners towards evolution and maturation attaining something better and higher.

Secondly, it is the first-ever professional musical work accomplished in entirety during a cross-country train trip between New York and Los Angeles. Cheryl shared the files with the collaborators to include their contributions from the train and had completed the production at the end of the trip.

Initially, Cheryl had booked her train tickets to participate in the Grammys scheduled for January 2022. When the event was postponed to April 3, Cheryl converted her train trip into a musical expedition and has composed, recorded, and mastered “The Passenger” in full during the trip.

Thirdly, “The Passenger” is a masterpiece entirely accomplished by women. Some of the exceptional music talents that have contributed to its production along with Cheryl B Engelhardt are Lili Haydn, Sangeeta Kaur, Danaë Xanthe Vlasse, Sherry Finzer, and the Dallas String Quartet.

The theme and scheme

“The Passenger” is a brand new collection of nine songs. The ambient songs are meant to give a meditative experience to the listeners and would quell the anxiety of travelers and optimize the vibes of a journey.

Each of the nine tracks is named after an interesting sight or experience a passenger might come across in his journey. In producing this album, Cheryl has put ambient music to good use in giving one of her masterpieces facilitated by her adeptness in handling the theme and deployment.

A somber mood permeates the entire composition leading the audience through different stages of experiencing ambient music. The meditative experience resulting while fixing the minds to the flow of different tracks leaves the audience with a superior kind of fulfillment. Therefore, everyone visiting the album will know for themselves why this is an instance of inspired music, which deeply inspires in turn.

The Passenger’s Journey

The author is the first passenger who has initiated the journey while composing the music on her train trip. Her music resulting from her expedition gives the right platform for the other “Passengers” to escape on a virtual journey while getting immersed in it.

The titles of the nine independent tracks are quite interesting and inspiring too. The author’s comprehensive approach to facilitating a holistic experience in the listeners is evident in the theme, deployment, and handling of ambient music to achieve a greater mission with the audience.

#1. The Beautiful Bridge (3:46)

#2. The Light That’s Left (3:18)

#3. The Chariot (3:17)

#4. The Misty Cosmos (3:13)

#5. The Two Feathers (3:26)

#6. The Angels’ Lullaby (3:25)

#7. The Zephyr Remembers (3:09)

#8. The Message (4:12)

#9. The Ambient Love (5:05)

In the opening opus “The Beautiful Bridge”, the composer has really opened up the bridge leading to the theme of the album. The path to the album is meticulously laid in this track and the audience is fully tuned for an immersive kind of experience.

The second track “The Light That’s Left” gives the experience of a silent night’s journey. “The chariot” is exceptionally done to bring the graceful movement of an ornamented car in front of you. What a journey brings you is always unpredictable. Its movement is subtle and you can feel like walking slowly with the track as you enjoy the sound–nicely done by the Dallas String Quartet!

“The Misty Cosmos” leads you through some uncertainties and surprises in the voyage followed by “The Two feathers”, the fifth track that is rendered like a retreat during a long journey.

Every one of us is always a child without exception in wanting a caring heart and comforting hands to love us. “The Angel’s Lullaby” caresses, cajoles, and fondles the heart of the listener saying the effect of love and care can be profound in one’s life.

As we ascend to higher planes with the album, we start feeling the gentle breeze permeating in the top layer of the cosmos in “The Zephyr Remembers”. The tone dominating the track is fully joyful and redeeming. The expert deployment of vocals suiting the track’s theme has helped achieve the desired effect.

The eighth opus titled “The Message” is intended to give the message the author wants to convey to the audience towards the end of their happy journey. The last and the longest track of the album “The Ambient Love”, whispers to us that LOVE is around us everywhere in the cosmos if only we had rightly tuned ourselves to feel it.           

Take-Home

To land what the author intends to give you through this album, listen to “The Passenger” with exclusive attention aided by an undisturbed focus over the entire length of the work. If you have come across the album rather casually or by chance, I would suggest you give some other time to listen to it when you can get fully engaged with the work both physically and mentally. This is because “The Passenger” is intended for a superior purpose and you must discover what the author has really in store for you in her stupendous work.

I found “The Passenger” highly inspiring and relieving. A wave of joy invaded my mind and kept cradling my mind all through. The sumptuous treat ensuing from listening the tracks told me, it has made my day something very special. I am sure any other ‘passenger’ will also feel the same way. Whether you are a music hobbyist or would approach music for some real purpose, “The Passenger” is one of the few promising albums worth a billion.