Album Review – “A Glimpse Of Grace”

Attempting A Definition of “Soul Stirring Music”

Music has an immense responsibility toward the intended audience. People turn to music due to different reasons and for several purposes. Artists and composers flood the different musical genres with their inspired creations to fulfill such purposes. In the ocean of musical productions, some works stand out by best addressing the audiences’ aspirations.

Recently, I came across Kurt Reiman’s second album “A Glimpse of Grace”. Initially, I was attracted to this work due to its name and concept. Finally, after relishing the music completely, I patted myself for choosing to listen to it fully. Yes! Kurt has really done a masterpiece in this amazing musical work. Nearly an hour that I spent hearing the album’s tracks felt like having gone on an involved vacation at my dreamlands. The three words I wish to pen down to describe how the album impacted me are “Refreshing, Recharging, and Rejuvenating.”

Kurt Reiman has co-created this album with Grammy Winner, Will Ackerman, and Grammy Nominee, Tom Eaton. If you look at the names of the sessions artists that have performed on this album, you will know just from the cover itself that this book (!) is a good one. Every song that they have touched is brilliance personified!

Now let me take you on a quick tour of the different tracks of ‘A Glimpse of Grace”.

1. Dawn to Dusk (4:31)

The opening track is just awesome and suitable for contemplation. Life is not the same all the time. Every day brings in newer experiences. Irrespective of what the day holds for us, life begins at dawn in a serene mood, gets to the peak towards the middle of the day, and closes softly leading us to the bosom of rest. The first track so beautifully weaves this concept within well-chosen piano notes.  

2. Quiet Confidence (3:38)

Confidence is a mental state. Confidence quietly expresses itself in our attitude and performance but is not proclaimed loudly very often. I found the second track a nutritious meal for the fatigued soul. As you walk through the opus, the musical notes and melodies infuse enthusiasm, joy, and zeal into your deep heart.

3. Goodbye for Now (5:06)

In our lifetime, millions of times we use the term ‘Good Bye’. This phrase is often associated with a kind of remorse for leaving something or someone. The tunes of the third track which is also the longest track on the album are laden with a sombre mood. The combination of the violin, cello, and vocals heightens the effect. At times of experiencing the burdened heart of missing something in life, you will love the mood this track triggers in you.  

4. Blessings (2:55)

Most blessings in our life land rather unexpectedly. However, every time we are blessed in our lives, we too experience happiness and gratitude at once. ‘Blessings’ is a graceful track that beautifully thanks the source of joy. After a spell of contemplative mood in the third track, you find reasons to celebrate life in this track.  

5. Dreams of My Return (4:07)

Dreams feel so wonderful when they trigger pleasant anticipations. The thought of returning to places that we enjoyed and loved feels great. I loved the fifth track so much that I wanted to get back to it once again. The graceful musical notes feel like galloping over puddles of rainwater in a playful mood. 

6. Set Free (3:37)

The feeling of freedom brings incomparable joy. The mind that is set free creates something new, adores life, and also blesses others. While the listener gets ready to enjoy the freedom suggested by the title, the calm and serene notes of the sixth track suggest that there is no hurry and you can always enjoy your freedom in a relaxed fashion returning as much as you can to the world. Along the way, surprisingly you can also celebrate freedom in a jubilant mood.  

7. Triumph (3:32)

One of the byproducts of victory in life is the sense of achievement the heart gets to relish. Triumphant moments in our life boost our confidence and prepare us for something more. The seventh track named after victory is a skilled fabric of musical notes that tell you there are reasons to celebrate life and you must never miss out on a chance to pat yourself for your achievements. 

8. The Way Home (3:14)

After accomplishing a hectic mission, the way back home feels so different, laden with colorful flowers and delicious fruits. Home is where we can feel the fullest comfort and a completely relaxed state of mind. The eighth track titled ‘The Way Home’ is suggestive of the idea, “Home is your preferred and happy destination while returning after every single mission in life.”

9. Pathways (4:20)

Every journey makes us confront several surprises and challenges. In every path we take in life, we get to experience both pleasures and pains. The ninth track ‘Pathways’ is an altogether different member of the album. This meticulous composition has fused together several surprising moods and states of mind into its expert notes. 

10. River’s Edge (2:39)

Rivers are beautiful entities in nature. The river’s edge meets the land and interacts with the lives around it. In the tenth track, we find rich spraying of colors, moods, and sentiments that help enrich the overall effect of the opus. Yes! Life gets more beautiful when we associate ourselves with nature and music.

11. Elegy for Justice (3:50)

After experiencing the different tracks of the album, I would say the eleventh track titled ‘Elegy for Justice’ is a unique member where vocals accompany the musical melodies in an excellent way. Iced with a bit of sorrowful mood, this track can be inspiring too in healing some deep-rooted wounds of the heart.  

12. A Glimpse of Grace (4:01)

In the twelfth track, we come to the opus named after the album’s title. A glimpse of grace is not an everyday experience. When we are blessed, we feel elated and also thankful. These twin moods permeate the entire track with the moods intensifying as we move along with the opus.

13. Joyous (3:52)

Joyous moments are those when we get to feel we are not alone in life. We celebrate people, experiences, achievements, and the blessings we receive on the way. From the very beginning, the thirteenth track is built of joyful and jubilant notes. This is a moment we must certainly herald and preserve for posterity.  

14. With Every Step (3:20)

With every step we take in life, we become more experienced, mature, and cultured. The beautiful progression of notes and melodies in this track leads the listener through a pleasant destination. But, no doubt, the way also feels so good and exciting all through.

15. This Dance (3:06)

We don’t dance without a reason. Dances often accompany jubilant moods or achievements. While all the tracks we listened to so far have relaxed our beings and infused hopes, and pleasant moods into our spirits, we have many reasons to dance accompanied by the joyful notes of this track.

16. Dawn to Dusk (Reprise) (4:32)

Real joy lies in returning home after the day’s activities or a bit longer ventures. In the sixteenth track, the artist completes the circle he started in the first track. Named the same as the opening track, the closing track is once again a heart-touching composition that consolidates all those moods and sentiments we picked up along the way. The soft notes are cajoling too. At the end of the track, we enter the spell of rest that comforts both your body and the mind. 

You must listen to it very soon

Having shared with you what and how I felt listening to the album, now I strongly recommend it to you too. Take my words and listen to this stupendous work in music. You are sure to say you have made the best decision that will change your entire perspective of music. Not uttering a single word, ‘A Glimpse of Grace’ will prove to you that “Music is immensely powerful and a skilled artist has the key to unleash it for the benefit of his audience.”  Can music really stir the soul? You must listen to this album very soon to find the answer.