Album Review—Walk in Beauty, Like the Night by Michael Whalen

Deciphering the Transforming Power of Love – A Love Tale Retold In Music

Music is the fittest medium to express the deepest sentiments of the human heart. Often accomplished artists see music as an opportunity to narrate their life’s intimate experiences to their audience. Michael Whalen’s new album “Walk in Beauty, Like the Night” is a classic example to show why music is the best narrative tool that knows no barriers.

The theme of this album has a long and profound history. The award-winning composer released the album “My Sacred Heart” in 2005, which became one of the most acclaimed musical works in the New Age and Ambient Music. Releasing “Walk in Beauty, Like the Night” seventeen years later, Michael calls his new album the “sequel” to “My Secret Heart”.

Whalen says, “In revisiting the musical vocabulary of ‘My Secret Heart”, I found there were more stories to tell because I have fallen in love and married the most amazing person in the last 15 years. I know love in another way. A deeper way.” Every track of this album has a different flavor and dwells on a unique dimension of love. Nevertheless, all the songs in this musical work successfully decipher the transforming power of love. 

Whalen is one of the finest representative artists in the Electronic, Ambient, and New Age genres. A versatile talent in the world of music, Whalen has written, arranged, produced, performed, and mixed all the tracks in his new album. If you have any tales of love to narrate from your personal life, you are sure to find this album cradles your memories and lends a voice to share your sentiments.

1. Walk In Beauty, Like The Night (5:36)

Dark night engulfs all the scenes around us and lets us pursue our passions. Suitable more for the inward journey, the night is the time to explore the subjects we are zealous about. The soft tunes of this track mimic a night’s beautiful walk into our private zones where we are completely free and unbound. The title track, and the first song, prepare the platter to serve the delicacies that will follow.

MUSIC VIDEO to the title track: 

2. Anywhere, Anytime, Anything For You (4:25)

Love does not keep anything for itself. The ultimate joy of love lies in giving away the most cherished possessions for our dear most one. This sense of giving glorifies the bond of love and makes life more meaningful and enjoyable. The second track is composed in the flavor of giving and surrendering letting individuality dissolve in the union to experience togetherness.

3. Eternity Floats in Your Eyes (4:26)

The third track is a succession of gentle melodies that promote reverence for love and beauty. The sweet tunes of piano reveal to the audience what lies beyond the visible beauty. True love expands our abilities to discover the vast world that stretches into our beings where beauty is adored and love is glorified.  

4. Always For the First Time (5:00)

Love never ages. Everything about love is eternal because love looks beyond the visible imperfections and builds a glorious world for the dear ones to dwell in. The fourth song is a brilliant composition made of brisk notes. Special effects simulating vocal harmonies are skillfully interwoven into the piano tunes to bring out the theme in a powerful way.

5. The Most Humid Sexy Summer (4:54)

Love expands our personal domains and helps us get out of our limited existence. Love is the flavor that spices up life in several interesting ways letting us discover myriad experiences on the way. ‘The Most Humid Sexy Summer’ is a unique member in the album creating vistas of delightful tunes to celebrate the most intimate moments.

6. Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (4:59)

The sixth track is my favorite song in the album. Especially the assortment of special effects the artist has innovated on his piano is stunning. The composer has invested in several exclusive capabilities of piano to narrate tales of love. As the track progresses, it gets brisker and moves the audience to rapture.

7. We Are All Made of Stars (4:21)

Being fueled by the energy of love, each of us is a special being. Stars are not distant objects; we are made of the same elements that have composed the stars too. So, there is something that unites everything in the universe namely love. The seventh track is an occasion when the masterly capabilities of the artist are revealed to us. The notes of this track touch the deep cores of our heart and transport us to a contemplative mood.

INTERVIEW with MW about the album:

8. What We Love Deeply (3:47)

What we love deeply is also something that we adore the most. Therefore, love and adoration always coexist. The eighth track reveals the transforming power of love that lets us discover what we really care about in life. In this song, the artist makes use of every chance to prove his surpassing musical abilities on piano.  

9. Such Sweet Sorrow (4:06)

Everything about love can’t be enjoyable. In the journey of love, there can be moments of sorrow. Nevertheless, there is an element of sweetness in the sorrow that is forged by love. The ninth track is a unique song bringing surprising twists and turns and unpredictable episodes on the way.

10. Our House By the Sea (3:41)

Home is the symbol of togetherness. It is the place we celebrate human relationships and enjoy the comfort that true love brings us. Our home set amidst the beauties of nature is a heaven indeed where we find the perfect venue to glorify love. The final song of the album ‘Our House By the Sea’ is a mesmerizing composition that consolidates the feast the artist delivered to his audience.  

Take Away

I found Michael Whalen’s “Walk in Beauty, Like the Night” a stunning musical work in Electronic, Ambient, and New Age Music. Music and Love are two powerful universal languages that break all barriers and unite humans. In connecting these two powerful forces and using the power of music to decode the transforming power of love, Whalen has created a masterpiece in this album you are sure to admire and recommend to your dear ones too.

Smart Link to Listen to the Album:

https://michaelwhalen.fanlink.to/WIBLTL