Establishing the mood with a mark tree, replicating the sound of wind chimes, Kirk Monteux Mysoftmusic opens Total Tranquility with a track called Nebula Voyage. The track expands with ethereal guitar tones and cosmic frequencies to create a meditative energy.
We appreciate the intentional nature of the composition and the peace that manifests with the sound design. The subtle crescendos and diminuendos wash over us, creating notions of healing. Panning synth details create further dimensionality as the track builds and eventually subsides.
Next up is Flute Ocean Peace, which opens with the natural sound of soft waves crashing. This evolves with a subtle yet cerebral synth and brooding Eastern flute performance. We appreciate the ancient energy that transmutes. Celestial synth arpeggios invite us into a futuristic and tranquil space. This track would be perfect for a spa treatment or sound healing exercise.
Home At Last manifests with piano and guitar motifs, intertwined with a cosmic frequency. There is a grounded energy that comes to life here with cinematic allure. This could serve as the opening track for a movie like Avatar.
This leads us to Moonlight Walk which evokes a more nocturnal vibe. Haunting astral bells and a brooding bass synth line are combined with minor chord details to evoke a neon-lit DMT-like universe, psychedelic in its design. The percussion that emerges results in the boldest energy that we have experienced thus far in the album. The final synth performance also channels a more trippy and futuristic edge.
Big Blue Sky Dream opens with a meditative, layered synthscape. We are immersed in the healing frequencies of the element of water. It builds with siren-like flute sounds which hold a folk-adjacency. The overarching sentiment of the track is extremely tranquil, once again perfect for the soundtrack to a spa experience, or a shivasana at the end of a yoga class.
Next is Rainforest Calling which opens with the exact sound that one might expect from a rainforest. This signature sound is a fusion constant insect buzzes, animal calls, and primarily rain dripping through leaves. It is enhanced here by a psychedelic, almost shamanic melody and hand pans to create a high spiritual quotient.
Faraway brings minimalist peace to the forefront once more, before building with cerebral textures, ethereal flute tones. This is a highly meditative peace, and would be ideal for a sound bath as it truly emphasizes a healing experience with subtle bell tone details and a more futuristic synthscape to conclude.
Golden Hour evokes notions of a sunset with the visualisation of sun rays rippling through the cosmos, charging us with its healing light. It’s a warm composition, aligned to its title and we connect with the deep intentionality of the piece. The sun is positioned here as a cosmic force of life and the overarching energy of the piece is certainly aligned to a solar upgrade.
This brings us to Cosmic Resonance which opens with cerebral frequencies and Tibetan tone bowls to produce sustained tones and deep, echoing vibrations. Again, this is ideal for a yin yoga class with long holds as it has a healing and peaceful intention.
The title track of the album, Total Tranquility serves as an immersive and meditative soundscape, minimalist in its design and maximalist in its peaceful potential. The frequencies are very refined, as reflected by the entire album, and the subtle nature sounds of birds and waves that emerge only ground us more.
Finally, we experience Circle Of Life which opens with an intricate and human piano performance with astral vocalizations, something that we have not experienced yet. This is accompanied by a synth frequency and expands with an electric guitar performance. This is another cinematic track that contains multitudes. There is certainly an 80s vibe with the guitar performance which evokes cinematic imagery. The rippling piano chords towards the end leave us at peace once more.
Speaking on the release, composer Kirk Monteux says, “This is the album I’ve always wanted to make. After leaving the rowdy city of Frankfurt (Germany) and finding inspiration in my new rural home, surrounded by nature, I was inspired to create music that reflected the peace and tranquility I found. Total Tranquility is a culmination of that journey, and I hope it offers listeners the same sense of serenity.”
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Nebula Voyage to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, as well as our personal meditation playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Kirk Monteux Mysoftmusic, including his 2021 album, Healing Nature Flute.