{"id":11030,"date":"2025-09-18T11:47:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T09:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/?p=11030"},"modified":"2025-09-18T11:47:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T09:47:46","slug":"darrel-treece-birchs-atlantea-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/cd-recensie\/darrel-treece-birchs-atlantea-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Darrel Treece Birch’s Atlantea\u00a0– Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Multi-instrumentalist Darrel Treece-Birch may be familiar to you from the melodic rock band TEN and\/or the prog rock band Nth Ascension. He has also released solo albums and is active with Atlantea, of which \u201cLife\u201d is the second album. This conceptual album has a broad theme, ranging from birth; the journey of life and its ultimate destination. Technology and pollution are also addressed. Almost every track features a different vocalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steph Honde sings on \u201cMillennium\u201d. He has a slightly rough edge to his voice, and his backing vocals are also well added. This opening track is a good mix of catchy and compelling, plus rhythm versus melody. The fade out could have been a bit more interesting. Eoin de Paor’s voice is somewhat lighter, which can be heard in \u201cRound And Round\u201d. The backing vocals are sometimes quite sweet. The balance between bass, guitars and the (long sustained) tones from the keys is good. This is the same for the distribution between the rock and the lighter elements. This track slowly fades out.
The intro to \u201cLight In The Darkness\u201d has a mix of rock with lighter elements. After that, it stays a bit lighter. This duet is sung by Darrel and Kayleigh Treece-Birch. The music is in harmony with the voices. The whole song is a little sugary, but it fits the lyrics. ‘Better Way’ has a special rhythm. The differences in volume between the rocking and lighter parts are on the small side. The sudden ending is well chosen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eoin de Paor’s (sometimes dreamy) voice suits the calm \u201cLaniakea\u201d. During the instrumental parts, the guitar playing is compelling. Further into the track, you can hear the emotion in the voice, and when the music becomes subdued, you can also feel the emotion in the guitar playing. But when the music mellows, the emotion seeps away. \u201cLife\u201d is a bit more rocking, and the unexpected ending is beautiful.
‘Three Lights’ consists of several parts. This epic has a calm start. Tony Mitchell’s vocals are layered at times, which is very well done. The high tones of the keys blend well with the bass and guitars. You can hear the transition to the next part. \u201cSame beat of the sons\u201d contains various transitions, including high tones and rocking elements.
Subdued music marks the start of the next part. Slowly, the music becomes faster and louder. During an instrumental part, there is some fairly fast rock, with the bass pleasantly present at times. In addition, there are (occasional) slight classical influences. For a moment, the music is a bit chaotic, but that fits within the whole. The differences in volume are significant enough here. After several transitions, you hear the sound of waves and birds in the next part. The calm music is warm in colour. The gentle, slow vocals complement this. Slowly, the rock comes in, and the instrumental part contains compelling guitar playing. You can feel the emotion with which it is played. The transition to a minimalist part is the build-up to the end of this song.
Finally, \u201cThe Robins That Flew Away\u201d has an atmospheric start with, among other things, the sounds of acoustic guitar and long sustained tones from the keys. Subtle piano sounds are sprinkled throughout. When electric guitar playing is added for a moment, the subdued atmosphere remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At times, there are quite a few layers in the music, all of which are in balance with each other. \u201cLife\u201d is a varied album with different vocalists and a broad concept. Yet the songs fit together well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(7.8\/10) (Lion Music<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media<\/strong>:
Facebook: Darrel Treece Birch’s<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n