Brons, Dave: Return to Arda

Dave Brons is back with a new Tolkien inspired album Return To Arda which will be released on Friday November 4th. 2020’s Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost was an album I discovered through Brons Facebook posts, and it connected with me. Strap in for another musical journey through the Western Sea of Middle Earth, through the woods of Lothlorien, the Misty Mountains, and fly on the wings of Eagles over it all. Tolkien used the word Arda to mean planet Earth, and the album is split into three parts: Sea, Soil, and Sky. Inspired by the disconnect and isolation forced upon us by the Covid pandemic, Brons hopes the music will help you reconnect with all the beautiful places in our world.

In the booklet provided, Brons sets the stage for each track with a “Listeners Guide� which provides the backdrop for each track. We are usually left to our own interpretation of music and lyrics, but I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the artist’s mindset and intent. Bron’s understands how to evoke various moods and soundscapes that tell a story and create the imagery. There are plenty of gorgeous melodies (“Beauty and Starlight�), atmospheric and ethereal moments (“Into The Woods of Lothlorien�, “Yavanna’s Song�), well placed orchestration (“Beyond Where The Waves Break�), and the icing on the cake is the guitar playing. Bron’s uses the guitar as his primary instrument to convey the lyrical instrumental moments. Tracks like�On Eagles Wings� and the lovely soloing during “Gathering In The Clouds “display Brons guitar skills. Joining Brons is Dave Bainbridge on keyboards that many may be familiar with as the co-founder of Iona. Everyone who contributes does a marvelous job to bring this music to life. In addition, add in some tasty acoustic guitar (“When Snow Thaws�) for the more subtle moments. The Celtic influences and varied instrumentation create a broad spectrum of sound.

There are bits of narration throughout to carry the story, and the female vocals courtesy of Sally Minnear are very well done. The music is highly symphonic, with touches of what has been mentioned above; folk, Celtic, and heavier guitar driven sections. The entire package is uplifting and inspiring, although there are a few dark moments to express those moods. This really is an album that should be listened to from start to finish, and I highly encourage you to read along with the liner notes, they really help put you in the mindset for each song. Add to that the top notch musicianship and wonderful production, you are in for a treat. I don’t think you need to be a Tolkien fan, or even know the stories that inspired Brons, the music is enough to draw you in and captivate you throughout the journey.

Track Listing

1. The Primordial Chord
2. Song Of The Sea
3. When Snow Thaws
4. Beyond Where The Waves Break
5. Song Of The Earth
6. The Call Of The Mountain
7. Beren And Luthien
8. Joy Beyond The Walls Of This World
9. Into The Woods Of Lothlorien
10. The Tears Of Nienna
11. On Eagles Wings
12. Yavann’s Song
13. Beauty And Starlight
14. Gathering In The Clouds
15. Last Journey Across The Sea

Added: November 2nd 2022
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Related Link: Artists @ Bandcamp
Hits: 725
Language: english

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