Reviews and unsolicited comments from people who have bought this album:
"I first bought ‘Elliptical Dance’, which I loved, and wanted more, but the shops I tried did not know of any others by the same musician. Finally I stumbled across a copy of ‘From Here And Then’ in a garden centre. Don't be put off by that though - this is absolutely fantastic music. I've heard some dreadful rubbish put out under the heading of 'Celtic', 'relaxation', 'chillout' and so on but this is nothing like that - it's streets ahead of anything else I have heard. The melodies are subtle and memorable and the playing is superb. I have literally hundreds of CDs across many music styles in my collection, but this one, together with ‘Elliptical Dance’, is way up there in my top 10 albums of all time. By the way, I have just been delighted to discover that Mark Powell has another album, ‘Rocks and Sand', which I'm just about to order from you - this is really great stuff!" - L.F., U.K.
“A musical vacation from an increasingly hectic life!†- A.W., U.S.A.
"About eight minutes in is the most gorgeously uplifting melody you have ever heard." (San Francisco Chronicle.)
(Thank you all for your kind words and your permission to quote them here.)
Music has the power to change our mood, refresh, uplift and relax. Crossing the boundaries between classical and world music, Mark's albums offer much more than just “relaxation†or downbeat “chill out†sounds. Some tracks have a romantic feel to them, some are sparkling and animated and some are more mellow. Play them in the car, at home, during your dinner party, or download the MP3s from the Auratone Music website (follow the link on the left) and listen to them on the bus or train.
If you like the music of artists such as Enya, Carl Jenkins (Adiemus) or Ludovico Einaudi (Echoes), you will almost certainly enjoy Mark's CDs.
His hallmarks are strong, emotive original themes, at times incorporating traditional tunes and instruments, and virtuoso musicianship from players like violinists Ric Sanders and Alan Noble, classical guitarist Gerard Vaughan and the superb voice of Alquimia. His CDs have already sold in large numbers worldwide, and tracks have been included in many compilations released by Sony, EMI, BMG Ariola (Europe) and Ewise (Asia). Mark’s previous work has encompassed theatre and television, on which his themes can currently be heard on programmes like the UK breakfast show GMTV, Oprah Winfrey and the Steve Harvey show in the U.S.A.
From Here and Then is Mark’s first album; still regarded as a classic. Featuring some of the world’s finest musicians, including Ric Sanders (Fairport Convention) on violin and Stefan Hannigan on uillean pipes, these unique soundscapes weave an eclectic tapestry and elegant serenity. Celtic, classical, jazz and world music strands are combined to inspire reviews such as the one by the San Francisco Chronicle above.
Brief biography:
Mark's first professional band were the U.K. folk-rockers Blackthorn. From them he moved on to work with the Steve Ashley Band alongside members of Fairport Convention, and toured with Fairport/Jethro Tull bassist Dave Pegg and his 'Cocktail Cowboys'. He also engineered some of the Fairports' studio and live recordings, as well as projects by other folkies like Blowzabella, Bert Jansch, Danny Thompson, and the Albion Band. During the '90s he became involved with theatre work, and whilst working as musical director for the impressario Scott Young and the touring theatre group, Fieldwork, he also toured and gigged with award-winning country-rock band Ida Red. Only the pressure of keeping up with writing commissions, mainly library music for broadcast use, caused him to stop regular live performance.
In 2000 he started working with singer Alquimia. Together they have recorded more library music, her "Angaelic Voices" album and, most recently, "Forever", a collection of traditional songs mixed with some of Mark's originals. This is also available here on CD Baby; just enter "Alquimia" into the search box at the top right of this page.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.auratonemusic.com
Track List:
1. Omphalos
2. Abermarle Rock
3. Vessica Piscis
4. The Lakes of Pontchartrain
5. Deidre and Naoise
6. Tuatha de Dannan
7. Osgar's Journey
8. Olwen
9. The Wave of Cliodhna
10. The Inn of the Dawn
11. The Fisher Kings
Other Genres:
"I first bought ‘Elliptical Dance’, which I loved, and wanted more, but the shops I tried did not know of any others by the same musician. Finally I stumbled across a copy of ‘From Here And Then’ in a garden centre. Don't be put off by that though - this is absolutely fantastic music. I've heard some dreadful rubbish put out under the heading of 'Celtic', 'relaxation', 'chillout' and so on but this is nothing like that - it's streets ahead of anything else I have heard. The melodies are subtle and memorable and the playing is superb. I have literally hundreds of CDs across many music styles in my collection, but this one, together with ‘Elliptical Dance’, is way up there in my top 10 albums of all time. By the way, I have just been delighted to discover that Mark Powell has another album, ‘Rocks and Sand', which I'm just about to order from you - this is really great stuff!" - L.F., U.K.
“A musical vacation from an increasingly hectic life!†- A.W., U.S.A.
"About eight minutes in is the most gorgeously uplifting melody you have ever heard." (San Francisco Chronicle.)
(Thank you all for your kind words and your permission to quote them here.)
Music has the power to change our mood, refresh, uplift and relax. Crossing the boundaries between classical and world music, Mark's albums offer much more than just “relaxation†or downbeat “chill out†sounds. Some tracks have a romantic feel to them, some are sparkling and animated and some are more mellow. Play them in the car, at home, during your dinner party, or download the MP3s from the Auratone Music website (follow the link on the left) and listen to them on the bus or train.
If you like the music of artists such as Enya, Carl Jenkins (Adiemus) or Ludovico Einaudi (Echoes), you will almost certainly enjoy Mark's CDs.
His hallmarks are strong, emotive original themes, at times incorporating traditional tunes and instruments, and virtuoso musicianship from players like violinists Ric Sanders and Alan Noble, classical guitarist Gerard Vaughan and the superb voice of Alquimia. His CDs have already sold in large numbers worldwide, and tracks have been included in many compilations released by Sony, EMI, BMG Ariola (Europe) and Ewise (Asia). Mark’s previous work has encompassed theatre and television, on which his themes can currently be heard on programmes like the UK breakfast show GMTV, Oprah Winfrey and the Steve Harvey show in the U.S.A.
From Here and Then is Mark’s first album; still regarded as a classic. Featuring some of the world’s finest musicians, including Ric Sanders (Fairport Convention) on violin and Stefan Hannigan on uillean pipes, these unique soundscapes weave an eclectic tapestry and elegant serenity. Celtic, classical, jazz and world music strands are combined to inspire reviews such as the one by the San Francisco Chronicle above.
Brief biography:
Mark's first professional band were the U.K. folk-rockers Blackthorn. From them he moved on to work with the Steve Ashley Band alongside members of Fairport Convention, and toured with Fairport/Jethro Tull bassist Dave Pegg and his 'Cocktail Cowboys'. He also engineered some of the Fairports' studio and live recordings, as well as projects by other folkies like Blowzabella, Bert Jansch, Danny Thompson, and the Albion Band. During the '90s he became involved with theatre work, and whilst working as musical director for the impressario Scott Young and the touring theatre group, Fieldwork, he also toured and gigged with award-winning country-rock band Ida Red. Only the pressure of keeping up with writing commissions, mainly library music for broadcast use, caused him to stop regular live performance.
In 2000 he started working with singer Alquimia. Together they have recorded more library music, her "Angaelic Voices" album and, most recently, "Forever", a collection of traditional songs mixed with some of Mark's originals. This is also available here on CD Baby; just enter "Alquimia" into the search box at the top right of this page.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.auratonemusic.com
Track List:
1. Omphalos
2. Abermarle Rock
3. Vessica Piscis
4. The Lakes of Pontchartrain
5. Deidre and Naoise
6. Tuatha de Dannan
7. Osgar's Journey
8. Olwen
9. The Wave of Cliodhna
10. The Inn of the Dawn
11. The Fisher Kings
Other Genres:
- CLASSICAL: New Age
- EASY LISTENING: Mood Music
- TYPE: LYRICAL