A classic spoof haiku counsels:
Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
2025 was kind of like that. Though the chaos was much more without than within, keeping the shields up isn’t easy. There’s certainly ample occasion to remind myself of the artist’s priority, as I see it anyway…
That aside, we were busy enough, having had to move house in the summer. That austerity, despite our best wilderness camping trip so far, and another delightful chill week at our Buddhist retreat getaway, helped to reduce time in The Keep v.9.0 this year.
Despite that, two new albums appeared this year:
The spontaneous synth jam set Light Echoes, recorded in just a few weeks, worked out so well that I’m excited to pursue this direction further.
(I already have a cover (courtesy of Visions of Old Souls photographer Jennifer New) which will perfectly suit a grave, sombre synthworld album, aiming at a Rothko Chapel soundtrack. You might guess the title if I tell you that it’s in Latin … Clue: Tom Stoppard.)
Anyway… the hybrid live/studio release Counsel of Perfection finally presents my 2017 Gatherings performance, the highlight of my performance career to date, along with a new studio piece inspired by an Ancient Wise Greek.
The usual array of projects in progress and new ideas crowds the Soundscape Stove. I’ve just begun the remix of our first meditation chant album, Pastimes of Creation, which will be the next release. Then we’ll see what the completion and release of Carving in Shadows brings.
It was a fallow year all around for Composition, until December, when a new Classical project suddenly jumped out of the fog and took over the front burner.
My vocal project James Gregory saw more action: videographer Juiette Payne filmed me performing three carols from my album Remembrance of Christmas Past in a nice, intimate church in Wilmette IL. They can be seen here. The performances are live: no Christmas pantomime here.
Time does its thing: this year, we lost Mathias Grassow, one of our most prolific artists, with whom I was honored to collaborate on In the Eyes of Infinite Light. A terrific gentleman, lost far too soon and greatly missed.
My listening this year was, even more than usual, dominated by a small number of artists: Blackmore’s Night, Dora Viellette, Manticore Consort, Michal Hromek, On Wings of Song, Steve Roach, and Dirk Serries. Another (overdue) Jack or Jive festival led straight into the Christmas Music season. Other Renaissance, some international music, and vocal music from various traditions filled out the year’s playlist.
My reading this year didn’t break much new ground, since what I have is so rich that it rewards repeat attention. Hermann Hesse (Steppenwolf, The Glass Bead Game), Kawabata Yasunari (Snow Country) and Matsuo Bashō (The Narrow Journey to the Interior, etc.) dominated and, of course, good old Mr Dickens rang in (and resounded through) the Christmas Season as usual.
The exception was an instant collection of books on my beloved game of Go, courtesy of my Amazon Gift Card Balance epiphany.
All the best for ’26 – and mind your weak groups!
