Sunday, September 6, 2009

Esther Golton and News from the Northern Lights

I received my CD of Esther Golton's "Aurora Borealis: Conversations with Alaska's Northern Lights" just as I was arriving home from a music festival. I slapped it into the player as I was unpacking the truck. I didn't get very far with the unpacking before I found myself sitting in front of the speaker mesmerized by the music that she was producing. The first thing I thought of was "How in the name of God did she capture so much of that atmosphere so clearly?" How, indeed.

Esther is a fabulously gifted musician but even more, that she can actually translate a natural phenomena like the Aurora Borealis in such an accessible and fantastic way musically is awe-inspiring. She shares here what is essential of a natural occurrence that leaves many of us doomed to observe slack-jawed, wordless and in awe. She just keeps going deeper and deeper into the layers of music and brings us closer and closer to the radiance of that phenomenal experience.

I hear so many different influences in each cut that they rise above mere tunes. They truly are conversations with the Aurora itself, just as the title suggests. She has achieved her goal in this. This is subtly different from what you hear as a ambient music in the bookstore or yoga class. She has listened, observed, received the information and translated it in her very individual way for us to enjoy. I've listened to the CD several times (my favorite mode being intimately on my iPod) and I'm convinced I hear an invitation from the Aurora herself. Aurora, the goddess of dawn and new beginnings, speaks here and this CD clearly invites us to open our eyes and see the natural world with all the spectacular gifts this earth displays every moment, as if it is our first morning and our beginning, too.

Esther is having a special CD release party that anyone can attend on-line on Saturday, September 12th at Whole Wheat Radio. These live concerts can be attended on-line and are as easy to access as clicking a link to listen which can be done here. The party starts at 7 pm Alaska time [fashionably later Eastern - you can do the math here]. These concerts are a lot of fun and they are interactive, if you wish. It is Esther's birthday on that day, too. Judging by listening to this CD and her conversations, she has much to be proud of in the company she has kept this year.

5 comments:

NT said...

Sweet sweet sweet. Thank you!

none said...

What a wonderful write-up, Cile. Thank you so much for listening with real attention and heart. I'm in the teeny mountain town of McCarthy, Alaska as I write this... surrounded by craggy mountains and glaciers. Sitting on the porch of the owner of the McCarthy lodge and saloon, plugged in to their rather tenuous internet connection. A perfect setting for reading NightMonkeyShines. Thank you! Smiles, Esther

Terri said...

Excellent review! I plan to order the CD soon.

ILDIKO said...

So glad to hear your first review of the new CD. Can't wait to have it myself :) Enjoy McCarthy....been at that saloon & hostel & hotel, as well as up on the Kennicott Mountainside at the cottages. Say hello to Paul for me of the Kennicott Guides...and have him play some of his music with you. Enjoy, and keep warm! love, ildiko

annie wenz said...

I am listening to your GORGEOUS CD! I can see the stars rising & falling... colors swelling & fading... your music is playing with the sky giving thanks. It doesn't get any better.
AMAZING. Thank You Esther!

Annie Wenz
http://www.anniewenz.com