Tales of a Summer Past is Nick's personal favorite and is his latest release. The time and care he has taken to craft the new album is evident from the very first track. It is skillfully orchestrated and tastefully textured. Punctuated by moments of introspectiveness, it exudes positivity. It is a crossover of contemporary classical and World music styles and is far more settled in the one genre than his previous CD. Nick has attempted to re-capture the energy of Tears of the Moon yet produce an album that explores the neo-classical far more deftly than did Eclipse. You be the judge!

The following medium resolution streaming samples are in album order and are approximately 700 kb in size and 40 to 50 seconds in duration. To avoid long pauses during streaming, those with slow connections should right click, 'save as' and download the samples to their hard drives before listening.

Tales of a Summer Past
Nick Davis
2005
43:24

MP3 SAMPLES

A New Season Dawns
Heart's Desire
Train to Vienna
The Harvest Feast
Moonlight Rendezvous
Summer Rain
Farewell to a Friend
Unrequited Love
Reminisce
When a Caged Bird Sings
First Embrace
A Moment With You
Farewell to a Friend (reprise)

ORDER 'TALES OF A SUMMER PAST'

“Tales of a Summer Past” is Australian composer Nick Davis’ third release as a solo artist, and was quite an ambitious project. The album has a very big, symphonic sound created with keyboards and synthesizers, making it classical crossover or “new age” classical or something like that. The music is very structured, both complex and accessible, and a lot of fun to listen to. Most of the tracks are upbeat and sunny, as the title implies, and instrumentation varies from full orchestra to solo acoustic guitar. Elegant and cinematic, “Tales” is a CD for classical music buffs with an adventurous spirit.

The CD opens with “A New Season Dawns,” a piece that is full of optimism and warmth. Fully orchestrated and including piano, this is a very sprightly and joyous piece that sets the tone for the album. “Train To Vienna” has a sense of adventure and fun. A chamber piece for piano and strings, this one reminds me a bit of Austrian artist Agnus Dei. “Moonlight Rendezvous” is a favorite. A bit smaller in scale, it has a dreamy, floating quality that is very beautiful and tranquil. I also really like “Summer Rain,” a piece for piano and orchestra that has an agitated energy that is infectious - this is a downpour, not a delicate summer shower! “Unrequited Love” is much more introspective, and the instrumentation is scaled down to piano with string accompaniment. This one tugs at the heartstrings, but isn’t without hope. Lovely! “Reminisce” begins as an effective acoustic guitar solo, and adds more instruments as it builds. “When a Caged Bird Sings” is another favorite. Bright and carefree, the harmonies and counter melodies in this one are amazing. “A Moment With You” is a sweet acoustic guitar piece whose simplicity makes a nice contrast to the fully orchestrated works, showcasing Nick Davis’ versatility as a composer and musician. The reprise of “Farewell to a Friend” ends this vibrant collection on a bittersweet, heartfelt note.

“Tales of a Summer Past” is a fascinating musical journey! Samples can be heard and purchases can be made at www.nickdavismusic.com. Good stuff!
 

Tears of the Moon has received outstanding reviews and is still regarded by some as the best album Nick Davis has ever produced. Music that defies a genre, the instrumental ambient compositions are influenced by Celtic melody and rhythm and fashioned with contemporary flair. Tears of the Moon offers which explores the full range of human emotions. Evocative, powerful and skillfully crafted, it is a unique collage of styles. With much light and shade and considerable texture, it is an album that will grow in stature with every listen.

The following 64 kb low resolution samples are in album order and are between 250 kb and 380 kb in size and 30 to 50 seconds in duration.

Tears of the Moon
Nick Davis
1997
41:00

MP3 SAMPLES

Sea to Shore (Nick's pick)
Minstrel's Tale (Nick's pick)
Claddagh
Time & Place (Nick's pick)
Reflection
Last of the Free (Nick's pick)
Tears of the Moon (Nick's pick)
Letting Go
The Light Beyond
Coming Home (Nick's pick)

ORDER 'TEARS OF THE MOON'

“Tears of the Moon” by Australian keyboardist Nick Davis is a musical journey through time and space. The instrumentation and approaches to the pieces are varied, giving the album a cohesive and yet eclectic feel. Most of the pieces are on the quiet and introspective side, while a few are more upbeat. “Last of the Free” is almost militaristic with lots of percussion and brass - a big, full sound that is an anthem to the struggle of the human spirit. “Coming Home” has a similar bigness, and is a celebration of triumph over adversity. Much of the music has a strong Celtic influence, which was so strong in the later 1990’s. “Sea to Shore” sounds a lot like Enya, with gentle instrumentation and ethereal voices in layers, creating a very serene, peaceful mood. “Minstrel’s Tale” is charming piece that, to my ears anyway, could almost be a counter melody to the pop classic “Love Is Blue;” the chord changes and rhythm have an interesting similarity, and always make me think of that piece. “Claddagh” almost dances for joy out of the CD player - pure fun and merrymaking! “Reflection” and “The Light Beyond” are warmly introspective and optimistic with simpler instrumentation and easy, peaceful melodies. A very interesting and pleasant collection, “Tears of the Moon” is available from www.nickdavismusic.com.

Eclipse can best be described as a fusion of musical styles with New Age, contemporary classical and Celtic overtones. Jazz influences add color to a rich tapestry of wonderful instrumental mood music. Eclipse is an album of highly original music.

The following medium resolution streaming samples are in album order and are between 350 kb and 580 kb in size and 25 to 40 seconds in duration.

MP3 SAMPLES

Anthem of the Heart
Many Years Past (Nick's pick)
Yearning (Nick's pick)
Emerald Hills
Nine Lives (Nick's pick)
Falling for You (Nick's pick)
Contemplation (selected for AMMA A'nR compilation issue 18)
Spring Garden (Nick's pick)
Picnic in Provence (selected for A'nR compilation issue 18)
The First Born
The Seafarer
View to the Bay (Nick's pick)
Crescent Moon

ORDER 'ECLIPSE'

Eclipse
Nick Davis
2003
43.20

Australian composer/keyboardist Nick Davis has created an eclectic collection of piano and keyboard compositions with classical, new age, jazz, world, and ambient elements. The opening track, “Anthem of the Heart,” immediately made me think of Mannheim Steamroller with the brass and period-sounding instruments (synth), but that was the only piece that brought them to mind. “Many Years Past” is much more wistful, with a multi-instrumental sound that includes strings, oboe, and guitar. “Yearning” is a favorite. Much darker and more somber, with a very classical structure and tone, Davis’ piano really tugs at the heartstrings. “Falling For You” is mostly piano, and has some very interesting chord changes. Flute, guitar, and strings add color and texture - a very lovely piece. “Contemplation” is also piano with synth accompaniment (strings, guitar, flute, oboe). I find Davis’ music is the most effective with these more scaled-down pieces (piano and a few other instruments for color) rather than the bigger, more orchestrated works (“Anthem of the Heart,” “Emerald Hills”). “Picnic in Provence” is an almost Baroque guitar solo - very uncluttered, clean, and beautiful. “The Seafarer” is, again, mostly piano with a strong classical (almost Mozartian) feeling - a very effective piece in its simplicity. “View to the Bay” and “Crescent Moon” (the last two tracks) bring us back to the present with “Bay’s” jazzier rhythms and sounds, and “Moon’s” floating ambience. “Eclipse” obviously showcases Nick Davis’ varied composing and playing styles very effectively. It is available from www.nickdavismusic.com.