11:11 by John Fluker
While John’s previous album, “Star Eyes,” which I wrote about a few years ago, was a solo piano release this new one includes some compositions with additional instrumental tracks created by him on keyboards, as well as a number of solo piano pieces. The album opens with an appropriately titled track called “Awaken.” While the piano intro has a romantic classically-inspired feel, I was totally taken by surprise in what came next, especially being familiar only with John’s solo piano recordings. Layers of swirling atmospheric synthesizers came sweeping in, anchored by an electronic drum groove that whisk the listener away on a magic carpet ride of sound. Piano notes enhanced with digital effects echo and trail off into the distance adding to the ambiance – very cool!