Search - Patrick O'Hearn :: Private Music of

A priceless collection of New Age gems.

Distant Voyageur | Io | 02/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1992 collection of Patrick O'Hearn's days in the Private Music label is one of the most consistent New Age compilations of a solo artist ever put together. This album, as well as "River's Gonna Rise", sadly was not re-issued in 2002 like the other albums of his were and it's a loss considering three marvelous tracks, possibly among the best songs O'Hearn has ever composed, are on this CD and are found nowhere else from my knowledge. Sure the tracks aren't arranged in chronological order but I think that it was a good idea it wasn't as the tracks flow so well together even the ones that have opposite moods to each other. "Beauty In Darkness" starts off the set with very haunting layers of atmospheric sounds and aural tapestries. It starts off with an eerie electronic keyboard and Asian or Mayan drums, and gradually builds up into an intense song with bizarre voice effects. It kind of gives me the images of dark clouds rolling in from the northwest with its minor note structure and it's somewhat still atmosphere like the quiet before the storm. Wonderful song title too. "Black Delilah" is a much more colorful, exotic track with an Asian violin and cello performances and is a departure from the electronic New Age that O'Hearn made during the 1980s. A great and classic song. "Sacred Heart" is a more medieval song with a mix of his trademark electronic sound and echoing pianos and gives the feeling of walking down a path on a misty evening. "The Ringmasters Dream" is one of O'Hearn's most peculiar songs to date and a great one too. It starts off with dark ambient keyboards and unique chord progression and builds up into a sort of carnival-like track with crashing cymbals and a sort of orchestra sound. "Ancient Dreams" is a very hypnotizing song with a glowing array of synthesizers, light industrial effects, a dark yet bright atmosphere at the same time, and a very haunting atmosphere. "Forever The Optimist" is a more upbeat song with brooding chord progression, intoxicating rhythm, and an astounding array of Sonics in its tapestry. "Downhill Racer" is only found on this collection and since this CD is out-of-print from my knowledge, this song is sadly not easy to find as it's one of Patrick's most compelling compositions to date. It starts off with a very dark cloud atmosphere, a metallic percussion of some sort comes and the song becomes a very intense and danceable song with a very dark stormy atmosphere with a great chord structure. I love the unique morph in melody at the 1:50 mark when guitar parts come in and the song gets much darker. "Downhill Racer" gets my nod as one of the most danceable New Age songs ever made and also one of the best in O'Hearn's catalog. "Irene" was the song that introduced me to O'Hearn's music when I heard it on the jazz radio years ago and was what made me get this album. "Irene" is another upbeat, jazzy song. I could say it is one of the last `sunny' sounding tracks that O'Hearn would make until the last song on his most recent outing. 2001's "So Flows The Current". This song is a fantastic blend of dance, New Age, jazz, and pop fused with his electronic keyboards. "April Fool" is a very happy, upbeat danceable New Age song somewhat similar to "Downhill Racer" but much lighter in mood and more tropical in mood. I can't help but bop my head to this marvelous track. We mellow down to "A Brief Repose". This song is a very mellow song with a very pleasant trumpet or Flugelhorn playing. When I play this, I think of walking down a path in the woods on a cloudy evening. Very imaginative song. "Step" is a return to the upbeat territory that was "Irene" but with fewer ambiences and a sunnier and jazzier mood laced with a danceable rhythm not unlike that of "April Fool". "Homeward Bound" is probably the sunniest song that Patrick O'Hearn has ever done and also another classic New Age piece. It's a very sunny upbeat track with lots of his electronic keyboard sound and a very upbeat rhythm. This could've made a very good movie theme too. We then head back into mellower territory with "Portobello Locks". This song is like a calmer counterpart to "Homeward Bound" by continuing the sunny, joyous mood but with a mellower mood almost like finally arriving home. It's a mellow, sunny song. The ending is very nice. The sun though stops shining and dark storm clouds move in as the album closes on a sad and chilling note with the beautiful "The Beauty Within". What a brilliant song title too. This song has a very dark, melancholy, and medieval atmosphere. The song begins with a very spine-shivering intro and then echoing pianos come in and then when the pianos stop the song kind of morphs into a sort of morbid, yet beautiful song with an ominous atmosphere with it's bizarre layers of keyboards and intense mood. I think that "Beauty Within" and Portobello Locks" are completely opposite in moods. Both are great songs. "Beauty Within" brings the album to a mournful close. This collection is a marvelous and shining overview of O'Hearns first decade of works and the track selections were very wise choices for the collection. I think that this Cd is much better than the Windham Hill release. Why they did not re-issue this and "River's Gonna Rise" with his other albums in 2000 complete eludes me. "Downhill Racer", "Irene", and "Step" are marvelous songs that aren't found anywhere else other than this CD. Even if you already have his `proper' studio albums, this collection is still a need just for the three songs I mentioned as they are among his strongest songs to date. Believe me, this album is worth the hard search and worth every penny!"

If you only get one Patrick O'Hearn CD, this should be it.

W. Costa | Durham, NH USA | 11/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is a must for the Patrick O'Hearn fan who must have *everything* recorded by him since it contains 3 songs not released on any other CDs ("Down Hill Racer", "Irene", and "Step"). These new cuts will not offer any surprises for people who have any of his other releases (with the exception of "Mix-Up"). Having to buy a whole CD for only 3 new but average songs is a little annoying -- an effort, no doubt, to get established fans to come back to the well. On the other hand if you're new to O'Hearn, or feel that one CD of his style of music is enough, this is an excellent representative sampling of his work. There are 2 cuts included from "Ancient Dreams", one from "Eldorado", one from "Between Two Worlds", 3 from "Indigo", and finally 4 from "Rivers Gonna Rise". Actually the cut "Scared Heart" appears on 3 CDs if you count the original soundtrack for the movie "White Sands".



If you like this music, beware of "Mix-Up" which are re-mixes of Patrick's work. It is my favorite O'Hearn CD, but it is not at all like the others, disappointing many of his fans."

Great album

dudesimon | Austin, TX | 01/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the only "new age" CD I own. It is awesome though, like a good instrumental soundtrack. I like to read with it playing in the background (it fits Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter well, all mysterious and ancient-sounding).Didn't realize O'Hearn was in Missing Persons, too. Cool. It is definitely NOT your stereotypical, boring new age music. Especially Down Hill Racer, which is my fave. The last song is great too, lighter and happier than most of the rest."