For as long as I've been listening to and enjoying New Age CDs that employ such words as "vision" and "dreams" or "ethereal journey" into an artist's front or back cover artwork or even used to describe their (current) body of work, for the most part, I've found that some compositions are geared towards one of two purposes:
Helping you to fall asleep with or without the assistance of over-the-counter sleep "aids" or assisting you on your journey towards some kind of enlightenment, honing in on your inner Chi that you so rightly deserve. If you chose the latter, then look no further than Catherine Duc's "Visions and Dreams" CD, a lush and exotic 41 and 1/2 minute personal and reflective journey into your soul.
Catherine's writing and producing credits lends her vast knowledge of instrumental orchestration and arrangement and delves into aspects of Ambient, Celtic, and World nuances once reserved for mainstream artists who she has been compared to such as Enya, Deep Forest, Enigma, Delerium, as well as the artists who've appeared on the 'Pure Moods' compilations.
While it takes the average person approximately 5-7 minutes to fall asleep—I on the other hand need around 10—I will usually consult one of a handful of select New Age artists to listen to with the profound hope of setting my mind and spirit up for some funky dreaming to commence.
Her music is graceful and majestic with an invasive sweeping grandeur all the while utilizing an array of electronic instruments, leaving you with a feeling of empowerment.
And empowering is a word that succinctly sums up "Visions and Dreams" in that New Age is but a form of neo-classical that Catherine uses to the fullest extent of her ability, pouring her heart and essence into each of the ten compositions—and it's duly noted.
I find it difficult to review a New Age work that usually tends to speak for itself when it's played but what I can tell you without a doubt, "Visions & Dreams" is expressive as it is profoundly moving. If you appreciate Western-influenced neo-classical all the while infusing Eastern Electronica, Catherine Duc's "Visions and Dreams" is one of the most R&R-inducing and spiritually passionate CDs that I've come across and listened to in ages.
