The skies are rent asunder to reveal the source of all spiritual power in The Glory, the powerful and compelling opening track to Higher Power, the second volume in Composer Clifford White's Heaven Sent series of albums. A powerful cinematic piece, this track carries an exultant theme that seems to fuse both eastern and western esoteric influences into a joyous and exuberant anthem to spiritual beliefs everywhere.
As it is were a surrealistic painting, Secret Garden opens in a textural flourish of glassy textures and richly evocative musical motifs. A pulsing percussion track appears, upon which exotic instruments twist and weave like dervish dancers. The melody becomes haunting, like a spiritual siren song, and we find ourselves enveloped in a hypnotic and seductive rhythm that is both passionate, timeless and mysterious.
We return to some of the sentimental and nostalgic emotions evidenced on the first Heaven Sent album in Walk With Love, a joyous and romantic ballad full of good cheer, affection and happy memories. Jovial flutes, horns and jaunty rhythms evolve throughout the piece, as it weaves it's tale of simple pleasures: family life, long walks with friends and languid summer days, of happy times and smiling faces.
An anthem to spiritual evolution, Ascendance begins with the warmth of home before lifting you off into the stratosphere on a magic carpet ride of wonder. A gently pulsing drum carries you further up into the rarefied atmosphere, and as you sail on clouds of vapour you are invited to experience the freedom of the wind and the eternity of an endless sky.
Returning to an eastern theme with Starseed, we are carried on clouds of sitar music for a rendezvous with the spirit of celebration and wonder. A smooth percussion track propels us into an exalted theme that speaks of festivity and merriment, a joyous celebration of spiritual belief and reverence across the world.
Opening with soft piano, Emergence takes us on a gentle journey of spiritual awakening; from the first few notes of awareness, through the ever-growing understanding of meaning, to a final great expansion of awakening, knowing and being.
Sentimental nostalgia returns for a final time in Forgotten Summer, a wistful and romantic ballad rich in childhood memories of endless summer days, laughter and play.
This is in turn followed by the final eastern-flavoured track on the album (and indeed, the entire Heaven Sent series): Herald, which is perhaps the most powerful and compelling track on the entire Higher Power album. Insistent tabla beats and eerie Arabic-type melodies juxtapose with massive anthems of stupendous proportions! Pure spiritual musical power at it's finest.
At the end of this monumental journey into the heart of spirit, we alight with the most delicate of touches upon Higher Power, the final track of the album. Beginning with the gentlest of piano and strings, the music is both beautiful and touching, gently lyrical and emotive. As the piece evolves, further layers of angelic sounds are added at a gradual pace, until the piece lifts off into a immense and expansive anthem dedicated to the source of all things: the Higher Power that is within us all.
