"Creative composer Darren J Harris has crafted another beautifully immersive, calming playlist of original ambiances. The deeply soothing and aptly titled projectDeep Bluequickly transcends the reality of the room, transporting listeners to the ocean, surrounding them in nature’s audio and gentle waves of synth-strings in unison.

Encounterstarts

"Creative composer Darren J Harris has crafted another beautifully immersive, calming playlist of original ambiances. The deeply soothing and aptly titled project Deep Blue quickly transcends the reality of the room, transporting listeners to the ocean, surrounding them in nature’s audio and gentle waves of synth-strings in unison.

Encounter starts things off and is all of this – the gentle swell of the waves feels heavy yet mellow in the same instance; all-encompassing yet comforting at the very same time. You’re enveloped in the sound, particularly when played at volume, and there’s a strange, almost in-utero sort of peacefulness and embrace to the whole thing. Perhaps the idea is that we are all born here, everything began here – these are the roots of existence and life.

Darren’s last album, Time And Tide, introduced this conceptually thoughtful arrangement style, but focused on the differing moments and experiences between the two title words. In this case, we’re consistently reminded of the power and importance of the ocean, and the six tracks together make for a powerfully meditative, deeply relaxing listen.

Against the Liquid Sky switches gears instrumentally but is no less delicate. We’re still surrounded by water, but there’s a subtle melody rising and falling, a few twinkles of activity, a few moments of rising brightness; blossoming, awakening movement in the distance.

It’s easy to view this EP as one beautifully well-suited to the sleepy time playlists so many of us put together. To listen and focus on the details is quite difficult after a while, as there’s such a softness and cradling calm to the whole thing. It is, however, also undoubtedly worth-while to listen during the daylight hours – particularly for the focus and clarity the tracks promise. The progression throughout each is subtle yet fairly crucial to the full expression of the idea.

Adrift is another that begins in a minimalist fashion but goes on to brighten up and evolve – perhaps representing the changes of the day, the scene, as you drift along. It’s a joyful journey, not unsettling – far from it. You become happy to let nature take its course.

In mild contrast, Over the Abyss presents a somewhat more neutral, spacious and quiet mood. The intricacies are ultra-fine, the vastness feels more distinctive than the previous close comfort or walls of audio.

Shoal Fish is another that stands out slightly. It’s fascinating, and incredibly impressive, to note how accurately Darren manages to portray each experience as indicated by the title. There’s quietness and space again here, combined with intermittent, brief dashes of movement or sparkles of scales flashing by. There’s even a touch of excitement to the anticipation of these sudden and quick bursts of life.

To finish up the journey through Deep Blue is the intriguing and multi-layered outpouring All of Creation. Subtle as ever again, but immensely uplifting – almost to an overwhelming degree. When you fully allow the music to rain down around you, the effect is decidedly blissful. A wonderful way to bring the experience to a finish.

Darren J Harris consistently delivers a uniquely impressive manner of production and composition, the detail and authenticity of the sound is stunning. Whether it’s an accompaniment to meditation, a way of maintaining a calm state of mind throughout your day, to enjoy a deep immersion of the sounds of the ocean’s underwater worlds, or simply a go-to for a more peaceful ambiance when relaxing, Deep Blue soothes the soul in a softly powerful fashion."

"Australia’s Darren J Harris has composed and crafted his third collection to date. The ambient instrumental album that is Time And Tide is a deeply entrancing project, beginning with a delicately detailed yet dreamlike journey through time, then evolving for the latter half to explore the concept of Tide.

This entire experience is the sort that

"Australia’s Darren J Harris has composed and crafted his third collection to date. The ambient instrumental album that is Time And Tide is a deeply entrancing project, beginning with a delicately detailed yet dreamlike journey through time, then evolving for the latter half to explore the concept of Tide.

This entire experience is the sort that can aid the listener with deep meditation or calm – a lyric-free environment, layered with subtle intricacies and effects that take you out into the world and simultaneously further within yourself as they fill the space around you. Theta Waves introduces this – a five minute-plus venture into space and peacefulness, with gentle, echoing effects and moments that beautifully add colour to the quiet in the room.

The project’s first half utilizes six compositions to provoke an array of thoughts that are admittedly going to be quite unique for each listener. There are moments of purity and stillness, but there are also hints of melody or slowly progressing chords and notes that feel a little more emotionally poignant or uncertain.

Ephemera meanders in this kind of unpredictable manner, sometimes with hope, sometimes with concern. Slipstream afterwards does so all the more intensely. The piano adds a level of weight and humanity that quickly hypnotizes. As the track goes on, the very idea of a slipstream is quite brilliantly represented – the music seems to fade away into the shadow of something else; organic elements are briefly warped and toyed with, then there’s something much more spacious and unexpected on the other side. Lost In A Colour Field later introduces a uniquely different yet similarly complex and unpredictable arena of sound that again takes you somewhere new and unusual.

The second half of the album deals with the concept of Tide. Though the style seems relevant and rooted in Harris’ own creative aura, what stands out is the slightly retro electronic ambiance that drives the title track Time and Tide. There’s also a clever meeting between sadness and optimism, though again – perhaps this will be received differently by the next listener. A hint of jazz and a more complex musicality emerges. This instrumental set-up or style continues throughout this latter half, Peace and Light (Across The Waves) and Apparition (Lone Wolf) follow on with more of that smoothly muffled warmth.

On Water is one of the more minimalist offerings, a solo performance for the most part, again bringing together a myriad of emotions. The organic sound contrasts beautifully with the distant strings/synths and helps make this piece stand out in a wonderful way. Star Trails afterwards is equally enjoyable but with a different set of elements and a slightly more crisp and clean presentation. Your mind can wander intensely during these moments – and indeed as the album in full softly pours through.

Farewell rightfully brings things to a finish and offers a delicate fusion of instruments and a natural soundscape that lets the peaceful energy of the world overwhelm and calm the listener. A final highlight and a track that leaves you feeling refreshed and ready for whatever comes next.

Darren J Harris has created a fine journey through conceptual consideration with this project. The idea is one that can unite us all, the building blocks though are a little more unique and hold close to the artist’s own creative direction. A pleasure to listen through."

Review by Stereo Stickman 21 March 2019 credits released April 3, 2019

All compositions, instruments, programming by Darren J Harris. (track 7: some sax parts played by Artem Zhulyev) license all rights reserved