An audio version of a trip down a lazy river

Spadei is an American music group that falls under the category of “New-Age” music. This is a subgenre of electronic music, and it has an interesting background. The movement started back in the 1960s in the United States and is closely tied with the counter-culture movement. Some of the characteristics of New Age music is ambient noise, soft and slow guitars and a generally calm atmosphere. It is also related to spirituality and meditation. Some new-age music is specifically designed to guide listeners in meditation. A couple of notable new-age albums are Environments by Irv Teibel and Deep Breakfast by Ray Lynch.

So, where does Spadei’s Left Right Here stack up in the new-age genre? Well, for a debut album, it’s nothing short of relaxing. One of the most notable tracks is “Shine a Light.” This five-and-a-half-minute trip feels like melancholic bliss with beautiful vocals and lush guitar riffs. Another great track is “Grateful Winds,” which feels like floating down a lazy river. The eastern flute combined with the crooning vocals and subtle guitar riffs makes it a treat to listen to. The album wraps up with “Twilight” which features much of the same qualities as the rest of the album.

Although there are a lot of things to like about Left Right Here there are some things holding it back from being a perfect record. For one, new-age albums can be a bit redundant when it comes to song structure. While Spadei does a good job at keeping the interest going, tracks six through eight all have the same energy to them and makes listening to this part a bit daunting. The signing on some of the songs, specifically track three, needs a bit more energy. Although the album is meant to be relaxing, the vocals had the potential to really spice up the song.

Left Right Here is a peaceful album that leaves the listener in a state of delicate bliss. It reaches the crossroads of being relaxing yet not too relaxing as to become a boring listening experience.