MICHAEL STRIBLING
Paradise Lost
(c) (p) 2010 Leela Music

You’ll find an endless beauty and a sorrow
In searching of forgotten paradise

This is a slightly mysterious music that attracts the listener’s attention from the first chords. Michael Stribling begins to tell his story and he makes it very delicate. His electronic music is full of aerial harmonies and enigmatic polyphony.

What does the newest album by Michael Stribling tell about? As it is indicated on the press-release “Paradise Lost” solemnly commemorates the displacement of the Native American peoples at the hands of the “white man” as they immigrated to North America. Therefore the strong dramatic effect is inherent in this music. Michael Stribling divided his twelve original compositions into three acts: paradise, in the “before days”; the coming of the white man, and the resulting conflict and tragedy; and lament, requiem, and resolution. As a result we can enjoy the epic story which is devoted to the bitter story of the American Continent.

But the music of Michael Stribling soars above the pain and sufferings. The composer allows the listeners to look at past horrors and fears and to realize the emptiness and pettiness of the modern civilization. And the music of “Paradise Lost” is infused with the deepest sympathy and sincere love to the Native Americans who are the true owners of this land and whose spiritual development and state of consciousness were higher than "civilized” white men had.

This music has an undoubted therapeutic effect which helps purify the mind and raise the spirit. And with it I’d like to return to the musical aspects of “Paradise Lost”. Its sound is refined indeed. Michael Stribling excellently interweaves his music with natural sounds. His keyboard parts are very accurate and tuneful.

Maybe the main feature of the Michael Stribling music is that after listening to his album “Paradise Lost” one can be made aware of a very simple thing: your life should bring you joy.
 

Serge Kozlovsky
http://sergekozlovsky.com

Visit Michael Stribling’s web site at http://www.leela-music.com