MELODIYA by Hans Christian, Thomas Barquee
With a recent Grammy® nomination for his 2023 release Ocean Dreaming Ocean (with David Darling/CurveBlue Records), Hans Christian teamed up with Thomas Barquee, another German born producer/composer, to create Melodiya, a collection of eight compositions that features both artists’ unmistakable sense of melody.
While Ocean Dreaming Ocean is a musical deep dive with its ambient and multi layered cello textures, Melodiya aims straight for the heart with its melodic lines. Christian’s emotive playing takes a center role in many of the compositions, but this time in an unabashed melodic fashion. There is no dissonance on this record- it is all harmonically perfect with catchy melodies that would be well placed in a major motion picture.
Cinematic is the key word for Melodiya. Every piece is evocative of a story. Both Barquee and Christian are classically trained musicians from Germany with roots in western pop music. Both have established themselves as producer icons in the world of yoga/chant/world music, and both speak a melodic code on these recordings that seems effortless and beguiling with their harmonious blend.
Thomas Barquee, originally from Hamburg, Germany, had an early exposure to greatness with a chance to play for James Last, the legendary German big band leader, and with recording contracts and touring opportunities as a solo artist in Europe. After settling in Los Angeles, he worked with Seal, Snatam Kaur, GuruGanesha, and many others. Thomas is recognized as one of the pre-eminent vocal producers in the field of devotional/chant music.
Hans Christian, originally from Hannover, Germany, started out on cello and augmented his musical passions with the bass guitar. After moving to Los Angeles, he established a name for himself by recording and performing with musical luminaries in all kinds of musical settings. He expanded his musical journey by touring as a solo artist and with his group RASA and has since produced and performed on countless recording projects.
Melodiya is the result of an unapologetic love of melodic lines that take the listener on a heartfelt musical journey, with Thomas Barquee providing the initial piano and keyboard tracks on five of the eight compositions and Hans Christian adding cello, lap steel guitar, psaltery, sitar, fretless bass, and various modern production elements to augment the sonic richness of the tracks.
Tracklist
| 1. | THE GIFT | 7:45 |
| 2. | THE PROMISE | 8:22 |
| 3. | PERSISTENCE OF TIME | 6:13 |
| 4. | OPALESCENCE | 6:15 |
| 5. | YOUR HEART REMAINS | 5:20 |
| 6. | THAT ONE THING | 6:40 |
| 7. | DO WE REMEMBER | 5:43 |
| 8. | AN ECHO'S SOUL | 5:00 |
Credits
HANS CHRISTIAN- cello, lap steel guitar, fretless bass, sitar, psaltery, nyckelharpa, keys
THOMAS BARQUEE- piano, keys
produced by Hans Christian at STUDIO 330, Sturgeon Bay WI
License
All rights reserved.
Hans Christian’s versatility as performer, recording artist, and music producer for over 30 years has created a legacy of concerts and recordings that have touched people’s hearts around the world. His unmistakable cello playing moves the listener with a haunting beauty, and his use of various ethnic instruments expresses a universal language that transcends boundaries and cultures.