So Flows The Current

Amazon.com
On his first solo album in over four years, composer and multi-instrumentalist Patrick O'Hearn continues along the meditative path forged by his two previous solo efforts, Trust and Metaphor. This time, however, he eschews the use of samples and sequencing in favor of live performances. O'Hearn has been known for blending a wide range of styles into his work, from jazz to world to pop, but here he focuses on organic ambience. At first listen, Current might not seem that different from his recent efforts, but successive listens enhance the simple spaciousness that permeates these nine tracks. The hypnotic, nine-minute epic "A Lovely Place to Be" consists solely of quiet synths and acoustic guitar; "Beyond This Moment" interweaves gentle acoustic guitar with sparse, reverberant piano and subliminal guitar textures; and the forlorn "Cold Sea's Embrace" spotlights cello soloist Pat Johnston, making the strings-only composition a splendid album standout. On various other cuts Peter Maunu lends his acoustic, electric, and lap-steel guitar playing while Robin Tolleson contributes percussion and O'Hearn plays acoustic and electric bass, keyboards, flute, cello, and percussion. It may not be a groundbreaking release, but So Flows the Current offers subtle, unadorned pleasures. --Bryan Reesman

Product Description
So Flows The Current, the new album from Patrick O'Hearn creates a rich blend of compositional textures with closer focus upon the acoustic instruments than his previous electronic oriented works. From the opening track "a lovely place to be", the listener is transported into a relaxed and inspired realm which continues to unfold through each successive composition. Listeners familiar with O'Hearn's prior recordings will find many of the ingredients present which make his signature sound so immediately identifiable. Those new to his work will discover a unique artist long recognized as a leading pioneer in the field of Contemporary Instrumental Music.

So Flows The Current

So Flows The Current,Patrick O'Hearn,Patrickohearn.Com,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop

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Average customer rating: Moving Impeccable St. Patrick's most cohesive and strongest set of songs to date! Really boring and lifeless his best

So Flows the Current Patrick O'Hearn Manufacturer: Patrick O'Hearn ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Similar Items: Beautiful World Slow Time Beyond City Light Flow Indigo ASIN: B0009OUBK6 Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

1. A Lovely Place To Be
2. So Flows The Current
3. The Cold Sea's Embrace
4. Panning The Sands
5. Beyond This Moment
6. Along The Waterfront
7. Northwest Passage
8. Like So Much Lost Time
9. Traveler's Rest

Customer Reviews:

Moving.......2007-05-03

This particular piece from Patrick is unique and may be his finest work yet, depending on how you feel it. It grew on me and found more of its tracks moving till I found a DVD that changed all. Yes, David Fortney has a DVD of his Cinematography called "Timeless" featuring nature at its true beauty and the music of Patrick on all tracks. Once you experience this, you will agree that this may be his finest. You will see for yourself and be moved as I was.

TOTO - MIAMI, FL

Impeccable.......2007-01-03

Is this the finest album I've ever heard ...

I know it's a big call, but the answer may be Yes. I am deeply moved by Patrick O'Hearn's music and love all his albums without exception. But I think this is probably the best of the lot.

The lead track "A Lovely Place to Be" may just be my favorite piece of music ever written. It is followed by another gem in the slowly hypnotic title track. Even though this lasts a healthy 6 minutes or so, I wish it was twice as long. Another magical piece for me is "Traveler's Rest" which is a great way to finish a superb album. All the music in between is of a very high standard, maintaining an atmospheric ambience that soothes the soul in gentle rhythms.

For those who aren't aware, the boy on the front cover is Patrick O'Hearn's son in a photo taken some years before the album's release. (I hope he doesn't mind me saying that.)

I cannot speak highly enough of this album. It has so much feeling that it lifts the spirit to other places. Thanks Patrick for a magnificent album.

This is music that goes straight to the heart.

St. Patrick's most cohesive and strongest set of songs to date! .......2006-02-23

I remember the excitement when I browsed on the internet back in the opening days of 2001 when I learned of a then new album entitled "So Flows The Current" by my favorite New Age Meistro Patrick O'Hearn especially after years of almost total silence. I ran full force to the Barnes & Noble music store to buy it on July 28, 2001 and let me tell you, this album was totally WORTH THE LONG WAIT! I can't say I felt that way when I first listened to it the day I bought it but as it sunk in over time, I came to the conclusion that this was a total rebirth of O'Hearn's music legacy and the start of a new era and out of them, I would actually say that it is his best album to date!

Like "Metaphor" from five years before, "So Flows The Current" has a far more tribal, ethnic quality to it's sound versus his more familiar works from the Private Music era and it even is different from even the Deep Cave albums "Trust" and "Metaphor" since SFTC combines the best of both worlds on some of the tracks and even has it's own original style with more guitars both acoustic and electric done to epic effects throughout the tracks most notably on "Panning The Sands", "Beyond This Moment", and especially "Northwest Passage", the latter of which is perhaps the most un-O'Hearn-like track that I've ever heard, even when stacked against the experimental "Slow Time". I've read a lot of critical reviews praising this album and the one that said that this is his `most consistent albums' is absolutely right. SFTC actually is in my opinion anyway his most consistent set of works and flows perfectly from the somber opening minor note of "Lovely Place" to the peaceful joyful major notes of "Traveler's Rest".

Really boring and lifeless.......2006-02-13

I was looking forward to listening to this CD because I really enjoy Patrick's work, and was let down big-time. I thought this CD was boring and lifeless - I liked only one track. And almost all of the tracks featured other instruments and hardly any keyboard. Huh?

If you like Patrick O'Hearn, listen to Beautiful World and some of his other CDs to get the real feel of his magic. Too bad.

his best.......2005-08-17

This is absolutely the best record Patrick has ever done. I've been a fan now since around the time Indigo came out (which was his best until this one). It is a little more mellow than some of his previous efforts, but every track is very carefully worked out and full of rich detail. There are some moments on trust and Metaphor where it sounds like he's on auto pilot- never anywhere on this record.

The strong presence of the acoustic instruments compliments what he's doing so well.

Four or five people I've played this for, went out and got their own copies immediately. That's unusual.

I don't know what else to say. He's never been better, and I have a feeling he'll never top this one. While I like Beautiful World, it doesn't come close to the level of aching beauty on this record.

Average customer rating: Very good new age - low key, well engineered. The best Patrick O'Hearn Sensuous and dreamlike -- AMAZING WORK!!! I stopped what I was doing... Ohearns best

So Flows the Current Patrick O'Hearn Manufacturer: Paras Recording ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005Q6O4 Release Date: 2001-11-13

Tracks:

1. Lovely Place to Be
2. So Flows the Current
3. Cold Sea's Embrace
4. Panning the Sands
5. Beyond This Moment
6. Along the Waterfront
7. Northwest Passage
8. Like So Much Lost Time
9. Traveler's Rest

Customer Reviews:

Very good new age - low key, well engineered........2007-07-11

Except for two percussion based pieces, this is a very tasteful album. "So Flows the Current," is hypnotic and the best piece on the album. Most of New Age music doesn't break new ground either musically or thematically; it's all nature, tree-hugging, pseudo-mystic gobbledygook which I don't relate to (how many New Age albums have music pieces titled, "enlightenment," "Tibetan (fill in the blank)," "Gandalf's secret," and other junk?). What I do enjoy is having soft background music that can stand up to listening on the headphones. This album can do that. Some of these pieces are extremely well crafted - better than a lot of New Age.

The best Patrick O'Hearn.......2005-02-14

Beautiful, hypnotic, dark, interesting, deep music. This is the most consistent album P. O. has released at date, and will become a classic.
Tracks 1,4,7,8 and 9 are, in my opinion, the best songs in the CD (and the best songs he has ever created).
A masterpiece from a master of dark landscapes.

Sensuous and dreamlike -- AMAZING WORK!!!.......2005-01-31

Okay, I cannot handle it - I've gotta write a review and tell you all how GREAT this disc is, and WHY it's so great!

I love the feel of this disc -- so laid back, and relaxed; it projects kind of that emotional feeling you get when everything in your life is good, or after you've just done some heavy-duty soul searching. I guess I would imagine the whole disc as the soundtrack for my thoughts along my own "journey". I'm a fan of all of Patrick's work since he went solo in 1985. I feel that this disc is the next step in the evolution of his inimitable sound -- even sans the formerly characteristic percussive elements.

The textural guitar work is great, the acoustic guitars are perfect mood setters (thanks, Pete M.!), and the cello work by Pat Johnson is truly amazing! I really like the tone set by the acoustic slide guitar on Traveler's Rest -- and the wide, sweeping (bass guitar?) strings used for the chorus' lead.

Minimalism never sounded this good! Okay, so maybe I do miss the occasional 12-bit Akai sampled 2-octave-lowered rubber-mallet-hit dishwasher door, or the sexy sauntering call of a 4-5-6 string fretless bass, or even a pizzicato string or pluck here and there... Yes, this disc is a little bit different, and I LOVE it. I'll definitely be listening to this one for quite a while.

Those of you who might not care for this disc so much have probably not been paying attention to what Patrick has been doing musically since 1995's "Trust". While retaining certain qualities of his trademark sound, he has given us glimpses of what might lie ahead with "Trust" and "Metaphor". Those of you who have eclectic musical tastes will inevitably find this disc as uplifting and fresh as I do.

Patrick has scored again, and I certainly do look forward to more material in this vein. If Patrick is able to team up with Pete Maunu again, we're in for a real treat!!

I stopped what I was doing..........2004-06-27

I ordered this cd on my birthday after searching on amazon, looking for some really pretty ambient electronic/orchestral music. I've been composing some orchestral sweeping ambient music on my synthesizer but lack any software to actually create music, so I thought I'd see if anyone else has the same idea. WELL! Upon plopping my newly arrived Patrick O'Hearn CD into my CD player the other day and rooking through some mail I just picked up, his first track began playing and after 10 seconds I stopped what I was doing and got chills- the song brought tears to my eyes, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. I was so excited, finally someone else understands the beauty of pure orchestral chords!!! (And I'm really happy to find that another reviewer on here had the same crying reaction) That track alone made it worth the buy, but the entire CD has really good tracks, each with their own beauty. I highly recommend this CD for those who like new age music, but don't like it to sound cheesy/too synthesized/too much like Yanni.. :)

Oh! I also got a CD titled "Laurel" by "LaureL" and if you like Patrick O'Hearn, you would probably like Laurel. It's more synthesized, but similar.

Ohearns best.......2004-06-13

The reviews here generally sum it up, but after finding 2 negative reviews out of ten- one of which believe it or not says this record would be better if it sounded more like Linkin Park?!?! Am I missing something here? I don't quite know what to say to that, but I thought I ought to throw in another positive review to mend the damage.

This is absolutely the best record Patrick has ever done. I've been a fan now since around the time Indigo came out (which was his best until this one). It is a little more mellow than some of his previous efforts, but every track is very carefully worked out and full of rich detail. There are some moments on trust and Metaphor where it sounds like he's on auto pilot- never anywhere on this record.

The strong presence of the acoustic instruments compliments what he's doing so well.

Four or five people I've played this for, went out and got their own copies immediately. That's unusual.

I don't know what else to say. He's never been better, and I have a feeling he'll never top this one. While I like Beautiful World, it doesn't come close to the level of aching beauty on this record.

Average customer rating: Patrick's comeback Words cannot tell the stunning nature of this album. Elegantly Sublime Sensuous & Dreamlike -- AMAZING WORK! Another masterpiece

So Flows The Current Patrick O'Hearn Manufacturer: Patrickohearn.Com ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Slow Time ASIN: B000058511 Release Date: 2001-01-15

Tracks:

1. A Lovely Place To Be
2. So Flows The Current
3. The Cold Sea's Embrace
4. Panning The Sands
5. Beyond This Moment
6. Along The Waterfront
7. Northwest Passage
8. Like So Much Lost Time
9. Traveler's Rest

Amazon.com

On his first solo album in over four years, composer and multi-instrumentalist Patrick O'Hearn continues along the meditative path forged by his two previous solo efforts, Trust and Metaphor. This time, however, he eschews the use of samples and sequencing in favor of live performances. O'Hearn has been known for blending a wide range of styles into his work, from jazz to world to pop, but here he focuses on organic ambience. At first listen, Current might not seem that different from his recent efforts, but successive listens enhance the simple spaciousness that permeates these nine tracks. The hypnotic, nine-minute epic "A Lovely Place to Be" consists solely of quiet synths and acoustic guitar; "Beyond This Moment" interweaves gentle acoustic guitar with sparse, reverberant piano and subliminal guitar textures; and the forlorn "Cold Sea's Embrace" spotlights cello soloist Pat Johnston, making the strings-only composition a splendid album standout. On various other cuts Peter Maunu lends his acoustic, electric, and lap-steel guitar playing while Robin Tolleson contributes percussion and O'Hearn plays acoustic and electric bass, keyboards, flute, cello, and percussion. It may not be a groundbreaking release, but So Flows the Current offers subtle, unadorned pleasures. --Bryan Reesman

Album Description

So Flows The Current, the new album from Patrick O'Hearn creates a rich blend of compositional textures with closer focus upon the acoustic instruments than his previous electronic oriented works. From the opening track "a lovely place to be", the listener is transported into a relaxed and inspired realm which continues to unfold through each successive composition. Listeners familiar with O'Hearn's prior recordings will find many of the ingredients present which make his signature sound so immediately identifiable. Those new to his work will discover a unique artist long recognized as a leading pioneer in the field of Contemporary Instrumental Music.

Customer Reviews:

Patrick's comeback.......2002-02-27

"So Flows The Current" features the first new Patrick O'Hearn compositions in 4 years. "Panning The Sands" is a terrific track that mixes his trademark classic sound with some new more acoustic elements - the last three minutes are just great when that bass rhythm sets in.

"A Lovely Place To Be" (that title is just perfect for that track) is a nine minute ambient masterpiece with some masterful acoustic guitars, reminded me of Øystein Sevåg/Lakki Patey's album "Visual", or even some of Mark Mancina's film work. The title track is great too, minimalistic and busy - isn't that a sample of "The Lone Man" from "Trust" we hear at the beginning?

These three tracks are the best ones, in my humble opinion, but several other cuts will surely grow on the listener. "Northwest Passage" is possibly the most unlike-O'Hearn track he ever wrote, while I have to admit that the cello-based "The Cold Sea's Embrace" didn't do much for this listener.

Rumours said that the album had a very acoustic sound. Yes it has - but there are still lots of electronic elements from the hands of the composer. This album is not easy on the ear - but nevertheless a great comeback from Patrick. His next album will reportedly be out summer 2002.

Words cannot tell the stunning nature of this album........2001-09-19

I just want to be able to tell how great this CD really is-AMAZING!!

After nearly five years of waiting Patrick put what I can only describe his best album not only in years but maybe his best ever. This album is a like Mataphor and Trust in some ways. It's rather acoustic in sound but with his trademark sound still existant.

However the mood of this album is different from the previous and in my opinion breaks new grounds in the arc of excellent music he has done.

A Lovely Place To Be is a beautiful instrumental ambient track with acoustic guitars laced with soaring keyboards. So Flows The Current has blips of The Lone Man from his Trust album. It then builds up into a groovy ambient track. The Cold Seas embrace is a mellow song with a cello playing( A wonderful surprise). Panning The Sands a hounting song with thundering beats combined with the electronic ambient sound that kinda is like the title track to his El Dorado album from a long time ago but much darker and more laid. Beyond This Moment is probably the most acoustic song Patrick has ever composed. It is almost like somthing youd hear from a flamenco record. I almost though " what the hell is this" but I have since come to like this song. It has echoing pianos and it kinda sounds sort of like Let Truth Prevail from the Metaphor album. Along The Waterfront is the a very haunting song with echoing pianos and almost bluesy guitars that almost sound like those from James Bond. Such a beautiful song. Northwest Passage is a spooky intense with tribal drums combined with a very stormy atmosphere, sort of like dark grey clouds looming over the landscape. Like So Much Lost Time is pure ambience. It is a song I would be playing when looking at the sky when it is grey and and dark out. All of a sudden however at the ending the minor depressing sound give away to a bright major note ushering in Traveler's Rest. This song is like the dark coulds breaking up with the sun shining though. It is a very well done song. It has amazing acoustic guitar playing. It is a stunning closer to this masterpiece.

As a whole this is probably Patricks best album since Indigo. [...] this album I think breaks new ground in Patrick's amazing talent.

I say go get this CD. It's so much better than the average typical dull New Age music.

Elegantly Sublime.......2001-09-11

Let me say firstly that I have never given an Amazon review 5 stars before. Secondly, let me say that this is the first Patrick O'Hearn disk I've ever heard, so I don't have the ability to compare it to any of his other material. I first became aware of So Flows The Current when listening to public radio's 'Echoes' one night driving home from work. I was impressed not only by the sound of the cuts Echoes played, but also by the intelligence of Mr. O'Hearn during the interview he gave. I checked several local music shops, and finally came across the CD. All I can say to any reader of this review is that SFTC is a minimalistic masterpiece, literally the best new album of music I've heard so far in 2001, and I don't hand out compliments like that too easily to anyone. The songs are mature and intelligent, and with every listen there is something else found, and yet at the same time the freshness of it all remains. Although I've played the entire disc, start-to-finish, some 10-12 times over the summer, the best tracks are the first three; A Lovely Place to Be, the title track, and The Cold Sea's Embrace, and the last three, which are delicately segued; Northwest Passage, Like So Much Lost Time, and Traveler's Rest. This greatness of this album is that it is able to say so much by saying so little. Mature listeners should not be disappointed by this one at all.

Sensuous & Dreamlike -- AMAZING WORK!.......2001-09-03

Okay, I cannot handle it - I've gotta write a review and tell you all how GREAT this disc is, and WHY it's so great!

I love the feel of this disc -- so laid back, and relaxed; it projects kind of that emotional feeling you get when everything in your life is good, or after you've just done some heavy-duty soul searching. I guess I would imagine the whole disc as the soundtrack for my thoughts along my own "journey". I'm a fan of all of Patrick's work since he went solo in 1985. I feel that this disc is the next step in the evolution of his inimitable sound -- even sans the formerly characteristic percussive elements.

The textural guitar work is great, the acoustic guitars are perfect mood setters (thanks, Pete M.!), and the cello work by Pat Johnson is truly amazing! I really like the tone set by the acoustic slide guitar on Traveler's Rest -- and the wide, sweeping (bass guitar?) strings used for the chorus' lead.

Minimalism never sounded this good! Okay, so maybe I do miss the occasional 12-bit Akai sampled 2-octave-lowered rubber-mallet-hit dishwasher door, or the sexy sauntering call of a 4-5-6 string fretless bass, or even a pizzicato string or pluck here and there... Yes, this disc is a little bit different, and I LOVE it. I'll definitely be listening to this one for quite a while.

Those of you who might not care for this disc so much have probably not been paying attention to what Patrick has been doing musically since 1995's "Trust". While retaining certain qualities of his trademark sound, he has given us glimpses of what might lie ahead with "Trust" and "Metaphor". Those of you who have eclectic musical tastes will inevitably find this disc as uplifting and fresh as I do.

Patrick has scored again, and I certainly do look forward to more material in this vein. If Patrick is able to team up with Pete Maunu again, we're in for a real treat!!

Another masterpiece.......2001-06-29

Dreamy, surreal, creative and compelling. So what else did you expect? Patrick O'Hearn continues to grow with the years. A detraction from his otherworldly, sometimes frenzied, kinetic soundscapes, this is another great work. Only one or two tracks left me wanting, the rest bear close examination which will keep you coming back again and again. Hey, for a guy who likes Buddy Rich this must be good to enjoy. Do that - enjoy!

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1. Sound Therapy: Meditation
2. Sounds Near the Ocean
3. Tai-Chi
4. The Complete Explorers [Import]
5. The Flowering of Human Consciousness
6. The Light Within: Meditations of the Heart
7. The Lost Chord
8. The Secret Of My Heart
9. The Sounds of Nature: Country
10. The Twilight Concertos

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meditation music

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Disco Floorfillers [Import]

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Music: Will You Give Me to Tell You

Kamikaze 1989

Light / 6th Sense [CD-single] [Import]

Live at Woodstock [Import] [Live]

Impervious Nature

Pop Music: 16 Days of Glory: The Spirit of the Olympics

Juan del Enzina: Romances & Villancicos - Hesperion XX

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Ice T VI: Return Of The Real [Explicit Lyrics]

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