Compendium

Agree with the comments from Studio99 but when can we expect a brand new album from Blue Stone? Since Pandora’s Box we have been left with an average EP and now a 'best of’. Nice, but Blue Stone's real fans are still awaiting a brand new album. Come on Blue Stone, I think we’re all eager for new material and you guys can do it. Go back to your initial album roots and surprise us!!!

Welcome, I'm glad you are reading this. You probably fall into one of two groups, you either have very little, if any, exposer to Blue Stone or you are a long time fan. Either way, you are in the right place at this moment. Let me tell you about Compendium. If you are new to Blue Stone, this is a perfect place to start. Blue Stone fans belong here as well, since there's some amazing new music in this release. Let's begin. Think about those times when it just starts to rain after a long period of warm, dry, weather. Right when the rain starts, for a brief, passing few moments there's a scent in the air. That scent is called petrichor. What's so miraculous about petrichor? It's absolute. It's unique. There really is nothing else like that smell of dry earth rejuvenated and quenched by rain. Petrichor as a scent is Blue Stone to music. Absolute. Unique. Somehow, this collection of brilliant genius has managed to reinvent and reimagine sound. Without exaggeration, Blue Stone has discovered and introduced completely new sounds...all interwoven in complex arrangements that quench the auditory cortex like warm summer rain on dry earth. Compendium is not a "best of" collection of songs. Compendium is, instead, a collection of important songs. Music that helps us all understand who Blue Stone is. Helps us better value their history, foundation and beginnings and takes us by the hand through each step of their progress. It's so much more than a best of album. Listen closely, this is your masters course in understanding the passion, dedication and obsession with perfection that is Blue Stone. I'd happily spend hours taking you through each song in the track list, but instead yours is the path of self discovery as you listen. I'll, instead focus on a few stand-out tracks. Newcomers, pay attention, this is what you're here for. Deja Vu. Put on headphones and turn down the lights. I want you to listen to the layers in this song. Hear the faint nano vibrating percussion intermingled with piano and Sara Bloomfield's luxurious vocals. The 1:30 mark is magical. This is where the signature Blue Stone sound establishes itself. Once you get to know this sound, you'll wonder how you ever listened to music without it. It's the hallmark of their work and what makes any song across their catalog instantly recognizable. This, my friends, is sonic perfection. Uncover Me. This is a remarkable track. Samantha Duncan's vocal prowess shines perfectly and balances impeccably agains the rhythm guitar. That guitar you hear might remind some of the music of Bella Sonus and it should since both groups share the brilliance of programmer Robert Smith. By way of personal preference, I'm never a fan of ending a song with a fade out, I always want a nice decided ending...again, personal preference. Epimetheus. You know, Blue Stone caught some undeserved push back from some fans when they released Pandora's Box, an instrumental collection. To me, Pandora's Box represents the pure essence of Blue Stone's music. Epimetheus is one of those songs that really benefits from a great set of headphones or speakers. You really need to immerse yourself "inside" the layers of percussion. The subtle bass notes and almost inaudible electronic layering is masterfully produced. Warrior Heart. Sara Bloomfield's enchantingly alluring vocals make this song. It literally could not be sung by anyone else with such accuracy. Her voice is this song's primary instrument with so many instances where it's simply Sara and the percussion...perfectly paired. It's lovely to get lost in the musical interludes like those found at 1:40. It's that Blue Stone sound...the sound they discovered that make this song among the best in their entire collection. It's a prize and a gift. Serenity. Worth the price of the entire album, if this song is not the best song on Compendium, it is certainly it's equal. This song is why the "repeat" setting was invented. It is a new song and is the perfect example of how Blue Stone is teaching us where they are going musically. You can hear Blue Stone's foundation, progression, and future in this one piece. Listen thoughtfully and you will catch a glimpse of the future of Blue Stone, and that future will absolutely sound remarkable. Look, for the price of two gourmet coffee drinks you can own an album that will give you years of listening bliss. You can support this collection of musical brilliance and help them down the path to more incredible music, more sonic discoveries, more of the Blue Stone perfection. A small price for such a tremendous reward. For me, it comes down to the fine details, like each drop of that cool rain dampening the radiant earth producing that wonderful petrichor aroma, nothing in Blue Stone's music is haphazard, each note, each bit of electronic production all work together to produce music that is unique and refreshing. That's what Blue Stone is to me and, I'm certain, will be to you.