Ray: Ethereal Journey Ray: Ethereal Journey (Ray Leonard Records - 2001) Proudly flying the New Age banner on his latest release, Ray (that's Ray Leonard) proceeds to spread his Ethereal Journey out in long, supple sheets of sound which swaddle the listener in comfort and beauty. Soft-focus simplicity lets these tracks live and breathe as their own subdued environments. Slowly undulating currents of woodwindy layers are sparsely peppered with the lightest of percussive touches in the opening title track, Ethereal Journey. An interplay of radiant glimmer and sheen, Twilight Rain wafts amid intermittent showers of magical mists. Somber though sweet, Birth of a Universe is set adrift between lullingly low strings and mutedly sparkling piano notes. Sure, the whole "whale" thing has been done before, but at least big and bubbly Whale's Lullaby doesn't beat you over the head with fishy-mammal talk. With faint rhythmic spatters, rising/falling Space Rainbow (7:23) expands multi-hued strings and synths across a hazy skyscape. My favorite, the lovely Showers of Light, sports just a hint of pretty melancholia in its winsome space-organ wanderings. Gaseous clouds swelter within Spiral Dimensions (5:11), emitting soft tones and gently runbling thunder. The ten understated legs of Ethereal Journey may not be "challenging" enough for some listeners, but hey, there are plenty of us who find more than enough challenges in everyday life; Ray is here to take us away from all that. His nurturing spirit is evident in these 8.3-rated ear-trips. Think relaxing mini-vacation for your tired mind! Drift on out to Ray Leonard Records to glean more. This review posted September 29, 2001 AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).