“A Blueprint for Life” by Michelle Qureshi
Album Review by New Age CD and New Age Notes Radio Staff
“With each track on ‘A Blueprint for Life,’ Michelle skillfully crafts an atmosphere that encourages reflection and contemplation, allowing the mind to relax and wander and the spirit to soar.” – Dyan Garris
Award-winning composer, Michelle Qureshi is a multi-instrumentalist and classically trained guitarist who brings a contemporary yet timeless aesthetic to listeners through her music. Her compositions create a sonic landscape that encourages reflection and inner exploration. Her music transports us effortlessly and immediately to a place of tranquility and serenity,
Her new release, the ultra-relaxing 5 track EP, “A Blueprint for Life,” is a gorgeous, albeit brief album, at 13-1/2 minutes. However, we find ourselves mesmerized by and completely immersed in these acoustic guitar-centered works and, therefore, time simply melts away and ceases to exist. It’s a wonderful escape from the stresses of daily life.
The pieces are richly layered in both sound and symbolism. The song titles suggest representations of various architectural details found in a home, i.e., “Open Window,” “Hidden Lines,“ “Spiral Staircase,” “Hearth,” and “Elevations.” But what I especially like about the whole thing, artistically, is that it is a window to the soul, not just relative to architectural features found in a physical home. Here we easily find a sacred place for inner peace. We are at home within ourselves.
The album opens with the tranquil track, “Open Window.” We are warmly invited into this cozy space and to open our figurative windows and just let the music flow into our hearts, allowing a sense of renewal, serenity, and re-connection with the “self” to wash gently over and through us. What a great “opening.”
Following is the equally lovely, “Hidden Lines.” Soft and pretty melody lines created with velvety guitars create a space of complete calmness. Love this.
“Spiral Staircase” is wonderful, melodic, and flowing, resonating quite deeply with the spirit. Beautifully ethereal, we are invited further into the peace. And there we go quite willingly and effortlessly.
It’s impossible to choose a favorite on this sweet EP, because everything blends so perfectly into a harmonic convergence, and you will want to get the whole thing. But if I had to, I would say “Hearth” is right up there. Gentle textures and beautiful melodic structures bring instant warmth to the mind, body, and spirit, and in particular, the heart. Just lovely.
The final track, “Elevations,” is a little different from the others in that it incorporates singular, gently plucked guitar notes over atmospheric, ambient layers. This brings everything together expertly, cohesively weaving and uplifting the foundation of these “home” structures into a superb, elevated status. . . and the perfect ending.
Be sure, as well, to watch the outstanding music videos for this EP: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleQureshi
Official artist website: https://www.michellequreshi.com
Get it here: https://linktr.ee/michellequreshi
