New Zealand guitarist Baz Mantis released his second studio album in late 2008 titled ‘Pieces Of Daylight’, and is currently recording a follow up release. The upcoming albums content will reflect much more epic and heavier influences, leading to a distinct redirection of musicality and conceptual presentation. Watch this space for an advance sample track.
'Pieces Of Daylight' is available for sale at Magnolia Minerals in Greerton, Tauranga and at Lagoona in Bayfair Shopping Centre. International buyers can purchase the album online at www.cdbaby.com/cd/bazmantis
On the multi-textured 'Pieces' album Mantis explores mainly esoteric themes, interpreting them subjectively through the medium of music.
The opening track, Empyrean Peregrination is a low key epic 11 minute piece, translated as its name suggests as a "heavenly journey", reflecting the experiences of an out of body traveller who finds themselves taken to a place of pure serenity and peace to reclaim a lost part of themselves before being returned back to their body.
The second track on the album, ‘Orcas In Orbit’, refers to the cross cultural primordial beginning of all things, from out of the waters of the deep becomes that which manifests eventually as life on the living library Earth.
‘As I Lay Down’, at four minutes in length, describes the final four minutes of life in a physical body before the return of the human soul back to the realm of Spirit – a peaceful passing which is filled with sentimental reflections and a new awareness of being, until the final detachment from the physical body occurs and the soul soars free, accompanied by a compassionate and welcoming fleet of those who have gone before, who lead the new arrival deep into the unseen realms and, momentarily, away from our perception.
The title track of the album, 'Pieces Of Daylight' is a departure from Mantis' typical ethereal guitar riffs, and being a multi layered experimental keyboard piece, is more of a traditional style new age arrangement.
Concurrent to the release of 'Pieces Of Daylight', Mantis' music also features on 'The Wishing Well Sessions - Meditations For The Integrated Soul', a collection of guided meditations featuring the voice and crystal singing bowls of Tauranga spiritual teacher and healer Kerry Thomson.
Two tracks from the meditation album can be heard at www.myspace.com/etherealitynz, and can be purchased from Magnolia Minerals and Lagoona. International buyers can purchase the meditation album online by visiting www.cdbaby.com/cd/mantisthomson