Serenity is the 11th new age album by Stephen Peppos, and I'm very happy to say that I've reviewed them all, beginning with his 2008 debut, Vertigo. The albums combine into an eclectic collection with each one different from the others. Quoting Stephen's promotional materials for Serenity: "Each song is a sonic journey, blending ethereal melodies with soft, soothing, soulful textures that create the perfect backdrop for relaxation, meditation, or simply unwinding from the chaos of the day." I think I gave the album its ultimate test in that regard because I played it continuously while doing my and my mom's taxes yesterday and found the music to be soothing in the background while working and yet consistently interesting when I came up for air and listened with full focus. All eleven tracks on the album were composed, performed and engineered by Stephen Peppos, and one features Tommy Loyola on soprano sax.

In addition to his albums, Stephen has produced thousands of tracks for his original music libraries, composed music for television programs and commercials, and worked as a sound designer for a wide variety of projects.

Serenity begins with "Where Soft Clouds Drift," the perfect soundtrack for watching puffy white clouds as they slowly move and reshape themselves on a bright blue sky. Piano (keyboard), synth strings and other sounds create a quiet mood. "Blissful Moments" casts an easy yet magical spell, soothing the spirit with warmth and optimism. Piano and orchestration join to create the sounds of a "Velvet Night," flowing effortlessly like a pleasant dream. A gently percussive rhythm along with piano, strings some ambient effects take us to a shimmering "Heaven's Gate." Tommy Loyola and his soprano sax join Stephen's keyboards and drums for "On the Emerald Shore," which is more jazz-oriented, and yet it doesn't disrupt the quiet, calming mood at all - a favorite! "Ethereal Ripples" makes me think of the incredible beauty of beams of sunlight dancing freely on a body of water. The sound of tiny bells enhances this vision. Piano, keyboards, strings and other instrumentation and effects paint an amazing picture as they soothe the spirit. "Where Dreams Are" is very ambient and, well, dreamy! Strings and keyboard sounds float effortlessly on a peaceful cloud. "Gentle Sway" moves as if a spring breeze was greeting and refreshing new leaves and blossoms. "Silken Glow" is more orchestrated with a strong beat and a variety of sounds that include strings, flutes, percussion and running water (like a stream or ocean waves). Ahhhhhh! The title track features piano and cello - a little slice of musical heaven and my favorite track on the album. "Whisper of Stillness" brings the album to a serene close, leaving you refreshed and uplifted. Thank you, Stephen Peppos!

Serenity is a musical breath of fresh air and arrived at the perfect time! It is available to stream or download from Amazon and Apple Music/ iTunes, and is on many streaming platforms including Spotify and Pandora. Very highly recommended!