2008 has been a miserable year for the music business as a whole, but a great year for a niche genre like new age. The internet has made it easy to release music without the backing of a label, and in 2008 we have seen some truly amazing new artists. Many small indie labels are also doing well. It is possible that the internet-based music economy will revive a genre like new age.

Still, the major label artists have a great impact, and they too have contributed with incredible albums. 2008 has been a year where both the established artists and the newcomers tried entirely news sounds and beats, expanding the genre and giving it more prestige. Mike Oldfield recorded with the world-renowned pianist Lang Lang and a complete symphony orchestra, while Enigma surprised their millions of fans with unusual hip hop beats. And Jillian Goldin came out of nothing and showed us what new age is really all about.

Below is NewAgeMusic.nu’s top 10 list of 2008. As always it is hard to make lists. Some great albums may have been forgotten, but to my defense I can say that all albums mentioned here are incredible. If you are looking for a fresh new age album, you can’t go wrong with any of them. It is simply great music.

1. Jillian Goldin: Origins

At the very top of this year’s best of list is debut artist Jillian Goldin, who in April released Origins. Her incredible voice, the quality production and her love and understanding for the genre made this into an unforgettable album. On top of this are the album’s beautiful, emotional melodies. If you don’t believe me, you should sample the tracks Hajime or The Winds of Change. They are fantastic beyond words. And, like any serious new age artist, Goldin is also productive. In November she released a beautiful Christmas EP entitled Through Sand and Snow. I am certain that she in the future will give us a lot of great music. A big applause for Jillian!

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

2. Deep Project: Deep Brasil

Deep Forest is one of this genre’s most popular and influential artists. Their last album was Music.Detected_ from 2002, and they will probably not release anything for a long time. But one of the group’s members, Eric Mouquet, launched this year Deep Projects, which will release four Deep Forest styled albums. Deep Brasil is the first one (the others are Africa, China and Sky). And wow, what an incredible album! All Deep Forest fans will feel right at home. This is like an updated version of Sweet Lullaby, with many new elements as well. Flavio Dell Isola and Michel Villain’s vocals give the album a world music feel. And this is only the beginning: we have three more albums to look forward to!

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

3. Mike Oldfield: Music of the Spheres

First I must say that Music of the Spheres is in many respects in a class of its own. With pianist Lang Lang, soprano Hayley Westenra and the complete Euskadiko Orkestra Sinfonikoa, the scene at Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was set for the performance of Music of the Spheres, the first classical album by Mike Oldfield. It is a beautiful and powerful piece of music, and a sign that Mike still has it. The reason Music of the Spheres is not on the top of this list, is that Mike has created several better albums before, like Tubular Bells, Ommadawn and Amarok. Still, it is an impressive effort. I hope that Mike will do more classical music in the future.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

4. Enigma: Seven Lives Many Faces

Enigma’s seventh album entitled Seven Lives Many Faces was, as mentioned above, a big surprise to their fans. Hip hops beats have not usually been a part of a new age music soundscape. But perhaps this will change now with hit singles like La Puerta Del Cielo and Seven Lives? Michael Cretu is always looking for new samples, loops and sounds. This time he succeeded in creating something entirely new, and breathed new life into the Enigma project as well. The album also has a great EP with songs that didn’t make the cut.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

5. Medwyn Goodall: Amun Ra

Amun Ra is Medwyn Goodall’s first Egypt album. It has a fresh, warm sound and an epic theme. Goodall’s use of exotic instruments are both interesting and creative. When listening to the album you feel like you are in front of a pyramid, and the desert is all around you. There are not many Egypt themed new age albums on the market (one by Diane Arkenstone and one by Phil Thornton & Hossam Ramzy). Hopefully there will be more Egypt albums soon, and Goodall has with Amun Ra shown the way through the desert. A brilliant album!

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

6. Marc Enfroy: Unbounded

Unbounded is a Cinematic Piano album by debut artist Marc Enfroy. It is a collection of gentle piano melodies with orchestral arrangements, and all of the album’s 12 songs are rich with feelings and emotions. It is a very promising debut. Powerful and beautiful at the same time.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

7. David Arkenstone: Echoes of Light and Shadow

Echoes of Light and Shadow is one of David Arkenstone’s most personal albums. From the black/white photograph of the artist on the cover to the gentle melodies, is has a personal touch that is rare in this genre. Several songs on this album will in time perhaps be considered classics, like the positive Lightdance and the emotional Secret on the moors. Arkenstone also released an interesting Christmas album this year with a fresh lounge sound.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

8. Al Conti: Scheherazade

Scheherazade has taken the new age music scene with storm. Al Conti’s third album has been on top of the internet radio play lists for several months now, and the success will probably continue because it is an incredible, epic album. The story of Scheherazade comes from the One Thousand And One Arabian Nights. It is an unforgettable voyage in time and space.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

9. Kindred: Kevin Wood

Kindred is a relaxing, uplifting and somewhat different album. It is Kevin Wood’s third release. Kindred has an interesting ethnic approach, but the sound is much like Wood’s previous albums. He uses rich synth pads, a beat box like drum and additional layers of piano, strings and vocals. This is music with a message: we all have a lot in common, regardless of race, ethnicity and religion. Yes, we are all kindred. Yet another beautiful album from Kevin Wood! Perfection at every level.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

10. Kevin Kendle: Light From The Pleiades

Kevin Kendle’s Light From The Pleiades is the third installment it the popular Deep Skies series. This is ambient electronica at its very best. There is this incredible feeling of distance and weightlessness in Kendle’s space music. My favorite track is the last one, Celaeno, which has a beautiful ambient melody. The sound of retro synths and powerful pads make Light From The Pleiades to one of the finest albums in the space music genre ever.

Go to the artist’s homepage for music samples.

And now 2009 is here! I am sure some truly great music will be released this year too. Stay tuned!

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