The compositional reach over Voyages is wide, from complex orchestra to simple, effective piano writing. Unfolding over nearly three hours, Voyages is a wide-ranging experience, and certainly one worthy of investigation.

Music that is attractive, full of wit and humour, and always atmospheric… beautiful Impressionist works, imaginative and accessible music.

[Phantasion] is performed in the most miraculous fashion… Blandine Waldmann is superb in her keyboard color, unafraid to opt for harsher sonorities when appropriate. Of particular interest is the playfulness of The Wizard. Delightful. Rêverie – Jeux de pluie for string quartet is given a positively radiant performance by the Cellini Quartet. This is a fascinating canvas, full of color. Östlund clearly has much to say, and he says it in a consistently interesting manner. Fully worthy of investigation.

We’ve previously praised the ethereal music of Östlund and this new one is different but equally good and proves that Östlund can handle a larger orchestra, but he always manages to keep the sound intimate and approachable.

Jonathan Östlund is one of those contemporary composers who writes music with natural poetic melodies and highly sophisticated harmonies, blending tradition with contemporary expression. The music flows with extremely flexible interpretation, with both dramatic climaxes and romantically soft sections, with variations in color, texture, emotion and narrative expression. Full of passion, emotion, fatality

We always like Östlund’s work but this one is really good, ranging from other-worldly ethereal sounds to more traditional chamber orchestral sections and lovely instrumentals. It’s almost true to say no two tracks are the same. Music is often used to take the listener to a different place, and Östlund does this better than most.

Östlund writes in a tonal manner and his evocative compositions have no reservations; creating soundworlds of fantasy, Östlund seems to have no end to his reservoir of inspiration.

Although we recognise Impressionism and Romanticism Östlund’s expression is strong at all times and completely his own.

Östlund’s 2019 double CD Voyages and 2020’s Mistral elevate him to the status of the 21st century’s Debussy.

Östlund’s 2019 double CD Voyages and 2020’s Mistral elevate him to the status of the 21st century’s Debussy.

Östlund’s style is romantic and impressionist, but with a unique voice that keeps it interesting. This is essentially a concept album… The music moves from one aesthetic environment to the next—from fresh spring waters and moonlit nights to twilit autumn trees and stark winter winds.”

Evoking the magic of night in all its guises from the dark to the whimsical this lyrical new music has an individual sound and is in turn picturesque and witty. Timeless and sophisticated music.