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Have you ever heard the theory that you are influenced by your surroundings and habitat? If there was ever clear evidence to support that theory then look no further than the solo piano recording of David Hicken's Goddess. Recorded at David's studio on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, with a 24 bit state of the art technology, the production and compositions are simply breathtaking despite the simplistic quietude.Born in England, David moved Stateside at the tender age of seventeen to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Featured in several symphony orchestras as well as a teaching piano for almost 20 years, David finally decided it was his time and has released a trilogy of albums the first being the gorgeous Goddess. A very light blend of classical touches deeply entrenched in meditative, melodic and mainstream New Age chimes, Hicken's compositions have an instant appeal. Needless to say, comparisons with Kevin Kern and George Skaroulis are unavoidable but he is more than a mere copycat.The album pays tribute to the divine female idols of the unseen world and with it comes an unadorned and exotically naked performance that is beautiful and vulnerable. The gentle power of a woman can be felt throughout his performances from the beginning to the end starting with rich the touch of "Lakshmi" to the gentle fire of "Pele". While it is sometimes difficult to differentiate one song from another, the result is a very cohesive project that is rich in meditative qualities. In contrast there is the more regal sway of "Isis" and "Pele", without distracting from the cohesive pastoral theme of the album.David does it all from performing to composing to production which is crystal clear. Self promoted, the labels truly missed out on this talented up and coming artist. If the divine music of Goddess is any indication of what to expect from his trilogy, then one can only anticipate that Ishtar the Goddess of love and war will be watching the labels kicking themselves not once, not twice, but thrice.

One of the most rewarding aspects of reviewing CDs is that every once in a while, a recording comes along that really whacks me upside the head. David Hicken's "Goddess" is one of those albums. I had listened to samples on Hicken's site, but they did not prepare me for the absolute beauty of the music on this album. It grabbed my attention as soon as I started listening to it, but since the music is rather uncomplicated, I wasn't sure I would like it as much after listening to it a number of times. On the contrary. Rather than becoming trite and tiresome, these gentle little nuggets become more dear to me each time I hear them. In fact, I've been dragging my feet a bit in writing the review because I know that once it is written, I won't have time to listen to "Goddess" again for a while. Happily, David Hicken is releasing part two of this trilogy as I write, so my blissful listening experience can go on. Each of the twelve tracks is named for a mythological goddess from various parts of the world. My only reservation about this album is that the warrior goddess and the goddess of volcanoes and fire are as serene and benevolent as the moon goddesses, but if that's the worst thing I can say about it, you are in for a real treat! Parts of this album remind me a bit of Kevin Kern and Michael Dulin (without any orchestrations - these are all piano solos), but David Hicken's is a unique musical voice. A very accomplished musician in several instruments, I suspect that Hicken, like Kern and Dulin, is so secure in his musicianship that he has no need for a lot of flash or bravado. The music is such an entity unto itself that it has the ring of truth in its simplicity."Lakshmi," Hindu goddess of prosperity begins the CD. The graceful melody gently floats on a peaceful cloud of sound. "Kuan Yin" is the Chinese goddess of compassion, and this piece is all about open-heartedness and kindness. "Sekhmet," the Egyptian warrior goddess picks up the tempo a little but is very non-threatening, charming her adversaries into submission rather than physically beating them - I like that! "Sarasvati," Hindu goddess of the arts, is poignant and bittersweet, alternating between major and minor modes throughout the piece. "Ishtar," Babylonian goddess of the moon and Venus, is cool and aloof, elegant but approachable. "Isis," another a moon goddess, is also a bit distant and elusive, but ever so beautiful. Her gentle serenity is so inviting. "Ostara" is the Teutonic goddess of fertility and springtime, and conveys warmth and hope. "Sedna" is the Inuit Eskimo and Alaskan goddess of the ocean. The left hand plays rolling, broken chords while the right hand dances lightly on the surface, again very tranquil and exquisite. "Diana," Roman moon goddess, flows in coolness and grace. The closing track, "Pele," is warm and wistful, ending this extraordinary musical hour with a smile and a sigh.If you haven't been able to tell, I REALLY like this album, and expect it to be on my "favorites" list for the year. Give your ears as well as your spirit a rare treat and check it out. I wholeheartedly recommend "Goddess"!

Goddess is a wonderful CD to listen to. My Husband and I own the trilogy and really enjoy every piece of music on these CD's. They are very relaxing, we often listen to them in the car as they seem to provide a calming influence while in traffic. Our 2 year old really enjoys the music as well and often dances to it. We've found them to be very easy listening and appropriate for any occasion. They would definitely be an excellent meditating tool and good for doing any type of energy work/healing. They also make excellent dinner music:) Definitely keepers. We'll be looking forward to any future CD's David releases.

David Hickens' Goddess is a class act. They say you can't judge a book by it's cover but the cover of Goddess resonates with the genre of music on the cd ... both are rich in texture, saturating the senses with the essence of yin. If you like piano music, this cd is capable of providing a romantic ambiance, a meditative atmosphere, or just plain good "easy listening". We use the music at the Hawaii Wellness Institute because it warms the heart and soothes the soul.

Indeed, this CD is supremely beautiful and comforting. David Hicken's talent is a gift to us all.