Dale Cornelius is one of the best names I’ve discovered recently and he made me wish the album had more than 6 tracks. “What Is Carried, What Is Left Behind?” took me on a captivating journey and I was happy to spend time with his classical sound and the way he builds each piece.
Across these 6 compositions, Dale works with strings, synthesizers and smaller sounds that add detail without getting in the way. There is real care in the sound design, from the layers sitting behind the melodies to the way the instruments are put together. I found myself listening closely and then simply letting the music carry me along, track by track.
There is a personal story behind the album. Its themes of memory, loss and hope give the music extra meaning, especially on “A Whispered Dawn (Spencer’s Lullaby)”. A piece Cornelius wrote for his son during a frightening time around his premature birth. Knowing it waited decades to be recorded makes hearing it here even more touching. The string writing says so much without needing a single word.
I really love how much passion has gone into this work. The performances, the careful production and all those little details show an artist who takes his craft seriously. I loved listening to this album, and 6 tracks honestly weren’t enough for me. Dale Cornelius is going straight onto my favorite list and I’ll be keeping an ear out for whatever he shares next.
