If you are not in the know, the brand new album from Todd Mosby, Aerial Views has to do with a view from above, seeing the big picture while encompassing a sense freedom.

It has to do with the aether in which we live and the worlds which it envelops. Indeed, early childhood experiences flying his fathers plane developed sovereignty and independence for Mosby and all that and so much more shines through here on this quite soothing vibrant album.

1. 'Gliding'
2. 'Across America'
3. 'Aether'
4. 'Earth & Sky'
5. 'Into Starlight'
6. 'Sylphs'
7. 'Between the Clouds'
8. 'Blue Horizons'
9. 'To the Sky'
10. 'Ariel Views'
11. 'Solo Flight'
12. 'Shining Lights'

Aerial Views is the third in a series of concept albums which highlight the natural elements (this set of recordings embraces air) and it opens with the free flowing majesty of 'Gliding' and backs that up seamlessly with the more deliberately paced 'Across America,' and then the sumptuous ballad 'Aether.'

Next up is the Eastern-imbued 'Earth & Sky,' and then we get the stoic, yet cultivated 'Into Starlight,' the beautiful ballad 'Sylphs,' the ornate 'Between the Clouds,' the lush one-two rhythmic hipsway of 'Blue Horizon,' and then the gorgeous guitar orchestrations of 'To the Sky.'

One of my own personal favorites is up next in the form of the twinkling title track, 'Ariel Views,' and then the album rounds out with another Eastern-imbued ambiance, this time to 'Solo Flight,' closing on the upbeat, and foot-snappin' 'Shining Lights' (with vocals from Lola Kristine).

Musicians: Todd Mosby: acoustic & electric guitars, Imrat guitars; Charlie Bisharat: violin; Tony Levin: bass; Jerry Marotta: drums; Michael Manring: bass; Jeff Haynes: percussion; Premik R Tubbs: sax, lap steel, wind synth; Lola Kristine: rhodes, piano, vocals; Tom Eaton: rhodes, piano, synth pads; Sean Harkness: bass; and Kristin Hoffmann: backing vocals.

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