BRADFIELD
WILTSE
Bradfield Wiltse in 2004
"If
I dared to slip between the flares, touching unimpaired,
surely there'd be answers..."
Bradfield
leaves no stone unturned in his quest for unequivocal _expression.
Seemingly each and every fleeting thought finds its way
into his poetic musical landscapes, places where everything
is in reach and all seems possible. His intentions are crystal
clear, constantly striving to create "timecapsules
of catharsis for the human spirit," but there is much
in him that exudes contradiction. He is a classically trained
pianist who despises conformity, a relentless deviant who
espouses uniformity. His approach is one of thoroughness,
precision and sometimes brutal candor. His execution: a
spontaneous yet methodical course that can veer in any direction
to best achieve this end.
From
the age of 4, he studied piano with the Royal Conservatory
of Music (Toronto), during which time he competed and placed
often in the Ottawa Music Festival. Stories recall how even
then, he would be reprimanded for playing his own parts
instead of the written score. At 14, he would finally shake
the grip of formal training and stop playing completely
for almost a year, before slowly coming back to the piano
on his terms. His first original compositions and prose
would soon follow. In the ensuing years, he would teach
himself both arrangement and production, adding yet more
dimension to his creative arsenal, and rounding out his
capacity for his much sought after "complete, unencumbered
expression."
Harmony
in the Chaos (released February '95) gave us the first glimpse
into Bradfield's vision. A poetic odyssey of reminiscences,
aspirations, self-examination and subtle observation, the
music covers the range from funky piano based pop/rock through
progressive ballads and orchestral mood segments. Creatively
realized by Bradfield singlehandedly in his home studio,
every aspect of the presentation bears the stamp of an artist
who has proceeded unhindered and without compromise. RPM
Weekly had this to say: "Bradfield has a unique hold
on visionary properties when it comes to musical _expression...he
displays that rare talent, both musically and lyrically,
of being a non-conformist, and meaning it."
'96
saw him co-write, arrange and produce Canadian female vocalist
Anael's debut Light of Refinement. The album has already
spent 5 months in the US Top 35, and received glowing praise
from the top New Age/World trades and magazines. Omega called
it "the best New Age vocal album of 1997, a remarkable
debut release that leaves us more than a little awed by
the powerful content of each beautiful composition."
NAPRA ReView: "An ethereal, angelic production of spirit-expanding
music...rich, lush orchestration."
His
latest projects include the second Anael recording, Unconditional,
and a special stripped down, intimate piano recording entitled
VIRTUE. A conceptual album designed to musically paraphrase
the various emotions inherent in different human virtues,
it reveals a different side of the artist, and is perhaps
his most personal recording to date.
