ALIVE - John Puchiele Ensemble
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Some albums are just collections of songs. Others—like John Puchiele Ensemble’s ALIVE—are immersive experiences. This isn’t just music to hear; it’s music that wraps around you, sinks into your bones, and lingers in the quiet spaces of your mind.
At its core, ALIVE is exactly what its title suggests—a testament to existence, a meditation on resilience, shaped by Puchiele’s recent battle with cancer. It’s vulnerable, cinematic, and breathtakingly human, blending orchestral elegance with ambient minimalism in a way that echoes the sonic landscapes of Steve Reich, Robert Fripp, and Vangelis.
The standout tracks, “Alive” and “Are You Awake”, serve as the album’s emotional anchors. Each piece unfolds like a story told through sound—delicate yet powerful, reflective yet full of movement, like the slow unfurling of memories or the gentle pulse of life itself.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
What makes ALIVE even more remarkable is how organic and unfiltered it feels. Recorded at Acme Recording Studios in Toronto and mastered at Modal Mastering, it avoids the sterility of overproduction, instead breathing with raw emotion and a natural sense of space.
If you love neo-classical, ambient, or avant-garde music, this album is a must. But even if those genres aren’t typically on your playlist, ALIVE has a way of defying categorization. It’s the kind of album you put on in the stillness of the night, when the world slows down, and you just want to feel something real.
With over four decades of musical exploration behind him, John Puchiele has crafted something truly profound—an album that is as much about survival and transformation as it is about the sheer beauty of sound. ALIVE isn’t just an album—it’s an experience, a reflection, and a reminder that every breath, every note, and every moment matters.
ALIVE is available now on all major streaming platforms
