Composer Kevin Keller has long been admired for his unique approach to “ambient chamber music”—a fusion of classical instruments, electronic textures, and ethereal vocals. With his 15th album, Arcadia, released on August 22, 2025, Keller takes that vision further than ever before. Acting as the sequel to his 2023 release Evensong, this project dives into themes of the afterlife and the soul’s journey beyond death. Rooted in medieval influences and reimagined through modern production, Arcadia is both timeless and forward-looking—a sonic meditation that feels equally at home in a cathedral or a contemporary listening space.
For Arcadia, Keller partnered with vocalist and songwriter Sofía Campoamor, whose voice is the centerpiece of the record. Campoamor co-wrote three tracks and provided the improvisational spark that brings Keller’s carefully sculpted soundscapes to life. Together, they created music that feels intimate yet otherworldly—at times solemn, at times soaring, always emotionally resonant.
Supporting the project is a stellar ensemble: sopranos Katherine Wessinger, Danya Katok, and Wendy Baker, alongside string players Sarah Zun (violin), Laura Metcalf (cello), and Angela Pickett (viola). All instruments aside from piano were handled by Keller himself, while Grammy- and Oscar-winning engineer Robert L. Smith recorded and mixed the sessions at New York City’s Reservoir Studio.
Much of Arcadia’s DNA can be traced back to Hildegard of Bingen, the medieval composer whose plainchant melodies inspire Keller’s original themes. Like Hildegard, Keller writes in Latin to evoke a sense of timeless spirituality. The album also incorporates Notre Dame organum, a polyphonic style pioneered by Léonin and Pérotin in the 13th century. Yet, these ancient echoes are wrapped in ambient electronics, drones, and subtle digital effects—placing the music squarely in the modern age.
This blending of eras is what makes Arcadia so compelling. It acknowledges history but refuses to stay trapped in it, instead weaving old-world spirituality into a contemporary tapestry of sound.
Two tracks in particular highlight Keller’s mastery of contrast:
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“Arcadia 2: Et nox ultra” (“And there will be no more night”) is perhaps the album’s boldest moment. Combining rhythmic synthesizers, live strings, and layered medieval vocals, it builds a hypnotic momentum as the singers stretch the Latin phrase syllable by syllable across the track’s four minutes. It’s the album’s most dynamic passage, pulling listeners into a sense of urgency before dissolving into silence.
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“Arcadia 7: Et lux perpetua” (“And perpetual light”) showcases Campoamor’s improvisational brilliance. Her voice floats above ambient piano, strings, and subtle electric guitar, creating a sound that feels both sacred and otherworldly. The effect is nothing short of magical—a track that feels like a prayer carried into infinity.
The closing piece, “Veni intus”, acts as a lullaby, offering a gentle invitation to rest “in eternal peace.” After the emotional peaks of earlier tracks, it provides a moment of calm resolution, leaving listeners in quiet reflection.
More than a collection of tracks, Arcadia tells a story of the soul’s passage through the afterlife. From the communal light of the opening to the isolation and darkness of “Et nox ultra,” to the eventual arrival at eternal serenity, Keller paints a narrative arc as vivid as any film score. The journey is spiritual, poetic, and deeply human—even as it grapples with cosmic and metaphysical themes.
With Arcadia, Kevin Keller reaffirms his place as one of the most innovative voices in modern ambient and chamber music. By merging medieval chant traditions with lush modern textures, he creates an album that feels ancient and futuristic at once. Sofía Campoamor’s voice elevates the work into something transcendent, while the ensemble performances and Keller’s production tie it all together into a seamless whole.
Critic Michael Foster perhaps said it best: Arcadia is “an intricate blend of medieval echoes, wordless vocals, and deft modern production… a tapestry of serenity, longing, and subtle revelation.”
For those who seek music that not only soothes but also provokes reflection, Arcadia is more than an album—it’s a spiritual experience.
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