The Times and Star - October 2008 Musician Jamie notches up his sixth album Mr Sims, 42, of Stanger, has recorded his own music using a synthesiser for more than 10 years, and he wrote and performed the music that was used in the 2007 ITV series Wainwright Country with Fred Talbot and Eric Robson. He said: “My parents who were music teachers encouraged me to play the piano and theatre organ from the age of five so I wanted to bring my knowledge of the piano into this latest album, Timescape. “Timescape is actually the first album that I recorded using a 'Groatian Steinweg' piano which really gave the tracks a deeper quality.” He said his music was ‘new age’ and added that he was influenced by Mike Oldfield. But Jamie, the Manager at Fat Face in Keswick, added: “Alfred Wainwright, the author, is also a huge influence on my work. “I think I’ve always been in awe of his relentless pursuit for perfection, which has really rubbed off on me as an artist.” “This album is different from the others and I see it as a coming of age. I am apprehensive because I’ve experimented with a lot of different styles and have added the element of the Steinweg piano,” he said. Jamie also supplies the music to the CDs of Local Pilates teacher Cindy Zudys, as well as and coffee shops in the area. [ The Times and Star ] The Cockermouth Post - October 2008 WHEN THE MOUNTAINS, TIME AND MUSIC COLLIDE. “Timescape’ is the latest album from local composer and musician, Jamie Sims. The Stanger based composer, who’s musical credits include the seven part series ‘Wainwright Country’ on ITV Granada with local celebrity and broadcaster, Eric Robson, has released his sixth album in the styles of his musical heroes. Imagine the musical styles of Mike Oldfield, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and Einaudi all mixed together, along with his own style, and that is how diverse this mesmerising album sounds. The album starts in a rainstorm with a selection of instruments on a series of loop style patterns, building the melody. Fans of Tubular Bells and Tangerine Dream will love the first few tracks. It then continues in his more traditional style of music until the last two tracks, which build toward its enormous and symphonic climax, leaving you with rain, ticking and contemplation at the very end. Inspired by the landscape of the surrounding mountains, and his fascination with time, Jamie has created an album of haunting melodies and catchy rhythms that will keep you humming long after the album has finished. [ The Cockermouth Post ] The Keswick Reminder - November 2004 If we read the papers and watch the News we cant be blamed for drawing the conclusion that our world is a cruel, dangerous and ugly place in which to live. However, one of the ways we can escape the stresses of modern life is by indulging ourselves and listening to good music. Jamie Sims is a cumbrian composer of some talent and this lovely CD album of his piano mood music composed and played by himself is bound to restore our faith in a creativity which raises man above the human baseness which occupies and sells the media. Jamie is inspired by the beauty of the Lake District and by powerful emotions which bond a family together. This CD will make a lovely Christmas present for anyone who just wants to sit back and relax. I really enjoyed it. [ Joyce Wilson - The Keswick Reminder ] Lake District Landscapes - October 2007 Cumara Music Hauntingly beautiful, inspired music from highly regarded Lake District composer Jamie Sims. Epitomises the spirit of the lakes and will enhance any music lovers collecton. A must have, for sure. [ John Allison - Lake District Landscapes ] Yoga-ez.com - September 2004 Journey to the Self Music took Jamie Sims onto the Starship Enterprise as a young boy! Now his music takes others into landscapes of forgotten memories, dreams, aspirations and a place of great serenity. Jamie Sims, whose musical career was encouraged by parents both heavily into music, achieved his present position as one of the foremost exponents of music for visualization and relaxation, from a failed relationship with a B flat cornet and a love of the Hammond organ! The fact that whilst he sat behind early electronic keyboards, imagining between the notes that he was captain of these musical starships, only encouraged his fertile imagination to seek openings in what was to become his future career in creating music visualization. His father who taught music on electronic organs, gave Jamie in those formative years, the benefit of growing up around a full blown home studio - thus sowing the seeds of future interest. It was, however, the influences of Meatloaf and the extraordinary effect that the music and production values of Jean Michel Jarre had on him that triggered many subliminal influences and began the illumination of potential within the world of synths. Early attempts at composing music visualization of a potential life of music creation and some rather elementary technology, led Jamie onto the road to his present accomplishments. It was not until some years later, after being introduced to MIDI technology and keyboards creating orchestral opportunities, that he began to lay down his musical marker in earnest. Today, his first major album, Beyond Reach, takes all the memories and experiences of his youth and melds them into a journey of music visualization and relaxation that transports the listener, opening a portal to inner contemplation and serenity. " Imagine a whole collection of original and magical music that has one purpose - to help you melt into another world." In this highly acclaimed and original album we are offered the opportunity to reach beyond the confines of our external world using music visualization and imagination to build an environment of peace. Through sound images, it allows us to reconnect the joy and expansion of the inner child. As Jamie says, in his own words: " All that I hope and dream for is that this music will not be wasted on idle ambience, but used instead to help settle when times are tough, to bring calm when things are hectic and to create joy when it is searched for." The evocative and healing effects that music visualization brings to us can be huge. The imagination is our most fertile and creative instrument. When positively stimulated it resources a seemingly endless stream of ideas, formulations and resolutions that are difficult, if not impossible to tap into, when operating from our ' outer' frenetic space. Jamie Sims's music gives us the key. We do the rest! Enter and enjoy [ Yoga-ez ]