Mahrudin is an imagined island that was born many millennia ago when the seabed under the cold northern ocean first trembled, then shook, cracked, and finally tore itself apart. It is a land of myths and legends, set to music by Alan Kennedy, a musician and composer from Durham, UK.

As befits his theme, the tracks on AK’s debut album are epic, cinematic pieces – the kind that would accompany a movie featuring elves and trolls, earthquakes and volcanoes, and battles between the forces of good and evil.

As far as I have been able to ascertain, Mahrudin is the product of one man’s imagination and skill. No mention of collaborators or guest musicians has emerged from my initial explorations. If that is the case, Alan Kennedy’s mastery of modern electronic equipment is most impressive. But his talents don’t end there. He has also produced a 10-page document that serves as the album’s sleeve notes. You can find it here, and it’s a compelling read.

The eruptions subsided long ago, and the lava has cooled now. The convulsions of Mahrudin‘s birth have left its landscape rugged, but beautiful. And I can thoroughly recommend a tour around the island.