Alex Wellkers - 'Reach The Stars'

There’s a rare kind of record that feels like a carefully constructed world, and Alex Wellkers’ 'Reach The Stars' is one of them. Across thirteen tracks, the Zürich-based artist turns chamber instruments, folk-rooted melodies, and widescreen arrangements into something that feels simultaneously intimate and cinematic.

The album begins with 'We Knew It All', its harp introduction unfolding like the slow lift of a theatre curtain. Layers of cello, piano, and acoustic guitar enter, creating a sense of both memory and momentum, a bittersweet overture for what follows.

Moments of self-reflection appear throughout, but each is framed with a distinct palette. 'What Are You Searching For' strips back to something stark, its violin lines underscoring the vulnerability at the heart of the lyrics. Elsewhere, 'Mystic Saint' channels a different energy altogether, a song that feels like both prayer and incantation, glowing with reverence as it rises into a slow-burning climax.

Even in its more expansive stretches, the record never loses its human pulse. Tracks like 'Desert Island' and 'She Will Say' weave folk-rock elements into the orchestral textures, showing Wellkers’ ability to merge storytelling with arrangement in a way that never feels forced. By the time 'Au Revoir' closes the album, we are left with the sensation of a curtain gently falling; the journey complete, the stage empty but still humming with memory.

What sets 'Reach The Stars' apart is its balance. It is lush without being indulgent, and ambitious without losing sight of emotion. Alex Wellkers invites us into a musical landscape that feels handcrafted yet vast, like a constellation drawn carefully by hand. For those who gravitate toward albums that ask to be absorbed rather than skimmed, 'Reach The Stars' offers a space to dwell, a universe where personal reflection meets orchestral scope.