WINE DARK SEA

Overlooked British musician from Sheffield.Caudel was a fan of The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix as a little boy, but during his teenage years the passion for Classical Music and Jazz grew into him, while he came also in contact with 70's Classic Prog.Finalizing his studies in Leeds he moved to London, the city which became his ground for producing and recording his own music.His first personal offering was the 1986 instrumental album ''Wine Dark Sea'', already performed at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London and produced by Mike Oldfield's engineer Tom Newman.

It is hard to believe that a single person arranged and played alone these two excellent 20+ minutes symphonic suites contained in the album.On ''Wine Dark Sea Part 1: The Outward Journey'' Caudel shows his love for Classical guitar, mostly creating dreamy and romantic soundscapes full of emotion, reminding of GORDON GILTRAP's solo albums, and incorporating also inspiration by British Folk.The track though contains also some nice electric guitar leads and solos along with keyboard flashes, making this one a balanced composition of acoustic and electric music along the lines of MIKE OLDFIELD.The second composition ''Wine Dark Sea Part 2: The Return Journey'' has some more upbeat tunes, though starting again in a soft acoustic mood, soon to earn a very symphonic sound with light guitars and dominant synths.The same picture will follow, long, ethereal and relaxing soundscapes delivered by Caudel's guitar touch and the upcoming CAMEL-esque electric solo is definitely among the album's highlights.The track will close with Caudel's symphonic synthesizers and once more his Classical guitar crescendo.

A very nice album of imaginative Symphonic/Art Rock , lost somewhere among prog's hardest years.Great stuff if you like the music of MIKE OLDFIELD, STEVE HACKETT, ANTHONY PHILLIPS, MAURIZIO FABRIZIO or GOLDON GILTRAP...3.5 stars.