TO ANOTHER HORIZON

Warning: This record is dedicated to all politicians in the world! So, come on people, let's enter the fantastic landscapes and travel our belove planet and see its death, see its bright rebirth!

No vocals, no words to be translated and explained this time, only a conceptual long instrumental work thougt to be the dream of any good prog lover who fear not to listen such a wonderful mix between symphonic, folk, space and "new-age" sounds. The austrian artist who named himslef "Gandalf" moved so much my curiosity that I had to find some of his efforts, recorded since the first lights of the eighgties. Yes, it's right, 80s! But don't worry, you'll not be going to listen the usual and unsatisfactory pop music of that time. Gandalf is one of the multi-intrumentists who graced us of so many gems during the years as, for example, Mike Oldfield and Bo Hansson. More similar to the last one for his masterful use of synthesizer, mellotron and organ, well mixed and balanced with electric and acoustic guitars (acoustic mainly), sitar and flute.

While similar to Bo Hansson for his skills anf for the instruments chosen, Gandalf is very different from him, anyway, for how peculiar are his beautiful and dreamy arrangements, moulded by his visionary (apocalyptic but optimistic) genious as it was the soundtrack of the life of any human being or, rather, the whole human kind. Presage of what he would have created in the following recent years when he re- directed toward real new-age music (which is not exactly my cup of tea...).

Death and rebirth of the planet, I've said. So this is the tracking list of his third album: 1. March of No Reason (incl. The Falling Star) (7,17 mns); 2. Natural Forces Getting Out of Control (10,16 mns); 3. Requiem for a Planet (5,14 mns); 4. Flight of the Crystal Ship (4,32 mns); 5. To Another Horizon (including The Divine Message, Change of Consciousness, Creation of a New World) (11,50), 6. Cosmic Balance (4,40), 7. Peace Without End (4,58).

Gandalf was helped in this project by other master musicians playing flute, grand piano, drums and bass and I have to admit the result is excellent for my ears and relaxing for my brain, the music trying (in the second half mainly) to reach such chilling, spacey and peaceful landscapes...

No doubt this album deserves four stars. Thanks to the "Eastern Empire" (Osterreich, Austria) for it gave us the fabulous Gandalf!