Comments for Gandalf, Gallery Of Dreams

This album seems to alternate pretty much between symphonic, rhythmic, fanfare-like passages (like some Alan Parsons instrumentals) and moody, gentle acoustic meanderings, featuring his guests on flute, oboe and English horn, along with his piano and Steve Hackett''s acoustic guitars. Some soaring electric guitar is also featured and Tracy Hitching''s contributes some tasteful vocal sounds to "Choir of Elves" and sings the lyrics to the title track. Her voice could easily sound saccharine, but happily in this context it works beautifully (this is the only singing that I''ve heard of hers, although she has apparently sung with Quasar, on Gandalf''s "To Our Children''s Children" and with some other progressive acts). There is a nice New Agey story in the liner notes, but the real influence is obviously Tolkien. Pleasant music not dissimilar to some David Arkenstone and Kitaro, although they all seem to have arrived at these sounds independently. (Ian C. Thomas)

featuring Steve Hackett on guitar