The Road to Zanzibar - David Arkenstone, Arkenstone, Diane
Jewels of the Night
Dance in the Desert
The Spice Road
Rendezvous
Under the Gypsy Moon
Through the Marketplace
Caravan of Light
David Arkenstone's musical legacy is more than legendary; as a pioneer in the field of New Age music from its early days, Arkenstone's greatest challenges have always lain within his own path. On Caravan of Light, his late... more »st release from Narada Records, Arkenstone explores the rich musical landscapes of the Spice Road, complete with windswept dramas, dynamic, powerful orchestrations, and a heavy dose of smooth jazz. From the moment Caravan of Light opens with the soft cascade of "Rendezvous" to the highly charged "Skies of Africa," Arkenstone uses sound and musical instruments as a master painter uses color and canvas, weaving patterns and textures from Middle Eastern sources into a cinematic dreamscape. Moving from the subtle stillness in "Jewels of the Night" to the celebratory choral on "Road to Zanzibar," Caravan of Light is a journey of a new musical breakthrough, a vision emerging into awakening, far-reaching and adventurous. --Leslie R. Marini« less
David Arkenstone's musical legacy is more than legendary; as a pioneer in the field of New Age music from its early days, Arkenstone's greatest challenges have always lain within his own path. On Caravan of Light, his latest release from Narada Records, Arkenstone explores the rich musical landscapes of the Spice Road, complete with windswept dramas, dynamic, powerful orchestrations, and a heavy dose of smooth jazz. From the moment Caravan of Light opens with the soft cascade of "Rendezvous" to the highly charged "Skies of Africa," Arkenstone uses sound and musical instruments as a master painter uses color and canvas, weaving patterns and textures from Middle Eastern sources into a cinematic dreamscape. Moving from the subtle stillness in "Jewels of the Night" to the celebratory choral on "Road to Zanzibar," Caravan of Light is a journey of a new musical breakthrough, a vision emerging into awakening, far-reaching and adventurous. --Leslie R. Marini
Guardian of the Zen Sea | Looking after the sun and surf | 10/31/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think this CD tries to do too much. Each piece seems to reflect a different type of musical influence, and the entirety is a bit uneasy. Mr Arkenstone is an excellent musician, but the fragmented styles of the pieces makes it difficult to listen to the entire CD at once. I've used individual tracks as part of radio programs in Alaska, and with other "thematic" type music, Arkenstone's work shows off the talents of the composer. I would recommend this CD as one to be played on a five-disc turntable set to "random". This would allow each track to be appreciated on its own, and would enhance the value of the entire work."
A wonderful blend of styles
CVDavid | Castro Valley (SF Bay Area), Ca. USA | 04/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first listened to this CD to put myself to sleep at night, as I found the orchestration relaxing, although dramatic. Although it worked well enough to put me asleep by track 3 (okay, I was pretty tired!), I wanted to hear the whole thing, having appreciated the track "skies of africa". The mix of instrumental and vocal tracks, like many jazz albums today, is becoming a good choice. "The Road to Zanzibar" shows his R&B-jazz fusion writing-efforts. Listen to "Under the Gypsy Skies" if you want a really killer love song, with both awesome instrumentation and melody. With its Spanish guitar sounds and strings, I was hooked by the first listen to this one, and Carlos Murguia does a nice vocal. There isn't one piece/song on here I don't like, although it took a few quite a few listens to absorb them all somewhat in my memory. David is a very gifted musician; He mixes acoustic and electric sounds very well. Whether you're on a long car-drive of boredom or nice scenery, or just home on the computer, typing info or browing the web, put "Caravan" in, and enjoy!"
Close your eyes, and imagine yourself on a Caravan...
Nancy | Minnesota, USA | 05/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Each song makes your spirit come alive, like a gypsy caravan...beconing your soul to dance. David Arkenstone's one of my favorite artists. Each of his CD's transports your spirit to another place and time. "Inshallah" and "Under The Gypsy Moon" are two that bring out the "Gypsy" in my soul!"
Hit and Miss
B. McLachlin | Pennsylvania | 03/27/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"My first Arkenstone was "Valley in the Clouds", which, although somewhat dated and monochromatic, is still good. I loved "In the Wake of the Wind", and was intrigued to further expand my Arkenstone collection by "Visionary" (wonderful!), from which I picked "Caravan of Light" based on it's representation there.
While I'm tempted to join the reviewer who said: "Oops, should've listened before buying", I will not. It seems reviewers either laud or pan "Caravan...", and there's nobody in the middle. Sometimes that's a sign of something very good, but very experimental.
Not this time. While "Caravan..." contains some of Arkenstone's best stuff yet, the "Visionary" included tracks "Inshallah", "Dance in the Desert", and "Rendevous" come to mind, it also contains some very forgetable material. More forgetable than in his other efforts. Most of the vocals, for example, are completely forgetable, although "Under the Gypsy Moon" is okay.
It is also very disjointed, jumping from China to Africa without much of a thematic unity or story. The track "The Jade Mountain", while in and of itself a decent piece or work, seems to belong on a different album. It is out of place here. The chorus at the end of the track "Caravan of Light" is very trite and almost juvenile sounding, ruins an otherwise decent track, and almost ruins the entire effort.
But, I still give this three stars. If you can get it used buy it, and go ahead and enjoy the tracks I have mentioned above as some of his best, along with other decent work in "Jewels of the Night", "The Spice Road", and "Through the Marketplace".
Just don't expect "In the Wake of the Wind", or Hans Zimmer's "Millenium", or Lanz and Speer's "Bridge of Dreams" here. "Caravan of Light" promises much more (especially on the promotional "Visionary") than it delivers."
Amazed by the diversity of opinions
Sharon Spicka | 02/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Caravan of Light" was my first David Arkenstone album. I have since bought another and intend to look for more. I have nothing to judge this album by because it was my first, but I personally love it. The total differences of opinions on this album just show the diversity in taste. Call me stupid, but the broad spectrum of music was what appealed to me."