Search - David Arkenstone :: Myths & Legends (W/CD) (W/Dvd)

A unprecedented musical journey

N. Maddix | Iowa City, IA USA | 08/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of David's past recordings, you know already that you've been chartered across to all points of the globe and back again. If there were a CD that showcased all his musical attributes into one, this would most certainly be it. Just about every sound vacation that he's brought to life over the past twenty years is here and then some.



"Tree of Life" consists of an interesting blend of instruments in an Arabian setting - reminds me much of his one of his past cd's "Caravan of Light".You might think you're on a tropical island at the beginning, until the flutes and drums hit you.



"Legend of Bell Rock" has a very "Celtic Book of Days / Spirit of Ireland" feel to it. It starts off calm and vibrant, and then whisks you away into a celtic jig. Sounds a bit too similar and simple after a while, but definitely not a bad thing.



Back to the Middle East again with "Song of Sheherazade". This one starts off with a vocal solo that eventually makes you feel as though you are wandering an endless desert or Arabian marketplace. Add a little more ambience/trance and you've got a surprisingly catchy beat.



If you've listened to any of "Ah*Nee*Mah's" cd's (David and Diane Arkenstone), then you'll find "Daughter of the Sun" to be charting familiar territory. Authentic Native American chants in a toe-tapping setting with wood flutes and a rather interesting acoustic setting. This one begs to be played with the included ambience cd. What's really surprising about this track is near the end, it breaks out with an electric/rock guitar and multiple sets of instruments. It's quite a dramatic finish indeed and it works!



If you loved "Atlantis" (2004), you might very well enjoy "Oceanus" Although this one is far more `chill-out' than anything that was on that cd, you can't help but think of a tranquil waterscape where you are floating endlessly.



Fans of David's (2001) "Sketches From an American Journey" should enjoy the next track "Across the River" as it charts the main elements of that cd quite well. It's another style from David we've come to know and love.



"The Wolf's Head", starts of like something out of the Medieval Ages then accelerates into a very bouncy tune. If you enjoyed "Quest of the Dream Warrior / Celtic Book of Days", you'll get a nice wake up call here with this track. If you've suddenly got the urge to mount your stallion and take part in some dramatic quest after listening to this track, I won't shun you any =) Enjoy the dramatic finish as always.



"Temple of Isis" isn't yet just another Arabian tune, although one could see it that way immediately, but it goes back even further towards the time of the great Egyptians. Nothing too unpredictable here if you've listened to similar tracks like this before, but still another wonderful track as always.



Finishing of a cd after eight great tracks is never an easy task, you've got to put the finishing touches on the "journey" and leave the listener with a lasting impression. I actually can't recall too many moments in the past where David has had a track that resembled anything of Spanish nature. The Spanish guitar really highlights the track and then leads us into a heralding beat. Before you know it, "that sound" hits you like a ton of bricks and then marching drums! This track had a big role to fill and it does its job nicely.



As for the acoustic cd, I was able to listen to it on my computer alongside the regular cd (I'm sure you'll get a more rewarding system if you actually hook it up to two separate computers/sound systems and two sets of separate speakers as suggested), but I was able to pick up on some of the sound differences with my setup. It's a very interesting concept indeed and nothing that I've seen done before.



But you know, out of the entire package, I really, really, enjoy the DVD. Thanks to the power of computer animation, you will be able to experience, for the first time, a visionary journey in addition to the sounding of the tracks. I cannot emphasis how wonderful of an addition this is. It's like "watching" the music come to life, as corny as that may sound. With DVD-Audio sound, you'll be able to pick up the difference from standard CD-Audio, especially if you have a better sound system for your DVD Player. There are also interviews with David Arkenstone and director Johnny Wilson as stated in the item description. It's pretty fulfilling to be able to listen for a few minutes from one of the greatest American new age composers his personal thoughts of his own cd.



The final recommendation is this: Just get it! If you're a fan of David Arkenstone already, then you should have already made up your mind just by knowing who the composer of this cd was! When you know of his capabilities, then you know you can rarely ever be truly disappointed. For those who have never heard David's work, but love new age/world music, consider this to be a great introduction to the marveled musician. You'll get but a small taste of his creative spirit and then if you want even more of a particular "sub-genre", you can further divulge in the appropriate cd for that sub-genre. Considering the price tag often coincides with the price of regular cds, you're getting an unprecedented value here with the sweet extras.



David Arkenstone. Twenty years later, and he shows no signs of stopping his addictive musical infection, and I'm a listener who is not ashamed to admit that I'm glad I caught the strand of musical delight.

"

Fantastic album and DVD!

Steven Vlasak | Los Angeles | 09/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the best Arkenstone albums ever, and the short films and music videos on the DVD present the stories and fantastic images his music has been conjuring for two decades now, each very elaborately and professionally done. Each song is better that the last, and the triumphant closer "El Dorado" will transport you."