TALES FROM SHEEPFATHER'S GROVE

Sometimes I have problems with new music, when it just feels new, not new with the meaning innovate, but new as an opposite to the music I like. This music does not have that problem, not at all friends. Johannes Luley has done a (partially) lovely album with soft glittering landscapes with echoes from Mike Oldfield and some Steve Howe. Johannes Luley is an American guitarist who earlier has played in the symphonic band Mott Vellum and now has released his first studio record 2013. "Tales from Sheepfather's grove" has a wonderful cover picture which plays in the same high as Yes' covers, with the difference that this is darker. The title give me thoughts of "Tales from topographic oceans" but apart from the title and the cover there's no more similarities. The albums features Johannes Luley himself playing all instruments but harp which Stephanie Bennett plays. The singers are Robin Hathaway, Kristina Sattler and Sianna Lyons.

This is actually a record really worth acknowledging. Don't mind the first bland track(4/10) but listen to the second. Here in "Stab the Sea(II)" perhaps you wonder if it's Mike Oldfield. It has a cozy feeling anyway(7/10). Luley's role as a master guitarist is certain in "Guardians of Time" where he plays fantastic and the vocal duet is lovely(8/10). "Moments" doesn't even make anyone disappointed when the voice is bright(7/10). Then it becomes very much New Age, a nice soundscape but not interesting in "Give and Take(I)"(6/10) and "Give and Take(II)"(6/10). "The fleeting world"(9/10) is my favourite here. The track is instrumental and shows wonderful acoustic guitar. "We are one" would I hardly consider interesting(5/10) and "Atheos Spiritualis" fails with the second half which becomes very ambient; the first half is Asian and classical(5/10). Closer "Voya" has a nice end with good instrumentation and here I can hear Howe-inspirerd guitar(6/10.

I am mostly positive to this record. It contains a nice musical landscape with a lot of great acoustic guitar and the vocalists do a praiseworthy job. I wonder though still if this music is unique enough. Sometimes I feel it's a pale copy of Mike Oldfield. But don't mind, the music is still very nice and I recommend at least some of the tracks. Listen to those I marked seven or more. Good work!