VISIONS

Few days ago I've chanced to buy 5 second-hand albums of that band (project?) by 3 $ !!! To my luck, they were in a good state. The first I listened was that one - VISIONS.

Since the very first notes I've clearly understood what will I have here - instrumental and meditational New Age with some World-Music/Sympho Prog/Space Rock/Indo-rock (due to sitar and tribalesque patterns)/you-name-them influences. Flawless as a background, GANDALF's music is not much worthy as a Prog itself (sorry for saying that). Being a proto-ENIGMA stuff (kinda), "Visions" lacks focus. Maybe it's stupid to say that about backgroundish New Age, but since it's here...OK, I'll try not to be THAT rude - melodies are good, the atmosphere is hypnotizing and this album (and the whole GANDALF's collection I got) is my mommy's favouritest now. That's why 3 stars - you have them Heinz! Thank to my mommy! :)

I think Gandalf had lots of focus on this release. Its a concept album and its much more of the east meets west style of music the Germans were making in the 1970s like Popul Vuh for instance but much more melodic and with the addition of synths and early drum machines. What I enjoyed most about Visions is that the synth playing is not only melodic but extremely tastefull i.e. he's playing solos but not for 5 minutes straight like ELP. The real live tabla playing reminds me of Deuter only much more interesting and minus the recorders! I also enjoyed Gandalfs lively crafted guitar solos. BTW he does use the vocoder and electronic keyboard with a mike to sing some melodies and its real well executed. I must admit the cd does have a more mellow edge but it is NOT IMHO a new age cd nor is it really prog rock but rather the music draws from those genres maturely and tastefully. Analog synth afficionados will love the use of Moogs(I think hes using them), string synths and a tad of mellotron. The recording quality is also very good and not muddied up like many albums from this era.

This album is a good example of how wide is the progressive musical style and how many ways are to express it. Some of the reviewers here asking why this artist even added to PA? May they haven't heard this particular album then. At least Visions IS the album why Gandlaf should be listed here. The multi instrumentalist Austrian played in progrock bands in the 70's and tough his later solo works under the name Gandalf are certainly fall more into the New Age category his early 80's works have certain progressive elements. They are all concept albums, where Gandlaf uses various instruments and proves his extremly high musical talent. He has even a unique style especially the way of guitar playing. Along with Magical Theatre this album is definitely the best work from Gandalf considering both the composition and the way it played. Its a rare example of a progressive new age album like 70's Mike Oldfiled albums such as Ommadawn or Incantations but the music here a lot more catchy, mellow and emotional. Newcomers who want to explore this artist should start surely with this album to catch Gandalf at his best but almost all 80's releases plus Stones Of Wisdom, Gallery Of Dreams (with Steve Hackett on guitars) and Barakaya from the 90's are good point to start. Its really a 5 star album for me but with respect to others I give it 4 as it certainly an excellent addition to any prog music collection. Simply recommended to everyone - beeing a progger or not - you won't be disappointed.

The Magician's Theme

Visions is a very enjoyable early album from Gandalf blending a variety of modern and ancient sounds and styles. Among more usual Rock instruments such as guitars (electric and acoustic) and keyboards (analog and digital) we find for example some very appealing traditional Indian instruments like sitar and tabla which add a very interesting touch to this dreamy and atmospheric, yet melodic, music.

Like most of Gandalf's works Visions is entirely instrumental. It is also a conceptual album (though it is not so easy to determine precisely what the concept is about; but this is as it should be, with a focus on the music). It actually reminds me somewhat of Camel's The Snow Goose (mostly the calmer and more reflective moments of that album), but Gandalf relies more on Folk and traditional music than Classical/Symphonic influences and there are no drums here (though assorted percussions).

My introduction to Gandalf's music was much later albums like Gallery Of Dreams (featuring Steve Hackett) and To Our Children's Children (featuring Tracy Hitchings), and it is only recently that I am discovering his earlier albums. So far in my investigations of this interesting multi-instrumentalist from Austria, Visions is by far the best studio album I've heard from him and it is very good indeed.

Visions is an excellent place to start your journey into Gandalf's vast discography

The fruitful collaboration between Gandalf and the WEA label during the first half of the 80's continues with the Austrian's second album ''Visions'' in 1981.Gandalf plays almost all kind of string instruments and keyboards plus percussion, yet he receives for the first time some outside help, it came from Jatinder Thakur on tablas and Sinus' leader Robert Julian Horky on flute.The album was recorded at the Beginning Soundstudio.

''Visions'' is a beautiful mix of Tolkien-inspired fairytales and MIKE OLDFIELD-like instrumental Art Rock, drawing influences from a variety of musical sources, but always ending up in ethereal and atmospheric soundscapes with a proto-New Age touch.Eight mid-length instrumentals connected with seven short musical themes was the album's structure proposed by Gandalf.As these themes are basically working as short bridges between the longer tracks with folky, Electronic and Classical echoes, the bulk of the album's interest falls on the extended instrumental cuts.These are characterised by plenty of acoustic strings and lots of symphonic and orchestral keyboards, but manage to draw different colors every time.With the use of mandolin, percussion and sitar Gandalf introduces Mediterrenean and Eastern landscapes into the mix, which had always a strong Ethnic vibe.Other tracks are more symphonic, based on dominant layered synths or organ-washed intros with a bit of Classical influence in the background.And there is still this cosmic, TANGERINE DREAM-like numbers with the electronic samplers and the questionable sound of drum machines, which offer the more atmospheric moments of the release.The electric guitars are used sporadically, but even so the overall mood remains gentle and relaxing, always performed with a nice, instrumental depth.

The Austrian answer to MIKE OLDFIELD's attempts.Cinematic, dreamy and mellow instrumental music with strong doses of Ethnic orientations.Cool and recommended stuff, despite the absence of obvious dynamics.