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! :)

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.