Eolian Minstrel

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
After a two-year break from recording, Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider returned with Eolian Minstrel, which marks a radical reworking of his music. The most obvious departure is the composer's collaboration with lyricists/vocalists Eliza Gilkyson (on most tracks) and Carly Simon (on one). In keeping with this conversion to the song form, Vollenweider has added a new perkiness to his music, so it sounds less like Yanni and more like Kenny G. --Geoffrey Himes

Eolian Minstrel,Andreas Vollenweider,Capitol,Adult Alternative,Ethnic Fusion,Jazz Music,New Age / Meditation,Pop

Eolian Minstrel

Tracks:

Song Of Isolde
Across The Iron River (The Return)
Reason Enough (All The King's Men)
Eolian Minstrel
Jaden Maiden
The Secret Shrine Of Icarus
Harvest
The Years In The Forest
Desert Of Rain
Private Fires
The Five Sisters
Painter's Waltz
Leaves Of The Great Tree
Lake Of Time

Amazon.com

After a two-year break from recording, Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider returned with Eolian Minstrel, which marks a radical reworking of his music. The most obvious departure is the composer's collaboration with lyricists/vocalists Eliza Gilkyson (on most tracks) and Carly Simon (on one). In keeping with this conversion to the song form, Vollenweider has added a new perkiness to his music, so it sounds less like Yanni and more like Kenny G. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

My First Time.......2006-08-05

My 1st Vollenweider album, and now I'm traveling the majical journey with him. Great stuff!!!

A change of pace that works.......2006-06-14

Andreas is an awesome talent with a lot of paint on his palette. At times he will flit about the cosmos on his albums, leaving listeners a bit disjointed. However this collection does not disappoint.
Minstrel is a departure, including actual songs sung by real singers! Eliza Gilkyson and Carly Simon are talented artists whose contributions do add to this work. Harvest and Private Fires stand out among the songs. Across The Iron River and Leaves of The Great Tree are among my favorite instrumentals. The songs are woven in with the instrumental pieces in a coherent fashion making for a listenable album.
I rate this album as my second favorite AV album, behind Down To The Moon. I give the man credit for trying something new. I give him big props for making it work. By contrast, Enya puts out an album after a multi year break. If she could give us any evolution in her style, the breaks would be tolerable.
Enough carping for now. Eolian Minstrel is an under-appeciated gem in the AV canon. You can get it cheap here. Give it a spin !

Vocals take Over!.......2005-09-28

The female vocals on this album are mood-destroying, making
it sound less "ethereal" and more pop-schlock, which is not
what I personally want to hear on an AV album. The main singer
is not balanced to Andreas' style so it comes off as overbearing
to my ears. Sorry , I'll pass on this one.

Music with a message.......2003-12-31

In this 1993 release, Andreas Vollenweider branches out stylistically to include English vocals in a collection of songs sung by Eliza Gilkyson and accompanied by Vollenweider and friends in his uniquely jazzy New Age style. The tone of this album tends toward the sweet, sad and cautionary. Gilkyson's wispy, mysterious voice rises dreamily above Vollenweider's intricate electro-accoustic harp and eclectic percussion to offer cryptic lyrics that caution against war and abuse. I think prefer his instrumental work, but this combination of instrumentals and voice is an interesting alternative and a good fit. After this 1993 release, Vollenweider's next CD was 1997's "Kryptos".

Great, simply marvelous CD.......2003-09-10

If you like Andreas' music, this is just a wonderfull CD. The blend of Harp with voice, strings, and the great beats makes this CD one of Vollenweider's best. I just love the ethereal voices and the feeling of the CD. I just wish Vollenweider would again expand on a similar project. I'd buy it immediately..