Customer Reviews

Canyon Dreams

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 1987 album presents the music from the Miramar video production of the same name. In addition to the 7 tracks from the video, (6 video chapters, plus end credit music) the CD contains a couple of additional tracks and provides about 9 minutes more music than the video. The opening track (`Shadow Flyer') is shorter on the CD, and is slightly different, having greater musical integrity and without the rather clumsy cueing overdubs present on the video.

In keeping with the video images, the music on this disc is all very gentle and relaxing and it hardly counts amongst the band's greatest accomplishments. The two bonus tracks by Jerome Froese are very much in the same vein as and fit in superbly with the rest of the material. These, together with the improvements to `Shadow Flyer' make the CD worth having, even if you already have the DVD. And worth having instead of it, if you don't want both!

"Canyon Dreams" is a bit of an oddity as far as TD releases are concerned. Recorded with the short-lived Froese, Franke, Haslinger lineup, it's not considered a "major" album release and tends to be left aside as "just another soundtrack". In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. "Canyon..." is a small diamond of an album, very much an equal partner (imho) to "Underwater Sunlight", most often sited as that trio's finest production.

With the exception of the extra tracks penned by the dependably bland Jerome Froese, the rest of the tracks are composed by the aforementioned trio with a subtlety and majesty so missing from later TD. "Shadow Flyer" is boppy without being annoying and almost seems out of place with the next six tracks, which blend and merge beautifully.

"Canyon Carver" is superb; slow build to a powerful main theme, reminiscent of TD's work with Johannes Schmoelling. From there we have some wonderful floating synth patches on "Water's Gift" that seamlessly wanders into "Canyon Voices" and "Sudden Revelation".

There's very little of the up-tempo aor that TD became in later years; this album feels like the old era TD re-born, it has the continuity and flow that was once their trademark. It's a shame that these three didn't stay together longer; it appears that with Chris Franke's departure went the TD ambience that I loved; certainly Franke's first solo effort, "Pacific Coast Highway" is outstanding and much more like TD than TD...

I originally owned the video of this before the album and while the visuals are awe-inspiring in their own way, they sometimes detract from the inspirational qualities of the music itself.

Definitely worth buying.

My co-worker's husband had lost this CD years ago and was telling me about it. I decided to search for it as he REALLY liked it and missed it greatly. Everywhere I looked the price was RIDICULOUS! Finally I remembered to look on Amazon.com and found it for quite an affordable price. They were both surprised and very pleased that I had found it for them and at such a great price. Thanks Amazon!

This is a great CD and you can experience the Canyon. Relaxing and a good escape.

I find this cd to be a pleasant listening experience . It is stylistically different than Volt and Rockoon , but is enjoyable . I listened to it straight , but I am sure that the vibes and visuals would be dynamic and mindblowing under the influence.

I Like the music of TD. But this CD is only a reproduction of the original and the "additional traks" (more as 1) is only 1 additional track, known from other compilations. Nothing news.