Customer Reviews

Down to the Moon

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album came across my hands in 1987. I was only 14 years old. I was used to listening to rock/pop or classical. When I heard this album, "Down to the Moon" I was exposed to a whole new world. This album takes you to a place of imagination and peace. With soft subtle sounds of nature and even some semi-spaceage sounding music. What Andreas has done with his harp and other instruments in this album takes you to another realm of imagination. Very soothing, however it's almost as if all the songs are telling a story. A seamless story. You will not be disappointed with this CD. When you close your eyes turn this Cd on it will be sure to take you to a place that only your dreams can imagine.

I have since replaced my cassette and now have this Cd. I regularly listen to it. In 19 years I've never gotten tired of listening to it. This album will truly be a treasure in your ambient/new age music collection.

To those who follow "New age" music, Andreas Vollenweider is simply the best of the genre. And this album is the best of Mr. Vollenweider's catalogue (followed closely by Dancing With the Lion and Caverna Magica). I first heard this album in 1987, and was bowled over. At the time, I was interested in new age music, but it seemed that the albums I heard were either environmental noises backed by synthesizers, or cheesy elevator muzak ala John Tesh. They had no musical substance whatsoever. Then I heard Down to the Moon at a friend's house. What a magical experience! By the time Moon Dance, the second selection, was playing, I knew that I was listening to music that was different than anything I had ever heard before. Subtle complexities interwoven between magical melodies. I rushed out and bought it, and in the eleven years since, I have not heard anything better. If you're looking for ambient music played by a masterful musician, this is the CD to get. I would also look into his other albums (the only one which wasn't up to Andreas' usually high standards was Book of Roses). BTW, I got to meet Andreas last October when he played a concert at Caravan of Dreams in Ft. Worth. It was amazing to hear him recreate these incredible sounds live. He met with his fans and signed autographs after the show, and I found him to be a very generous and humble human being, besides being such a masterful musician.

How I love this album! This was my very first choice for Vollenweider and I was simply mersmerised by its "beauty". Who can say about aesthetics without any comment for the ninth track "The secret, The Candle, And Love". This Grammy awarded CD is the best to date yet. I cannot see any better one still. Hmm... "Dancing with the lion" could be competitive. Never miss this masterpiece!!

wow how can i put this. i was lucky enough to see the down to the moon tour live at radio city music hall. andreas vollenweider was amazing. he actually transported you into a diffrent world with his music. the audience was hyponitized. when he stopped playing the was dead silence from over a 1000 people .... and then the crowd went wild . there were 2 encores that night. you will not regret this purchuse sincerly christian j nielsen

People often assign specific songs or albums as the "soundtrack" to eras in their lives, and for me, this album provides the soundtrack for much of my college life. I don't remember how I stumbled onto it, because I wasn't much of a "New Age" music fan then and I'm certainly not now. But my roommate and I played "Down to the Moon" over and over again. And today, after having largely forgotten about it for many years, I've rediscovered it and put it in heavy rotation on my iPod.

That's because this album is filled with good, catchy music that should be at least palatable, if not downright attractive, even to people who don't like stereotypical "New Age" sounds. No whale calls or pretentious "space music" here. Just well-written and well-performed sounds. Some of it is even, dare I say, danceable.

I've listened to some of Vollenweider's later releases, and they're not bad either. But none of them have hooked me quite the way "Down to the Moon" did. This is a CD you can play over and over as pleasant background music, or really listen to closely to enjoy the artistry of composition and performance. Either way, it works great.

I have no dobt that this album will be in the Enterprise computer listed under "Classical Music". Hearing Andreas today must be like it was back in
time when people first heard the works of Bach or Mozart when they were new. I discovered Andreas, of all places, on the radio before stations that once played jazz and new age succumbed to hip-hop drivel. I began my journey with Andreas with "Down to the Moon" in 1986 and then bought everything by him I could find, and continued through the "Live" album.

One track in particular stands out as one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard in my life, "Secret, the Candle, and Love". As for the rest of the album, it should be noted that on his harp, Andreas plays rhythm, bass, and lead, all at the same time!!! He incorporates
so many different styles and weaves them together flawlessly. His music can be Middle-Eastern, Oriental, European, Latin American, and jazz at the same time, and it works! His music is truly world class and nothing short of genius.

This is the kind of music one either "gets" or does not. So when you see the Amazon "professional" review of Andreas' later album "Book of Roses", and you read where the author dismisses Andreas as "Tubular Bells of the 90's", consider the old saying, "Pearls before swine."

Oft-belittled as elevator music, so-called "New Age" music came into its own with the release of "Down to the Moon" by Andreas Vollenweider many years ago. Since hearing that CD, I have seen Andreas live on 3 occasions and have bought everything he's ever released. This music has a transcendant quality that is perfect for pure listening, background for studying and reading, romance, inspiration, ambience, and really therapy of a sort.
After 15+ years of being a fan , I still listen to his CD's constantly. I think Down to the Moon is the best, but that's subjective. Andreas's music is the best instrumental music of all time in my opinion.

New age artists come, and new age artists go...but Andreas Vollenweider has been on the scene for more than 20 years! If you are a fan of eclectic music (jazz, classical, world music, minimalism, etc.) then this is an album you will enjoy! Particularly memorable tracks include "Night Fire Dance" and "Down to the Moon." This harpist has it all together on this release!

I first heard "Down To The Moon" while in college in the mid/late 80's. I'd never heard of Andreas Vollenweider and I had no idea what "New Age" music was. One day when passing the studio of one of the campus radio stations, what I heard was at once haunting, mesmerizing, and hypnotic. I rushed into the studio, and all I could manage was "MY GOD, WHAT IS THAT YOU'RE PLAYING?!?!?!?" It became an instant favorite. I bought it on vinyl, nearly wore it out, and it was the first disc I pruchased when I got my first CD player. I still think that the manufacturers of CD players should bundle a copy with every player made, because no-one should be without this CD!

The other morning I put this CD while ironing, and I loved ironing. 'Nuff said?