Customer Reviews

Dreams of Children

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

 

 

One of my favorite albums of all time....why it took me so long to buy the CD version I'll never know. I listen to it over and over and just get lost in the music. Great flute, sythesizer, drums....makes you want to dance. Give Shadowfax a try!

After SHADOWDANCE found the band establishing a new world/fusion identity, Shadowfax received a huge boost: new keyboardist David Lewis brought a more pop attitude (having lately been in Ambrosia) and then-new technology in the form of the Yamaha DX-7 keyboard. Before this, synths had more of a string-section sound -- no attack. The DX-7 changed that, and Shadowfax jumped on it like Ozark cousins at a hog-greasing.

The result is plain from the first song: "Another Country" is practically "Shadowdance 2.0", with the sequenced DX-7 providing the opening notes: simultaneously synth-futuristic and percussion-ancient. As Chuck's lyricon floats over, Phil's bass comments from below, and the whole band kicks in. This works so well that it even carries songs which otherwise wouldn't really be very interesting to listen to, and if they might be accused of overusing it, they had a right: it was their new sound, and they had to claim all possible applications before some other band did.

The result? A band excited to find what they could do & be with this new direction. It's hard not to appreciate their excitement, and the music ranges from grand to thoughtful, from joyous to sublime, even to the strange dervishness of "Above the Wailing Wall" (my favorite, but some other people's least favorite). Some of it is still experimental, and TOO FAR TO WHISPER would capitalize on the discoveries made here (and arguably exceed them) by going over the same fertile ground, but staying closer to the center.

SHADOWDANCE forecast it, WHISPER did it more safely, but THE DREAMS OF CHILDREN marked the fresh full emergence of the style which would dominate Shadowfax's success. Most definitely recommended

I have loved Shadowfax since I first heard them. Hard to find some CD's, but the sellers at Amazon
have had amazing prices and many choices. The combination of "New Age" and "Jazz Fusion" is one of my favorites and I miss the talent that this group offered.

I first heard Snowline on a Windham Hill video called Winter. I fell in love with it then and it still remains one of my favorite pieces of music and makes this disc a required part of my library. The rest of the album is also quite good.

My purchase went very well. I recieved my purchase promptly. I li,e the CD, I have the album but it's nice to have it in CD.