Customer Reviews

Fresh Aire III

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you don't already know Mannheim Steamroller its rather hard to describe the music--new age, classical, upbeat, relaxing, light-hearted, rock beat--well all that's true but it will never really describe the treat your ears are in for!

So, you're interested in Mannheim Steamroller, but wondering where to start? Alternatively, maybe your introduction to Chip Davis and the Steamroller has been through the terrific set of Christmas music but now you're wondering what you might want to get that would explore beyond that. Either way, the Fresh Aire series is the place to go next because that's where it all began and because that's still the music that's most characteristic of the group. Within that series, the first four are the seasons cycle and all are worth getting but III is that top of my personal list of favorites. Its typical of both the Fresh Aire series and Mannheim Steamroller with the eclectic mix of instruments and both exciting and relaxing styles. Chip successfully mixes classical and rock styles, electonics and acoustic instruments (not to mention the toy piano and the cricket!).

If you've liked anything else by Mannheim Steamroller then you owe it to your ears to get this CD. If this is a new adventure, then this is a good place to start.

Niggle complaint: all the Fresh Air I-IV releases were formatted for LPs and are rather short, so don't be surprised when the fun doesn't last too long--you'll just have to get the rest of the series!

If the Fresh Aire series maintained its creative leaps on pace with I, II, and III for the whole series, Mannheim Steamroller would probably be remembered as one of the greatest bands of the 80's. Fresh Aire III is a terrific improvement on FAII's timeless formula, and does an even better job incorporating synthesizers with classic instruments than its predecessor. This album has some of my most favorite songs on it: Amber, Mere Image, Sky, and Midnight are all beautiful songs whose arrangements are surprising.

Unfortunately, The Cricket should've been rethought; it sounds out of place on the record. And again, the album is WAY too short. Still, this is one of their best releases, and I recommend it for even the most casual fan.

I received my first introduction to Fresh Aire while I was in New Zealand as a Mormon Missionary - I was listening to some music by Sky and my companion commented that if I liked that I would probably like Fresh Aire. It wasn't until 6 months later that I was actually with someone who had tapes of Fresh Aire (like many people, I never heard of Mannheim Steamroller until some time later) At the time I didn't know just which album the tapes were of (indeed I later found that they were a mixture of the first three) but I became totally hooked the very first time I heard Toccata and the Cricket.

I later bought the boxed set of the first four albums, and they take pride of place in my collection. When I want to relax and tune out, it's on with the headphones and on with Fresh Aire III - as a bonus I bought the sheet music and like to read that while I listen to it. Chip Davis is an incredible musical talent.

It is hard for me to qualify exactly what it is I like so much about Fresh Aire. As a musician my response to music is as much an emotional as a technical thing. If I were to try and analyse what appeals to me about this music it would probably have a lot to do with the masterful blending of the sounds of nature, traditional instruments (recorders, harpsicords etc.) and electronic and more modern instrumentation. Combine all that with some great cutting-edge stereo effects in the studio (what I like to refer to as the "music moving through your head" feeling) and you have something that is quite unique.

I can't believe there aren't any reviews for this CD! This is 1 of my all time favorites! It's the most beautiful CD! I have it on LP. It's from the late 70's I believe, originally. My roommate from back then was in a Christian Mime group and they did wonderful mimes/skits to this album/CD. Very uplifting songs. If you haven't already, listen to the song samples. You won't be sorry you bought this. A very worthy purchase. Wonderful!

This was the first Mannheim Steamroller I bought. I was actually going to the store to get Fresh Aire I and II, but they didnt have either of them so I bought 3 and I wasn't dissapointed. What a nice selection of songs. If you like music with piano you'll enjoy ALL of Mannheim Steamroller's albums. Now as the cd was going on to the last track I was going to turn it off but then the opening piano part to Midnight On A Full Moon started. I was shocked. This song has such a nice groove and reminded me so much of something that Phish would do. I'd say start with this album if you want to get into Mannheim Steamroller.

Why did I give it 4 stars and not 5? Even though I think the album is amazing it has SOME flaws in my opinion. Morning and Interlude 6 kind of slow the album down and bore me a little bit. But the album does pick back up at "The Cricket" which starts off with...crickets.

But truely the piano parts in this album rock. Give this album a chance, it's well worth the money.

I don't consider myself an audiophile, but I have thrown buckets of money at my audio system and I do try to get the best out of it by optimizing the setup. Years ago, friends and I began using the LP of this album when evaluating audio components. To understand why, just play "Toccata" at a relatively high volume. This disc has lively, dynamic music that has been blessed with outstanding recording quality. To appreciate it at it's best, I recommend that you turn out all of the lights and crank up Toccata - that's what I dubbed the standard darkness test. Towards the end of the tune, there are some incredible drum sounds. Classic Fresh Aire !

I bought the LP for twenty cents among 75 other albums and probably liked it most. As a listener of techno and ambient music, it is nice to hear musics that bridge the electronic with the organic. This drives my usually docile cockatiel into a chirping frenzy; it is certainly his favorite album. The guy who dissed "The Cricket" can answer to the bird.

I can vividly remember when this type of music was "new" now it's just very collectable. Of the steamroller set I loved number 1 and this one. Help us and save us I had the record albums. Granted, the cover pctures were more enjoyable back then. Aside from sentiment it is still lively music. Buy one now.

This CD (well, tape actually) was my first introduction to Mannheim Steamroller, thanks to one of my favorite bosses of all time when I worked at Xerox in the 80's - got it as a birthday present, and cherished it for years - and then replaced the well-worn tape with the CD. She 'turned me on' to new age music, and MS, well, fit somewhat, but they were nothing like I ever heard before. So, lets not 'stick' them there - lets just say that they have blended instrumental music into an energetic form that does not sound derivative or boring...

That being said, if you have not heard this CD before, you MUST purge all the Christmas stuff that you have heard and appreciate this CD for what it is - Chip's interpretation of 'Summer'. The opener 'Tocatta' and the epic 'Mere Image' send chills down my spine every time I hear it - and boy does it sound awesome on a great stereo system (a friend who works for a very high-end stereo equipment manufacturer says that their stuff is 'benchmark' material)!

This is classical meets rock meets celtic meets cricket - there is really no way to completely describe this CD other than that it has no words, but it has MS caught at their absolute best. I have all the 'Fresh Aire' CD's, but this one still stands out as my favorite after 15 years...

Not a typical New Age album. I like the "woods" theme that runs throughout all of the tracks. There is also a nice fusion with classical music themes and generous use of more "standard" instruments like violins, oboes and flutes and less emphasis on such typical New Age mainstays like drum machines and things with names like "Moog." Even where there is synthesizers, etc. it tends to be sound very natural and playful (not overdone and depressing a la Tangerine Dream). Besides, I can't help but like the fact that the liner notes contain an acknowledgement to a cricket (named Claudette) who sat in on a session and who displayed "impeccable rhythm and incredible control of dynamics." Unfortunately, the cricket is no longer with the band - which may be why this is the only "Fresh Aire" CD I have.