Customer Reviews

Island

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

 

 

This was one of the first albums released in CD format. My wife and I bareboat sail in the Caribbean and always take this with us. I have had to replace it several times, as we have given it away as a gift at several ports of call over time. This album is absolutely timeless. In a hundred years people will still love it.

The CD is pure joy from start to finish.
The music carries a sense of adventure
and possibility. Not really any dud cuts.

This is the best music I have ever heard in my life!! My favorite song is definantly "The Island Road". David Arkenstone, your the best!!

While I have a great deal of respect for David Arkenstone as a popularizer of electronic music, I'm not a complete fan of his efforts. Arkenstone rarely pushes the envelope, and is often content to choose to emulate acoustic grenre rather than explore possibilities. I'm not a complete fan of any of the extremes, but sometimes I fine Arkenstone 'extremely' mainstream.

This isn't all bad. Arkenstone has achieved a level of success that is enviable, and has completely avoided the uneveness that is Kitaro's main flaw. But the trade off is that the price of all this listenability is a loss of inspiration. For me, Arkenstone sounds like movie music, where the compositions are meant to underline the films action rather than stand on their own.

Andrew White, the 'other' lead on this CD, is well known for his Celtic guitar work, which is not all that evident on this album. In fact, were his name not on the front I would have never thought the little guitar work that I do hear (Along the Shore Line) was his work. Even Nancy Rumbel, who is barely mentioned in the credits gets more air time.

On the positive side, this is a pleasant, easy listening album. The work isn't trite, it just borders occasionally on the cliche - happy music, if you will. I have to remind myself that musical tastes have advanced since Arkenstone first set out to make electronics an acceptible part of the modern musical repertoire. What was interesting and unusual yeaterday is today's commonplace.

I'd say that this album is better than another one Arkenstone is known for, "Valley in the Clouds", and I'd give that one 5 stars, too. This album is less meditative, more upbeat and lively--and just plain fun to listen to.

Since discovering the music of David Arkenstone for myself, I have not come across any of his music that was not good. This album seems to take you away to a island without being too 'tropical sounding'. Very nice compositions and arrangments. Only complaint is I wish it was a little longer in length.

This was an early David Arkenstone CD, back in the fairly generic New Age heading. Some hints of David's amazing musical ideas can be heard here, especially in the amazingly beautiful songs Passage and The Palace. The rest feels to me like filler, compared to his later works. Still very much worth purchasing on these two songs alone.

your mileage may vary and every song would hit you. This is my own feel about it. Still a very much recommended CD.

A standard for traveling in my vehical and while sailing. Cheerful and light, great mid morning and evening music. Not much you can whistle to, but I doubt you'll be disappointed. Enjoy