Customer Reviews

Kryptos

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

 

 

Andreas Vollenweider was always a musician first, and never really cared about being popular as other well known New Age artists like Yanni or John Tesh. His lasted project "Kryptos" returns to what Vollenweider did best in past projects like, "...Behind The Gardens...", "Caverna Magica", and "Dancing With The Lion", however you won't be disappointed. Kryptos is combantion of Classical styles (Wanja The Wanderer), Jazz (Trigon, Passionata), and World Music rangeing from Celtic(May The Green Grass...), to Eastern Asia (Morgana Palace), with a touch of Africa (Bhambororo). Vollenweider as done music of the people that enjoyed his musical advenchures. As long as they listen, he will continune to compose and perform. If you loved Andreas Vollenweider's music in the past. You will love "Kryptos"

I've been a big fan of Andreas Vollenweider's music for about 15 years, and I own all of his albums that have been released in the U.S. except the recent "Essential" compilation. My favorites are "Book of Roses," "Eolian Minstrel," "White Winds," and "Caverna Magica."

I resisted buying "Kryptos" for a long time because I had somehow acquired an inaccurate impression of it from some limited sound clips I heard on-line. Finally, on the strength of the positive reviews here, I decided to take a chance on it. I'm now very glad I did. It's just another excellent Andreas Vollenweider album (probably the most like "Book of Roses"), not a major departure from his prior work as I had erroneously believed it to be. There's probably just as much orchestration in general on "Book of Roses" as here, so I disagree with some of the criticisms others have voiced about "over orchestration." In fact, some of the strongest tracks on "Kryptos" (e.g., "Passionata" and "Quendel and Rhomas") are intimate, beautiful duets featuring Andreas on harp along with another solo instrument, similar to what he did later on "Cosmopoly."

I've given this CD four stars instead of five only because I don't think it represents Andreas' strongest work compositionally. There are a few very nice melodies scattered throughout the album, but I think other albums such as "Book of Roses" are a little (but not a lot) stronger musically. Bottom line: I agree with the reviewers who said that true fans of Andreas Vollenweider (especially those who like "Book of Roses") will also enjoy "Kryptos."

With a big curiosity, I listened to this album. This may not be the very best album in his career but still inspiring and absorbing. And I could feel that Andreas definitely made huge efforts to create some different style of music as he used to do. Particularly, track #2 is very impressive and exiting but is quite familiar with me because of its oriental rhythm. At first, I thought it sounded like JANG-GO, a Korean traditional percussion but realized later it was a Japanese one after reading the liner notes. In many ways, there are commonness in culture among Korea, China and Japan. I think traditional instruments of the three countries basically have that commonness also but all of them differ from one another in sound, color and tone. So... I'd like to advise Andreas to visit Korea to learn about Korean instruments, and of course he should listen to SAMUL-NORI, which is an extremely exciting rendition played by only four traditional percussions. I'm really sure that if he studies Korean instruments, his music will be far more enriched.

First off, this is music as theater. I believe it is meant to be listened to as a whole. As a complete work. Envision seeing and hearing this massive entourage of musicians perform this in concert! Accolades also, to the guest musicians. Mindy Jostyn on violin and vocals offers truely gorgeous melodies on "Under the Trees of Hope", and "May Green be the Grass". And the inspired addition of Michael Brecker making the sax sing on "Trigon" is not to be missed. The Orchestra and choir seem to link the work together in a seamless fashion. If you're a Vollenweider fan, it's a must. If it's all new to you...you're in for a musical treat! Good listening.

I have followed the career of Andreas Vollenweider for 20 years now. I see that this "New Age" artist is still going strong. New age music can be so stagnant. But not in the hands of this harpist. There are tracks on this CD that will have dancing on the inside, and others that will have you weeping. Andreas Vollenweider proves that this genre of the 80's can find a home in the 21st century!

Longtime listeners of Andreas Vollenweider's unique music will not be disappointed by "Kryptos." Careful new listeners will also discover an incredibly wide range of elements here which fascinate the imagination. From "Morgana Palace" to "The Heroes' Telling," this album reads a bit like a classical story cycle. The best melodies are the deeply heartfelt "Under The Trees of Hope" and "May Green Be The Grass." In parts of "Trigon" Mr. Vollenweider is refreshingly revealing of the larger task he has undertaken in his role of composer and musician. In the wordlessness of "Kryptos," as in almost all of his work, there is a mysterious, clear and distinct deep-speech much more powerful than any particular language.

When I hear the term "New Age" I shudder. Images of crystals and scented candles and warm spiritual fuzzies are brought to mind. The music is usually ethereal fluff with little depth. But Andreas Vollenweider brings not only depth to the genre but a real passion for music and sound. Like the cover art on the CD, Kryptos offers a rich mosaic of sound that paints a picture and tells a story. This is an album well wrought and plays best as a whole. If you like this album I strongly recommend Book of Roses.

With Kryptos, Andreas Vollenweider delves into more classical and worldly music, while keeping the same fantastic melodies and compositions his fans have enjoyed in previous albums. Here we have elements of Classical, Oriental, French, South African, Celtic/Irish, Jazz/Pop and New Age. There are no weak tracks on the album, and Kryptos as a whole flows together quite nicely and is a great musical journey.

Our journey starts out with "Domus Cordis" which eases into the album with a gentle classical feel and reminds me of some peaceful ancient Greek or Roman landscape. Then we dive right into the powerful, percussion-driven, Oriental sounding "Morgana Palace" which is always one of my favorites. More classical sounds on "Hermes Wedding" and "Under the Trees of Hope" which also has a new age/Celtic feel (reminds me a bit of Secret Garden) and is one of the most beautiful and underrated tracks on the CD with its mesmerizing melodies and choruses. "Passionata" brings on visions of walking down a street in Paris with its French-sounding accordion. "Wanja the Wanderer" is another beautiful fusion of classical and harp music and reminds me somewhat of an adventure movie soundtrack with its more mellow moments mixed with some melodramatic climaxes. Then we have the short but sweet South-African chant "Bhambororo" from Lady Blacksmith Mambazo. More nice Celtic/worldly sounds in "Forest Folks" and "Quendel and Rhomas" with some beautiful violin/harp melodies towards the end of the latter track. "Trigon" has an American jazz/pop feel with saxes, electric guitars, crowd sounds and lots of percussion and is a pleasant, festive and lively track. "May Green Be the Grass" has many elements of Irish/Celtic music and more wonderful melodies throughout. Finally, Circulus Finalis begins with melodramatic choir chants before an abrupt transition into smooth, non-electric harp and soft choruses that are reminiscent of the opening track.

All and all, Andreas manages to capture a wide range of classical and worldly music in Kryptos, more so than in his previous albums, yet still incorporates his wonderful signature harp sounds throughout the entire album. Excellent CD, highly recommended!

This is another album I picked up on a whim, on the strength of the artist's power over me; I had no prior knowledge of the work. It has turned into my second-favourite Vollenweider production, in a career of work that can make a different favourite every other day depending on mood. I was instantly taken by the odd orchestra in the mix, and could imagine myself in a court thousands of years ago near a sunny sea in a white-marble open-design palace. Okay, so that's a Romantic vision, but I can't help it; it's what I see when I listen with my eyes closed. This is another album that I play while I write. It seems to make the ideas flow better.

There are the usual Vollenweider touches here; harp soloes of aching beauty, with dramatic buildups to the orchestration. I was pleased to note that he has continued his association with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the wonderful African singers who can make the darkest day bright; and the incomparable Michael Brecker, who is sadly no longer with us.

Andreas Vollenweider never seems to have changed outwardly from his early days; he still looks like a musical Elf. And his music continues to draw me in and produce fantasy worlds in my head.

New Age music came into my life through Mr. Vollenweider music. And after hearing David Arkenstone, Peter Buffet, Colin Chin and others I have to concurr with the previous review that "Under the Trees of Hope" is one of the most impressive compositions I have heard in my life.