Lotus Land

Gandalf | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Real Music
• ASIN: B000P46QCC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,314 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Austria
  • #29 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Ambient Pop
  • #48 in Music > Rock > Progressive > Electronic

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a state of languid contentment, July 6, 2007

By 

Daiho - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lotus Land (Audio CD)

If you know the name Gandalf, you've probably seen the Lord of the Rings films. Or perhaps you're a longtime fan of Tolkien's tales of Middle Earth. Chances are, though, that unless you've been following the New Age music scene, you've never heard of Heinz Strobl.

He's one of several musicians from the 70's and 80's that grew up with Tolkien and took his musical persona from what until Star Wars came along was the most popular fantasy "franchise" in the English language. And so we have David Arkenstone, still active today and named after a mystical gem; Shadowfax, one of the first groups to record for Windham Hill and named after a sorcerer's horse; and Gandalf, the sorcerer himself.

Like the wizard for whom he is named, Austrian Heinz Strobl has a masterful command of the elements, which he employs to great effect on his latest recording, Lotus Land. Featuring nine original compositions, the album is a literal one-man show, with Strobl playing acoustic nylon and steel string guitars, electric pedal-guitar, bouzuki, saz (a kind of lute), electric sitar, piano, keyboards, percussion, and programming.

Conjuring blissful images of tranquil gardens, or perhaps a heavenly realm of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Lotus Land is a collection of serene, languid melodies suitable for either. Half the compositions are performed without rhythmic accompaniment, and of those with percussion two are so understated as to be missed. Even so, the melodies themselves have enough rhythm and movement to accompany a yoga workout.

Six of the album's eight tracks clock in at over 6 minutes, giving the artist plenty of space to develop his themes. Most of the songs begin with light synth effects, creating the aural canvas on which the lead instruments paint their pictures. Among the highlights are the piano climax of Love Opens the Gates, the synthetic choral effects on Mystic Voyage (that might remind some of Randy and Pamela Copus' 2002), and the charming interplay of sitar and oboe on Life is Love.

Lotus Land is Gandalf's 19th release in a professional career that began 26 years ago as a prog-rock hippie. While time may have softened his approach, his sorcerer-like instrumental and production skills are still as sharp as ever, if not better and more refined. I look forward to a monumental 30th anniversary release in 2011.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful music for the practice of yoga, April 20, 2008

By 

E. Maya - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lotus Land (Audio CD)

I'm a Yoga instructor and I'm using this music for my classes. People are enjoying it very much. Beautiful music for the practice of Yoga or just for the pleasure of listening to something very relaxing. I love it!!!!!!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relaxing, July 25, 2007

By 

R. Curtis (Corona, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lotus Land (Audio CD)

Great for massage and energy work... Clients love it. They are zzzzzzzzz in moments.