Customer Reviews

Spirit of Olympia

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

 

 

I am a fan of Arkenstone, Lanz, and Kostia, so I was really expecting a lot when I bought this. Most of it is bland or annoying. Only one piece was by Lanz, and it sounded like a reworked version of Dark Horse. I expected Kostia to be the most classically influenced, and he is, in Close Without Touching, but his Walk With the Stars wasn't all that great. Celebration, a triumphant march, is worth the price of all the rest combined. Another really good one is Savannah Runner. Forge to the Field is tuneless and synthesizer-heavy, and Arkenstone's other three tracks are so unmemorable I can't even remember their tunes. Not an essential

This to me is the underrated one of the David Ark catalogue. Just what you thought it would be, triumphant, gallant, and dynamic. The CD begins with a very moody french horn intro that leads you to believe that you are watching an A&E documentary on ancient Greece. The horn and string arrangements give an uplifting sound that is very spirited. There is the requisite sing along with that ethnic flavor that marches the CD along at a steady pace. Don't expect a spacey, synth CD here, this is raw orchestration at it's best. Take if from someone who almost has the entire David Arkenstone cataloque, you will not be dissapointed!

I think I originally picked this up because I thought it had something to do with the Olympics or that some part of the proceeds went to the Olympics. To my chagrin, the urge to write this suite arose out of a marketing conversation where the participants thought it would be a good idea to bring out a CD of 'music to listen to the Olympics.' It could be a lot worse, it could be a bad album created only to capitalize on Olympic fever rather than an adequate album, but it does bother me that Arkenstone and Kostia are willing to benefit from the connection, but aren't interested in returning the favor.

David Arkenstone is a player/composer mostly known for his use of electronics, and a strong tendency to overproduce. Kostia is Russian pianist Konstantin Efimov, who has made his way into new age circles with a some interesting themes, but an tendency to turn most things into arpeggios. Surprisingly, the whole is better than its parts. Each musician seems to have drawn out the better features of the other. Although this is one of the most over-orchestrated popular albums I have ever heard.

One of the other 'odd' things about this effort is the inclusion of a piece by David Lanz, smack-dab in the middle of everything else. Unfortunately, it isn't one of Lanz's better efforts and its style conflicts with the overall musical whole that Arkenstone and Kostia have managed to create. The mysteries of CD production somehow continue to elude me.

This is an 'OK' album. I can't give it more than three stars because there is simply too much 'new age' music out there that is better. And I still haven't gotten my head around the 'of the Olympics but not for the Olympics' attitude of its creators. If you come across the album, you will no doubt find it a pleasant hour - there are some genuinely good efforts by both musicians. Just don't expect to be blinded by the light.

Great album of inspirational music of the New Age that isn't "preachy". I really like this when working out on the machines in the gym.