Customer Reviews

And the Stars Go With You

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(5)
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Jonn Serrie had already been composing music for planetarium shows for years, but the decision to begin recording albums changed his career. And The Stars Go With You was his first, originally released back in 1987, and it revolutionized the 'space music' trend and skyrocketed Serrie into ENA superstardom (that is, if he hadn't done so already). Now the album has only been made better with the addition of "And With You 2," a track that was obviously left off of the original printing, but is now, in my opinion, one of the best songs.

Serrie's is music you can just put on, lay back, and relax to. Let your mind go blank and get lost in the soundscapes. Play it all alone on a quiet night to get in the mood. Let moments like the gentle percussion on the second half of the titled track or the harmonies of songs like "And With You 2" and "Stratos" carry you away.

Some of the songs even sound like two or three-act musical dramas. Take "Fantasy Passages" for example. When this track begins, you can imagine yourself floating around lost helplessly in the darkest areas of space. When the music is occasionally broken up by deep, loud, rolling thunderous effects, after which the music slowly creeps back in, you can imagine falling into a black hole, then falling back out into the endless abyss (ok, I know it's not logical to fall out of a black hole, but you get the idea). Finally, as the song begins perhaps to lighten up a bit, with an echoing synth riff that repeats over and over again for the rest of the song, you can imagine your resolution - floating into the brighter areas of the universe, into places you know.

I guess I have nothing else to say except "just dream..." Put on this cd and let the stars go with you!

Jonn Serrie can be awfully frustrating at times... over the past several years, he has ventured further and further into romantic style new age music, which quite frankly does not compare with his longer, more contemplative deep space music. AND THE STARS GO WITH YOU is firmly rooted in this latter style of music. All of the tracks on this album flow seamlessly together into a wondrous journey for late night travelers. "Gentle; The Night" is flat-out haunting music, with a gentle pulsing rhythm joining the beautiful melody. However, "Stratos" is the album's best track and stands as one of the best songs I have ever heard. Few songs reach the levels of both seeming simplicity and childlike innocence that this song contains... after listening to this album for almost a decade now, "Stratos" never fails to put me into a peaceful trance, and it stands as being one of the best fall-to-sleep-listening-to-it-with-headphones-on songs ever made.

In short, AND THE STARS GO WITH YOU is essential listening, especially if you enjoy the more atmospheric music of such artists as Tangerine Dream, Michael Stearns and Steve Roach. Don't miss it!

I remember purchasing this cd along with my first cd player from a high-end audio store in 1990. At the sales counter they featured about a dozen cd's, chosen, obviously, for their "dramatic" sound, so as to ensure the immediate delight of the equipment buyer. The selection was rather obvious also. . . London symphony plays something or other, mannheim steamroller xmas cd #37, Dark Side Of the Moon (suprise!) and, what's this? "John Serrie. . . new age & synthesizers", says my saleman. I sighed. The regular music stores were already closed, I had to have SOMETHING to listen to. I shrugged and added fifteen bucks to the check total. Other than Steve Roach and early analog stuff like Tomita and EL & P, electronic music hasn't held much fascination for me in many years. But this disc is an exception to the rule for the simple reason that there are some SONGS going on here, a few sound like they could have been written for a variety of instruments, not just synths. There is melody, tension, and emotion here. At the same time, it is extremely soothing and relaxing.

This has been a favorite of my family for years. The music soothed my children to sleep when they were young and now 10 years later (they are 15 & 17) they still enjoy listening to it. The music allows your mind & body to relax and help you unwind from outside stressors. Can't say enough great things about it.

This CD is really amazing. If you like floating space music that is very relaxing, you'll love this CD. I bought this CD years ago and I never get tired of hearing it. I like to put it on and fall asleep listening to this incredible music. It's so peaceful and relaxing. It reminds me of my space music CD, "Scenes From a Nightmare" which I recorded back in 2002. Although, my music is a bit darker and a tad bit scary. But I like all types of spacey, floating music. "And The Stars Go With You" is one of the best I've heard.

Firstly, I must thank Jonn Serrie for his contributions over the years. This CD is quite simply at the peak of the genre - never surpassed as far as I am concerned. Created when it was, in 1985, using equipment no where near matching todays technology is even more remarkable. A true testament to a remarkable composer with immense vision. This is "Deep Space" music at it's very, very best !! Good luck Jonn with your new venture - I can't wait for Lumia Nights !

Thirteen years after its release, this c.d. continues to leave nearly all other ambient artists in the dust. It is probably hard even for Jonn Serrie himself to out-do this, his first, release. "And The Stars Go With You" is a timeless masterpiece of premium, sophistocated space music. Not a single note sounds contrived, and no instrument is used arbitrarily. Everything is in perfect place. If you don't have this c.d., you have some catching up to do. It's time to upgrade your ambient collection.

I never knew one could purchase such great music. I first bought this as a cassette and then the cd. It is the BEST cd I own. Whenever I listen to it I feel like I am in the ocean, not space. All the songs just fit perfectly with sea creatures swimming by and bubbles going up. Just great to go to sleep by.

This music makes for great headphone listening...for falling asleep peacefully to meditation. Highly recommended!

I bought this album in cassette form 15 years ago. I was just getting into space and new age music and had purchased recordings from Kitaro, M Stearns, S Roach, Dana and Clement, et al. Jonn's music is a little more esoteric and rich with long "cruisers" which will take you on any journey you want. I would listen to this album while in my office in Summit County Colorado(elev 9100). Looking out my windows, one of which viewed Buffalo Mt(elev 12000) and the other viewed Peak 1(elev 11,700), I would drift like raptor thru the tall pines and rocky craigs between mountain top to mountain top! What a trip! My favorite of all of Jonn Serrie's tracks is on this album-it's "Stratos" 10 plus minutes soul lifting mind soothing harmony! One of Jonn's best efforts!!