Gotta give Dave a huge standing ovation. He was into heavy metal and all the perks that came living in that environment. When he found out his Mother was dying... got together with friends and wrote/recorded this album to dedicate to his Mom. It is awesome just listening via speakers but do yourself a favor and kickback and use headphones. He has come a long way and continues to entertain us with his unique new age music. Read the flyer and listen... have a box of kleenex. Hurray to Dave...I'm sure his Mother is the Star in the Sky protecting him.

This recording stands out from David Arkenstone's previous works in two notable ways. First is the addition of lyrics. David has written words for and performs vocals on three of the tracks. While they're not epic poetry, they do compliment the music and provide nice imagery. Second, the tone of the album as a whole is shifted a little more into a "minor key". Earlier albums included some playful tracks such as "Hindu Holiday" from Island or "Dances of Jankayla" from In The Wake Of The Wind. But as this was inspired by the passing of his mother, the pieces David wrote for this one are more contemplative, almost nostalgic. That's not to say they're swamped in moroseness; far from it. In fact the final track "Ride into Midnight" has a sense of urgency that develops through the whole piece, propelling it forward into that starlit night and has become one of my favorite songs.

Overall, the wondeful blend of acoustic instruments, synthesized sounds and simple vocals makes this an excellent CD.

I'm in the process of collecting Arkenstone, having only discovered him a few months ago. What I've been missing! This is not the strongest of the six albums I have to date, and at first the vocal tracks irritated me (I had gotten used to thinking of him as an instrumental artist, and was not expecting them), but they've grown on me. "Pool of Radiance," "Canyon of the Moon," and "Ride into Midnight" especially are worth the price of admission. "Naked in the Wind" has my partner muttering, "I'm sure that's Cheyenne." Don't forget to look for more of Arkenstone's work under 'Troika' a trio that performs his compositions.

Another Star in the Sky is David Arkenstone's sixth full-length album. It was released in 1994. There are ten compositions; three of these feature lead vocals from Arkenstone--"Far Far Away," "Voices of the Night," and "Taken by the Wind." The material is in a New Age musical direction. I like all of the tracks. Overall, the musicianship is gratifying and the sound quality is pleasing. My favorite pieces are "Far Far Away," "Voices of the Night," "Another Star in the Sky," and "Taken by the Wind." The serene, ethereal "Far Far Away" presents nice, ambient vocals from Arkenstone. The pretty "Voices of the Night" displays airy, charming singing and appealing fretless bass guitar playing from Arkenstone. "Another Star in the Sky" is an admirable composition that exhibits memorable piano work from Arkenstone. On the catchy "Taken by the Wind," a smooth and enjoyable job is done by Arkenstone with the vocals, the keyboard work, and the fretless bass guitar--there is also a notable, attractive refrain. Arkenstone is a talented composer, arranger, and musician; I like how he incorporates different instruments--orchestral and exotic, for example--into his work. His music has a lushness and earthiness that impresses me. The CD packaging includes an essay written by Arkenstone, the song lyrics, and several illustrations; also, there are some graphics behind the CD tray. The disc is just over 51 minutes. Another Star in the Sky is a recommendable album.

This CD is kind of uneven. I don't like the vocal tracks much because of Arkenstone's voice and lyrics, but the rest are all good, a few excellent. Pool of Radiance and Ride into Midnight are very cinematic, and they are my favorites; Another Star in the Sky is also very good. If you like Native American themes in a New Age setting, you'll like Naked in the Wind. It's all good background music for reading or enjoying nature.