This is actually a compilation CD. If you plan to eventually get all of David's stuff, ignore this one, or it'll become obsolete when you get all its songs on other CDs.

That said, it's a very GOOD compilation, maybe a good way to start someone out on David. It's so good, however, that you'll want to buy all of his CDs, and it'll become useless. I guess you could always give it away, though, and make a new Arkenstone fan. :-)

If you haven't been sure about the early Arkenstone albums, this compilation has so much good stuff it'll sell you on them (it did me). It's also handy when you can only play one CD and want a lot of Arkenstone (17 cuts) with some stuff out of the first three smallish albums.

Clocking in at 74 minutes, this compilation--1993's Chronicles--draws from David Arkenstone's first five full-length albums, except for the piece "The North Wind," which comes from a multi-artist compilation by the name of A Childhood Remembered. Including "The North Wind," this collection displays 17 tracks that are not in chronological order. Valley in the Clouds (1987) is represented by "Ancient Legend," "Stepping Stars," and "Valley in the Clouds." Island (1989) is represented by "Ballet," "Passage," "Desert Ride," and "Hindu Holiday." Citizen of Time (1990) is represented by "Voices of the Anasazi" and "Out of the Forest and into the Trees." In the Wake of the Wind (1991) is represented by "Borderlands," "The Rug Merchant," "Firedance," "Papillon (On the Wings of the Butterfly)," and "The Southern Cross." The Spirit of Olympia (1992) is represented by "From the Forge to the Field" and "Glory." My favorite compositions are "Borderlands," "The Rug Merchant," "Papillon (On the Wings of the Butterfly)," and "The Southern Cross." The expansive "Borderlands" exhibits a majestic keyboard line. The well-crafted, plaintive "The Rug Merchant" provides a beautiful, touching beginning. The imaginative "Papillon (On the Wings of the Butterfly)" furnishes a stately, enchanting keyboard melody. "The Southern Cross" is nicely tailored and pretty. I am impressed with the CD booklet, with its informative history of Arkenstone and his albums. In addition, the music's sound quality is pleasing. Actually, I rate this album 3.5 stars. Arkenstone is a talented artist, and this compilation is recommendable.

I have three of the albums this collection was taken from, plus others issued soon after this, but I never play them. They all contain music with lots of good ideas and themes, but to me they all sound like film soundtracks rather than music for intense listening. They are experiments that don't quite work - a little grandiose, intellectual and messy. I think of them as creative practise for his great more recent work.

One track on this collection (The Rug Merchant) is very good, and anticipates my favorite album of his that came 15 years later - "Ambient Cafe" (Briza). That album should be in the music collection of every good cafe on Earth. Any cafe that sticks a picture of the album cover on its door can expect me to stop for coffee. Listen to the samples at allmusic.com.

David Arkenstone's Chronicles will get you charged up.