I've been a fan of David Arkenstone for a few years now and after giving Atlantis a thorough listen I can say that he has impressed me with what I think is his best work yet. Walking and dancing the line between the grand and epic and the intimate and heart-tugging, this is one fine piece of work. There are no real "breaks" between tracks, so it feels like one long and epic journey and boy is it a good one.

The Dream Of The Gods- This starts slowly with beautiful keyboard and choral effects with a few "hits" on piano. The feeling is one of mystery and beauty. Later, a grand string melody kicks in with heavy percussion to give you the impression that you are off on a sweeping adventure to take you to a place you could only visit in your dreams

Tower Of Light- This has a little bit of the same flavor as track one, but to me it feels much different. It's a bit slower for one thing, and the woodwinds and strings give it a feeling that is a very little bit less "epic", but one that is every bit as exotic and lovely. Very nice vocals by Miriam Stockley (Adiemus) contribute to that. I love the percussion in this too.

In The Garden Of The Citadel- To me, this piece carries a distinct Middle Eastern flavor in its percussive style and in the instrumentation of it as well. The flute and harp are featured beautifully with other winds and what sounds like a guitar or other Middle Eastern instruments. It's the slowest piece up to now on the CD and it sounds almost noble. It felt to me like taking a lonk trek through a desert locale.

The Temple Of Poseidon- Starting off with soft horns, this is given a calm sense of regality. The harp, flute and string melodies are lovely, and they depict a loacation of great beauty and wonder.

The Jewel Of The Sea- This, to me, is the most beautiful piece up to the middle of the album. It begins with absolutely exquisite slow piano work, which carries along a lovely slow dance of strings and flute. There sounds like there is a faint bed of choral singing in parts of it too. This really is pretty and gave me the feeling of looking out over the ocean to a beautiful horizon bathed in the light of the rising or setting sun.

Festival Of The Goddess- This reminds me a little bit of In The Garden Of The Citadel, but that is NOT a bad thing here. This is the jauntiest piece on the CD and feels like a festive dance number.

The Painted Sails- This is, to me, a very nice cut of music with a very adventurous feel. It begins slowly with a solitary flute calling into the distance. Quick paced strings soon come in and combine with horns and percussion to let an epic feeling come over me. It sounds like there's some bells or a xylophone in here too, but it's very, very nice. It made me feel like I was the captain of my own ship sailing out somewhere exotic and awe-inspiring.

Across The Great Oceans- This track is, to me, every bit as beautiful as The Painted Sails was grandiose. It has very pretty slow and sweeping string melodies in it and combines them with some very lovely chorus and piano work to give me the feeling that I am sailing home after a long journey abroad. There is some very nice percussion in parts of this number as well.

Fire And Water- This is among my favorite cuts on this disk. The opening is ominous, with soft heyboards or horns that combine with drums and strings and choral work that gets progressively louder and faster. Soon, the percussion and strings dominatethe first half of this great piece of music, combined with what sounds like tiny bits of Middle Eastern singing and very heavy use of guitars or lutes. Halfway through this piece of music, the harp comes in and the strings turn soft and get sweeping and soaring and wistful. Beautiful guitar and choir work close out this piece.

Below The Ocean- The Spirit Of Atlantis- This closer is, to me, a fitting one and the most beautiful song on the entire disk. Ethereal keyboard and choir combine with lovely winds and strings as well in the first half, to produce a very wistful and sad feeling of longing that tugs ever so poignantly on the strings of the heart. Great vocals by Miriam Stockley help convey this to the listener, too. There is a bit of nice guitar in the first half too, to carry it along slowly. Halfway through the piece, there are some horns come into it, and there is some very stately percussion also. It feels for a little while like a noble march, until the percussion and strings get faster. Beautiful choir comes in also, to give the end of this piece the same grand epic feel as the beginning of the disk, bringing the journey to its full circle of completion.

All in all, I will end as I began. I think this is David Arkenstone's best work yet, and I love every single note of it. It brought me from awe to smiles to tears to joy and back again all the way through. If you love grand, emotional music that touches the heart and spirit on many levels, you can't go wrong with this CD. Pick it up, and be prepared, because you just might grow to love it. I certainly did. Peace, God bless you, and thanks for reading my thoughts on this CD. Happy listening.

Absolutely beautiful symphonic music, 10 tracks in total. Very rich, very peaceful, very "full". Makes you feel like you are journeying somewhere. A little booklet is included, providing a blurb about Atlantis, the mythical (?) island of times long past. A little blurb on the "feeling" of each musical arrangement in story follows in the booklet, each about Atlantis, the island named after Poseidon's first-born, Atlas. The back cover of the booklet says, "This music is my tribute to the majesty and mystery of the great civiization of Atlantis. May the spirit that guided their earliest generations find its way into our hearts soon."

I actually did this CD as a free-flow, let-yourself-go experience, a combination of automatic writing and open-eye meditiation. I just journeyed all over Atlantis to wonderful experiences. I will share it with you now. (And, no, I am not ON anything.) But I want you to know that with this music, it IS possible.

With my eyes closed and the music playing, what can I imagine? (yes-I did open my eyes to type in between--DUH!)

1) The Dream of the Gods (4:44 minutes--interesting number)

In this movement, I can see myself looking across the sea. The mist slowly begins to clear as a magnificent city of gold and crystal appears in the distance. As I travel closer and closer, across the water, I see a complete civilization. They are an advanced group and are welcoming me into their city, to teach me the ancient secrets of so many years ago.

2) Tower of Light (6:08)

I am on the beach, walking toward a cylindrical tower of light. I look to my left and I see dolphins playing in thye sea. They are jumping unbelievable high, as though they are performing for someone. I look back at the column of light. It is right on the sand. I walk over and place my hand in it, then through it. It feels warm, tingly, highly energetic. Finally, I immerse my entire body into the light and I come out the other side of the column and into beautiful gardens.

3) The Gardens of the Citadel (4:08)

In these gardens are beautiful exotic plants and white unicorns are dancing and playing. There is one black unicorn. I believe he is their father. He is pure black with a shiny blue-black appearance. His horn is of pure gold. Young girls with long flowing curls are dancing barefoot among the unicorns and giggling.

4) The Temple of Poseidon (4:19)

A majestic palace lies ahead, with Poseidon at the throne. His long white beard touches the ground and his scepter points to the heavens. He has a kind and loving face as he welcomes me in, to learn whatever I can in his palatial home. Many bow before him, as I pass by them and walk toward His Majesty, the Lord of the Seas.

5) Jewel of the Sea (3:33--hmmm, I am starting to think Arkenstone is doing this on purpose)

I have been given the opportunity now to explore Atlantis under-the-sea. I was escorted into a realm of beautiful colors and sea life. I first came upon a large shell. It opened to expose a sweet child, so delicate and so pretty, a child of the sea, a merchild. She bade me to continue forward. I walked into a beauty such as my eyes have never seen. The colors, the sea creatures and the multicolored fish were indescribable.

6) Festival of the Goddess (4:09)

Back at Poseidon's palace is a festival, with food that would put King Arthur's Court at Camelot to shame. Everyone is gathering for this festival. The whole island is there. All are welcoming me in as their guest. Everyone is dancing. Feet are flying through the air faster than my eyes can watch. It's something like watching a fairy flit around. The food and wine flows freely. The joy and celebration of life is awesome.

7) The Painted Sails (5:47)

Now, I am on a sailboat, with the sails flapping in the wind. The morning is cool and crisp. There is almost a chill, but the warmth of the sun tames the air. The sailboat is flying forward, almost dancing across the top of the water. I see the dolphins again, but this time they are speeding alongside the ship, doing that dolphin chatter thing that dolphins do when they are happy. It's as if they are talking to me and thanking me for coming.

8) Across the Great Oceans (5:37)

Another powerful song. The breeze has almost stopped now. As I look across the great waters, I see peace and beauty. The sun is almost at the horizon. It appears as a huge bright orange ball. The hues around it are the most beautiful peach-gold coloration, against a turquoise blue sky with only a smear of clouds, as if they were painted on the sky. Anticipation of the night, as well as the days ahead, is in the air.

9) Fire and Water (5:30)

As my ship returns to the beach, I see a fire in the distance. It is a ceremonial fire. People in costumes are dancing around it, cooking foods and giving thanks for the bounty. I have been invited to sit, eat, and speak with the elders. There is some sort of group meditation going on, with chanting. As I stare into the sea, a giant power crystal rises from the waters. Actually, it is a Lemurian Seed Crystal. You can see the "stairs to Heaven" tracks running up the side of it.

10) Below the Ocean--The Spirit of Atlantis (6:57)

I am leaving now. I don't really want to go, but am told that once I have been here, I can always return. Those beneath the sea, as well as those above the sea, have come to say goodbye. There is so much love, it makes my heart hurt. What a wonderful experience this has been. Even Poseidon himself has come to see me off. I have no ship; I am just walking toward the sea and somehow know that I will appear back in my own time and place. They are waving frantically now, as I get to the water's edge and turn back to wave one last time.

No, as I said before, I am NOT on anything. This music is so special. I thought that a free-flow thought meditation would be the only way to express it to you. If you purchase it, let your own visions come to you through these majestic symphonic movements, or feel free to share in mine. Poseidon said that any fiend of mine is a friend of his too. This CD could easily be the soundtrack for an awesome movie. This was a fast-flowing visual experience. I did not stop to think about anything, but just typed quickly to describe the visuals as they came to me through the music. I think the feelings and visions invoked by this music says it all--don't you?

Update July 2009: I received an email last month from another lady who loves this music, listens to it frequently, and has cool visual experiences with it.

By far one of their best. I have shared this album with friends and all have raved about it. And these are people who have never heard of David and Diane Arkenstone. This music truly captures the feeling of the 'Atlantean' soul. Quite remarkable!

From electronic to symphonic and everything in between, David Arkenstone's trademark is his majestic bold musical strokes on his canopy of compositions. But after releasing last year's very organic yet superb Sketches From An American Journey, Arkenstone may have put himself in a bit of a quandary as to how to follow up on that epic. Instead the artist borrowed from himself and returned to the In The Wake Of The Wind era emphasizing drama and larger than life music to grab the listener's attention.

The album opens in grand Arkenstone style with a mysterious atmospheric passage that slowly builds with percussion, strings and luscious triumphant horns in the form of "The Dream of Gods". Merging seamlessly into the mid tempo "Tower Of Light", the exotic level is maximized. Starting off more in the tradition of Arkenstone's very early spatial recordings, the song transforms as formidable guest vocalist Miriam Stockley seduces us with her distinctive chants. Along with the pulsating and powerful percussion it seemed like six minutes was not enough. Speaking of his label mate, Miriam also adds her golden touch on the last track "Below The Ocean-The Spirit of Atlantis", which plays out more like an overture. Along with her performance she is also involved in the actual angelical vocal arrangements. A great night cap to summarize the album.

But between the start and the finish are many memorable moments. For instance there is "Fire and Water" that heralds the above mentioned track, and this song will simply blow your socks off. But play it loud, as it will certainly accelerate your pulse and quicken your heart. With Persian and gypsy influences, here the mandolin and dulcimer intermingle prominently, along with the once again vivacious percussion.

On the more mellow side there are the gentle yet marvelous strings of "Jewel of the Sea" and a gem she is. Do not think that gentility translates to a lack of powerful, as even in his quiet moments David is a force to be reckoned with. The same can said for the emotive "Across the Great Oceans" that has soundtrack written all over it. Why this man has not secured a big break in the movie industry is beyond me.

However, "The Painted Sails" sums up this entire album. Combining the electronic atmospheric opening passage along with trotting strings, English horns and the persistent colorful percussion, Arkenstone continues to show us why you cannot set your emotions aside when you listen to his picturesque music.

So the Narada label managed to steer its prodigal artist back home. Musically, he paralleled this decision with a return to the heavy use of orchestration and wonderful electronic embellishments. Perhaps Atlantis will continue to be a monstrous but magical myth but it contrasts with the unequivocally Legendary status of David Arkenstone and his ability of painting detailed musical landscapes. And nobody does it better.

Although each composition on the CD could stand on its own, "Atlantis" truly is a complete soundtrack. What makes it even more incredible is that it's a soundtrack without a movie! Just close your eyes and open your imagination, and one hour later you have experienced something akin to watching "Titanic" for the first time, only YOU get to be the director/producer/etc. What a joy for the imagination in this time of cookie-cutter video games, movie sequels and prequels, and tired-out TV dramas!

This was the first David Arkenstone CD I ever owned, and is still my absolute favorite of all (I now have 44 of his CD's). I would ABSOLUTELY match this CD with any soundtrack John Williams ever put out. I'd love to see David reach the acclaim level his talent deserves, and Oscar-winning soundtracks do just that. Check out his soundtrack to the TV miniseries "Frontier", and look for him as a member of the group Ah Nee Mah for Southwestern/Native-American themed music.

If you would like a listing of all of his CD's, check out his website (just google/yahoo/etc. his name). Also consider checking out music from Diane Arkenstone (his wife), Nicholas Gunn, David Lanz, and John Huling if you like this type of sound.