Michael Neil The Tempest and Other Tales (Download CDR) 14 tracks Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Siren of the Sea') Please go to the Store to buy this item.

This is Michael's most classical sounding release to date. It's goes through many a different mood; majestic to melancholy; euphoric to the depths of despair. Throughout we get massed strings, occasionally with timpani and touches of piano such as on the anthemic opener to the seven part 'The Tempest', 'Overture and Storm'. It's a powerful piece and melodically, near perfection.

The wonderful strings carry through to 'Prospero's Theme and Entrance' swelling wonderfully like on some of The Enid's better works such as Fand. 'Ariel's Theme' on the other hand sounds much more mysterious. 'Caliban's Tango' is initially rather dark and sinister with a contrasting tinkling melody until it enters more of the 'Tango' territory mentioned in the title- again The Enid in playful mood came to mind. 'Ariel Magic / The Vanishing Banquet' juxtapositions dark pads with relaxing shimmering drones. 'The Calm Before' is a stunningly beautiful melodic piece featuring Lute or some such sound and brings up images of oldy worldy England though with a touch of French accordion also in there somewhere! We finish 'The Tempest' with 'Far Seas and Prosperous Voyage' which has a rather Vangelis film music quality to it. It's all fairly majestic and euphoric stuff. 'Forth An Syns' and 'Helman Tor' are two tracks 'borrowed' from 'Cornubia' and even though not part of the concept of the previous seven tracks follows on in a similar mood with massed strings to the fore, the latter using shimmering, delicate pads as well as celestial choirs and stunning melody to conjure up the feeling of peace and solitude found in such a remote place.