Robert Fox Touching the Serpent's Tail CD / 9 tracks / 66.25 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Another Time Another Place') Please go to the Store to buy this item.

'The Serpent's Sweet Song' uses melodic percussion as a backing for synth strings to create a slightly mournful atmosphere. Slow faintly ethnic sounding drums increase the feeling of melancholy. From brooding beginnings 'Weaver of Chance' becomes quite soothing as wordless choral pads mix with tinkling piano. More ethnic drumming picks up the pace and the piano responds to it lifting the spirits high. It's as if I am standing on the top of a mountain, a gentle wind blowing as the cloud shadows chase over the ground below. Another beautiful piece. 'Strange Voice in Ancient Tongues' starts with Gregorian Chants, OK hardly original but I still love it. A loping percussive rhythm takes things forward as gorgeous thick melodic pads then a delicate lead line once again reach for the heart. Unexpectedly as we approach the middle of the track the mood seems to darken a little but gradually the melodic pads return, as if the clouds that had momentarily obscured the sun had drifted away but there is still a slight edge of unease hinting of their possible return.

'Flying Free' also features chanting but this time it sounds much more Arabic (though I could be wrong, not being an expert on chants!). A twangy rhythm strikes up. Rather than flying the images that came to my mind were those of camels unhurriedly crossing the horizon. I found my feet gently tapping as I was carried along with the flow. The piano playing throughout this track is wonderful, giving it that extra energy that keeps the interest and excitement throughout. Windy effects get 'Of a Time Gone By' underway. Orchestral pads impart something of a biblical feel. Some sort of mournful horn sound cries out then the Gregorian chants return. It's a gentle reflective piece maybe bringing up feelings of something or someone lost in the passage of time. More lovely piano bounces over a sedate but still infectious rhythm ensuring that 'Above the Still Waters' maintains the feeling of wonder and beauty so carefully crafted over this whole album.