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Andreas Vollenweider is a bona fide star of new age music. A harpist hailing from Zurich, Switzerland, Vollenweider's appeal has transcended new age boundaries into pop and jazz, although his dreamy, gentle musical journeys do continue to attract a contemplative crowd seeking a more ethereal plane. On Midnight Clear, the artist joins with pop star Carly Simon to provide a lucky 13 tracks of lovely holiday fare.

Most of the tracks are true to the new age format, with Vollenweider tantalizing his audience with sweetly configured instrumentals. Guest star Simon provides vocals on four numbers. Although I have admired her work for many years, I would not have immediately recognized her performance here. Simon's vocals seem more tentative and subdued than I recall, especially on Midnight Clear. Perhaps she is just falling into the delicate delivery that the new age context demands. Vollenweider himself provides a light tenor as a backdrop in the first number (The Holly and the Ivy), but only as a textured part of the instrumentation.

Although most of the cuts are familiar gems, four are catchy new creations. Of these, I particularly enjoyed the moody Suspended Note, which is not exactly a Christmas song, but impresses on every other level--Simon's vocal is heartfelt, the music and lyrics are profoundly beautiful, and the instrumentation is just right.

Midnight Strong is a solid holiday release in the new age category. Fans of Carly Simon will enjoy seeing back in this Christmas release. And the many fans of Andreas Vollenweider will happily embrace the shimmering mood music that they have come to know and love.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Produced, mixed and mastered by Andreas Vollenweider
Carly Simon featured on Tracks 3,6,10,13

Andreas Vollenweider: harp, whistle, keyboards, accordion, 12-string guitar, bass, vocals,low bamboo flute, jews harp, ocarina, Greek double flute, soprano sax, Celtic harp, Spanish guitar, Slovak double flute, steam pipes
Max Laesser: laud (Spanish mandolin), mandoline, acoustic lap steel guitar, lap steel guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Andi Pupato: percussion, frame drum, talking drum, cup chimes
Matthias Gohl: electric piano, keyboards, vocals, orchestration
Daniel Kueffer: bass clarinet
Zurich Youth Choir (Jugendchor Zurich)(Michael Gohl, conductor)
The Bomapark Symphony
Martin Tillman: cello
Walter Keiser: drums
Peter Keiser: bass
Regula Kueffer: bamboo flute
Daniel Kueffer: tenor saxophone, clarinet
Philippe Kuhn: keyboards, organ

Andreas Vollenweider

Midnight Clear

Artist link

Track List