Berry, Robert - A Soundtrack For The Wheel Of Time


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MA-9052
Format: CD
Total Time: 50:38:00

I think San Francisco Bay Area veteran prog-rocker Robert Berry has found his niche in the music world, soundtracks. After performing with innumerable high profile artists and producing outstanding solo work, Berry decided to create a soundtrack to a series of successful books by author Robert Jordan called The Wheel Of Time.

The storywriter Jordan said this regarding the project - "In a way, writing is like orchestrating the characters." That statement I am sure rings true for many creative writers.

Berry wrote, produced, and performed nearly this entire project, which is an amazing feat. He is no stranger to wearing many hats in the music industry. It's very apparent to me that the years of experience that Berry has gained have reached their climax on this project. This is all done very well. The musical score is pure brilliance. Berry combines lush and majestic soundscapes with intelligently selected pieces of guitar, symphonic keyboards, bass, and vocals. Lief Sorbey (Tempest) guests on mandolin (and he also adds his writing talents) to create the Celtic atmosphere on 'the Winespring Reel." Andy Frazier (vocals, guitar) lends his voice and guitar on 'the Atel (Dahl Of A Chant)", and Lisa Bochelle contributes her exceptional vocals on "Ladies Of The Tower." The executive producers were Peter Morticelli and Mike Varney, who form an amicable relationship with Berry to add even more production values to the album. Although the multi-talented Berry plays nearly every instrument on this CD, he does get some help, but very little mind you when looking at the entire daunting task at hand. He handles a lion's share of this fascinating conceptual project and the result is his most successful work to date. There are nineteen tracks and it clocks in less than sixty minutes, so don't expect any ten minute prog-rock opuses. The longest song is 5:06, and that works just fine for this type of venture.

If you enjoy the majesty and strength of bold soundtrack music you will absolutely love this CD. Progressive rock fans should really pay attention to this music. Keep a watchful on Mr. Berry... he is just getting started.


Tracklisting:
A Theme For The Wheel Of Time (3:35) / Return To Emonds Field (3:55) / Song For Moiraine (3:34) / Travelling The Ways (3:05) / Spears And Buckler (1:22) / Dream Walker (2:04) / The Knowledge Of The Wise Ones (1:09) / The Winespring Reel (4:32) / The Halls Of Tar Valon (0:57) / Search For The Black Ajah (5:06) / Ladies Of The Tower (3:12) / The Game Of Houses (3:44) / Voyage Of The Sea Folk (3:45) / Heart Of The Wolf (1:09) / Journey Through The Waste (0:57) / Lan The Warder (1:16) / March Of The Trollocs (3:15) / Rand's Theme (Fanfare For The Dragon Reborn) (4:31) / The Aiel Approach (Dahl Of A Chant) (2:10)

Musicians:
Robert Berry - almost everything

Guests

Lief Sorbye - mandolin
Andy Frazier - vocals, guitar
Lisa Bouchelle - vocals
Michael Mullen - violin

Discography:
Selected

Hush (1976) (never released)
Hush '79 (1979, released 1997)
Hush - Hot Tonight (~1982)
Back To Back (1985)
3 - The Power Of Three (1988)
Pilgrammage To A Point (1992)
In These Eyes (1995) (South Africa only release)
Takin' It Back (1996)
Alliance - Bond Of Union (1996) (Japan only)
Alliance - Alliance (~1996) (Europe only)
Alliance - Missing Piece (1999)
A Soundtrack For The Wheel Of Time (2001)
The December People - Sounds Like Christmas (2001)
Prime Cuts (2006)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: October 13th 2001
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website: www.robertberry.com
Hits: 2195
Language: english

  

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