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Ghost Canyon

Title - 'Strings of Light (2CD/1DVD Digipak Edition)
Artist - Anthony Phillips

For those not in the know, for his first new album in seven years Anthony Phillips has composed and recorded the twenty-four pieces of music on this brand new album.

Spanning two CDs, utilizing the many beautiful and rare guitars in his collection, they have all come together as one to ensure that Strings of Light is now being heralded as one of the finest instrumental guitar albums of Phillips' long, and highly acclaimed career as a musician and composer.

Phillips is an English musician, songwriter, producer and singer who gained prominence as the original lead guitarist of the rock band Genesis, from 1967 to 1970.

After Phillips recorded From Genesis to Revelation and Trespass with the band, he left in July 1970 and learned to play more instruments before he began a solo career.

Phillips released his first solo album, The Geese & the Ghost, in 1977 and he continues to release solo albums, television and film music, collaborations with other artists, and compilation albums of his own recordings today.

CD 1
1. 'Jour de Fête'
2. 'Diamond Meadows'
3. 'Caprice in Three'
4. 'Castle Ruins'
5. 'Mermaids and Wine Maidens'
6. 'Winter Lights'
7. 'Song for Andy'
8. 'Pilgrimage of Grace'
9. 'Skies Crying'
10. 'Mouse Trip'
11. 'Restless Heart'
12. 'Still Rain'

CD 2
1. 'Into the Void'
2. 'Andean Explorer'
3. 'Mystery Tale'
4. 'Sunset Riverbank'
5. 'Tale Ender'
6. 'Shoreline'
7. 'Days Gone By'
8. 'Crystalline'
9. 'Fleur-De-Lys'
10. 'Grand Tour'
11. 'Home Road'
12. 'Life Story'

DVD (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
1. 'Jour de Fête'
2. 'Diamond Meadows'
3. 'Caprice in Three'
4. 'Castle Ruins'
5. 'Mermaids and Wine Maidens'
6. 'Winter Lights'
7. 'Song for Andy'
8. 'Pilgrimage of Grace'
9. 'Skies Crying'
10. 'Mouse Trip'
11. 'Restless Heart'
12. 'Still Rain'
13. 'Into the Void'
14. 'Andean Explorer'
15. 'Mystery Tale'
16. 'Sunset Riverbank'
17. 'Tale Ender'
18. 'Shoreline'
19. 'Days Gone By'
20. 'Crystalline'
21. 'Fleur-De-Lys'
22. 'Grand Tour'
23. 'Home Road'
24. 'Life Story'

As you can clearly see, this most incredible new set is made even more special by the inclusion of a 5.1 Surround Sound mix of album on a DVD (NTSC / Region Free).

Indeed, the Surround Sound mix provides the ambient space for which the guitar has been placed into, providing a nice depth to the soundstage.

Furthermore, the noted DVD only contains the multi-channel versions in your choice of DTS or AC3 codecs, both at 48kHz / 24-bit.

There are no high resolution stereo versions, which says clearly to me that the Surround Sound version is the preferred way the ma himself prefers listeners to hear the album.

This recording is the result of a considerable talent, and much time has been spent not only writing the material, but obviously rehearsing and practicing for a wonderfully recorded package.

Unlike Field Day (2005), this album is warm, well-paced, and definitely a pleasure to behold for all those acoustic guitar fans out there.

Strings of Light is just an incredibly beautiful album is also most perfect for those lovers of early Genesis along with others seeking a sensitive musicality that comes complete with a rather calming effect that ripples throughout the two dozen pieces.

Anthony Phillips simply makes his 12-string guitar float oh-so majestically throughout the collected works, at times taking things up a notch, as if approaching a tight bend in the road whilst still wanting to push the gas pedal down a wee bit more for the excitement of the moment.

The bright, breezy, and seemingly effortless acoustic work alone performed on the opening track is enough to make you want to settle in for multiple plays.

And given that the track in question also has more than a hint of Rod Stewart's 'Maggie May' mandolin vibe as an undertone, well, that's just another big bonus for me!

Throughout the album the guitar works are ethereal with a touch of ambiance only gathered throughout a lifetime of work within the industry.

They imbue all that this guitar world is about and so much more, given that Phillips is one of the best in the business as this kind of genre.

In closing, and simply put, after a seven year absence of new recorded work, Strings of Light is a welcome return and a mighty fine album by a legendary musician.

It's been a long wait since Private Parts & Pieces XI: City of Dreams (2012), but trust me when I say that Strings of Light is well worth the quiet time; especially now given the fact that you not only have two (2) CD albums of 24 tracks to immerse yourself within, but a rather lush DVD of 5.1 Surround Sound Mixes also.

www.AnthonyPhillips.co.uk

www.esotericrecordings.com

www.CherryRed.co.uk

Official Purchase Link





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