Gandalf - Magic Theatre (1983) {1990, Reissue}

With his fourth album Gandalf continues the same formula of the previous "To Another Horizon" record. A whole instrumental opus based on spiritual or phylosophical reflection. The sense of loss and the chance to get up of each single man and woman is what he's trying to explain in music. So the nine tracks are put in a precise order that goes from desperation to real joy. His visionary and fertile imagination builds up the scene of a magic theatre in front of which the listener comes, alone. When he enters in, through the main door that stands in front, he is at the beginning of a long corridor with seven doors. Each door opens to an interior reflection or to a specific feeling or psycological status. Only passing through all the seven doors is the key to moral ascension, the secret of real joy. Obviously the music reflect each state of mind, going now struggling with lonely grand piano, then powerful with that strong orchestral interludes.

Gandalf is a skilled musician and an excellent multi-instrumentalist. He knows well how to achieve the most appropriate arrangements for each different state of mind. So fiery electric guitar and distorted saxophone, played by guest musician Peter Aschenbrenner, along with fast tempo drumming rapresents the Labyrinth of Delusions and the Loss of Identity, while hope and redemption ask for acoustic guitar, sitar, flute and for celestial synthesizer's performances. Mellotron and organ do well their own job too, not as so prominently as in the previous album. By the way, the result is slightly less convincing. Maybe 'cause it was based on an already used formula. 3.75 is my evaluation. Something you have to put on your cd player while you're going to take a break and want to relax after a long hard working day. New-age music? Not still, this will come later.