This CD is a truly magical experience. From the opening swirl of wind, strings and pipes and incantantions of Merlin's Wizardry, you KNOW this is special.

The style is a wonderful fusion of the Celtic new age and classical, so popular with the Titanic soundtrack. However, this record has very much its own sound, somewhere between Enya, Enigma and Elgar, but with subtle looping rhythms and soaring, emotion-packed vocals. Later on, the music is not afraid to build to a real big noise - particularly on "Uther" and "The Cave". But the strength is really in the subtle, quieter passages. Le Morte d'Arthur and Nimue's Lament are haunting tales of lost loves, of angels and mermaids. The vocals recall Adiemus at their finest - but that isn't surprising when you see that Miriam Stockley, the voice of Adiemus, is part of the Alkaemy experience!

The CD is linked to a fiendishly difficult puzzle book (I've spent hours listening to the music but getting nowhere with the challenge of "the Merlin Mystery"!). It loosely acts as a "soundtrack", but it is a superb stand-alone record as well. It has a real freshness every time you play it. A joy. A real joy.

1998:The Merlin Mystery (128 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9AMJHRRT

Acoustic Alchemy is an English contemporary instrumental and smooth jazz band formed in England in the early 1980s (c. 1981), originally fronted by acoustic guitarists Nick Webb and Simon James. The band is currently fronted by Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale.

Acoustic Alchemy: The Beautiful Game

1987: Red Dust & Spanish Lace (flac) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8WZUFO60
1988: Natural Elements (320 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8KSM9WZO
1989: Blue Chip (256 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LM3TXZR9
1990: Reference Point (256 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O5MYENKS
1991: Back On The Case (256 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OXC0X8LK
1992: Early Alchemy (320 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O7VG8KOS
1993: The New Edge (vbr 240 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8DZWZTVZ
1994: Against The Grain (320 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NNYH6L4Q
1996: Arcanum (256 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J1XSXFEZ
1998: Positive Thinking (192 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QJPF0FJM
2000: The Beautiful Game (256 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=W88R7TLG
2001: AAart (256 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z66QFNZL
2003: Sounds Of St Lucia (320 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YGS4RCAH
2003: Radio Contact (320 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5QVZVJ1K
2005: American/English (320 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SUTT0XKE
2007: This Way (320 kbps) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=N13WYRDV