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