Personnel: Kitaro (synthesizer); Jon Anderson, Jonathan Goldman (vocals); Hiroshi Araki, Jimmy Hahn (guitar); Kristin Stordahl Kanda (flute); Shigeru Okazawa (electric bass); Steve Bailey (bass); Syoji Fijii (drums); T.Y. Burhos (tabla); Ken Park (percussion); Deborah Anderson (background vocals); Coral Symphony Strings. Kitaro has always shown a flair for the dramatic with his serious synthesizer opuses, but on DREAM, he lets loose with a hitherto unexpressed romanticism, couched in showy orchestral arrangements and ecstatic love ballads. Added to the mix is Jon Anderson, whose vocals and lyrics take center stage on about half of the songs on this highly theatrical album. Kitaro's showstopper, "Lady of Dreams," marries a memorable accordion-laced cabaret melody with spectacular symphonic flourishes. Steve Bailey's fretless bass drives the tuneful "Agreement," which sounds like a FRAGILE-era Yes. In keeping with the aggressively entertaining songs, even "Dream of Chant"--a drone for vocals, tabla, and harmonium--is less a peaceful meditation than a tense mood piece punctuated by violent percussion. DREAM culminates in the exhilarating "Island of Life," which begins as a sweet synth lullaby, and builds to an ecstatic crescendo of passionate singing and crystalline strings.
Disc 1: Symphony Of The Forest Mysterious Island Lady Of Dreams Drop Of Silence, A Passage Of Life, A Agreement Dream Of Chant Magical Wave Symphony Of Dreams Island Of Life