Andreas Vollenweider
's 1985 effort
White Winds
, subtitled "Seeker's Journey," features the composer's modified electric harp in pieces that are much more experimental than what would later emerge as the prevailing sound of
new age
. A brief introduction features the lapping of a boat in a slip, but it soon fades into the angular forays of
"Hall of the Stairs,"
which itself drifts into the more conventional ethno-
jazz
of
"Hall of the Mosaics (Meeting You)."
Vollenweider
's harp is joined by full percussion and a bank of synthesizers for
"The Glass Hall (Choose the Crystal),"
breaking the song down to showcase the unique sound of his instrument. Even when it's accessing the soothing tones of
,
seems to lie closer to
contemporary jazz
instrumentalism, as the repeated phrasing of these songs suggests.
even gets lightly funky on the awesomely named
"Flight Feet & Root Hands."
With his early-'80s work, the Swiss performer was establishing himself as a leader of the burgeoning
genre.
is a good example of his sound, which mixed accessibility with uniqueness and some true musical exploration. ~ Johnny Loftus