"I first heard Alkaemy on a different CD called Celtic Journey while looking for traveling tunes for my trip to Ireland in April of this year. From The Merlin Mystery were two tracks, "Le Morte D'Arthur" and "Nimue's Lament", they were the initial and final tracks respectively on the Celtic Journey CD. The others in between were beautiful in their own right, but they were gravy. Alkaemy's tracks were truly the best I had heard in a long time. Not since Loreena McKennitt's "The Visit" had I heard such ethereal vocals and music. Wonderfully mesmerizing. The "Merlin" narration by Joss Ackland, who has one of those great narrative voices, featured on Alkaemy's CD, is an added bonus. If you like a mystery, buy the Book and buy this CD to accompany you on a quest for Merlin's Wand of Alkaemy. Who knows, you might even find the prize, but even if you don't you won't lose with this CD. I've about worn out my copy and I still find myself singing Nimue's Lament in my head while I'm working."
I haven't heard a CD this good for YEARS - non-stop play!!
Karin L. Gibby | 11/17/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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.Buy it. I predict it will never leave your CD player...."
Wonderful, if slightly tacky music.
Inspector Gadget | On the trail of Doctor Claw | 10/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD has some truly ace tracks on it. 1,3 and 6 are really cool. The song Nimue's Lament is better than Celine Dion's song from Titanic. I am comparing the 2 because the sound similar but the lyrics are better in this song and whoever is singing it can sing very well.
Thru out most of the trax on this CD you have female vocal effects that make a genuine magical atmosphere and in the later trax you have some really cool sound effects that place you right in the magical world the music creates.
I highly reccomend this CD to you and the book that accompanies it. It will stand out in any collection."
Surprisingly powerful
Crystal C. Loh | London, ON Canada | 01/27/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was skeptical at first when I bought this CD (mainly due to my then-obsession with anything related to the Arthurian saga) and was unsure what to expect. I wasn't sure whether simple instruments and vocals would be able to capture the essence of the famed Merlin and the tragic tale of King Arthur, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and power inherent within this CD. The girls of Alkaemy have managed to create a resounding, enchanting sound that carries with it all the fabled storytelling power of the ancient bards, who's stories have captivated audiences throughout the centuries with their lyrical expression and tales of gods and heroes. Le Morte D'Arthur, Faerie Entertainer's, Nimue's Lament and the Mystery are four of the most compelling tracks on the CD and through them many facets of the Arthurian saga are brought to life. The rest of the CD is just as good, but those four songs are the ones that clearly stand out in my thought.The Merlin Mystery did not let me down, and it certainly will not let any other listener down, either!"
ASTOUNDINGLY BEAUTIFUL
Mary Chrapliwy | NJ, USA | 06/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This music is so etherial ... Beautiful, probably the one of the best CDs I've ever listened to. The music is remisniscent of celtic music yet it is all soft and flows smoothly without any periods of loudness or thunderous crashing notes. It tugs at your very soul. I enjoyed it so much that I axiously await music from this group again. Sadly, I couldn't find any more CDs by this group, but will most definitely purchase one if it came available.I'm trilled that I bought this CD and you will be too if you buy it."