Andreas Vollenweider - Down to the Moon

Andreas Vollenweider's Grammy-winning 1987 effort is dominated by the Swiss musician's electrically modified harp. Its distinctive sound runs throughout the album, supported by the usual tinkering synthesizer effects and light percussion. After an extended introductory interlude, the title track zips into a vaguely Caribbean-styled rhythm. "Water Moon" features a different, more organic harp sound; it's mixed with the windy tones of a flute, suggesting ghostly moonshafts lancing through falling rain. Vollenweider plays the harp strings off of guitar strings on the surprisingly twangy (for new age, anyway) "Drown in Pale Light." The composer weaves the album's instrumentals together with a goody bag of pan-ethnic influences; the album's margins are full of these little touches that nevertheless make a big difference. Down to the Moon will appeal to anyone looking for music that's as interesting as it is soothing. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andreas Vollenweider Harp, Arranger, Producer Christoph Stiefel Keyboards Darryl Pitt Photography Dennis Roshard Assistant Engineer Dude Durst Design Eric Merz Engineer Hanswalter Huggler ? Hugo Faas ? Jon Otis Drums, Keyboards Matthias Ziegler Wind, Wind Instruments Max Lasser Strings Max Lawsser Strings Pedro Haldermann Bells Peoro Haldemann Bells Peter Ritzer ?, Paintings Silver Symphony and Choir Group, Choir, Chorus Sylvie Rossi ? Walter Keiser Drums