New age nomenclature was still a trial balloon when Swiss "electro-harpist" Andreas Vollenweider's fanciful, seductive instrumental recordings began casting their spell in the early '80s, and if the music's title imager... more »y often suggested veiled allusions to medieval magic or Tolkien on acid, the music itself remains hard to denigrate. Vollenweider's plangent, warmly intoned leads serve as the armature for the lush textures and percussive filigree of his ensembles, and if the compositions are modest, the execution remains charming. The diminutive harpist's impact on subsequent, more solemn new age and instrumental pop has proven outsized, too. --Sam Sutherland« less
New age nomenclature was still a trial balloon when Swiss "electro-harpist" Andreas Vollenweider's fanciful, seductive instrumental recordings began casting their spell in the early '80s, and if the music's title imagery often suggested veiled allusions to medieval magic or Tolkien on acid, the music itself remains hard to denigrate. Vollenweider's plangent, warmly intoned leads serve as the armature for the lush textures and percussive filigree of his ensembles, and if the compositions are modest, the execution remains charming. The diminutive harpist's impact on subsequent, more solemn new age and instrumental pop has proven outsized, too. --Sam Sutherland
Eileen G. from CASTLE ROCK, WA Reviewed on 1/31/2007...
Innovative, haunting, beautiful.
CD Reviews
Spelunking anyone?
11/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you haven't yet experienced A.V., this is the cd to begin your journey. And journey you will. Turn off the lights, put on your headphones, and let your mind travel to landscapes only your mind and his music can create. In the first tract, you will find yourself stepping into an as yet undiscovered magical cavern inside your soul. It was this cd that initiated me to the wondrous sounds of A.V., and I've been hooked ever since. The only cd I would recommend above this one for your first taste is The Trilogy, which encompasses the best of three of his best: White Winds, Behind the Garden and Caverna. The only downfall to The Trilogy, is the jumping of themes. Each cd takes you to a specific plane, and I think it's best to enjoy them all one trip at a time. Add Dancing with the Lion and Down to the Moon to The Trilogy, and you've got what you need to take the most relaxing vacation of your life, without leaving home. Book of Roses, Eolian Minstrel and Kryptos will round out a fantastic collection, but you can save these until you your ready for your next vacation. They will take you to completely different eras. Buy Caverna Magica for yourself, then buy it for friends. They'll thank you for the peace of mind."
My favorite album
Edward C. Weber | USA | 12/25/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have 200 Cd's from classical to country and this is my all time favorite. The better your audio equipment the better it gets. It will capture any mood you want to create. The electric harp is so smooth! You will never tire of hearing this album"
Seminal, singular and breathtakingly magical!
Brianna Neal | USA | 11/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For me, this release and the other early work of Andreas Vollenweider defined New Age music. Artful, complex, imaginative and ever-changing, "Caverna Magica" is the second in a trio of complimentary recordings that bring to life the magic and mystery of our world through the eyes of an artist of rare depth and clarity. The first and third parts of the Trilogy are "...Behind the Gardens--Behind the Wall--Under the Tree..." and "White Winds", respectively. All feature Vollenweider's signature sound of dreamy, jazzy electroacoustic pedal harp and cheng, accompanied by voice, synthesizer, a wide range of gentle percussion, "UFO" (unidentified finedrawn overcast) and occasional contributions from other instruments. This is true music at its finest--playful, intricate compositions that are soulfully performed and ingeniously constructed, flowing one into another through an ever evolving succession of moods. Vollenweider has this to say about his art: "The making of music, dancing, painting--creativity--all of this has so much to do with the ongoing process of `finding oneself', or better, of searching for the things that give us such an individual, complex, and miraculous depth of emotions...ideas...dreams..." He calls his endeavors "wonderful adventures" and "seeker's journeys", and relishes "making this music and bringing it to its listening friends." And indeed, Vollenweider and his fellow musicians have found riches within and many friends without. In an era where the dumbing down of the New Age genre has resulted in a plethora of mindless dronings of ambient whitenoise, this album stands as a reminder of what meditative electroacoustic music can truly be. If you like this release, try its two companion works as well, either separately, or as packaged together in the two CD set "The Trilogy". To follow Vollenweider's continuing evolution as an artist, try the next albums he recorded: "Down from the Moon" and "Dancing with the Lion"."
One of the best Andreas' earlier works
Adrian | Ljubljana, Slovenia, Europe | 01/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"»Caverna magica«, or »The Magic Cave«, was one of the last Andreas' albums I purchased for my collection, regretting soon I hadn't done it before because it really is a masterpiece. First, this album has to be listened as a whole rather than just individual tracks, because it is hard to tell them one from another - this is half an hour long composition of continues pieces which flow one into another. The album starts with hollow, blur conversation between a man and a woman walking through the forest and entering the cave, their surprised voices lost in the echoes from the cave walls, water drops falling from the stalactites, bats flutter... here, »Caverna Magica« theme starts, first slowly and softly, before Andreas' characteristic electronic harp sound takes over. Just before you start to appreciate it, the theme breaks into »Mandragora« - from here to »Sena Stanjena?« track, this becomes one long, beautiful harp composition, with female voices, drums, soft synth sounds, Chinese and other instruments joining now and then. »Belladonna« and »Angóh!« open the second part of the album and, in my opinion, represent the peak in Andreas' earlier period of his creativity. I would especially like to emphasize the way in which Andreas managed to end »Belladonna« with male and female voices, fading into slow, vibrating intermission, just a few seconds before »Angóh!« drum pattern begins. Undoubtedly, »Belladonna« and »Angóh!« were entitled to represent »Caverna Magica« on Andreas' »Essential« collection, released just recently. Three more tracks, and this, too short album, is closed by »Caverna Magica« theme again, this time in more dinamic and faster way, ended by water splash and dolphin sounds.
While Andreas' first album »In the garden...« was merely a musical experiment, though very successful one, »Caverna Magica« showed Andreas' great musical talent which, in following years, would soon culminate in his most beautiful earlier-period works like the successor »White Winds« or »Down to the Moon«. I live in a town with one of the world's most famous cave nearby, which offers me a chance to experience this album on headphones in its own ambient."
TAKE A MAGICAL JOURNEY WITH THIS MESMERIZING CD!!!
John T. Howton | Atlanta, GA United States | 08/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All Andreas Vollenweider MUST own the following 3 Vollenweider CD's! 'Down to the Moon', 'The White Winds', & this CD - 'Caverna Magica'! All are enchanting. All are dreamy. All hypnotize you with their magic! With tracks like 'Lunar Pond' & 'Belladonna', you simply can't go wrong for an incredible CD! 'LUSH' is an apt word to describe 'Caverna Magical' - but that's not all! It is captivating, playful, enchanting - like taking flight with Peter Pan! Play this CD & you too, will soon fly, fly, fly! (Guaranteed - you will LOVE this amazing CD!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
Eileen G. from CASTLE ROCK, WA 
