Just three word: Nostalgia, Perfeição, Primordial... Thanks excellent work

Just two word : Chef d'œuvre absolu !

Thom Brennan "Stories From The Forest" CDAs a really big fan of Thom Brennan, firstly I wanted to review his, for longer time scheduled, new album tentatively entitled as "Riverworks", but it seems there will be some delays, so I decided to focus on his latest album, "Stories From The Forest", released in 2008 as his 10th full-length album. This Seattle based composer is mostly known for his deeper and longer nature-influenced drifting vast soundscapes, but this album shows departure from his usual distinctive sound painting. Yes, his trademarking immense landscapes are still presented, but this time colored with more lively elements. Inspired by the natural wonders of the American Southwest and Pacific Northwest, "Stories From The Forest" is divided into 11 graciously floating journeys. There are compositions like "Part 1" or "Part 7" that still follow the more atmospheric path carried by delicious piano sounds even if the later track is enriched by delicate distorted guitar, pure beauties!!! Nostalgic and sensitive guitars play important role during the whole album, at times they even sound like a distorted trumpet (on "Part 2") and they add a truly cinematic feel to Thom's grandiose compositions. This album is loaded with many standout tracks, except already mentioned pieces, other absolute highlights include melodious and dramatic "Part 3", drifting and immersing "Part 5" merged with futuristic electrified sounds, emotionally moving "Part 8", high-tech vibrating "Part 9" or beautifully ethereal and euphoric "Part 10" with screaming guitar riffs, all these are true shining pearls showing definite craftiness and uniqueness in Thom Brennan's sound sculpting. "Stories From The Forest" are breathtakingly shimmering and hugely successful new course for Thom, no question about that, even if I think this album is still quite unrecognized. Absolutely undeserving, "Stories From The Forest" can be easily presented as the most accomplished effort in the long career of this prolific maestro, I won't hesitate to write a true milestone!!!Richard Gürtler (Jul 10, 2011, Bratislava, Slovakia)