Ralf Illenberger: The Gateway
Produced by Ralf Illenberger and Gibbs Platen
with Buedi Siebert on flutes, saxes and percussion, Walter and Peter Keiser on drums and bass and Zirque Bonner on Fretless Bass, Illenberger created a fascinating soundscape with swirling guitars and driving rhythms. Recorded 1998
at Thundermountain Studio in Sedona.

“THE GATEWAY” from Ralf Illenberger is a stunning change in pace from the serenity of “SEDONA” his release in 1996.Though still experimenting with unusual harmonies, this album ramps up the intensity with a little more emphasis on rhythm and percussion, and even some electric guitar and keyboard touches. Its easily his most exotic sounding work since his solo debut “CIRCLE” and in my opinion his best since 1993’s “SOLEIL”. Some of this material features the kind of complexity that most of us would expect to hear in a movie score, as opposed to a more mainstream instrumental album, and in places it reminded me very much of Mike Oldfield’s very experimental “OMMADAWN”.
H