Enchanted Falls

New age music is often a soundtrack to the imagination, but sometimes its creators are kind enough to offer a little glimpse of the imagery that inspired them. Ariell's gentle collection -- which blends a variety of impressionistic, graceful piano and synth sounds with spirited flute passages and some acoustic guitar harmonies -- was inspired by a very specific place. He encountered the beauty of a place called Visconde de Maua in the Manitiqueira mountain range in Brazil, which he compares to the more familiar landscapes of the European Alps. He mentions the more than 200 breathtaking waterfalls and rivers in this area, along with a variety of birds, flowers, and butterflies -- all of which inspire a recording of lovely background music, music which has a fine lullaby and meditative effect. He's much more successful on acoustic piano (as on a piece like "Forest Angels") than on solo flute meditations like "Peaceful Rain," but multi-instrument ensemble tunes ("Mountain Ride") show the fullest range of his talent. "Flowers Valley" features a dramatic orchestra rising behind a soft flute melody. All is beautiful and enchanting, but it's a shame he didn't enhance the experience with a booklet of photos so that listeners could more fully share in his experience.