This 2005 retrospective is culled from Diane Arkenstone's 14 solo albums, plus two brand new tracks. The music on THE BEST OF varies considerably, but there is thematic consistency. As evidenced by the titles alone, it's clear that nature is Arkenstone's musical inspiration.
"Under the Blue Sky" is a pop tune replete with beautiful lyrics about the sea, dreams, and spiritual healing. Other tracks such as "The Hills at Sunset" and "Canyon Dreams" feature Arkenstone's keen compositional abilities. Using an assortment of orchestral timbres, atmospheric effects, and traditional Irish instruments, Arkenstone paints beautiful pictures of nature with each passing phrase. "Across the Sands of Time" and "The River Winds Thru the Night" borrow from the music of Africa. The former uses exotic, Egyptian modalities while the latter centers itself on West African tribal music. In general, this album is a curious blend of New Age, ambient, trance, and pop. Yet, Arkenstone's work is not so easily pigeonholed. Suffice to say, this music represents the illumination of the spirit through sound.cduniverse.com
This is a choice selection of pieces from both David's and Diane's best-selling albums. The music explores a great variety of styles and genres, from trance and ambient to world music and new age. "Being bound so closely to the musical mastermind of David Arkenstone is probably both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that she has clearly inherited her husband's musical ear. The curse is that she will ultimately be compared with her partner … she is a musical talent in her own right. Her collaborations with Adorney are even further indications that this has been a true statement for quite some time." Includes two previously unreleased songs!..Michael Debbage
Thee Sixpence are most noted by collectors as the group that, with some lineup changes, evolved into Strawberry Alarm Clock. Before that, they issued four singles in 1966-1967 on the tiny All-American label. These were above-average, though not outstanding songs in the typical raw, foreboding Los Angeles garage-verging-on-psychedelia mode, sounding close in respects to better-produced efforts during the same era by the Chocolate Watch Band, the Seeds, and the Standells…