Mannheim Steamroller:Fresh Air

The entire DVD is refreshing, just what you would expect from this ground breaking group of talented musicians, and just for good measure the London Symphony joins in, plus a full motion in DVD 5.1 Surround Sound, what more could one ask for. This album is what you hoped for and more, don't pass this one up...and extraordinary collection from the "King of New Age", outstanding and original...Chip Davis has done it again...another WINNER! There is a wide variety of styles on this DVD, loaded with exciting and intriguing arrangements. "The Heart and the Feather" is wonderful, as is the "Greek Thinkers Suite", being of Greek descent I'm a little prejudice. "The Steamroller" gives the viewer just what they want to see and hear ~ ENTERTAINMENT! Love the "Back To The Future", touch with saxophones, and I thought the different style of this piece was a nice change. Mannheim Steamroller compositions never should be put into any certain category, though; whether they like it or not, I think "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Joy To The World" is the epitome of Mannheim. This DVD is excellent for another journey into the world of science and exploration into the mind and body of the creatures that roam this planet Earth.

So step right up and buy a ticket to a trip to infinity and beyond, all through the eyes of Chip Davis and his friends The Mannheim Streamroller, gotta love it!

The DVD version is really the way to experience Fresh Aire 8. The sound is incredible, the videos are pleasant enough (though the Fractals video could just be a screensaver), and the insights from Chip Davis are truly the next generation of liner notes!

The DVD isn't flawless. Some of the videos are cheesy, and the Greek Philosophers' Suite plods along a little too slowly for my taste. But you have to admire the sheer amount of work that went into this project. More importantly, the music from Fresh Aire 8 suddenly seems better when paired with the images. Chip admits that he wrote the music as a score for these videos (unlike most artists who do it the other way around), so may account for why the CD version didn't hold up as well. Just like how a movie soundtrack is less effective without the movie.

I've been a bit rough on Chip Davis over the past few months. His Ambience albums weren't up to Fresh Aire standards and Christmas Extraordinaire paled in comparison to the first two Christmas albums. But he really came through here. If you're a Steamroller fan, you ought to get this, even if you already have the CD version.