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Quotes:
*Bill Binkelman / Wind and Wire: " You don't need to be a horse lover to appreciate the care and quality that Paul brings to the recording. I recommend the album."
*Chris
Spector/ Midwest Record Recap: "Mixing his passion with his calling, William Paul creates a well woven soundscape that horse lovers will have an intuitive feel for and take to heart. The music is so
rich with emotion and texture."
*Peter Dolan/ CDReviews:
"William Paul has more than just a profound love for this noble animal, but also a deep respect, a feeling of reverential spiritualism - an equating of the equine spirit with the highest of virtues. These powerful feelings manifest themselves in the tracks on the CD."
*Skip Whitson/ The Sun News/New Mexico: "I found it to be relaxing, soothing and highly evocative. I was intrigued by the "horse feel".
I'm quite impressed with William Paul's skill with composition.
*J-Sin/ Smother.net:
"William Paul has employed luxurious synths that coat with a topping of sugar all of the songs giving them a dainty but strong reserved feel perfectly suited as a tribute to the horse. Interesting and certainly a unique idea for an album."
*Dick Metcalf / Improvijazzation: "William's music will inspire your imagination. He clearly loves communicating his feelings/dreams through music, and you will be transported, I
can assure you. I give this one a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone who likes to hear enchantment come alive."
*Blase` DeStefeno / Outsmart Magazine:
" The compositions might remind the listener of Windham Hill-style offerings, with motifs occasionally reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil themes."
*Elias Granillo / Sea of
Tranquility : " a union of the breadth of Vangelis, the solemnity of Kitaro, and the artifice of Yanni. If this is your cup of mirth, it will sprint not by yards, but miles."
Celebrity Quotes:
* Kim Novak/ Movie Star Legend: " Thank you, William, for sharing your special talent in communicating in a language that all creatures can understand and
appreciate."
* Julie Krone/ Triple Crown Winning Jockey: " The CD is most enjoyable. I put Horse Dreams on my
i-Pod."
Complete Reviews:
"Thank you for
sharing your special talent in communicating in a language that all creatures can understand and appreciate."
Kim Novak / Hollywood Legend
" a truly beautiful work of art, I liken it to the work
of Kitaro, whom I consider one of the seminal artists in the New Age genre. William Paul ranks right up there with Kitaro."
Kenny Hart - indie-music.com
"Drawing inspiration from classical
music, keyboard player William Paul pays musical homage to that noblest of creatures, the horse and succeeds in capturing many of the animal's fine qualities, whether via portrayals of mythical creatures(Pegasus
Flight," "Centaurs") or musical images borne from reality (Arabians in the Desert" "Andalusian Renewal").
While I resonated with the album's intent, it was the charming music
and sure-handedness that Paul displays with his considerable and daunting task that won me over. You don't need to be a horse lover to appreciate the care and quality that Paul brings to the recording, although it
obviously will help you connect to the themes and intent. In either case, I recommend the album.
Bill Binkelman - Wind and Wire
"Mixing his passion with his calling, Paul creates a well woven
soundscape that horse lovers will have an intuitive feel for and take to heart as a specialty sub-genre. Not exactly an impressionistic date, it borders on being an other worldly date as the music is so rich with
emotion and texture. Certainly something different that will get people thinking about horses in a different, musical light."
Chris Spector - Midwest Record Recap
"His work is completely
non-vocal, but there is still a sense of a story being told - the feeling of a sound track to a film being shown just beyond the listener's vision. A film featuring slow motion shots of horses; horses gallopoing
across open plains; shaggy horses trekking in moonlit caravans through the still night; horses in a myriad of settings and situations - all songs united, not just by their equestrian themes, but also by a dream-like
sense of wonder or detachment.
The composer has more than just a profound love for this noble animal, but also a deep respect. More than even that, I gather, is a feeling of reverential spiritualism - an equating
of the equine spirit with the highest of virtues."
Peter Dolan - CDReviews
I found it to be relaxing, soothing, and hightly evocative. I was intriqued by the "horse feel". I've found it
works quite nicely for a background piece.
I'm quite impressed with William Paul's skill with composition. All the pieces share a certain "feel", but careful listening reveals a diverse collection of
musical styles being woven together. He does this quite well.
I also like to see people following their hearts. We need more of that. So give it a listen. You may find an echo of his passion in your own response.
Skip Whitson - The Sun News/New Mexico
"Constructing soundscapes that would envision this theme seem to be of no issue to composer William Paul. He employed luxurious synths that coat with a topping of sugar all of the songs giving them a dainty
but strong reserved feel perfectly suited as a tribute to the horse. Interesting and certainly a unique idea for an album."
J-Sin - smother.net
An ambitious undertaking that stretches the limits of
the imagination. It is not unusual to have music or literature or - for that matter - any art form dedicated to the bearty and fortitude of the horse. It is unusual to find a CD so broadly encompassing man's equine
friends. The music on this CD is beautiful. William uses gentle acoustics and subtle electronics to create neo-classical atmospheres with new age sensitivities and meditative qualities.
"the depth and
clarity of the soundscapes and atmospheres will take focused listeners on many journeys. If the listeners read the liner notes first, those journeys can, indeed, be into the soul of the horse."
With or
without the theme, this music stands on its own merits as a wonderful performance. It is a worthy addition to any collection.
Jim Brenholts - Awareness Magazine
I'm not sure how you'd tell if these were
"authentic" dreams of horses & unicorns... but, William's music will inspire your imagination to see unicorns taking gentle steps, especially on the opening track (which was my favorite, by the way),
"Dance of the Unicorn". Though gentle, there is a lot of power in the music... Mr. Paul clearly loves communicating his feelings/dreams through music, & and you will be transported, I can assure
you. I give this one a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone who likes to hear "enchantment" come alive.
Dick Metcalf – Improvijazzation
"if there is anybody capable of writing and recording
a present-day soundtrack journey inspired by the horse, it's Paul" Two compositions that immediately to mind are "Arabians in the Desert" and "Asian Moon Mare". I wondered how Paul would
tackle two vastly different cultures within the music. Fortunately, he does so with ease and celebrates not only the animals themselves, but also the musical motifs from their respective homelands. While there are
elements that tie each of the songs together to create the whole of "Horse Dreams," each melody is given a life unto itself. This is a tremendous strength for the album, expecially considering the diverse
number of horses both mythical and real that are being written about. William Paul has great affection for the animal that inspired the album and approaches the material with sincerity and respect. "Horse
Dreams" is a labor of love and while the final composition, " Fallen Horse Tribute," is essentially one of sadness, it does mirror history and in doing so promises beauty in the birth of what is yet
to come.
Kage Allen - Modamag.com
Pianist/synthesist William Paul is fond of our equine friends and he isn't afraid to express himself: His new instrumental album "Horse Dreams" is unabashedly
mellifluous in nature and undeniably new age in origin - a union of the breadth of Vangelis, the solemnity of Kitaro, and the artifice of Yanni.
If this is your cup of mirth, it will sprint not by yards, but miles.
Elias Granillo - Sea of Tranquility
I know it's not right to judge a book, or an album for that matter, by its cover... but when I
opened the package containing our first submission for this quarter, I just knew that "Horse Dreams" was going to be different, something spectacular! When I walked out of the post office with the album in
hand, I popped the CD in my car stereo (not the best place by any means), but I was just floored by (1) Dance of the Unicorn; it painted such a vivid picture of the mythical animal... just breathtaking. "Horse
Dreams" is a masterful tribute to horses, that will touch your soul, and take you on some exciting adventures. I'm honored to be able to bestow Streams-of-Time's most prestigious honor of 5 out of 5 Top Pick!
to "Horse Dreams."
This album has easily made a home in my most revered music collection.
Joshua Anderson - Streams-of-Time
Destined to become a treasured part of my CD collection! Horse
Dreams is a skillful and fantastical album in which William Paul, invites listeners of all ages to come and join in his celebration of the spirit, romance and lore of the horse. Rarely have I seen such a
beautifullly arranged album, not to mention the stunning artwork by Marti Adrian that graces the cover. It wasn't the innocent and airy notes of (2) Pegasus Flight which took to the skies and truly captured my
imagination. But rather, it was the dramatic and sweeping historic tale of the majestic and beloved steed of Alexander the Great in, (3) For Bucephalus, which captured my heart. I gladly bestow upon William Paul,
Streams-of-Time's highest honors, a 5 out of 5 stars and Top Pick status! But when all is said and done, I can sum up this album in one word, Phenomenal!
Nancy - Streams-of-Time
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