artist: Andreas Vollenweider country of origin: Switzerland style(s): Instrumental pop, ambient, orchestral, jazz, world beat essential releases: Dancing With The Lion (1989, Columbia) Book Of Roses (1991, CBS)

If there's such a thing as a new age superstar, Vollenweider is it. This phenomenally popular Swiss musician created an easy listening hybrid of jazz, classical and pop during the 1980's which saw him rack up album sales that easily rivaled other European contemporary instrumental artists like Jean-Michel Jarre. Vollenweider is a natural musician who started playing instruments as early as he could get his fingers around them and as such has evolved a very personal style. The Vollenweider sound - labeled new age no doubt due to its sweet, laid-back qualities - is easily identified by the modified electro-acoustic harp which sits up-front in much of his music, accompanied by percussion, wordless vocals, piano, synthesisers and sundry other instruments.

That sound doesn't actually count for much on the majority of his albums which all too often bog down in lifeless, vacuous easy listening pop. The sound may be slick, the playing faultless, but the strength of composition just isn't there. For a brief period in the late 80's, however, the standard of writing improved considerably to the point where it matched his musicianship. On Dancing With The Lion and Book Of Roses everything falls into place, further enriched with Vollenweider's increased interest in ethnic and Third World traditional music which sounds fresh in combination with his harp arrangements.

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