In The Labyrinth - "The Garden Of Mysteries" {Sweden} [1994] (Prog Folk)

In May 1994, In The Labyrinth privately released a cassette called Mysteriernas Trädgård (i.e. The garden of mysteries), which soon led on to the CD production of The Garden of Mysteries. This cassette, for which they held no higher marketing ambitions than to have it distributed among esoteric book (and music) stores around Sweden, had initially been intended as an experiment in combining shaman drums with a variety of ethnical styles. However, the project evolved into a more complex format picking up influences from all over the world and moulding together impressions which the band members had gathered along journeys to both near and far. By the spring of 1995, the first phase of ITL had dissolved due to disagreements over economic and social issues, wherefore Peter Lindahl was left all to himself working for completion of the CD. Although quite a lot of the music had already been featured on the cassette, he added a bunch of new instrumentals and a couple of vocal tracks. Peter found great use of his mellotron, which throughout the eighties had been standing around virtually untouched. Other odd instruments that had not seen the light of day for a long time were picked out of the wardrobe, instruments such as his viola da gamba, the Turkish saz and all sorts of woodwinds.
The exploration of the mysterious garden just led on and on until the summer of 1996, when after a lot of postponing on the record company’s side, the CD was finally released. This actually meant that APM was putting out an album by a constellation now decimated to what had almost become a one man band! The Garden of Mysteries was received from critical fanfare by an overwhelming response even though it was advertantly admitted that the concept of ITL did not exactly fit in with the “orthodox” definition of progressive rock. More info ... http://www.inthelabyrinth.com/CD-GardenOfMysteries.html

IN THE LABYRINTH is an experimental musical project based in Stockholm, Sweden and is led by Peter LINDAHL. The main concern is to mix a wide array of styles to create a symbiosis quite unlike most music heard of today. You could define it as progressive rock with a strong ethnical element, almost like an early PINK FLOYD with both classical and oriental overtones.Three CDs and various compilation tracks have been released so far. The texture of these is mostly mysterious and melancholy, often broadened by rich arrangements that feature diverse instrumentation and sometimes vocals. There is an emphasis put on beauty but also on the haunting and the desolate. "Dryad" (2002) is the third album by this band, after "Garden Of Mysteries" & "Walking On Clouds". It took almost eight years to create this little masterpiece, and now, everyone can notice that the wait was truly worth it ! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=451

01. Gates of Andorak (3:51)

02. Karakoram Pass (3:10)

03. Escape From Canaan (4:10)

04. Hiram Abiff (3:40)

05. Kekova (The Sunken City) (3:03)

06. Ali Hasan (4:07)

07. Aslan (2:28)

08. Meditating Minotauros (4:34)

09. The Garden of Mysteries II (3:00)

10. Monsoon (2:54)

11. Andalucy (2:31)

12. Journey to Hel (4:49)

13. Moorish Waltz (2:31)

14. Trans Turkish Express (2:36)

15. Aral (5:49)

16. Moorish Waltz (2:31)

17. Desert Visions (2:08)

18. Ya Qader (3:00)

19. The Garden of Mysteries I (1:40)

20. La Dame Inconnue (2:00)

21. Almeria (4:50)

22. Palm-Cat (2:47)

- Peter Lindahl: Mellotron, Fender Stratocaster, saz, zither, acoustic guitars, bass, mandolin, samplers and synthesizers, melodion, viola da gamba, flutes, woodwinds, oriental and western percussion (darbouka, daf, tambourine, etc), tamboura, sound effects, vocals, background harmonies and narration.

- Helena Selander: Background harmonies and vocal improvisation.

- Ulf Hansson: Darbouka & Egyptian tabla.

- Mikael Gejel: Flutes, acoustic guitar, bass, synthesizers and samplers, tamboura, percussion, background harmonies and jojk.

- Karin Langhard-Gejel: Djembe, flute and background harmonies.

- Stefan Ottman: Narration.

- Helena Jacobssen: Background harmonies nad vocal improvisation.

06. Ali Hasan ...
09. The garden of mysteries II ...

10. Monsoon ...

Link for download "In The Labyrinth - The Garden Of Mysteries" in comments ...