Gandalf - To Another Horizon/Magic Theatre album reviews

Enigmatic 80s instrumentals Gandalf still cast a spell.

Gandalf - To Another Horizon album art

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

Gandalf is Austrian multi-instrumentalist wizard Heinz Strobl, who, after spending the 70s playing in progressive rock bands, retreated to his studio. After his second album Visions became a success, he had an inspired and prolific 80s. Generally labelled (or dismissed) as a ‘new age’ composer, he’s been compared to Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Bo Hansson and Mike Oldfield, essentially on the basis that he creates flowing, shimmering instrumental soundscapes. Yet his work has a very individual charm, and if you’ve never taken the plunge – perhaps erroneously assuming that he’d be going on about Tolkienesque fairies and goblins – these two remasters offer a realm of riches. Relaxing yet spirited and nimble, his music is a thing of beauty and a well-kept secret that reveals a treasure-trove of little epiphanies.

Unavailable for years, 1983’s To Another Horizon comes with restored artwork, notes and an interview with Gandalf, in which he discusses the album’s themes of ecology, sci-fi and the cold war. The joy of it, however, is its timelessness. As he hungrily but restrainedly combines synthesisers, sitars, guitars and even wind chimes, the music, easily conjuring up visual, cinematic ideas, sounds as fresh as a daisy; timeless even. The following year’s Magic Theatre is even better. Inspired by Hermann Hesse’s psychoanalytic prose Steppenwolf, it has each dramatic track, or movement, going through a different door into the chambers of our subconscious. How very Austrian! He’s a cleverly diverse composer, mixing light and shade and ensuring the music builds in impact. A track such as Loss Of Identity In The Labyrinth Of Delusions is even more intriguing than its title, which is no mean feat. If anything, these early albums best showcase Strobl in his truly progressive, exploratory period, before he began to merit that ‘new age’ label. To a newcomer and convert, it’s magical stuff.

Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts has written about music, films, and art for innumerable outlets. His new book The Velvet Underground is out April 4. He has also published books on Lou Reed, Elton John, the Gothic arts, Talk Talk, Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansson, Abba, Tom Jones and others. Among his interviewees over the years have been David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Bryan Ferry, Al Green, Tom Waits & Lou Reed. Born in North Wales, he lives in London.

Latest in
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
The Mars Volta
“My totalitarian rule might not be cool, but at least we’ve made interesting records. At least we polarise people”: It took The Mars Volta three years and several arguments to make Noctourniquet
/news/the-darkness-i-hate-myself
"When the storm clouds clear, the band’s innate pop sensibilities shine as brightly as ever": In a world of bread-and-butter rock bands, The Darkness remain the toast of the town
Latest in Review
/news/the-darkness-i-hate-myself
"When the storm clouds clear, the band’s innate pop sensibilities shine as brightly as ever": In a world of bread-and-butter rock bands, The Darkness remain the toast of the town
Sex Pistols at the RAH
"Open the dance floor, you’ll never get to do it again." Forget John Lydon's bitter and boring "karaoke" jibes, with Frank Carter up front, the Sex Pistols sound like the world's greatest punk band once more
Arch Enemy posing in an alleyway
Arch Enemy promised they'd throw out the rule book for Blood Dynasty. They didn't go quite that far, but this is the boldest album of the Alissa White-Gluz era - and it kicks ass
The Darkness press shot
"Not just one of the best British rock albums of all time, but one of the best debut albums ever made": That time The Darkness added a riot of colour to a grey musical landscape
Roger Waters - The Dark Side of the Moon Redux Deluxe Box Set
“The live recording sees the piece come to life… amid the sepulchral gloom there are moments of real beauty”: Roger Waters' Super Deluxe Box Set of his Dark Side Of The Moon Redux
Cradle Of Filth Press Shot 2025
Twiddly Iron Maiden harmonies, thrash riffs, horror, rapping (kind of) and sexy goth allure: The Screaming Of The Valkyries is peak Cradle Of Filth