Earlier this week a CD called Territories fall into my lap. This is a CD with New Age music based on King's The Dark Tower series and The Talisman. At first I was a bit surprised. Is it possible to do music based on a book series or an individual book? Well, I guess it is because that is exactly what Dennis Downing has done.

The CD contains 11 tracks and as far as I can tell one is inspired by The Talisman and the rest by The Dark Tower series. Among the titles you can find names like Crossing Over, Along the Path of the Beam and Court of the Crimson King.

This CD is really special. It's nothing you put on if your having a party with some friends (this is not your typical party music), it's no something you put on when you're going to sleep or for relaxation (the music is to intense for that). This is something you put on to get in the mod for The Dark Tower and here is where it really works!

I have listen to the CD numerous of times and I was determined to give it quite a few listening before I sat down to write this review. I'm no music reviewer and was quite nervous to see if I would be able to do a fair review of a music CD (I guess you will have to be the judges of that). The first time I heard it it did sound a little like elevator music to me but I think that is because I'm totally new on New Age music. I don't think I can name one other CD or artist that delivers New Age music. I hang my head in shame…

One of the things that I found out when I listen to the CD though was that it gets better and better the more you listen to it. This isn't uncommon when it comes to music but it was a big difference between the first and last listening. I also found out that no matter what you do when you listen to it you get an urge to read about Roland. I'm not sure if this is because I know The Dark Tower books influenced it or if that would be the case even if I didn't know that but the fact remains. I want my Dark Tower fix when I listen to this CD.

The only objection I have to this CD is that I think that the title should have been something connected to The Dark Tower and not The Talisman since almost every track is inspired by The Dark Tower series. I know, I know, The Talisman is also connected to The Dark Tower series and it's no big deal but still…

Territories is a special CD that probably isn't for anybody. It's not mainstream music but it's still worth checking out, especially if you're a Dark Tower fan!

Just don't expect to hear the latest KISS or Ricky Martin tunes on it…

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