I just had to leave a review of this cd just because it is so amazingly bizarre (in a good way). Out of all the bands and music that has been inspired by the Beach Boys legendary Pet Sounds, this one seems to have one up on all the others. Hidden Lands (as best as I can tell) seems to have been inspired not just by Pet Sounds but by the song Pet Sounds within Pet Sounds! If you can imagine one entire record of that song (an instrumental buried deep in that album with it's Barney Kessel guitar parts, Carol Kaye bass lines and 'clip'clop' percussion) done mostly on a modern synthpads, with a lush pillows of vocals (somewhat buried in the mix), then you would have a good idea of what this CD is like. Amazing. Bizarre. Strange. Great. My only negative is the sameness of the tracks and there is not exactly a lot of dynamics here. My advice, buy it, put it's best tracks (Sunbeam Show, Warm Forest Floor, A Strange Land Discovered) on a play list with some choice tracks from The Botticellis, Miracle Fortress, Ramona Falls and maybe the new Birds & Batteries CD, and you'd have a nice little modern 'beach boys' inspired brew there.
I came across this album by accident, but now this one of my favorite albums. It's great to listen to at night; it lulls you to sleep, but in the good way.
This album reminds me of a combination of old Disney cartoons and Willy Wonka music. It's got this vibe that is so out of this world.
This album is a great example of musical art. It has great vocals and soundscapes.