[1988] Andy Summers / Mysterious Barricades (Full Album)

Most well known as the guitarist for the Police, many may not be familiar with Andy's amazing solo material in the world of ambient new age-y fusion music. This album is my absolute favorite solo CD by Andy Summers, his debut on Private Music, with evocative tracks like "Emperor's Last Straw" and "Red Balloon" taking me instantly back to 1988 when I first heard them...definitely my top picks from this one. I always take this album on my mp3 player when I go on my isolated backpacking trips through the Nantahala National Forest, provides nice ambience.

Tracklist:
1. Red Balloon 0:00
2. Mysterious Barricades 3:34
3. When That Day Comes 6:45
4. Train Song 8:05
5. Luna 10:48
6. Satyric Dancer 13:16
7. Shining Sea 17:07
8. Emperor's Last Straw 20:34
9. Rain 25:03
10. Tomorrow 28:17
11. In Praise Of Shadows 31:43
12. The Lost Marbles 36:33
13. How Can I Forget 39:51

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer – Andy Summers
Keyboards – David Hentschel

[gorvo]

Ah yes, another personal touchstone for me. Also some fun serendipity between my buddy Gary (Cosmic Pickle)and I who is also a youtuber. One day years ago I guess he was watching one of my videos and he had this album playing lightly in the background and when he put my video on, the same thing was playing in my own video! Only thing is I didn't know that since it was the only episode of Musical Starstreams I had taped off the radio that I'd cut out Frank Forest's I had no idea who did half the songs on that episode. Fast forward a couple months later, Gary shows the CD in his video, telling the story of hearing one of the songs in mine, I promptly order it up and the mystery is solved after 25 years or so. So that album will always have a special place in my heart for that among other reasons. 😊

[stargenemolly]

We were at a big fundraiser for my wife's school where she worked. Many of the school's parents were big name people in Hollywood and beyond, and they performed as a gift. At about the middle of the show, the stage went dark, then spotlighted a young man with mussed up hair and a guitar. He walked on casually, as if he were alone in his studio, no fanfare...And then proceeded to play his guitar, kicking over pedals at the edge of the stage, slowly building up layer upon layer of interweaving sounds, textures, tonalities. It was so beautiful it was almost painful. How could there be such music? Then he ended and the stage went dark. The entire audience, filled with super-talent, sat in stunned silence, then let out a huuuge yell, with a storm of applause. This was Andy Summers, magician! When the event was over, my wife and I found Summers outside. I was almost incoherent with feelings but managed to ask him, please, where can I hear more of this kind of music...He told me Mysterious Barricades. Dreamlike, haunting, mysterious, transcendent sensibility, endlessly evocative... Thank you for this jeweled gift, magician.

[jamesbarnett]

My favorite Summers album. Thanks for sharing.

[hdrake]

I just love his albums. Andy is one of a kind.

[steve]

Ethereal, melodic and atmospheric masterpiece. At times Andy Summers reminds me of Robert Fripp, Steve Khan, Allan Holdsworth and even Frank Gambale on occasion.

But at the end of the day, he is Andy Summers having his own unique, amazing sound, and phrasing … a true master musician and guitarist par-excellence.

[marco-qcn]

One of my best discovery in music in 1988 or 89: I found this album in a used CD department, I had already heard his first solo album from '87 "XYZ", after the first two in collaboration with Robert Fripp, but this was truly a different gem of inestimable subtlety...

[danielschaeffer]

I hit the like button in the first few bars.

[drdavid]

Thanks for uploading. I bought this when it came out on cassette in 1988 and it travelled with me on a trip around Australia and it fitted in beautifully with the landscape. For many years since, it has been my go-to ambient album. Unique and indispensable. But yes, not many people know about it.

[RobertDorschel]

Really Really REALLY wish all of the Private Music label albums will see the light of day again, on streaming services, sooner than later.

[marioharoldtellezbarros]

Such a master piece, no doubt. Luna is my very very fab from the album.
Greetings from CHILE 🍷🍷🍷🍷

[micha]

I've just looking for this album everywhere! These earlier albums are pretty rare! Thanks for upload, mister!!

[deanwolfechannel]

Bought on cassette when it came out. Fantastic guitarist composer.

[nicolasclet]

Merveilleux.
Transporté par ce grand musicien.

[vr]

In praise of shadows is a masterpiece, thanks for posting the full album.

[marcobello]

Shining Sea a masterwork of guitar tone: superb touching in feeling-strings (vibrato + sustain)...

[Majnun]

Wow! First time hearing this right now… Absolutely beautiful!

[xensboy]

"Tomorrow" breaks my heart. Such melancholy feelings from masterful Andy.

[Angel-nbfn]

The channel who takes you back to 80s & 90s without any time machine!

[lions]

Another reason why this is my favourite YouTube channel. Thankyou 😊

[djangor]

Thanks for uploading this wonderful album KJC Muzique. Like you I'm totally awestruck by this album, particularly the songs highlighted in your album outline above. I thinks this one will become my go to chill out music any time I feel like I need a break.