In Search of the Angels

I first heard the music of Nicholas Dodd probably about 10 years ago (a rough estimate), when my mum had recorded a tape off my uncle called “Waves – Nicholas Dodd”. The first time I listened to this I loved it, and recorded myself a copy straight away. The music was played over the top of the sound of waves of the sea. On side one was a sweet, gentle piano tune. On side two was a piece which sounded like angels calling from far away. I loved this piece, really loved it; it tugged on the heart strings like nothing else I’d ever heard; eventually it faded away, leaving just the sound of the waves; a short while later, another piece emerged, this one even better than the previous one, and pulling the heart strings until they nearly snapped.

A while later, probably a year or so later, my brother had persuaded me to go into this rather alternative and arty-farty type shop in the lovely small Gloucestershire town of Nailsworth. I thought it was all quite nice in there, but eventually was starting to get bored; but then I spotted something – a cassette: Nicholas Dodd: Starlands 1. I bought this, and listened to it on my personal stereo in the back of the car on the way home.

Track details from the inlay card…

Side 1

1. Wings of Light 6:14
2. Golden Land 7:13
3. Green Embers 7:35
4.  Heavenly Hymn 7:17

Side 2

1. Summer Solstice 7:55
2. Ascension 4:35
3. Father Forgive Them 4:32
4.  Redemption 9:27

And then on the side it says:

“Nicholas Dodd is an accomplished classically trained artist. His “New Age” synthesizer work often reveals his classical background. Starlands 1, the first of a trilogy, has a truly uplifting effect, stirring heart and mind to heavenly vistas.”

Yes, it does.

I can’t find Starlands 2 or 3. Never mind that, I can’t even find any more of his synthesizer work at all. A search on the internet reveals a huge work history as a classical conductor/arranger. Look here.

No less than 52 film scores since 1993! This includes some quite famous ones such as The World Is Not Enough, The Stepford Wives and Godzilla.

A Google search for “Nicholas Dodd Starlands” returns nothing; the same with “Nicholas Dodd Waves”. The search “Nicholas Dodd synth” doesn’t bring back anything of any real use either.