Luca Turilli's Dreamquest - Lost Horizons (2006)

While completing his solo trilogy, and also getting Rhapsody Of Fire going under its new name, Luca Turilli also formed Dreamquest (his name added to it to avoid confusion with a French band, definitely not so it can give the outfit any extra publicity), this one to offer him the chance to showcase his keyboard talents, rather than guitar.
What we have is a sometimes terrific collection of more gothic and, at times, electronica metal, than power, with soaring operatic, female vocals of someone who just goes under the name of Myst, and whose identity has been kept secret. Some have suggested it's Bridget Fogle, who appeared on Turilli's THE INFINITE WONDERS OF CREATION the same year, but there has never been any firm solution to the mystery.
There are some great songs (all of conventional length - no ten minute epics here) with the likes of "Dreamquest", "Black Rose", the Italian-language "Sospiro Divino", that sounds rather like the song "Maria" from "West Side Story", and "Frozen Star" and, while there are weak moments here and there, the good moments are so exhilirating, and Mystery Girl's voice so strong, the album as a whole is just a sumptous pleasure.
Mr Tulliri can do no wrong.

****1/2