The Grail Quest: The Arthurian Collection, Vol. 1

The Grail Quest: The Arthurian Collection, Vol. 1 is the first release in a planned series by Medwyn Goodall and Oreade Music. As the liner notes define it, the grail quest "is a search for the ultimate wisdom and truth, and a musical journey through sadness, joy, grace, and attainment." Goodall tries to build on those emotions with the seven instrumentals here, using synthesizers and keyboard melodies predominantly but also woodwinds and electronic percussion. "My Lady's Favour" and "The Grail" interpret traditional Celtic melodies, "Endless Search" is contemplative and mournful, and "Quest Knights" is a prototypical contemporary instrumental with its lilting keyboard melody and gentle tempo. The imagery and thematics guiding Grail Quest don't always translate to its music. But Goodall seems committed throughout, and it's still a solid-enough entry in the artist's prolific career.