Dreamspace

Dreamspace is an intriguing third album marking a turning point, on which Stratovarius — in the period when Timo Tolkki handled not only guitar but vocals — binds neoclassical guitar and an introspective, uneasy air. In the dashing songs, Tolkki’s fast, vivid guitar phrases race through, while in the mid-tempo songs, keyboards and harmony give deep shading. A record with an appeal different from the later clear style. In the tension of the opener “Chasing Shadows,” the drama of “Eyes of the World” and cuts like “Tears of Ice,” “Dreamspace” and “Hold on to Your Dream,” a somewhat edgy, unstable appeal, different from the later bright, grand power metal, dwells. A stance of prioritizing the songs’ mood and construction while foregrounding technique can be seen. Its appeal is that this stance — prioritizing the whole song’s mood and precise construction rather than merely showing off high guitar technique — forms a sure foundation leading to the later great leap. Rather than chasing flashy solos, one wants to savor the contrast between the moment the guitar leads a beautiful melody and the moment the song sinks. It is an important record with a depth particular to a transitional period.