Jon Anderson: Olias of Sunhillow

This is Jon Anderson's first solo album, often mentioned in evidence by those who like to ridicule him — but then they haven't heard the later ones.

I can't stand the fantasy artwork and silly story relayed on the lavish gatefold-with-extra-insert sleeve. Here's an excerpt:

Metal could be seen glinting and chiming in the Western mist, Qoquaq [sic], translike [sic], sang out the rhythms in one clear tone as the singers of the North approached the scene. As they began to mingle, a strange discord arose: each tribe had not seen of each other and were at once charged to counteract the balance, only seen through a veil of innocence, still the movement was so strong all that could move, moved toward Qoquaq, so great was his song. He then gently rose as if not seen at all and guided them toward the ship the Moorglade Mover.

The music and songs are mostly lightweight. Jon plays some harp and chants a bit. It connects more to some his more ambient '90s work more than to the albums of the late '70s and early '80s that followed it.

MusicBrainz entry for this album