After his 1990 album veered away in a very different direction from Circle, Ralf thankfully drifted somewhat closer to the styles he explored in his debut album with his latest release to date. There is a greater emphasis on jazz elements than the second album’s rockier feel, which is as it should be – Illenberger’s music is much more suited to jazz. If anything, this album offers quite a few surprises, including the addition of vocalist Susan Osborn and more keyboards and piano than previous albums. The only problem with Soleil is that it has been Illenberger’s last album to date – and considering the promise that this one showed, that’s a crying shame. If you liked Circle, you’ll love this.
- First Beam (1:43)
- Dancing Kachinas (3:22)
- Thin Blood (4:18)
- Soleil (5:28)
- You and I (4:38)
- Nightfall (2:51)
- Dark Glow (6:15)
- Traveler in Time (5:04)
- Sunstorm (5:24)
- Quiet Morning (6:21)
- Southwest (4:52)
Released by: Narada
Release date: 1993
Total running time: 50:16