Norman Candler, Norman Candler - Magic Strings – The Soft Magic (1989)

"The Soft Magic" (1989) is a studio album by the distinguished German composer, arranger, and conductor Gerhard Narholz, released under his best-known artistic pseudonym, Norman Candler (the project was sometimes listed as Norman Candler - Magic Strings).

This release, released on the prestigious German label Intersound, is a benchmark example of European instrumental music of the late 1980s.

"The Soft Magic" fully lives up to its name—it is incredibly soft, relaxing, and cinematic music, designed to create a comfortable soundscape. This type of music was widely used in those years on European radio and television as intros and for relaxation.

Unlike many of his peers (such as James Last or Paul Mauriat), who often relied on instrumental covers of current pop hits, Gerhard Narholz focuses on creating original, deeply atmospheric miniatures on this album. The album's compositions flow seamlessly, inviting the listener on an imaginary journey through pastoral landscapes. Candler employs complex yet easy-to-understand harmonies, making the album a breeze to listen to without becoming tiring.

Beyond its aesthetic value, this record is highly prized by collectors of so-called library music, as Narholz, through his companies (including Sonoton), created benchmark archives of high-quality audio for the media industry.