Carsten Dahl, a graduate of the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen, began as a drummer but switched to piano – an instrument which he has had no formal training – midway through his time at the conservatory. He subsequently excelled in bebop, post bop, free, and classical music. Interestingly, he has recorded for the Deutsche Grammophone label, and is currently involved in recording Bach's challenging ‘Goldberg Variations’. His reputation is spreading, France's Jazzhot magazine has hailed him ‘a master of the keyboard, probably the best pianist in Europe,’ while his last solo album Effanta won the Danish Music Award for the Best Jazz Release of the Year in 2011. Dahl's thoughtful, almost spiritual approach to improvisation is here employed in the unusual challenge of ‘seeking the childlike ability to be completely immersed in the moment, a state of wonder and curiosity’ that, he claims, ‘is difficult to achieve as an adult.’ Whether he has succeeded in achieving this state of mind, only he will know. The album comprises a series of ten ‘Dreamchild’ episodes or moods, ranging from ‘Dreamchild #1’ at 24 minutes 38 seconds to ‘Dreamchild #9’ that clocks in at 1 minute 27 seconds. However, a certain monotony of tone pervades; ‘Dreamchild #1’ might be described as searching, but not finding, while the Richard Claydermanesque ‘Dreamchild #2’ or the jaunty ‘Dreamchild #4’, like several ‘Dreamchild’ interludes, remain curiously unfulfilling. In 1984, Chick Corea released Children's Songs, where his stated wish was ‘to convey simplicity as beauty, as represented in the spirit of a child.’ Some embraced the album, while others regarded it as one more step on the artist's journey, filed it away and waited for the next release to come along.