Reviews, What's been said about:

"His singing style is warm and evocative and he possesses an incredible natural feel for phrasing, which blends nicely with his well arranged guitar work. The songs all display a genuine ability to convey emotion both on the melodic and lyrical level.” - The Rockland Review

AFRAID OF THE DARK

"Peter Sando is perhaps best known as the main wizard with Gandalf, and he travels similar ethereal psychedelic paths to that legendary group on his most recent CD outing. From the Byrdsian jangle of 'Time Waits For No One' through to the electric sitar flourishes on 'Jaded Love,' Sando stays true to his sixties roots: the title track could even be considered as a coda to 'I Watch The Moon' from the Gandalf LP. With country and blues rock flavoured numbers Sando's musical palette becomes a little broader, while 'Sally Hemmings' is a charming historical vignette in a more traditional folk setting. It’s always refreshing to hear an artist build on their previous body of work and Sando doesn’t disappoint with this selection of late night listening pleasures." - Shindig Magazine

“...is a solid CD of modern folk-rock, with definite 60’s roots. Styles run from the straight folk of “John Brown” to the soul of “Helpless” to the honky tonk rock of “Sink or Swim”, and every song is first rate. A terrific re-appearance, a CD I’ll be playing a lot. Well done!” - The Electric Druid Project

"Creatures of Habit, blends 60’s roots with modern folk-rock in this 14-track collection. Peter’s songs are stories that unfold in well-crafted lyrics. He speaks of counting your blessings, positive relationships and romance. Sando plays solid guitar leads on this mostly acoustic CD. ‘John Brown’ has precise percussion, soft guitars, a fiddle and reflective vocals telling the story of the fight for freedom. ‘Dessert Flower’ is another social commentary (... about Native Americans) with a melancholy tone and fine acoustic guitar work...." Laura T. Lynch of Kweevak.com

Gandalf 2

"Peter Sando's rich vocals sound awesome. This is a ‘60s psych-pop godsend for anyone wanting to hear more of his original material than the two songs on the first record" - Other Music, NYC

"Do the Rahgoo" on Garage Beat '66- Vol. 4

"an exhilarating manic two-minute blast of chaos"- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

"This new group has an inventive album combining original material with unique treatments of older material, including a tender version of "Scarlet Ribbons" that could bring this number back. "Golden Earrings", (a single) and "Nature Boy" are other oldies that can be played by a variety of radio formats "I Watch The Moon" and "Tiffany Rings" are among the top original cuts - Tim Hardin's "You Upset the Grace of Living is another gem." Billboard, January 25, 1969

".....think Odessy And Oracle era Zombies teamed with Phil Spector. The majority of the sole Gandalf LP comprises covers - their transcendental takes on The Mojo Men's Me About You and the standard Golden Earrings, with Sando's vocals fed through a Binson Echorec tape echo unit - all lysergic-fueled metaphysical epics of mesmerizing beauty. Hang On To A Dream even rivals Hardin's original. The few tracks that Sando does pen are equally regnant, the spooky I Watch The Moon is a favourite." Lois Wilson- MOJO magazine

"Sando’s "Can You Travel In The Dark Alone" is (Gandalf’s) crown jewel; sitar and vibes accent his harmonized vocal which delivers a message of strength and hope in a tumultuous sea which roils and surges, its dark crosscurrents played out by the bending bass line and panicked organ runs." Mike Stax- Ugly Things Magazine

"Beautiful, atmospheric mind music ..." - Garage & Beat!

"Excellent, dreamy 1969 Capitol psych LP by a band you’d never guess was from Greenwich Village ... With haunting echoed vocals, a studied languor and sophisticated arrangements that suggest a looser Zombies, the record didn’t deserve the oblivion it found on first release." - Scram

"From fragile whispers to fully fuzzed lead lines and glorious Hammond swells, this impresses. Tragically lost but now found for more than the die-hards to hear. Thanks for that, Sundazed." - Mohair Sweets

"... the band’s organ and fuzz guitar embellishments, coupled with the Colin Blunstone-inspired lead vocals of Peter Sando, elevate the project considerably, and Sando’s mesmerizing ‘Can You Travel In The Dark Alone’ is nothing less than a genuine genre classic." - Record Collector

"My worn out, poor sounding 'See For Miles' comp was offloaded as soon as Sundazed's from the masters version, with notes by our buddy Mike Stax landed. This sounds fab! For those reading not in tune with Gandalf, buy it. This is essential, ethereal, psych-pop, that is more pop than psych, yet more psych than pop. What? you say. Updates of Eden Ahbez's 'Nature Boy' (a hit for Nat King Cole), 'Golden Earrings' (an old standard, best remembered by Peggy Lee's hit) and a haunting take on folk stable 'Scarlet Ribbons' are inadvertently pop, but somehow the echo laden production and a feeling slightly reminiscent of a more paranoid Zombies and Left Banke give these safe old songs a truly psychedelic edge. Two Tim Hardin covers ('Hang Onto A Dream' and 'You Upset The Grace Of Living') are wonderful adaptations that lose nothing from the originals, whilst the band originals 'Can You Travel In The Dark Alone' and 'I Watch The Moon' are absolute gems. All we need now is a collection of unreleased '60s Sando originals, but until then this is the final chapter in Gandalf… well until, The Two Towers but that's a different affair altogether." Jon 'Mojo' Mills - Shindig Magazine

GANDALF Gandalf (Sundazed, CD) "... one of the most unique albums ever recorded, not to mention one of the longest running psychedelic collectibles ... After several ill-conceived attempts, here’s the first reissue that does justice in terms of sound quality (which matches the original vinyl) and presentation." - Doug Sheppard- Ugly Things

"The above-mentioned album is excellent, but unfortunately originals are rare. The opening cut Golden Earrings.... is a beautiful relaxing number which culminates in a spacey climax. The album also contains sensitive covers of Tim Hardin compositions including Hang On To A Dream, a lovely version of Nature Boy and some strange instrumentation in Can You Travel In The Dark Alone. There's also an ethereal and delicate cover of Harry Belatonte's 1957 recording Scarlet Ribbons. The album is a superb piece of laid back pop psychedelia." Delerium’s Psychedelic Web

"Their one and only album in 1969 was given a low-key release but should have been given more of a push, the record becoming a ?lost? classic. From it’s gem of an opening track, Golden Earrings, (also a rare 45, and actually a 1945 hit for BING CROSBY!) to the more sedate finish, I WATCH THE MOON?, it oozed pop sensibility with psychedelic and progressive leanings." The Great Psychedelic Discography by Martin C. Strong

A fantastic lost psych album -- with a moody spacey sound augmented by lots of organ, harpsichord, and electric piano! The best cuts are short and echoey -- with kind of a trippy pop feel that sounds like post-Brit invasion lyricism, mixed with LA stoner freedom, and a good dash of Love-esque soul. Titles include Tim Hardin's great "You Upset the Grace of Living", "Hang Onto A Dream", and "Never Too Far" -- plus a very cool version of "Nature Boy", and the tracks "Tiffany Rings", "I Watch The Moon", and "Me About You". Dusty Groove America