STEVE ROACH: Empetus CD
The sequencer album. Eight of the 9 tracks are propelled by layers of cyclical synth rhythms, with a mix of clipped melodies and flowing, stretched string-like synths flying away on top,. In a sense, it's almost a '90's answer to the organ/loop works of Terry Riley from the '70's, with a similarly cyclical yet spellbinding nature, only here, obviously, all on synths and more full-sounding than you would imagine. But anyone who gets off on this whole spellbinding looping stuff will really enjoy this album. In addition, it also has a sound rooted in '70's TD sequencer sounds to give extra depth to the rhythms that take the centre stage throughout, except the last track which ends on a slowly drifting sea of synths and not a rhythm in sight.
STEVE ROACH: Light Fantastic CD
One of the most prolific and consistent electronic musicians of the '90's but also one of the most misjudged. Mention his name and most people think of sprawling cosmic epics at one end of the spectrum, and ultra-fast sequencers in the middle, with ethnic at the other end. Admittedly, there have been a few 'extreme' releases in the pipeline, but there are also some timeless gems such as "Structures From Silence", "Western Spaces" collaboration, "On This Planet" and "Desert Heat" to name but four, not to mention recent collaborations that are equally amazing and production duties that bring out the best in that artist.
This is another classic album. Throughout its six tracks and 58 minutes, you'll find the whole Roach musical arsenal - drums, samples, sequencers in the rhythm dept, and cosmic, full-flowing, real space synth layers on top. The sheer spectacle of the streaming synth textures on top of the crystal clear yet crisp and solid multi-layered, mostly (electro) percussive rhythm base, is a complete delight. There are vast aeons of spacious rhythmic and real space textures that cast shafts of light in all directions, with the sum of the parts being a whole that is totally mind-blowing. Featuring contributions from Obmana and Unis, this is music that has all the right ingredients from the booming dynamics welling up from below to the gorgeous high-flying synth clouds that pass overhead. With its infinitely vast textural range, the mood is one of darkness and beauty at the same time. A classic album of synths and drums for those that don't want it too intense, want plenty happening but want it to flow to superbly dramatic effect - music in which to submerge yourself.
STEVE ROACH: On This Planet CD
Oh, Hallelujah - He's back on form, and with a vengeance. 72 minutes of the finest Roach music for years on an album of new material recorded live-in-the-studio. It starts with a grand set of loud and cosmic synth chords and layers before a softly spoken, lightly echoed female voice is heard deep in the mix amidst the spacey synth soundscapes. The voice quickly disappears, the synth clouds gather and threaten storms as the music leads directly into track 2. A clattering per rhythm begins, the synth storm rolls away, leaving a soundpool of electronic swirls, layers of percussion, choppy rhythms and a starker feel (the production being just amazing - it's like it's in your room or head, as the case may be). Then you hear a chorus of voice samples chanting away in the background for a few seconds and then the whole pattern abruptly ceases as the synths appear and lead, again without a break, into track 3 where eerie samples and synths emerge, then the percussion section reappears, but this time with an approaching wave of celestial, dark synth layers and the whole mood is one of anticipation and quizzical expectancy as the undulating drum/didge layers and synth flows inexorably wind their exotic and sample-added way around the skies. Track 4 is full of booming synths that are darkly cosmic while track 5 is more rhythmic with all manner of space sounds and effects plus synth whooshes, distant synth passages and more dark space passages that really boom out and are such a trademark of this album so far. The rolling, drifting synth layers make up the final section of the track before track 6 is altogether more tranquil, still quite heavy, as the cosmic mood returns, with percussives slowly added as the track progresses, t he native American Indian influence felt once more on a great set of drum/perc rhythms that slowly move alongside the synth layers. Track 7 throws in all the se elements into a sizzling cauldron of electro-percussive sound while, at 10 mins (the longest track so far), track 8 continues the intensity and rolling nature of the miles of synths and drum/perc/sample layers on a track that flows superbly with choppy rhythms and gorgeous synth surrounds leading into some of the best sounding synth top layers (you can't call them melodies) heard so far as the percussion gradually disappears and gives way to the panorama of synths that makes up the finale of the piece. Directly into track 9 (there are no gaps on the music) and it's a more gentle rhythm that heralds the arrival of hissing and breathing synth passages allied to drums and percussion sections that are equally slow and drifting, and I have to admit that this part is not the most riveting thing on the album and does tend to drag a bit, going on far too long without really getting anywhere. Finally, track 10 sees a guest appearance from Patrick O'Hearn and Roger Eno on a 14 minute piece that is simply sensational with lots of bass, fantastic synth layers and plenty of rolling rhythms from the ethnic drums and percussion, as the e synth layers rise in the mix and struggle to lay climb to the musical ground set by the rhythms on a mind-expanding set of electronic/percussive waves of sound, the track ending on nearly 6 minutes of , initially booming, and ultimately cosmic synth layers, ending with synth thunder and a very spacey set of sounds, the perfect end to his darkest and best album for a long, long time.
STEVE ROACH: Slow Heat CD
STEVE ROACH: World's Edge Dbl CD£In Stock now at CD Services
Every time we get a new album, I like to revisit an older one and this time we have, between them, three CD's of cosmic, drifting space music that are absolutely timeless. The sounds are full, soothing and fly sky-high. The new one 'Slow Heat' spreads over you like the emerging desert sun from the start of early sunrise, as the beauty and glow of the single 70+ minute piece slowly wash over you with an intensity that befits the warm environments which inspired the track. In anyone's book of space music explorations, this is a stunner. 'World' can be seen as a mighty predecessor with one CD of shorter tracks and one with yet another towering inferno of gorgeous cosmic synths, with the whole album possessing a kind of quietly mystic quality, more varied on the first CD with more of a melodic sensibility but consistent throughout. Again, quite, quite superb as 3 multi-textured, multi-layered CD's drift effortlessly by, managing to be both interesting and enjoyable, a rare feat for this kind of music.
STEVE ROACH: Now/Traveler CD
The first two albums now on one CD. Taking the first album "Now" it is now clear, that with hindsight, this set of five tracks paved the way, in miniature, for the array of styles that were to flower and blossom in much greater detail across a wide, varied and consistently great set of albums. So, in the five tracks, you find sequencer music, more melodic rhythmic music, dark cosmic music, lighter drifting space music more richly textured and the final track a really optimistic slice of melodic/rhythmic delicacy with a sonorous lead synth layer on top of gently swaying electro-percussive rhythms. The relative primitiveness of it all actually sounds pretty darned fine, illustrating his strength as a composer and evoker of moods, way back at the beginning. The nine tracks on "Traveller" are predominantly rhythmic, including the classic Teutonic style sequencer lines, rolling drums, swirling synth swoops and synths on the superb 8 minute title track, while the rest ranges from some fairly light sets of melodies and rhythms but treated in a way as to be constantly engaging, to the more solid rhythm bases on which some delightful synth melodies soar and dive, all largely taken at a reasonable pace. With only a couple of shorter cosmic tracks, this album is still good today and is a neat glimpse of the musician working within a tighter musical framework and making it work.
STEVE ROACH: Magnificent Void CD£12.99
Seriously drifting, atmospheric, amorphous space synth music doesn't come much better than this and if you want an album of exotic synth layers that flows slowly and reallly does invoke images of the subject matter it is attempting to convey, then look no further than this.
STEVE ROACH/VIR UNIS: Body Electric CD
The first thing you notice here is the phenomenal production as the music is really loud yet crystal clear and you capture every facet of what is being created. Secondly, it's rhythmic, but for Roach, in a manner that has not previously been witnessed. For a start there are some really deep pounding bass lines that flow with the percussive rhythms to create a swirling rhythmic base that has you hooked right from the start. Track one then adds a whole load of synth layers - cosmic, melodic, strings- plus a flute-like synth lead that sails overhead while a gorgeous wordless female vocal flies around the mix too, all making for a tremendous 9 minute opener. Track two starts off with masses of swirling synth pools before a new percussive rhythm is gradually introduced and the soundshaping process begins as the various layers of synths, percussives, samples and effects are gathered together in a mind-boggling array of flowing music that mixes rhythmic, cosmic and melodic in a way rarely heard. Each track on the album is based on the concept of soundshaping whereby a setting is found and begun, sometimes spacey, sometimes more rhythmic, but each time the nucleus of the track, nearly always rhythmic after the intro, has a huge expanse of layers and subtleties added to it so that you are always in a new musical planet but within the same musical universe, on each track. Overall, fairly unique in its approach and delivery, and a treat for the ears.
ROACH/BRAHENY/STEARNS: Desert Solitaire CD£12.99In Stock now at CD Services
Recorded further down the line from but in a similar pattern to the "Western Spaces" album, this features 2 tracks and 14 mins of solo Roach, 3 tracks and 14 mins of solo Stearns, 3 tracks and 22 mins of Roach/Stearns, 2 tracks and 9 minutes of solo Braheny, and finally one track and 6 mins of Roach/ Braheny. Musically, it has a lot more layers and textures than the "Western" album, a much fuller sound throughout but not the wistful quality that made the other one so special. That said, the music on the is album is quite superb, the mid-length tracks allowing for a maximum expression of ideas and soundscapes within a fundamentally cosmic music field. Played almost entirely on synths and predominantly drifting, flowing, floating material, this is a beautiful and very atmospheric, heart-warming music.
STEVE ROACH/ROGER KING: Dust To Dust CD
Re-evaluation time, I have to admit. In a previous review, I gave the impression that this was very much a guitar-dominated album. Not the case. This is first and foremost a cosmic music album but with the added musical elements, unusually for a Roach album, coming from gorgeous slide and echoed guitar textures, occasional deep rumbling electric bass and percussion used for extra textures rather than any rhythmic role. The effect overall is one of a slightly dark, haunting ambience that is somehow threatening yet addictive at the same time. The mainstay of the soundscapes are the synths and electronics which soar and drift in an array of settings, carefully arranging and crafting the other instruments as part of the delicate but dynamic settings. The music has great depths to it and is very atmospheric - one that reveals new pleasures with every play and, most importantly, one you won't tire of hearing by virtue of its variation and originality in the cosmic music genre.
STEVE ROACH/VIDNA OBMANA: Ascension Of Shadows LTD EDITION 3CD BOX
CLASS - both in musical quality and packaging. Lavishly assembled in card sleeves in a solid CD-sized black box, and music that is nothing short of sensational. CD 1 features a single 71 minute track of gorgeous, rhythm-free, drifting, heavenly and flowing multi-synth layers that are very atmospheric and enjoyable listening. CD2 introduces occasional percussion/synth rhythms but nothing to detract from the reflective atmosphere created for the ever evolving travels of the beautifully played synth passages. I didn't get to CD3 in time for this but I can see that it's 72 min track should more than carry on the feelings and musical eloquence of the first two, making this set, one of the essential cosmic music purchases of the '90's, and another winner from both musicians.
BIFF JOHNSON: Reading The Bones CD
Played and composed by Johnson, produced, mixed and 'contributed' by Steve Roach, this is right up there with the best Roach albums, full of spacey synth layers and meandering percussion. Tracks are between 3 and 12 minute long, ensuring that the variety of consistently flowing yet decently varied and exotic synth/perc atmospheric textures and moods. Very good.
MA JA LE: Dreams In The Orchards Of Saturn CD
Actually the predecessor to the album produced by Steve Roach that we reviewed last time. This one follows a more diverse musical path than the follow-up, still relatively spacey but with a far grreater use of sonic textures and landscapes, starting off in a kind of cosmic Fripp & Eno territory, moving through more celestial space synths music areas before broadening out into a unique musical universe where synths and guitars spread out and become altogether looser, with rhythmic sensibilities allied to the sprawling layers of sonic tapestries that the musicians weave.
MA JA LE:Imaginarium CD
Co-produced, co-written and mixed by Steve Roach, this is a quite wonderful slice of American cosmic music presented using synths and guitars, with the guitars used in a similarly layered and textural role as the synths rather than in the normal lead manner. The compositions mean something and possess highly atmospheric qualities, rarely becoming anything less than totally engaging, and as a slice of USA space music, are some fine examples, with lots of layers and textures to keep you riveted.
V/A: Ambient Expanse CD
Featuring 5 tracks in 68 minutes, all exclusive to this CD, from 5 of the heavyweights of the space music scene, notably Patrick O'Hearn, Vir Unis, Stephen Bacchus, Vidna Obmana and Steve Roach. The 12 minute O'Hearn opener is not only one of the best tracks I've ever heard him do but is a positive classic of the genre with nothing but acres of layers of flowing synth lines to keep you transfixed - no rhythms, no melodies, no weird bits, no samples - just layers of warm, all-surrounding cosmic synth music. The 13 min Vir Unis track is similarly structured only with more textures, samples and amuch darker feel, starting with huge undercurrents of bass synths, textures and fx before opening out into an altogether brighter terrain with some magical melodic space synth lines slowly drifting to an endless horizon, the actual sounds being so lush and beautiful throughout. The 12 min Bacchus track has a greater range of textures throughout with a not-quite-sombre but very atmospheric quality to the music. Obmana's track starts quietly and gradually builds to a climax that is to the delight of all space music fans, while the 18 minute Roach track is as classic an example of his music that it is possible to get. Overall, absolutely essential for every space music fan.
STEVE ROACH: Atmospheric Conditions CD
The undisputed world master of the creation of deep, emotive synthscapes, returns with a brand new album back on the spacey/cosmic trail, and this is positively his best work for years. As opoosed to the "Slow Heat" album that evoked the -desert-at-noon feel in its endless miles of drifts that which both served as a reminder of the conditions as well as an oasis from them, this one is breathtaking in its mix of directness and complexity. By that, I mean that the foreground layerrs and textures are embellished by all manner of subtleties from further synths and keyboards that give a sense of structured infinity to the music as it weaves its magical spells and provides a new space synth path that, even for the tried and trusted area of cosmic music, is both new and addictive. A whole new canopy of sounds, layers and textures opens up before you, while not losing sight of the deep resonance and flowing drifts that take centre stage as music that oozes feeling and atmosphere. I can see this occupying a place on my CD player for a long, long time to come. Essential listening.
STEVE ROACH: Earth Dreaming Video£9.99
Now in stock on the UK PAL-VHS system and at a way lower price than the previous import copies. The music of Roach set to some stunning visual imagery for twenty-three minutes of audio and visual delights.
STEVE ROACH: Dreaming Now And Then - A Retrospective 1982-1997 DBLCD£16.99Order now from CD Services
Never thought of buying a Steve Roach album before? Then think again, because this CD, at nearly two and a half hours long, features the best cross section of his works, with excerpts from several pieces that were originally quiet lengthy, and in the process, turining much of the music that many of you who may have investiated his music before now into wholly more accessible chunks without losing any of the atmosphere or leaving the excerpt as feeling unfinished or similar. On the album you will find, rhythmic pieces with synths and drums, synths and sequencers, space and cosmic music that commands your attention and, from start to finish, music of quality and distinction. If you ever only own one album, it's worth your while to try this one out, but, since the tracks are representative of the albums from which they come (and thewre are also tracks that are exclusive to this album) , then it may open up a whole new musical universe for you.
STEVE ROACH/VIDNA OBMANA: Live Archive CD
The exploration of space - the meeting place for flowing multi-textured cosmic forces -slow motion solar flare of vast electronic soundscapes and the warm heart where love resides. This magnificent album by two of the giants of cosmic synths music is all of these and more. It's all about emotion, atmosphere, mood, being 'out there', yet spiritually alive and aware. It's joyous yet serene, hypnotic but never boring and one of the finest space music albums on, or off, the planet.
STEVE ROACH/JORGE REYES: Vine - Bark And Spore CD
The meeting of two like-minded souls, one more known for his unorthodox melds of percussion, drums, electronics and ethnic music, the other for a vast galaxy of synth soundscapes, has produced a much, much better album than I ever anticipated. Both musicians take the best and most liquid parts of their musical worlds to produce a set of tracks, from two to nineteen minutes long, that give cosmic/space- derived music a whole new identity and sense of being, as all sorts of new textures, sounds and layers are hidden and then rise just above the unfolding panaoramas of multi-synths and gentle percussives. For anyone into Roach's music in particular, who want it cosmic but don't mind it being a bit more heavily flavoured than usual, something new to what has gone before, then I urge you to try this album out.
