Ambient Expanse [Import]

This recording is a collaboration between Roach and other luminaries in the ambient music field. The music is not challenging, which is to say it's a good place to start if you're interested in exploring the ambient world. I heard some of this CD on the Public Radio show "Music from the Hearts of Space", and was quite taken with it, even though my background is, shall we say, rather "square" -- I live on Bach and English church music.

The cut that first got my attention was "Point of Safety". It was intriguing enough to get me to buy the CD. Since then, I have obtained several others, mostly by Roach (if you like this one, I'd suggest "Quiet Music" and the relatively new "Midnight Moon"). Since this recording is a collaboration with other artists, you get more than just Roach. I haven't been able to assimilate some of the other artists as easily as I have Roach's music.

I understand that this collection is good for relaxation, and thus may help one sleep. It helps me relax too. But, this is a great collection to "listen to" as well because it's got some awesome ambient tracks on it. When I say listen, of course, I mean putting on and listening to the music as one would classical, jazz, or rock music.

1. I'm a big Patrick O'hearn fan, have all of his albums, and while this is a good track, Patrick's a better song writer than an ambient music writer. The best ambient music is that which takes us away from the norm and creates an entirely new sonic reality; this reality's created by a new sonic language, a language which isn't dependent on Western music's tonic/dominant relationship or at least not dependent on it to the point of being obvious. Patrick's song is good and pleasing to listen to, but it's too grounded in the tonic/dominant relationship and thus fails to achieve a higher ambient musical status.

2. This is a fantastic work by Vir Unis. It's a work which reveals exquisite moments of openness, where the horizon seems to go on forever, like looking at a large forest of trees all blowing in the wind simultaneously. I can barely think of another ambient work which has brought me to tears with it's beauty and inspired moments. The album's worth having alone for this work. (Contrast this to the Patrick O'hearn track where this one isn't reflective at all of a tonic/dominant relationship.)

3. Stephen Bacchus' piece is pleasing to listen to, and it also relies very heavily on a tonic/dominant relationship. It's as though someone took a chorale from J.S. Bach, and slowed it way down, this time playing the chords with a synthesizer. Because of this, it fails to enjoy the otherworldliness of the Vir Unis and Vidna Obmana tracks. But, nonetheless, I listen to this and enjoy it's solace and it's clearly conveyed "point of safety."

4. Vidna Obmana's a favorite of mine. This track reminds me of a mixture of his "Crossing the Trail" album, and his duets with Steve Roach. Don't let the first 5 minutes fool you, "a splendid place" is revealed to us beyond and it's full of moments of shimmering sun-speckled beauty. This is another gem worth buying this album for.

5. Steve Roach is one of those take it or leave it writers for me. Sometimes, his works are inspired, but unfortunately, I feel little inspiration from this and many of his other works. He's got to be paired with another more talented individual to achieve his full potential. I always forget that this track's on the end, and by then, I usually skip it to play either the Vir Unis track again, or the Vidna Obmana track again.

In conclusion, there's a lot to be had from this album. I would've given it 5 stars if it wouldn't have been for the lackluster Roach track, and the inclusion of works too traditionally inspired for my taste.

Nonetheless, the Vir Unis and Vidna Obmana tracks are rare gems, they'll continue to move and inspire you on repeated plays. It's silly, but I always feel like a better person after I've experienced these 2 wonderful gifts. Listen closely...

..bought it in 2000 or 2001, indeed a good sleeping cd : ) but, what really kicked me is that although it's a various artists compilation, it sounded like a solid creation from one artist (to my thinking).
i'd also like to notice how multilayered the music/sound is.
When your are not sleepy, dim the lights, close your eyes and let the sound in - amaizingly it'll fill up your head with pure space, not chores ; )