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Chris Meyer's Alias Zone feat. Robert Rich — Passage
(Bandcamp no#, 2026, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2026-09-15

Passage Cover art

The four lengthy tracks herein represent a collaboration between good friends New Mexico based synthesist Chris Meyer (Eurorack modular synthesizer, Korg wavestation, ASM Hydrasynth, Folktek Nano Garden, bells and percussion) and California based multi-instrumentalist Robert Rich (Haken Continuum, Ecowave metallic resonator, Vibraslide guitar, PVC flute, Expressive E Osmose) that transpired between 2022-2026. Each piece started in Meyer’s hands, then was sent to Rich where he had cart blanche to add whatever he wanted, then returned to Meyer for some final tweaks and percussives. These pieces are dreamy, epic-length, and at times quite vivid, with slow-evolving melodies weaving in and out of the fabric spun by the many layers of synths, often eliciting colorful and immersive sonic imagery that envelops the listener. It doesn’t take more than a minute into the opening track “Elegy” to recognize Robert Rich’s involvement, as the soaring slow motion waves of melody are very reminiscent of parts of his Somnium, a six-plus hour piece of music released on DVD in 2001, and one designed, as the title suggests, to promote slumber, rest, and meditation. With “Elegy” the most engaging elements of Somnium are distilled and executed over Meyer’s wall of synths, a beautiful and gentle piece that soothes the spirit. “Realization” follows, seventeen and a half minutes of dreamy explorative sonic tapestry featuring layers of synths, guitar, winds and something akin to a Theremin makes regular appearances as well, but the shimmering tone leads me to believe it’s that Continuum keyboard again; the piece evolves slowly over its duration, looking outward and inward, breathing like a restless storm that siezes the listener’s attention. A darker tone is embraced in “Horizonless,” where melodic fragments and mysterious percussive sounds abound, choppy, seas and distant foghorns cry out from the distance. The final piece is the shortest, at just shy of thirteen minutes “Afterlife (The Three Gates)” folds sheets of powerful molten plasma into an expansive current that expands out in all directions, a fertile space hymn that scrapes the edges of the universe. All fans of floating ambient bliss will definitely want to investigate Passage.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Robert Rich, Chris Meyer's Alias Zone

More info
http://aliaszone.bandcamp.com/album/passage

 

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