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David Parsons — Parikrama
(Celestial Harmonies 14202-2, 2000, 2CD)

by Roel Steverink, Published 2002-04-01

Parikrama Cover art

David Parsons, a veteran in space-ambient music, is a traveler at heart. All the magic places he traveled to have inspired him to make some very fine, deep-sounding ambient music. He works his way slowly to a majestic atmosphere filled with ominous drones, repeating clangorous sounds, manifesting earth shudders, strange synth voices, and more. It is fascinating to hear how Parsons can integrate sequencers without destroying the grand atmosphere, by backing them with marvelous complex percussion. The first disc closes with “Guria Mandhata,” which depicts a panoramic view of the two lakes Manasarovar and Rahshas Tal, like wandering through a supernatural Lovecraftian landscape. Disc Two opens with “Kang Rinpoche,” where undulating synth sounds come and go like the breakers on a shore. Hallucinating harmonies, backed by Stearns-esque deep bass fill the atmosphere, and strange electronic birds begin to twitter near the end. Then we sink into the unconsciousness with “Dawa Gompa.” Slumbering in the background, a carpet woven of dark synths, overlaid by soft voices and other imaginative colors, it develops into a strong force of energy, where all the floating sounds merge into a magnificent ambient strata. Next is “Tarpoche,” and again hypnotizing noises drain our thoughts and leave our brain empty. Volume is cranked up and a “hollow synth voice” rises above this mountain of sound. Slowly, this massive bank loses its power a bit and the striking of bells is heard for a couple of minutes. Then the sound-wall returns and in the last four minutes it dies out like a candle. The album closes with “Manasarovar II,” with blazing sounds and whirling up sparklings creating a magnetic vortex. These two hours of space-ambient music of the highest caliber just leave you breathless with astonishment.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 24, 2000 releases

Related artist(s): David Parsons

 

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