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Reviews

Steve Roach — Spiral Revelation
(Projekt 336, 2017, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2017-12-25

Spiral Revelation Cover art

Here we are in a soundworld that lies somewhere between Roach’s floating ambient style and his more sequenced work, one breathing life into the other, shifting as it goes across the album’s six tracks, most of which crossfade at their transition points to make for a long smooth continuum for the listener. The sequenced parts are for the most part gentle and bathed in warmth, not unlike classic Tangerine Dream circa the Phaedra LP, moving slowly and purposefully, rife with repetition but avoiding any hard edges. Concurrent through most of the album is a textural component that floats effortlessly throughout the background, and in fact opens the proceedings alone on the first cut “We Continue” and later gives way to share the moment with other ideas working together. The sequenced elements often take a slower approach as in “A Righteous Thing,” revealing the internal structure in more detail than one would normally hear on the rapid fire pace of the title track. As the pieces morph together and gently shift from one phase to the next, the immersed listener finds themselves as a passenger on the continuing journey. Like all of Roach’s epic length pieces, this one delivers the most when the listener lets go and becomes completely immersed in the endeavor, essentially becoming a part of its inner workings.

Filed under: New releases, 2017 releases

Related artist(s): Steve Roach

 

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