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STEVE ROACH, STEPHEN KENT, KENNETH NEWBY
"Halcyon Days"
(Fathom 11072-2) cd 1997
 Just
when you thought the world was safe from the trendy overly abused
sounds of the Australian didgeridoo, a couple of masters on the
instrument renew it's power in a new setting. The ever prolific
Steve Roach teams up with Trance Mission members Stephen Kent, and
Kenneth Newby on this new release on Hearts of Space offspring label,
Fathom.
With two world-class didgeridoo players
in the studio, it's no surprise that this instrument plays a major
role. Kent's earthy rhythms and the aboriginal outcries make the
music come vibrantly alive. Add Roach and Newby's electronic textures,
and Newby's array of Indonesian instruments, and you have a perfect
blend of ancient and contemporary sources from aboriginal to electronic.
Using textural samples and processed musical materials, Roach subjects
these musical elements to studio treatments and his own distinctive
compositional processes, yielding a work of an eclectic otherworldly
tone.
As with Roachs' other recent collaborative
excursions, Halcyon Days is a combination of musical genres, ancient
and modern, and with the primary focus as always, on atmosphere.
It is mature music, capable of evoking moods, feelings, sights,
sounds, memories, and places. Halcyon Days brings three intuitive
musicians all working superbly together as a cohesive unit, bringing
their collaborative vision to life. The subtle complexity of the
music makes it breath a life of its own as it emanates from the
speakers. It's an interesting mixture of styles and one that could
be developed further I'm sure. In summary, its an album that never
cease to surprise and impress the listener. For a short audio sample,
please click here.
information: website: http://www.fathomusic.com
Review by Ben Kettlewell
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