Steve Roach Etheric Imprints

[drone on]

There's a 9 min preview of this album on Projekt Bandcamp.  You can really hear the Harold Budd influence here.  Very gloomy track with piano bathed in reverb plus thick droney Steve ambience.  I would describe this as Lovely Thunder (Budd's 1986 album) meets Magnificent Void.  Nice to hear some piano, seems like Dreamtime Return was the last one to use it (or was it Desert Solitaire?)

[chris23]

Wow, that sounds amazing. I'm really looking forward to this release. Thanks for the head's up!

[Castleview]

There's a 9 min preview of this album on Projekt Bandcamp.  You can really hear the Harold Budd influence here.  Very gloomy track with piano bathed in reverb plus thick droney Steve ambience.  I would describe this as Lovely Thunder (Budd's 1986 album) meets Magnificent Void.  Nice to hear some piano, seems like Dreamtime Return was the last one to use it (or was it Desert Solitaire?)

New Life Dreaming had some piano in it.

[drone on]

You're right!  Guess that makes sense too since it was part of the Dreamtime Return box set.

[drone on]

This whole album is now up on Projekt's Bandcamp page.  Wow, never thought I'd say this but except for the first piece w/piano, the other three long tracks I found unlistenable.  Very out of tune/atonal, like several ambient albums being played at once and the ensuing noisy, misdirected music that would follow.  I can see the idea but the realization IMO fails and is painful to listen to.  I had a similar reaction to his "Afterlight," although that CD was much more listenable.  Mathias Grassow has done this sort of thing for years, sometimes it works but often it doesn't.  Anyway, I don't think this one will go down as one of his better works, although on the positive I do commend him for being "out there" and not always playing it safe and predictable.  He does what he wants and releases it to please himself, not others.  I just happened not to like this one.  I'd be interested to hear other opinions on this release. 

[chris23]

I just finished streaming the complete album. I agree with you.

I actually love the first piano track. But the other three tracks seem like filler. The second one in particular is filled with sequenced notes that don't cohere in any meaningful way. I can actually imagine appreciating the track in a different context because it does have a creepy, descent into madness atmosphere. But is clashes so completely with the beauty of the first track that my ears feel betrayed.

I think I'll end up buying the CD regardless (unless it is a cardboard sleeve). But I almost wish the first track was a 50-min long form piece and that it had been left at that.

I also appreciate the fact that Roach is doing something out of the ordinary. But, for me, the first track is what really strikes me as a departure from his typical sound. And it is exceptional and a success. If I heard it blind (i.e., without knowing the artist), I wouldn't have guessed Roach. The last two tracks could have appeared in several of his recent releases without notice.

[SunDummy]

After a few listens, I gotta say "meh".  If it weren't for Steve's name being on this, I doubt it'd get noticed amidst all the other great music out there.  I'll pass on this one, and patiently await his next release, hoping he recaptures some of that old magic while pushing new boundaries.

[Castleview]

I understand he's trying to do something different but I feel like it's a bit too washed out and there are certain frequencies poking out of the mix that I don't care for, but I'm a little funny about frequencies so it might just be me.

[Dave Michuda]

I agree with many of the comments so far.  First track is very good but the others are uninteresting.  I'm still deciding whether to buy or not, probably will.

[petekelly]

These are the full tracks (?), I thought Projekt was dead against full track previewing / streaming ?

[phobos]

Pete,I think they allow the albums to be streamed in full for a limited amount of time now.

I agree with Ekstasis here, track three I thought is by far the best track of the four tracks on the album.  I haven't bought much of Steves' stuff over the past years, as his releases over that time, have to me, been disappointing, and this is no disrespect to Steve, they just haven't "grabbed me" like before. Having said that you can't blame him for trying something different, I  hope it works out for him :)

[petekelly]

Cheers David, that would explain things.

I really like the Budd-esque piano on Track 1, I must say.

I do wonder who writes his press releases though...

[drone on]

Phobos, it's ok, you can say it sucks ;)

IMO, Steve writes his own press releases, as they are written the same way he discusses his music verbally.  Could be wrong though.  Pretty sure Ian Boddy writes all the press releases for his DIN label.

[phobos]

 ;D

[petekelly]

Off topic, but three Teesside fellers in one thread here  :)

[phobos]

Off topic, but three Teesside fellers in one thread here  :)

You, me, who is the other?
Ah! hang on, could be Ian Boddy,  ::)  ;)

[drone on]

So I bought this Saturday in a store, only because it was right in front of me.  I'm really glad I did.  For some reason I thought most of the album was like track 2, of the detuned variety, when I sampled the tracks on bandcamp.  Very good, more immersive listening session planned for tonight...                       

[Scott M2]

Phobos, it's ok, you can say it sucks ;)

IMO, Steve writes his own press releases, as they are written the same way he discusses his music verbally.  Could be wrong though.  Pretty sure Ian Boddy writes all the press releases for his DIN label.

I'm guessing that Linda is an important part of the voice in Steve's press releases.

[jkn]

I enjoyed this one.  Then again - I'm a fan so enjoy most of them.

[drone on]

I like this disc a lot now, so just goes to show first impressions don't always stick...