Search - Robert Rich, Steve Roach :: Strata

Timeless...

funktion | The Synaptic Gap | 12/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Master synthesists Roach and Rich excavate evolutionary layers of sound from their machines on STRATA, their first collaboration. The musicians are kindred spirits in both substance and style, and their probing, questing sonic architecture seeks not only to unearth the tangible from the unknown, but also to alight the unknown with a spectral quality. Instead of seismometers and pickaxes, Roach and Rich use their battery of analog and digital synthesizers to seize the geologic moment, embedding it in the amber of the studio.
Like the translucent layers of the mineral bearing its name, "Mica" reveals a quartz-like refraction of images and movements, constructed with Rich's interlocking vibe grooves, percussive gemstones, and Roach's dense synthesizer shadings. "The Grotto of Time Lost" pushes one back even further into the pre-dawn era. Roach and Rich's electronics and sundry noisemakers peel back the undergrowth to reveal tectonic plates convulsing with the breath of newly hatched organisms and moist jungle growth. STRATA is undoubtedly one of the best stylistic collaborations of the '90s."

Diverse, mesmerizing worlds of sound

Michael Paulsen | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA USA | 01/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album marks the first of two brilliant collaborations between space-music masters, Robert Rich and Steve Roach, and it is truly a landmark journey -- a new fusion of world & tribal styles with space-music ambience. The album also has many very lucid dream qualities in its ability to paint images in the listener's mind."Strata" covers a lot of ground, and some may feel that the album is too diverse, reaching too far, but for me it makes it all the more incredible. Besides, it all flows very nicely: from tribal-beats ("Fearless", "Mica") to soothing tracks evocative of a journey ("Forever", "Grotto..."), and then into dark, haunting terrain ("Iguana", "Magma", "Persistence..."). The final three tracks round out the album beautifully as dreamy meditative pieces. "La Luna" is just as it sounds; for me, it conjures up wisps of clouds gliding across a full moon on a still winter night. That's the magic of this album -- it's ability to create vivid atmospheres and landscapes out of mere sound and music."

Ambient deliciousness

jeremy | new zealand | 03/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't normally feel compelled to express my views for cds, games, or whatever, but for Strata, I finally felt I had to say something. It is just a lovely juicy slice of ambient deliciousness! I recently bought the older and much more acclaimed "Dreamtime Return" - while it is cool (why I was encouraged to get "Strata"), it really can't touch this gem. In fact, I would say that Strata makes Dreamtime seem longwinded and monotonous in comparison. Strata seems to use a much wider and richer array of wafty, floaty sounds and tinkling echoes than the mostly-woodblock-and-bongo-beating Dreamtime. The last time I was treated to ambient style music this good was perhaps 4 or 5 years ago when I was first knocked over by Future Sound of London's literally peerless "Lifeforms", an audio experience akin to falling on your face in an alien rainforest (one of my all time fave records, get it pronto). I don't think this topples Lifeforms (it has the edge - just - for sheer uniqueness and obscurity), but Strata is the only other record I've encountered that ever really came close enough to be worthy of a head-to-header. That's pretty high praise coming from such a picky listener as I!"