The high priest and wizard king of the ostensibly New Age corner of the ambient movement, Steve Roach is an American Brian Eno, except where Eno's ambient classics track a very British interior terrain, Roach musically map... more »s the mysteries of the American Southwest. But like Eno, he's always been as much about rhythm and percussion as space and texture, and as much a music futurist as a sound designer. Like this year's Body Electric, Light Fantastic couples techno-inspired, tribalesque breakbeats and jungle grooves with thick washes of "Roach-tone"--a glistening, rapturous synthesizer sound that is to electronic-hero Roach what "woman-tone" is to guitar-hero Eric Clapton. Peppered with tribal percussion, the drum & bass kickoff "Trip the Light" suggests a panethnic Photek, while the haunting "Breathing the Pulse" evokes Roach's eerie Magnificent Void, albeit undercut with a thickly layered, gurgling rhythm--what programmer Vir Unis calls a "fractal groove." Touches of tamboura, filter sweeps, and searing glasslike washes deliver on Roach's desire to "create sounds that gave off a laserlike illumination." Enlightening. --James Rotondi« less
The high priest and wizard king of the ostensibly New Age corner of the ambient movement, Steve Roach is an American Brian Eno, except where Eno's ambient classics track a very British interior terrain, Roach musically maps the mysteries of the American Southwest. But like Eno, he's always been as much about rhythm and percussion as space and texture, and as much a music futurist as a sound designer. Like this year's Body Electric, Light Fantastic couples techno-inspired, tribalesque breakbeats and jungle grooves with thick washes of "Roach-tone"--a glistening, rapturous synthesizer sound that is to electronic-hero Roach what "woman-tone" is to guitar-hero Eric Clapton. Peppered with tribal percussion, the drum & bass kickoff "Trip the Light" suggests a panethnic Photek, while the haunting "Breathing the Pulse" evokes Roach's eerie Magnificent Void, albeit undercut with a thickly layered, gurgling rhythm--what programmer Vir Unis calls a "fractal groove." Touches of tamboura, filter sweeps, and searing glasslike washes deliver on Roach's desire to "create sounds that gave off a laserlike illumination." Enlightening. --James Rotondi
The best space music CD that I have in my collection!
William Spaulding | Boise, Idaho | 03/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"And I have quite a few space music CDs in my collection. How could somebody not give this CD five stars? I've got a few of Steve Roach's CDs and I've heard his others on his web page, and this has got to be by far his best work! I've even purchased this as a gift for others and they were impressed! Normally I don't ever review CDs that I've purchased from Amazon, but I thought so highly of this one that I had to write about it. "Touch the Pearl" is my favorite on this one, as it's got a very ethereal and mesmerizing sound to it. I also like the tribal rhythms that are included in "Trip the Light." But all of the songs are very relaxing and will leave one in a state of peacefulness and serenity after listening to them. I could listen to this CD thousands of times and would never tire of hearing it. I highly recommend this CD to anyone!"
Now that a couple of months have passed...
Mark | Phoenix, AZ | 10/21/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I reviewed this cd about two months ago, giving it three stars (now I give it 3.5 stars). It has grown on me a bit. I like that a cd can do that. Although I still feel this cd is just a bit flat, I have discovered the subtle energy that "Light Fantastic" exudes. Track #5 saves the cd for me. It takes a couple of minutes for this 11 minute tune to get kicking, but this rhythmically charged tune is energizing, and is good for doing things like painting or house chores. Too bad it's only 11 minutes long. Actually, the rhythm to this tune fades well before the song is over, and runs (without a break in between, as with most of this cd) into the final 16 minute and 48 second piece "The Luminous Return", a very mellowing soundscape of suspended chords. I can see why some would consider this their favorite ambient cd with it's beautiful chords and techno rhythms, especially if you are new to this type of music. But this is not my favorite Steve Roach release."
Steve Roach/ Light Fantastic
William Spaulding | 09/27/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The latest and next chapter due out this fall. Tribal trance and ambient excursions leave the mind and body in awe. The artist that brought you "On This Planet and The Magnificent Void" resumes his musical excursion with Light Fantastic. Very highly recommended."
Fun Steve, but getting old
JOHN WELLS | TULSA, OK USA | 01/16/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you don't have Steve's last five recordings, this is a good one to start with. I wish he would start going in other musical directions that this primal drum thing he's been doing for most of the 90's. Get Strata or Halcyon Days before you buy this CD."
Another strong suite from Steve Roach
Michael Paulsen | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA USA | 12/21/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Like many of Steve's releases of recent years, "Light Fantastic" is mostly devoid of melody, however it is a pure, otherworldly sonic environment to immerse yourself in. This album is full flittering and frenzied "fractal groove" percussion (alliteration unintended!). The occasional trance-drone of the tamboura is another welcome addition. This album may not break a lot of new ground for Steve, but it is definitely one of his strongest releases of the past 5 years and one of his most percussive.The sonic analogies to the mechanics (reflection, refraction, etc.) of light is very accurate. One can almost visualize shimmering mirrors, prismatic rainbows, lasers and ghostly photons dancing to this music. Try "Tripping the Light", "Touch the Pearl" or "Realm of Refraction" for some serious persussive grooves. All in all, very mesmerizing."