This breakthrough release introduced a new sound for its
time (1984), and has become a classic of the ambient/
new age genre. In December 2000, Yoga Journal voted
it one of the Top 10 all-time CDs for yoga.
This breakthrough release introduced a new sound for its
time (1984), and has become a classic of the ambient/
new age genre. In December 2000, Yoga Journal voted
it one of the Top 10 all-time CDs for yoga.
"I thought Steve Roach's Quiet Music could never be topped for the best soothing music to calm the soul, but Structures From Silence is equally as excellent! I love this CD! This is just a re-release of the 1984 Structures From Silence album, and no changes were made except for the albums cover. I suffer from anxiety symptoms and when I listen to this album is calms me right down, my blood pressure and heart rate both drop significantly, and I can even fall fast asleep to it! Normally it is very difficult for me to fall asleep. I love all three songs and they blend together is a sea of peace and calm. The song "Structures From Silence" is particularly soothing. This album is so beautiful it can almost make me cry. I have most of the Steve Roach albums, and this is his finest work. Buy this if your aim is to sooth your soul and quiet your mind- You can not go wrong! Way beyond a 5 star rating, and priceless in it's ability to heal."
The Music of Life - Ambient at its Finest
Heather Walton | 07/25/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Decades ago there was a program on KCRW (NPR affiliate in Santa Monica, CA) called "Discrete Music" (yes, named after Eno) that was broadcast at 5:00 am Sundays. I believe the DJ was Dean Suzuki. I would set the clock radio next to my bed to activate at 5:00 am on very low volume and the ambient tunes would flow in and out of my conscieousness and inevidibly set a mood of serenity for the rest of the day. Dean's impeccable selections introduced me to many pieces of music that have become life-long favorites. Among those near the top -- this album. In "Reflections in Suspension," the discrete tones fall gently into the pool of ambience as do the beginning drops of rain into a mountain stream. The sequence of tones is very teasing. The mix of anticipation and surrender is thrillingly sublime. This entire album always evokes a quote from Brian Eno which I will paraphrase as "The more something stays the same, the more it changes," meaning that the listener is drawn into a heightened sensativity where even the smallest variations become momentous. An example of this acuity was demonstrated to me on a race from San Diego to Manzanillo, Mexico, in the mid 80's as several of us were languishing through a night of very light wind. I slipped "Structures From Silence" into the cassette player and was intrigued to observe everyone becomming more alert. Sails were adjusted in and out a centimeter at a time, the course adjusted by a degree or two, and the speed increased. People were not nodding as they vainly tried to thwart tedium and fatigue; instead, heads were up, looking around, discerning changes, feeling wind. The next morning one of the crew that was off-watch while we had been sailing and listening to this album complained that they couldn't sleep with this music on! This particular person's favorite music was Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffet and "Structures From Silence" had kept them from sleeping. The specific complaint was something like, "There's no beginning! There's no end! And there's nothing much in the middle either!!" Sorry, the people on watch LOVED it..."
Stress Relieving
Bananahead | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 10/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought the original 1984 release of Structures from Silence, but I don't think there is a noticeable difference between that and the 2001 release. This is Steve Roach's first true atmospheric release (He had two less atmospheric albums before that). It may sound a little outdated and simple compared to newer ambient albums, but within its simplicity is a calming beauty that can relax every muscle in your body. It can transport you to a surreal dream world filled with a relaxing warmth. After you finished listening to this recording, you will feel refreshed and reenergized. Do yourself a favor and buy this album."
A Journey For Your Imagination
dhanishtha | Nashville, TN United States | 08/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have to say this is the MOST BEAUTIFUL cd that I own. My favourite track is "Quiet Friend"-I am always moved to tears each time I listen to it. I close my eyes and imagine flying through the blue among the clouds-hence, it's the perfect song to listen to during an airplane flight. It's pure, clear, airy and beautiful, like a windswept sky-and listening to this song fills my soul with a heavenly feeling. I daresay that this would be what heaven sounds like! I reccomend this album to those of you who like repetitive, introspective music. The chords are simple, and this music is better listened to for the pleasure of creating your own daydreams or fantasies, not to be listened to for technical merit. Structures from Silence speaks to your heart and soul, not your head. That's what makes it so good-you create your own images. That's why I like to listen to this when I'm doing my artwork-it helps me visualise what I'm feeling."