Search - Roach, Steve & Loren Nerell :: Terraform

Some enjoyable work that fails to distinguish itself

The Pitiful Anonymous | the Acres of Skin | 09/04/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Terraform" is a typical Steve Roach collaboration in that it basically sounds like a Steve Roach solo album with another album playing very quietly on top of it... I haven't heard any of collaborator Loren Nerell's music, but I can only assume he is responsible for the increased density of sound found on this album. It's not too different from a usual Steve Roach album other than that; the mood and texture will be quite familiar to any fan. It does seems to move faster than most, and it does have a few of the Indonesian touches the Amazon reviewer mentions, mainly in the last track, "Paraterra" (where Gamelan instruments can be heard at one point), but I would have liked to have seen that direction explored further.



As far as what side of Steve Roach is found here, I'd say this: take away the tribal rhythms and the hypnotic, expressively minimal melodies / chords pervading most of his work, and "Terraform" is the sort of ambience that's left... a pleasant wash of bubbling, liquid sound here, a cold, never-ending, unsympathetic echo there. There's a lot of sound, it's powerful, it's effective, but it's very difficult to call to mind when it's not playing... there's nothing to latch onto. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however.



Two of the four pieces here are standout tracks. "Gravity of Liquids" fits its title quite well, and is one of the more beautiful and peaceful tracks in Roach's catalogue... It feels like fresh air, like a cool breeze on a warm day, or like watching the sun reflect off of the surface of a body of water. It begins bubbling and iridescent, and becomes smoother and deeper as it goes.



"Echopoiesis" is the track immediately following, but the mood could not be more different from "Gravity of Liquids". It's one of Roach's most successfully alien, cold pieces, evoking dark grey / black metallic images and darkness. Not for the faint of heart; this track can make any room into a lightless hell.



In conclusion, somehow "Terraform" manages to be stereotypical Steve Roach even though it's a first-time collaboration with another artist. This doesn't stop it from being a GOOD Steve Roach album, however, so if you're a fan, pick it up. If you're new to Steve Roach, though, start with Structures from Silence or Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces (part 1)."

Earth Music..

Joe Mugsy | 09/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Put yourself in a forest at twilight time. No sounds of civilization around. The only sounds one hears is that of nature & the approaching darkness of the evening. This is what the music of Terraform is!"