Customer Reviews

Cavern of Sirens

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This may be Roach's/Obmana's weakest collaboration. Not that it is a bad one but I expected more. It is in a more atonal style than their other collaborations and the presence of tribal/ethnic elements (drumming,sampled indian prayers etc) is strong in almost all tracks. Unfortunately it becomes tiresome soon enough, mostly due to the lack of drifting and atmospheric keyboard "support". Thus, the final result is somehow raw. Some may find this approach interesting but for me it is far from the sound that made me fond of these musicians.
The above don't apply to the "The Graceful Sky" which is a bright exception, very different in an outstanding way from the other tracks and a perfect way to make you wonder if it was meant to be on another CD. In my opinion this track is one of their best. Maybe it's the artwork or the song titles or just my feeling, but somehow I find it as the perfect Autumn soundtrack. A perfect conclusion to a rather mediocre CD.

This is only for people who love AND understand Ambient Music. This record sets a very peaceful mood for those of us who lead hectic lives and need music as a healing way. Mr. Obmana is very creative in his use of drones, "tribal" instruments such as rain stick (palo de lluvia)and other sound-producing devices. Not too easy to describe, better listen to selections.

I am surprised by some of the lacklustre reviews found below. To my ears this is the best collaborative music from Steve and Vidna - especially the second and last tracks. Much more dynamic and engaging than the dull and ominous Spirit Dome that kept me plugging thru to the end out of mindless loyalty to Steve.

Personally, I find Steve Roach's music far more exciting when he collaborates with gifted musicians such as Vidna or Byron Metcalf.

All considering, this is my star rating for those SR/VO collaborations in my collection:
Cavern of Sirens 5 stars
Well of Souls 5 stars
Ascension of Shadows 4 stars
InnerZone 4 stars
Spirit Dome 2 stars

If I'm missing any - someone please put me out of my misery and tell me quick!

I have every CD that has been released by Steve Roach and although most anything that Steve does is light years ahead of other artists of his ilk, this is not his most memorable of the Roach collection.

This strange, out-of-planet sounding music is ambient at its best. Best sounding while taking a long midnite drive through Long Island's Mary Pitken Path, in the luxoriously rich commune of East Shoreham. cameo-guest Steve Roach provides warm organic frog-esque toots with his trademark horn, hand-crafted by an Aborgine tribe known as Kjenikobnomaqicunk. All-in-all, this album will remind you of of those rainy days, just before you quit sniffing glue and decided to become a podiatrists' assistant. Little known fact: Some of the unidentified vibratto sounds are created by a fibre optic microphone inserted by Stephen into his femallian reciprocational unitarian component's solidified organic exhaust phloem.