Customer Reviews

The Light Beyond

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

 

 

I have to admit that I knew very little about Jeff Pearce before purchasing this CD, but based on this single disc I'm convinced that I've found my next obsession! I can't wait to hear his other CD's.

Mr. Pearce's use of subtle washes of sound punctuated by beautiful and delicate processed guitar work create a calming, ethereal and ambient background perfect for late evening meditations or mid-afternoon work blitzes. His music is neither so obtrusive as to be distracting, or so subtle that it fades away into the background defying notice.

According to the liner notes, this work is a live performance that was meant to be a working template for a finished work to be completed later in a studio. Upon listening to the recording, Jeff Pearce decided that he had achieved his goals with this performance. I agree, the performance is flawless and beautiful; no improvement was necessary. If any revision to the work were necessary, I might have liked it to go a little longer. At just under an hour in length, I found myself wishing he could have embellished a bit more to fill that 75+ minute capability of a compact disc.

In my opinion, Jeff Pearce belongs among the ranks of ambient masters, sitting comfortably next to giants of the field like Steve Roach, Michael Stearns and Robert Rich. If you are a fan of 'ambient drifters' ala MIDNIGHT MOON, THE MAGNIFICENT VOID, or TRANCES AND DRONES; you will not be disappointed with THE LIGHT BEYOND.

Reviewing an album like this is a difficult thing to do. What angle do you take?

Those not familiar with Jeff Pearce, or the electronic-ambient/newage hybrid need to know that though he plays guitar, Pearce's instrument is filtered through so many effects that it sounds like a synthesizer. His sound is very warm and floates lightly out of the speakers.

This album is very soft and often has a pulsating rhythm that recalls Steve Roach's 'The Magnificient Void', however, this music is much warmer and not so cavernous. That isn't to say that it doesn't take on transcendent qualities--it does. However, this album is more likely to ease you into a state of warm bliss than have you begin questioning your growth and development as a person (as Steve Roach's music tends to do)

All of the adjectives fit this album (you know them--they are all used too often in reviews---just how many 'Lush' albums are there?) But they all do fit.

This is a beautiful album. If you like Gong's tranced-out bits and 'Rainbow Dome music' you'll probably like this, however, some may find this album to be too 'newage'.

Okay--that's the detacted, objective review....

This is music that can heal, it is very soft, but will stop time and conversation when played loud.
The recording is immaculate (esp. for a live recording), and Pearce's production keeps the music fresh and alive.

p.s. this star rating means nothing...I had to put something in.

I have to admit that I knew very little about Jeff Pearce before purchasing this CD, but based on this single disc I'm convinced that I've found my next obsession! I can't wait to hear his other CD's.

Mr. Pearce's use of subtle washes of sound punctuated by beautiful and delicate processed guitar work create a calming, ethereal and ambient background perfect for late evening meditations or mid-afternoon work blitzes. His music is neither so obtrusive as to be distracting, or so subtle that it fades away into the background defying notice.

According to the liner notes, this work is a live performance that was meant to be a working template for a finished work to be completed later in a studio. Upon listening to the recording, Jeff Pearce decided that he had achieved his goals with this performance. I agree, the performance is flawless and beautiful; no improvement was necessary. If any revision to the work were necessary, I might have liked it to go a little longer. At just under an hour in length, I found myself wishing he could have embellished a bit more to fill that 75+ minute capability of a compact disc.

In my opinion, Jeff Pearce belongs among the ranks of ambient masters, sitting comfortably next to giants of the field like Steve Roach, Michael Stearns and Robert Rich. If you are a fan of 'ambient drifters' ala MIDNIGHT MOON, THE MAGNIFICENT VOID, or TRANCES AND DRONES; you will not be disappointed with THE LIGHT BEYOND.