Customer Reviews

Numena / Geometry

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I hesitated to buy this for a long time. I was exposed to Rich's heady brew of ambient by work such as Seven Veils and, his collaboration with Steve Roach, Soma. I was concerned that the early material would sound too dated in comparison. But after tracking through awesome works like Troubled Resting Place and Propogation, I figured why not. And I am so thankful I did.

And yes it does sound slightly dated sonicly speaking. But all that becomes meaningless when confronted with the sheer scope and creativity embedded in these tracks. As someone has said already, Numena is the warmer on the two with Geometry specializing in the classically beautiful symmetry that its name intimates. This said both albums mix organic instrumentation like occarinas and flutes into a concoction that is far than go nowhere new age - there is dramatic tension here, there is enigmatic texture here,there is cathartic resolution here.

The two discs are bound splendidly. As perfect compliments to one another, this set will be in heavy rotation. Especially when I need to work at the computer or simply trance out in the dark before falling sleep. I can't think of a better place to enter into Robert Rich's soundworlds. I could live in this music. And I plan to.

These two albums together comprise of some of Robert Rich's very best work. "Numena" is perhaps my all-time favorite of his, and "Geometry" lives up to its name in musical form. Both albums utilize a technique called "just intonation", which involves tone intervals with whole-numbered ratios ... very pleasing to the ears.

I practically wore out my original copy of "Numena" playing "The Other Side of Twilight" -- a beautiful, evolving dreamlike piece which opens with gong-like tones in jungle ambience and swells to Tangerine-Dream-like appeggiated fireworks and then settles back into tranquility. The remaining 3 tracks from "Numena" are dark and haunting yet strangely alluring.

"Geometry" is more "spirited" with intriguing arpeggiated pieces that flitter like the Penrose tiles, Muslim designs or Fibonacci sequences that they conjure up. Other tracks are gentle and mesmerising, suggesting the long arcs of circles or the organics of water.

This is some of the most profound and intelligent electronic-instrumental music you'll ever hear.

i'm new to this type of music. the closest thing i have that compares to Robert Rich is 'lift yr. skinny fists like antennas to heaven' by Godspeed You Black Emperor!!. that album is pretty cool, but Robert Rich is in a league of his own compared to them.

These two cds complement each other extremely well. in Numena, the music flows like water. it's beautiful ambiance, gentle sounds of nature mixed with soft tribal instruments and bamboo flutes to create a serene atmostphere that sets you at ease. the music slowly builds(and i do mean slowly) and never really gets moving, but it's not supposed to because it's all ambiance.

On Geometry, the music uses more instruments than sounds of running water, birds and other types of ambiance, it's a lot more mathematical in structure too, like Rich describes in the liner notes. On the whole though, this album accomplishes much the same thing as Numena in putting you into a relaxed state of mind. Listening to these albums creates the great feeling you get when you're in a deep sleep, that feeling of goodness you get when you're well rested. This is the that feeling turned into a sonic experience. The music builds up and grows on you, and can require patience in listening but I guess that if you're reading this, you already knew that. It's too bad I can't think of more adjectives to describe 50/70 minutes of pure peace of mind.. great stuff. I believe I've found a new level of intelligence in music.

Both albums are prime examples of ambient space music. Numena slowly transitions you from chord to chord and makes for sweet listening. Enjoy the sonority - wander the corridors of a sonic mirror maze - focus into the deepest details, or let yourself drift off to sleep.

I return again and again to Geometry, which offers a distinctly more textured journey. If you enjoy sequenced music (early Tangerine Dream, for example) this CD is an essential. If you're not sure, give it a try. There's no tunes to whistle and no, you can't dance to it (though you could improvise with aerobics). What Geometry provides is a sonic framework for thought, contemplation, relaxation and on to dreams. Really!

If wonderful listening isn't enough - here's a practical application: Do you have a desk job in one of those "fabric-covered boxes" of Dilbert and company? Want to concentrate on your work and shut out the chatter in the next cube? - a ... CD player, good ...headphones that cover your ears and either disc of this ...CD will pay for itself a zillion times. Set the player on 'repeat' and tune out thine neighbor's speaker phone for good.

I love these two albums. Robert Rich weaves an incredible tapestry of sound and sequences on numera + geometry. Layers and layers of interwoven rhythms combined with organic solos make this a far more complex and fascinating record than most other new age/sequence-heavy artists. I like the way he lays down multi-layered sequences and then puts an organ or electric piano solo over it. and the records more the ambient stuff, the droning sounds, swells and fuzz... can be downright chilling. Rich pulls off some real mood here, a lot of it is downright creepy and frightening. Rich's later records, although good in their own right, never really captured the haunting intensity of numera + geometry.

Numena/Geometry is a combo CD that graces my CD collection.
One of the music works that remain hidden from common sight and lies in the clouds of sublimeness and adamancy..

I feel lucky, I had located and bought this CD. It is hypnotic,melodic, harmonic and beautiful, the sure vehicle for an inoccent mind trip in the undiscovered regions of the soul.

Do you want to create a DreamScape? Buy this.

A masterpiece of the electronic, ambient, new age, avant-garde genre.

Highly Recommended!!!!!

This CD is a strange little gem of dark ambience. Love the way out in the middle of no-where feeling I get when listening to it. This album is excellent for creating an exotic environment where you can both escape and relax. Very creative!

This set is well worth having and makes great listening or background while reading or making love, typically Rich, typically excellent.

you would be hearing the future in the past.