So Flows The Current

Patrick O'Hearn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 15, 2001)
• Original Release Date: January 15, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Patrickohearn.Com
• ASIN: B000058511
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,598 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. A Lovely Place To Be

2. So Flows The Current

3. The Cold Sea's Embrace

4. Panning The Sands

5. Beyond This Moment

6. Along The Waterfront

7. Northwest Passage

8. Like So Much Lost Time

9. Traveler's Rest

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Patrick O'Hearn continues to evolve his style, April 30, 2001

By 

Michael Paulsen (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: So Flows The Current (Audio CD)

SO FLOWS THE CURRENT marks the first Patrick O'Hearn release on his new patrickohearn.com label and the production is immaculate, proving that going "indie" doesn't mean sacrificing quality. O'Hearn has demonstrated considerable maturity throughout the 90's, hinting at an album of this caliber. SO FLOWS THE CURRENT is a beautiful, serene album that is far more subdued and acoustic than his earlier "trademark" electronic sound (Here, "Panning the Sands" revisits this classic style). The opener, "A Lovely Place to Be", is sprinkled with gentle acoustic guitar by Peter Maunu and sounds like the gradual awakening from a dream on a gorgeous sunny morning. The title track is perhaps my favorite: ethereal, cyclical guitar by David Torn backed by O'Hearn's acoustic bass and masterful synth ambience. "The Cold Sea's Embrace" is a mournful yet beautiful classical-esque piece with cello; "Northwest Passage" conjures up a haunting and forboding atmosphere with eastern melodies; and "Beyond the Moment" is sad and longing. I suppose much of this album is a bit sad in tone, but it is also very powerful and demonstrates some of Patrick O'Hearn's most passionate and intimate songwriting to date.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars his best, August 16, 2005

By 

C. Harris (Simi Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: So Flows the Current (Audio CD)

This is absolutely the best record Patrick has ever done. I've been a fan now since around the time Indigo came out (which was his best until this one). It is a little more mellow than some of his previous efforts, but every track is very carefully worked out and full of rich detail. There are some moments on trust and Metaphor where it sounds like he's on auto pilot- never anywhere on this record.

The strong presence of the acoustic instruments compliments what he's doing so well.

Four or five people I've played this for, went out and got their own copies immediately. That's unusual.

I don't know what else to say. He's never been better, and I have a feeling he'll never top this one. While I like Beautiful World, it doesn't come close to the level of aching beauty on this record.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps O'hearn's best album, June 21, 2003

By 

Meishel Menachekanian (Glendale, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Flows the Current (Audio CD)

I have done an electronic/atmospheric radio program in L.A. for almost four years and have the chance to listen to plenty of music. This is one of the best cds I have heard in these genres. What a soundscape Patrick creates. From beginning to end this album flows beautifully.

Complicated sounds can certainly be beautiful in the hands of a great composer (Jarre's Equinoxe). But that doesn't mean that simplicity cannot be made into beauty. This album is simple and the melodies slow-paced but they create an amazing feel. I have listened to the album without doing anything and taking all of the sounds in, I've painted to it, driven long distances to it, read to it; it's simply amazing. And it always gives more in time. It is not an album that I've gotten tired of by any means.

Stylistically the first piece is very slow and majestic; the second piece is a bit more driven with a slow heavy beat; the third piece is sad and so beautiful! Four is like #2 and five is a beautiful work too; note that the last three tracks almost constitute a suite onto themselves because they so naturally flow together; I'd recommend listening to the whole thing at night with the lights out on good headphones or speakers and doing nothing else.

We're blessed to have compositions of such sheer beauty in the world. Keep up the great work Patrick. Looking forward to the next album.