Customer Reviews

Western Spaces

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This wonderfully sublime album comes from Roach's "atmospheric ambient" period of the late 1980s that produced 'Dreamtime Return' and 'Desert Solitaire,' among other works. There is a good deal of the Southwest outdoors that Roach loves on this work, and the pieces breathe with the same kind of expansiveness and natural harmony that made 'Dreamtime' such a success. The original release of 'Western Spaces' in 1987 included works by Richard Burmer; these are deleted in the 1990 Fortuna version. This is truly too bad, because one of those pieces is "Across the View," Burmer's signature work and one of the few ambient compositions yet produced that justly deserves the tag "masterpiece." Even without it, however, this one is well worth the listen.

The awe and picturesque environs of the Southwest have long provided inspiration to writers and painters. What better way to bring out the desolation, expansiveness, and metaphor of the region than via state-of-the-art electronics? Roach, of course, was already investigating the means whereby organica becomes electronica on his classic DREAMTIME RETURN set. Together with fellow synthesist Braheny, Roach again uses his amazing conceptual acumen to bring out the desert's unrevealed secrets.
Listening to "In the Heat of Venus," you can also see the heat haze wafting sinuously through the air and circling the mountain's edges-a spell woven with kalimbas, woodblock percussion, and synthesizers whose sounds are burned amber-red. "Desert Walkabout" embraces a more elegiac, serene, and almost classical sensibility, shot through with Braheny's ghostly electronic wind-instrument caterwauls, mock-harp spicing, delicate percussives, and Roach's lonesome synth chords. Check your compass at the door, and melt into the horizon.

Ambient/space music pioneer Steve Roach worked with other artists before Western Spaces, but this is his first official collaboration for strictly discographic purposes. Originally released on Innovative Communications (a label founded by Klaus Schulze, Roach's primary musical influence), the album contained contributions by Richard Burmer, who was cut out when the album was re-released on Fortuna Records in 1990. Western Spaces remains one of Roach's most beautiful releases--the solo track by Braheny and "Desert Prayer" are perhaps the best, but the Roach/ Thom Brennan piece "In the Heat of Venus" is astounding---I don't think Roach has recorded a more powerful piece of music since, quite honestly, though some could argue effectively against that I'm sure-- Dreamtime Return may be the only exception.

I go out to Tucson once or twice a year. One of my favorite places to take a walk or go hiking is in Sabino Canyon Recreation area, part of Saguaro National Park, which just so happens to be down the road a piece, so to speak, from Steve Roach's place. This album would be a good soundtrack for a movie shot in Sabino, in all the seasons and in all kinds of weather.

Its transporting, and full of desert emotions and desert spirits,so much so that sometimes its almost frightening...the desert can be that way.

I'm currently also reading Edward Abbey's "Desert Solitaire". The desert in print, like Roach's album is the desert set to music.

I'm listening to Desert Solitaire a lot now, a really good CD. I guess I'm just jonesin' for the desert.

This CD represents the zenith in ambient musical imagination. Roach has actually captured sonically the expereince of gazing out over a summer desert landscape. Anyone who has been lucky enought to wander around the US desert southwest on foot, horseback or even in a car, chasing the endless horizon and feeling the heat waft over the skin, will recognize the emotions that this disc elicits. Minimal percussion throughout, although what is there enhances the deep, shimmering synth waves tremendously. Please play this on a high-end sound system and don't be timid with the volume control.
Highly recommended.

This CD represents the zenith in ambient musical imagination. Roach has actually captured sonically the expereince of gazing out over a summer desert landscape. Anyone who has been lucky enought to wander around the US desert southwest on foot, horseback or even in a car, chasing the endless horizon and feeling the heat waft over the skin, will recognize the emotions that this disc elicits. Minimal percussion throughout, although what is there enhances the deep, shimmering synth waves tremendously. Please play this on a high-end sound system and don't be timid with the volume control.
Highly recommended.

Sad to report that Richard Burmer has passed away at the age of 50. :(

His first 2 albums are excellent. All 5 albums and the Day Part albums he appeared on are worth buying and adding to your collection.

One of Steve's best collaborations. Put this on, lean back, close your eyes & one can envision a black & white scene of Monument Valley with John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Slim Pickins & Gabby Hayes riding along on their stallions across the desert. Very relaxing. Highly recommended!!!

Put this in the cd player with Mr. Roach's "Desert Solitaire" & "Dust To Dust" & play all day long!!!

This wonderfully sublime album comes from Roach's "atmospheric ambient" period of the late 1980s that produced 'Dreamtime Return' and 'Desert Solitaire,' among other works. There is a good deal of the Southwest outdoors that Roach loves on this work, and the pieces breathe with the same kind of expansiveness and natural harmony that made 'Dreamtime' such a success. The original release of 'Western Spaces' in 1987 included works by Richard Burmer; these are deleted in the 1990 Fortuna version. This is truly too bad, because one of those pieces is "Across the View," Burmer's signature work and one of the few ambient compositions yet produced that justly deserves the tag "masterpiece." Even without it, however, this one is well worth the listen.

This is one of the lesser known albums in Roach's extensive discography. It's never referenced in album reviews. It's not talked about online by Roach fans. I believe it's also out of print, and have never seen it in a record store. So what makes this album so great? Why should you check into it? This album was a foreshadowing of what would come in Dreamtime Return. The atmosphere is vast and beautiful. Overall it has a very similar feel. Tracks like "The Slow Turning" conjure up beautiful imagery of clouds rolling through a desert sky. Even though this album predates it by one year, I like to think of it as the lost songs from Dreamtime Return.

Fan's of Roach's melodic 1980's work (Dreamtime/Structures/Empetus/Quiet Music) will love this. As with a lot of Roach's early collaborative works, the album sounds like a mixed bag of songs rather than the smooth transitions of his newer work. All in all the tracks are very consistent in quality and come together to make a good album. I think of this as a 3.5/5 star album (although Amazon doesn't allow half ratings). It's good, but probably not good enough to be used as an introduction to Steve Roach. However, existing fans who are looking to explore some of the hidden gems of Roach's career should definitely give this album a listen.