Streams & Currents
The name Steve Roach has been synonymous with ambient music for years. His latest excursion into late-night musical improvisations explores the purely ethereal side of his signature style without percussion, except for the second track, "Spirit Moves." Even there, the rhythmic propulsion is gentle. The six compositions making up this 74-minute epic have been fashioned from Ebow, electric guitar, and various digital processing gear. Yet, while the instrumental origins of the album are electric and electronic, the end results are organic, as if they were literally streaming forth from the composer's subconscious. As with many Roach recordings, the music twists and weaves in abstract ways, traversing a ghostly path through one's imagination. As an aural narcotic, it is certainly an effective stress-reliever. Although the guitar sounds add a fresher element toStreams & Currents, the album ultimately does not break much new ground in this composer's massive catalog, but Roach's disciples will certainly find much to enjoy while journeying along its shadowy sonic trails.--Bryan Reesman