Robert Scott Thompson has been creating computer ambience for about 20 years.  From his early days in the analog world to his modern forays in the new millennium digital realm, he has always been on the cutting edge and in the forefront of electronic music. 

"Amorphia" is one of the finest sets of computer ambience available.  Robert has the unique ability to combine his intellectual prowess with his spiritual and emotional creativity.  He is also able to work in a variety of genres and sub-genres at the same time.  This deep adventure has elements of his classical compositions along with his avant-garde and electronic stylings.  It goes beyond psychoactive and beyond psychotropic.  It is absolutely psychoactive!

The experiMENTAL computer effects stimulate brainwave activity.  That activity provokes physical, emotional and spiritual responses.  Deep listeners will feel and HEAR their hearts fluttering and their muscles twitching.  The avant-garde sounds (reminiscent of Charles Ives' dissonance of the early 20th century) evoke eclectic, yet pleasant, imagery.  The closest comparison would be a completely organic and non-toxic LSD experience.  This is an important adventure and a milestone in modern music!

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

Jerry Jaran has chosen "The Vivid Air: Electroacoustic Music, 1998 - 1999" as the number one CD for his radio show for three consecutive years (1999, 2000 and 2001).  Such accolades, while well-deserved, are all too rare for Robert Scott Thompson.  He created this album with acoustic and synthetic sounds.  He used no synthesizers.  Well respected for his experimental techniques, Robert continues to infuse his music with his emotional and spiritual affectations.  His liner notes, while heavy-handed at times, describe his intentions and processes.  The CD features dark dissonance, playful acoustics and wild exhortations.  It is a genuine classic!

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

"As in the Dark, All Cats are Grey" is another Robert Scott Thompson CD that was too far ahead of its original time.  This album has had a tremendous influence on future generations.  They just did not know it.  Careful and deep listeners will hear the influence on pop, ambient, minimalism, electronica and techno tribal.  Robert pushed all the limits and buttons.  The overriding textures are experimental but there are also subtle and overt symphonic references.  This disc has so much going for it that it defies categorization.  It has something for everyone!
 

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

Christopher MacDonald, a.k.a. Telomere, made quite an impression with his 1998 debut, "Astral Currents."  It is a CD rich with pure space music.  The only disappointment with "Zoetosis," his 2001 follow-up, is that it took three years to get here!

Chris has refined his approach to pure space music by incorporating elements of minimalism and atmospheric ambience into his soundworlds.  While his debut did indeed have a sci-fi atmosphere, "Zoetosis" has something extra.  The gentle synth washes and subtle - very subtle - Berlin school sequences combine to give hints at an earthly and pastoral atmosphere.

Many artistes have been working in the hybrid mix of Berlin sequences and deep expansive minimalism, most notably Ron Boots and Paul Ellis.  Chris flirts with that hybrid but his sequences are neither as overt nor as deep.

The subtlety of the sequences, "created primarily on the Serge Modular synthesizer," the depth of the minimalism and the beauty of the pastoral hints meld to give listeners one of 2001's finest space music efforts.  Congratulations, Chris!  This is a winner, 24 and 7!

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

Steven Halpern is one of the greatest New Age artists ever.  Many folks would consider him to be the best ever.  Certainly, he is the most holistic and one of the most diverse.  He has prospered and proliferated in many sub-genres of New Age music.

He has excelled in electronic space music.  His contemporary instrumental efforts are among the best.  His forays into world music are nothing short of amazing.  Steven outperforms them all, however, when it comes to the healing and meditation arena!  His experiments with biofeedback and subliminal and sound healing keep him on the cutting edge of his art and profession.

"Chakra Suite" continues that journey to share his gifts with his listeners.  The gentle symphonic synthesizer washes envelop listeners in Steven's warm and loving soundscape.  The electronic space music takes those listeners beyond themselves into the healing environs of Steven's soundworlds.

(Again, on a much more personal note, this CD helped me to get back to some of my basics and allowed me "stay green."  The longer I live this journey, the more I realize that God has been driving all the time.)

This CD is one of dozens of excellent releases from this absolute genius.  Any one of them would be a worthy addition to any collection.

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

"When I was back there in seminary school, there was a preacher there who put forth the proposition, 'You can petition the Lord with prayer.' &ldots; YOU CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER!"  "The Soft Parade," by The Doors was probably the angriest piece of music I had ever heard.  Then I heard "Abnormal Love," by Thread, nee James Izzo.

James was born without hands so he uses metal hooks to manipulate his instruments and experimental sounds.  His soundscapes reflect intense anger and rich beauty.  Those emotional characteristics surround a chaotic soundworld that ranges from dense and lush melodies to overt dissonance.

The CD also features guest vocals from Jarboe, of The Swans.  Her duets with James are strange, eerie and very cool.

This CD is from Middle Pillar Presents.  They classify it as Darkwave.  The experimental soundworlds of James remind me of the rantings of another James - Morrison of the aforementioned Doors, perhaps the original darkwavers.

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts

"I am the god of hell fire and I bring you ... FIRE, I beg you to burn."

Arthur Brown might have been the second darkwaver, although "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" preceded "The Soft Parade" by a year. 

Three or four years ago, I picked up the "TrancePlanet" boxed set.  Disc two of that set has one of the most intriguing pieces that I have ever heard - "Angelica in Delirium," by Gol.  They use a passage from Shakespeare's "MacBeth," "The Song of Solomon," to set the stage for a haunting ambient dirge.

On "Creeping Sideways," Loretta's Doll goes one better.  Orson Welles (not that one!) recites the entire poem while the band performs a deep and dark dirge.

Those characteristics dominate the entire CD.  The vocals are stark.  The lyrics are harsh.  The rhythm is frenetic.  The soundscape is chaotic. 

Middle Pillar Presents, the label, describes the sound as dark cerebral. That is a good description.  This album is as dark as any minimalist dirge or drone that I have heard but this has a very sharp edge.  And it works well.  This is a very intriguing adventure!

Reviewed by Jim Brenholts