Seemingly like a soundtrack to every horror/sci-fi movie that takes place in deep, dark space, this latest collaboration from guitarist Steve Roach and flute player vidnaObmana is a chilling adventure into massive soundscapes and dark, ambient space. While not prog, and certainly not metal, this is electronic and acoustic music that contains elements of space rock and ambient music, fused together to create a very sinister sounding album.
Roach uses all sorts of tones, effects, and soundscapes (hate to keep using that word, but that's what it is) much like Robert Fripp's solo releases, to create a huge wall of sound that is more like beds of keyboards than guitars. Obmana contributes his ethnic sounding fujara, which is a Hungarian overtone flute, which adds a slight Middle Eastern tinge to the CD's seven tracks. Most of the songs stay at a similar pace, which might bore some listeners, but the undercurrent of dread and dark nature of these tracks is quite compelling at times. Tunes like the haunting "Strands" or the 25 minute "Inner Zone" show the two musicians branching out into totally uncharted waters of deep space, with cascades of echoing fujara, guitar drones, and tribal rhythms.
Inner Zone is actually quite mesmerizing at times, and while not a CD for every occasion, nightime listening with a candle lit seems to be a perfect fit. One of the better ambient/electronic albums I have heard in a while.
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