One of Steven Wilson's many alter ego's happens to be Bass Communion, a little side project he occasionally dips into when not busy with his main act Porcupine Tree, or the quickly growing Blackfield. Bass Communion allows Wilson to dive headfirst into ambient space rock, and Pacific Codex is the latest release, an album containing just two lengthy soundscapes, housed in a lavish box set that also includes a booklet containing a plethora of photos of various nature scenes, as well as a bonus DVD-A with the album in 5.1 surround sound. All sounds on the CD have been generated from recordings of Steve Hubback's metal scupltures, played by Steven Wilson and Theo Travis. What exactly does that mean? Your guess is as good as mine. Bottom line is this-Pacific Codex is a 40 minute journey to the bottom of the ocean, as the ominous & cavernous waves of sound really make you feel like you are slowly moving 20,000 leagues under the sea. Think early Tangerine Dream, but with images of underwater scenery displacing deep dark space. Fans of Wilson's other bands like Porcupine Tree & Blackfield might get easily bored here, and even those into his No-Man project might find the minimalistic approach on this release yawn inducing. However, if you have an open mind, and can appreciate some chilling sounds, give this a try and be prepared to travel on a mind-altering journey.
Track Listing
1) Pacific Codex 1 (20:27)
2) Pacific Codex 2 (19:39)
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